rob@denelcor.UUCP (Rob Wahl) (01/31/84)
The crude remark made about the purpose of net.motss illustrates the assumption
we most need to dispel. Most "minorities" are defined by what they are; women
are born women, blacks are born black, and it is acknowledged that they are
not expected to change. Gays and lesbians, however, are popularly defined by
what we *do*, and thus it is implied that we choose to be what we are. In a
sense this is true: we do control our actions; but a homosexual who denies
his or her innate sexuality is a homosexual nonetheless.
This newsgroup is based on commonalities much greater than sexual orientation.
Whenever people are socially oppressed, they react. The reaction takes many
forms: the establishment of a counter-culture, a growing sense of community,
political movement, isolation and reverse-discrimination, etc. There is also
psychological stress. To define gayness in terms of sex alone is to ignore
most facets of gay life, as well as the special problems which confront
homosexuals both in and out of the closet.
Robert Wahl
Aurora, Colorado
{hao,nbires,allegra}!denelcor!rob