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From: crane@fortune.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Re: Re: how many out there? - (nf)
Message-ID: <2226@fortune.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Jan-84 19:06:34 EST
Article-I.D.: fortune.2226
Posted: Mon Jan  9 19:06:34 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Jan-84 03:16:24 EST
Sender: notes@fortune.UUCP
Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA
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#R:bbncca:-44500:fortune:33700002:000:3415
fortune!crane    Jan  9 13:08:00 1984

***** fortune:net.motss / bbncca!wdoherty /  1:40 am  Jan  6, 1984
This is my first submission (har) to motts.  I've been trying
to find it for quite some time.  I want to state that I am gay
so that someone at least will show that they are proud (at least
unashamed of their sexuality) and not afraid of reprisal.  I
consider this fear to be paranoid, although probably appropriate
for some people.  I find that I could not possibly work with people
who are homophobic, nor consider them to be close friends.  Frankly,
such people are ignorant, just as are racist and sexist folks.  In 
this particular use, I mean people who are intentionally racist, sexist,
or homophobic, not those who are unintentionally so.  But even for
those people, I do not believe that the oppressed have an obligation
to educate the oppressor.  A vested interest to do so perhaps.

I wish to comment on the use of the term "sexual preference."  I much prefer
(har) "sexual orientation" because it does not explicitly require one's
sexuality to be a choice.  As I will flame about later, I am not sure how
much of a person's sexuality is chosen and how much is predetermined (excuse
the passive (har) voice).

I am disturbed by the concurrent comments that lesbians are not participating
in motss with the sexist references displayed by so many of the commentators.
If you want lesbians to participate, create an atmosphere, along with them,
in which they (and you) will feel comfortable.

Sometime I will flame about the kin selection theory of homosexuality.
I'm writing a paper on it now for my Scientific Essay class at MIT.

Also, by the way, I'm a member of NAMBLA and I'm really angry at the
person who described me as a bane to the homosexual movement.  I think
you're both arrogant and wrong.  But then, let's not get emotional about
this.  I will gladly debate the position on completely rational turf.

I also believe that lesbians have a right to "separate space" in a 
patriarchal world, i.e. a world dominated by men.  Thus, I would support
lesbians who chose to have a separate net.lesbians if they felt that
some of the comments on motss reject basic principles of justice and
display arrogant sexism.  Likewise, I support the concept of a women
only discussion group.

I just helped to write a resolution on Youth Liberation which the most
recent conference of the North American Man/Boy (should include all
genders in my opinion) Love Association passed unanimously at their
last conference here in Boston.  I am writing a "Speaking Out" about
it for Gay Community News (GCN).

I am working at MIT to keep the ROTC programs, armed force and intelligence
agency recruiters from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation,
with the justification that MIT policy prohibits such discrimination--
it took us more than a decade to acheive that policy statement.

I am the General Coordinator of Gays at MIT and I am one of the originators
of what I shall call the Nationwide Lesbian and Gay Academic Network (NLGAN).

I am a public draft resister and war tax resister.

But enough about myself--I hope this will stimulate some discussion.

I'm getting tired, though I'd like to flame on about Lesbian S/M, the
great gay plays that have been coming out (har), a variety of equally
fascinating topics (yawn).  Flame away!

Will Doherty
USE: wdoherty!decvax!bbncca
ARPA: wdoherty@bbng
TINKLEBELL: 617-262-3485
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