I had never consider the fact that facing gay people as persons who have
rights to choose their "way of life" could cover a kind of homophobia.
Yes, that's a painful choice in an intolerant culture or society. But on
the other hand that choice make people much more happy, in peace with
their self.
Such a choice, I think, make people look for their rights and for people
who look like them, their "gang". That choice make someone part of a
group/comunity and people become engaged in a political "fight" for
their rights. And in their "fight" is expected that they must be helped
for ones who have empathy with them - people who are part of other
minorities (women,indians, black people, "with out land", "with out
home", "green peace ativists" etc).
"To be or not to be (gay): That's the question"
a question of political consciousness.
Maybe I can change my thoughts about this issue in a while, but until
now that's what I think.
Ricardo.
>
> Hola, Diane, Ricardo, et alia (All a ya--the plural of "y'all" is "all y'all)
>
> >At 11:18 PM 3/2/98, Ricardo Ottoni Vaz Japiassu wrote:
> >>Hi Diane,
> >>
> >>That's a facinating theme of discussion, study, research... I'd like to
> >>know more about your thoughts over that issue. Had you any book or
> >>article published about it?
> to which
> At 10:44 AM 3/3/98 -0800, Diane wrote:
> >I've written a novel about lesbian relations,
> > but I haven't pursued a scholarly work in this area...although I admit
> >I've often wondered "why" I don't...
> Ricardo:
> >>Some people think that beeing "gay" is an option. You choose a social
> >>mask/character and consequenytly a "gay way of life". Someone can have
> >>homossexual sexual relationship although this fact doesn't make him a
> >>"gay": Because "gay" is a way of life, a choice, a social behavior. In
> >>thesis, as Freud had said, everyone is bissexual.
> Diane:
> >Personally, i think it is more likely that everyone is sexual. Even the
> >notion of "bisexuality" supposes a duality, where there isn't one, really,
> >in practice. Many bisexual theorists are now talking about
> >poly-sexualities, which is interesting, in terms of pluralities, and
> >certainly congruent with the relations you describe.(SNIP tsbw)
>
> In prowling the web (the usenet) one frequently encounters exponents of the
> discourse of "choice" as regards homosexuality. As in "Why should we care
> about (fill in the blank)? They made their choice, and now must suffer the
> consequences." Usually they are seeking cover for homophobia--or, now that I
> think of it, "homo"phobia. I find it invariably entertaining to inquire at
> what point, and after which experiences, in their lives that they "chose"
> heterosexuality. I ask them to be explicit, for it seems to me that thir
> discourse is empty without knowledge of the alternatives among which they
> posit "gays" as opposed to straights as having made a choice. I just love to
> watch'em squirm on that little hook.
> + = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = +
> | John Konopak, EDUC/ILAC,820 VanVleet Oval,U.of OK.Norman,OK73019|
> |E-mail: jkonopak who-is-at ou.edu; Fax: 4053254061; phone:4053251498 |
> +_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_+
> | "You may not be able to change the world, but at least |
> | you can embarrass the guilty." --Jessica Mitford (1917-1996) |
> | "Those who can, must!" --Anonymous |
> + = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = +
> In a marketplace of ideas, there are going to be ideas that you find
> abhorrent. The best thing to do is to respond to them.
> --Barry Steinhardt, President,
> Electronic Frontier Foundation
>
>
>