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From: dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Re: Gays and stereotypes. (A relativly young perspective)
Message-ID: <25@spdcc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Mar-86 18:14:12 EST
Article-I.D.: spdcc.25
Posted: Mon Mar  3 18:14:12 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 5-Mar-86 04:01:16 EST
References: <83@mit-amt.MIT.EDU> <3234@sun.uucp> <86@mit-amt.MIT.EDU> <1730@bbncca.ARPA>
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Lines: 15
Keywords: "strait"

The spelling is in the same tradition as words like "wimmin" (used by feminists
who dislike the original as being too male-derived), "amerika", etc.
Here the emphasis is on denying that "not-gay" == "straight", with
whatever connotations the word s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t provides.  I used it for
its jarring textual appearance, along with its delightful resonance
on "strait-laced", "straitjacket", and "dire straits".  It's used
frequently in subterranean gay prose.

There's probably plenty to be offended by here if you're the susceptible
type.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@harvard.HARVARD.EDU
{bbncca,bbnccv,harvard}!spdcc!dyer