Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mgwess.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mgnetp!mgwess!plw From: plw@mgwess.UUCP (Pete Wilson) Newsgroups: net.motss Subject: Re: opportunity,the net,and language Message-ID: <14941@mgwess.UUCP> Date: Thu, 15-Aug-85 20:53:49 EDT Article-I.D.: mgwess.14941 Posted: Thu Aug 15 20:53:49 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 04:33:38 EDT References: <503@hpda.UUCP> <801@ptsfa.UUCP> <1527@bbncca.ARPA> <385@bbncc5.UUCP> Reply-To: plw@mgwess.UUCP (Wilson,Pete,PL) Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Information Systems - Montgomery Illinois Lines: 60 In article <385@bbncc5.UUCP> sdyer@bbncc5.UUCP (Steve Dyer) writes: > >Here, here, Ken. For what it's worth (which admittedly is not much) >net.motss was always intended as a forum for both gay and non-gay people, >always in the context of sharing information for better understanding. It >need not mean "defending" anything. Frankly, given the small volume of >postings, I'd rather read an article from a single "heterosexual" than wait >for the supposed-thousands of read-only gay people to speak up. >-- >/Steve Dyer >{decvax,linus,ima,ihnp4}!bbncca!sdyer >sdyer@bbnccv.ARPA Ok, Steve, here's a posting from a non-gay: I've been passively reading this group almost from it's inception. I started reading it mostly out of curiosity. My contact with the gay community has been very little (mostly a couple of gay men I met in the Navy) and I was curious as to just how different gays are from straights. After reading 'Jason On Bars', I came to the conclusion that the inhabitants of gay bars belong to the same 'types' as those who go to straight bars (if you want to classify people into types). The only difference is sexual orientation. One person I worked with in the Navy 'came out' to me shortly after I started working with him (this was in the early sixties). I must have had a shocked look on my face because he immediately tried to reassure me, in a somewhat disgusted manner, that he wasn't going to attack me in the showers or curl up in my bunk with me! He was rather effeminate and took a lot of guff from those who didn't know him or work with him. We didn't discuss his gayness, so our discussions centered mostly around work, home, future plans, etc. I'm somewhat sorry now we didn't talk about being gay, because I think I wouldn't have been so homophobic for so long if we had. I have been 'hit on' a couple of times in bars by gays since then, but I just said it wasn't my style and they moved on. It did make me a little uneasy at the time, but it wasn't traumatizing. I've done a little analyzing of my homophobia, and have come to the conclusion that it stems from insecurity about my own masculinity. If I am seen talking to a gay man or admit I have gay acquaintances or friends, I THINK that others (males mostly) will think I am gay. It really shouldn't matter what others think as long as I know what and who I am. After reading this group for so long, I think I can accept gays better than I could a few years ago, but I'm still not entirely comfortable about it. Gays are not going to go away and they're not a 'threat', so where's the problem? I don't know. To be perfectly honest here, I must say that I think being gay is wrong; if not entirely from a religious standpoint, then certainly from a biological one. However, I'm not going to try to convince you folks of that - I'm going to try to accept you as you are. Just a few thoughts from a former homophobe.... Pete Wilson AT&T IS CGBS Montgomery Works ..!ihnp4!mgnetp!mgwess!plw