Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!auvm!VTVM1!ORL_WBOL From: ORL_WBOL%JMUVAX1.BITNET@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU Newsgroups: bit.listserv.gaynet Subject: homosexual Message-ID: <9002071837.AA20251@ATHENA.MIT.EDU> Date: 7 Feb 90 18:37:00 GMT Sender: Gaynet Distribution List Reply-To: gaynet@ATHENA.MIT.EDU Lines: 36 Approved: NETNEWS@AUVM Gateway X-Original-To: gaynet@athena.mit.edu, ORL_WBOLDING X-To: gaynet@ATHENA.MIT.EDU Bill, I resent the indiscriminate use of the term 'homosexual' because it is too often misused by the general public who lump all homosexual activity as being part of a gay identity. 'Homosexual' is a clinical term refering to sexual activity between two people of the same gender. MANY people may be participating in such sexual activity and still NOT be gay. Gay is a term of identity and selfacceptance. For comparison, the racial equivalent is "Negroid" and there are many people who may be classified by race as such but who do not carry a "black" identity. Which brings me to my pet peeve of the month (year and perhaps decade) in the labeling we as a society do to others. I HATE the affirmative action reports you are sent after you apply for any jobs. You are asked to check one of the following boxes to describe yourself. (Yes, legally these are optional but . . .) We are sooo dualistic as a culture we REQUIRE people be either black or white. More and more people are products of mixed marriages. There is no gray to select from. Unfort- unately in our society if you are not 100% caucasion, then you are black. (Purity? Sounds very Hilterish to me.). Genetically, I seemed to be dipped entirely from by anglo-scottish-irish heritage. In fact, I am very proud of my Oklahoma indian roots (Cherokee) yet can not be technically classified as Indian because I do not "look" or am generally identified by others as Indian. So, each time I mark caucasion I am denying part of my heritage. Anyone share this frustration? I have since started marking both boxes and letting them deal with the frustration. But why should we as a society (reflected by our government) even begin to make such requests. Ooops, sorry. I guess I got stuck on another button. But may be that is also related to the gay vs. straight and homosexual issue. ----bill