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From: aeq@pucc-h (Jeff Sargent)
Newsgroups: net.motss,net.singles
Subject: Re: Sargent/Brenner Con't (flame contra Arndt)
Message-ID: <788@pucc-h>
Date: Fri, 22-Jun-84 12:36:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.788
Posted: Fri Jun 22 12:36:28 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Jun-84 08:40:35 EDT
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Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
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From Steve Dyer:

> The issue here...is that there was not only public expression of an
> individual's opinion about homosexuality, which in and of itself is
> neutral...but also public defamation of gay people as a class.  There was
> speculation that gay people are underneath it all, straight.	That we are
> somehow "failed" humans, incapable of REAL depth of feeling, unlike
> card-carrying heterosexuals.

It is curious that speculation that gay people are straight underneath is
apparently considered defamation!  Is being straight really so shameful?
[1/2 :-)]  I never intended it as defamation.  I also recognize perfectly
well that gays feel just as deeply as anyone else.  (As I have indicated,
the homosexual feelings I've had arose at times of strong [negative] feelings
in my own life.)  I do note with interest that Rich Rosen, of all people,
agrees with me (in another article) that homosexuality is a chosen behavior
pattern.

> It DOES offend me when people use their personal prejudices to make
> ignorant or hate-filled unsubstantiated statements about any group of
> people.  Now, at the same time, I do enjoy the chance to express my
> opinions to them in a spirit of education, that they might at least
> appreciate input from one individual from the group that they have maligned.
> With any luck, they might use the opportunity to listen, learn and perhaps
> change their minds, perhaps not.  I have yet to see the same reaction from
> the "other side."  All I read is sarcasm, hate-filled invective and
> untruths totally unrooted in anything except their personal
> chambers-of-horrors.

I will concede, as I have before, that I did address homosexuality largely
based on my own experience of such desires, which is associated with highly
unpleasant circumstances.  I do appreciate the patience of Steve in coming
out with a calm response.  I am in fact learning that gay people can be very
fine people in a lot of ways (e.g. one man in the cast of the local theatre
show for which I've been doing lights is gay; but he is an intelligent man
with a fine sense of humor and a very pleasant person to be around [in fact,
he has a much easier time being friendly and even mildly affectionate with
women than I do]; I do enjoy his company as a person).	On the other hand,
I confess to having been a trifle disconcerted when this man's [male] SO
addressed me as "tiger"....

I trust that none of what I have written about gays came across as either
sarcasm or hate-filled invective.  As to untruths, what I wrote of my own
experience (my chamber of horrors) was perfectly true for me.  Obviously
you have not had the same experiences as I, so your truth is not identical
to mine.  (Shudder...sounds like I'm waxing philosophical.  "What is truth?"
-- P. Pilate)  Seriously, though, do you know your truth, i.e. do you really
know why you're gay?  Some people do.

-- 
-- Jeff Sargent
{allegra|decvax|harpo|ihnp4|seismo|ucbvax}!pur-ee!pucc-h:aeq
"...got to find my corner of the sky."