Newspaper Page Text
VIEWPOINTS
a monthly column by KC Wildmoon
On Being Different
I was born different. It wasn’t that I
knew I was Queer early on—I never heard
the word "homosexual" out loud until I
was 18, and didn't accept that possibility
for myself for almost a year. But I was
different, all right.
I saw colors where there shouldn't be,
heard voices when no one but me was
around. I looked at my immediate sur
roundings, not as my whole world like the
other kids I knew did, but as a small part
of a huge world that I wanted to see. I saw
the parts of my world and wondered what
made them work. I looked inside things,
not just at them.
I kept these things to myself because
nobody around me talked about anything
like it. I tried to pretend 1 was just like
everybody else because I was scared there
was something wrong with me. I feigned
interest in movies, TV, boys, bridal maga
zines, whatever my peers were into at that
moment.
But I never felt it. I grew up in the
fields of East Tennessee, climbing rocks
and trees, wading in creeks, watching
trains go by, most assuredly alone. I never
fit in with any group, even though I tried.
My mother was the one who first said
"homosexual" to me. She asked me if I
was one. I laughed. But I wondered,
Could I be different that way too?
Nine months later, I had the answer.
For me, there was no agony over the dis
covery, just another thing about myself
that made me different from the norm.
The amazing thing is that being Queer
was the easiest of my differences to
accept. Fifteen years after that, I am final
ly beginning to live comfortably with the
rest of my differences, to accept the fact
that I don't see, or hear, the world like
most people. And to not feel so damned
alone.
I like being Queer. I even like the
word, meaning odd, peculiar...it so com
pletely describes who I am. The hard part
of it has been recognizing the complete
rejection of that part of me by so many
people, sometimes even other Queers.
Sometimes I just simply don't under
stand. I can't comprehend why it should
matter to so many people that I don’t have
sex with the opposite one.
I don’t understand, either, when I hear
Queers say things like "who I go to bed
with is nobody's business but mine." On
the surface, that's true. Who I choose to
have sex with is a private matter, but get
real. That's just a smokescreen, designed
to keep secret a part of ourselves that
makes us truly different. It makes us para
noid, keeps us from ever being all of who
we are.
I know there are compelling reasons for
hiding. But sometimes I think we are too
cautious. Being Queer doesn’t have to
mean living a lie.
Look at Martina Navratilova, outed by
an ex-lover before outing was cool.
Margaret Court condemned her for being a
poor role model. But other tennis players
rushed to Martina's defense, and at a tour
nament a couple of weeks ago fans were
wearing buttons that read "Martina Is My
Role Model." I love that.
Being Queer, being different has
shaped my view of the world. I've learned
that being different from the majority isn't
easy, and that some people can never live
comfortably with that. I've also learned
that being different can be dangerous.
This knowledge has shaped my percep
tions, sometimes subtly, sometimes pro
foundly. All of my experiences have done
that.
Over all, I'm pleased with the results of
my experiences. I have my doubts, my
insecurities, moments when I wonder if it's
worth it. I'm only human. But I want to
be a role model like Martina. I'm happy
being different, and I just can’t keep it a
secret any longer.
Eggs on Our Face
Our editorial "Is the Journal
Homophobic" in the last issue contained a
significant error. We incorrectly attributed
an Atlanta paper's editorial which said
that some percentage of folks are natural
ly gay just as some are straight to the staff
of the Atlanta Journal.
Not so. That piece was in fact written
by Tom Teepen, the Editor of the
Constitution's Editorial pages.
The root of the confusion is complex
and will likely interest only media
junkies, but here it is: a reader gave us a
copy of the original editorial and said it
had run in the Journal. In fact, it ran in
the Saturday JournallConstitution. The
editorial pages of that paper are regularly
populated by the likes of Dick Williams,
so one would assume that the more con
servative Journal editorial staff writes the
unsigned editorials on Saturday.
Again, not so. The Constitution pre
pares those messages as well as the edito
rial epistles in the Sunday paper.
This was not always so; until a couple
of years ago, the Journal had control of
the Saturday editorial pages. The reader
who told us that the piece had run in the
Journal is an Atlanta native and was
unaware of the change.
Confused? You're not alone. We spoke
to three J/C writers who were either
unaware of, or totally bamboozled by, the
papers' policy regarding their editorial
pages.
The good news is that two readers have
told us they are considering founding a
local chapter of GLAAD; that, thank you,
was the whole purpose of our editorial.
Another error last issue was crediting
the photo of anti-arts censorship activists
on page 4 to Patsy Lynch; Doug Hinkle of
The Washington Blade took the photo
graph.
Our apologies to readers and the jour
nalists involved for both of these errors.
Editor
AAA Error
To the Editor:
Your July 19 “Partners in Law” article
contained an error regarding the AAA
Automobile Club of Washington. The
motor club has not yet been forced to com
ply with Seattle law and grant my partner
an “associate” membership (at reduced
fees). Last year I won a “finding” against
them through the Seattle Human Rights
Department-the first step towards revers
ing the discrimination I encountered.
In an attempt to settle the case, AAA
recently offered to grant associate mem
bership to my domestic partner and to oth
ers in the city of Seattle, where the law is
in effect. However, the club's attorney sug
gested I should not publicize the policy
change in the general media. I have reject
ed this offer because a change without
public notice cannot satisfactorily reverse
the discrimination.
The Seattle ordinance is clear in its
intent to protect not only married couples,
but unmarried couples as well. My case is
apparently the first in the nation to test this
approach.
Such laws may be easier to pass than
full-scale domestic partnership legislation.
In fact, they may act as a first step towards
domestic partnership registration since
businesses who must open up membership
may actually welcome city-wide defini
tions of domestic partners.
Sincerely,
Demian, Ed.D.
Editor/Publisher, Partners Newsletter
for Gay & Lesbian Couples
Box 9685, Seattle, WA 98109
Marvin's Twisted
Editor:
You'll pardon me if I don't join Paul
Vamell in licking the ass of "modem con
servative movement founding father"
Marvin Liebman, who recently came out
at age 66 (#13, page 32).
Here's a fag who spends his whole mis
erable life living a lie, pitifully sucking up
to the very worst homophobes. And now
we're supposed to be overjoyed that he's
"one of us?"
I hate the modem conservative move
ment. And I have only contempt for the
self-loathing queers who foolishly believe
they are a part of it.
Conservatives were in power at virtual
ly every level in the 1980s and did next to
nothing about AIDS, while we buried tens
of thousands of our own and witnessed the
destruction of what we once called (it
seems so long ago) "the gay lifestyle."
The next time you hear of yet another
gay person felled by AIDS or some
demented bigot's insane hatred, be sure to
smile through your tears and thank Marvin
Liebman and all the other twisted homo
sexual conservatives who daily toady up to
our murderers.
Dave Goldman
TV.
©‘J?0
WILL THE. RELAL- ELDRIN &ELI
At we A JTAVA O* £>£'/?£ AJo7 feT-SoHE?
Viewpoints is intended to provide a continuing forum for the lesbian and gay community. We encourage
you to share your ideas, comments and feelings on these pages.
Submissions should be typed, double-spaced and no longer than two pages. We are happy to offer
anonymity when letters are printed, but all submissions must be signed. Please also give us your phone
number in case we have questions. We reserve the right to edit for space. Mail your letters to:
Southern Voice/Viewpoints
P.O. Box 18215
Atlanta, Georgia 30316
The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Southern Voice.
Publishers: Christina Cash and Leigh VanderEls
Executive Editor: Christina Cash Editor: Gary Kaupman
VOICE
Display Advertising: Jessi McVay, Sherry Siclair, Liz Hill
Classifieds: Bill Medlock
Circulation:
Manager: Jana Tyson
Distribution: Steve Albano, S. Brown, Anita Akins,
Emory Lesbian & Gay Org., Chris Duncan, Barb Miller,
Mark Simmons, Eileen Poderatzky, Will Faber,
Ricky Cox, KT Slaughter
Photographers:Evett Bennett, Jo Giraudo, Mary Vogel,
Iris Ruskin, Barbara Snell
Production:
Manager: Joan T. Sherwood
Personal Assistant to Ms. Sherwood: KC Wildmoon
Sharon Blalock, A1 Cotton, Mark du Pont, Lynne Patterson,
Dorma Sullivan, Liza Gollobith, Shelly Robbins,
D. Zigrino, Nancy R. Topping, Marilou Mycko
Contributors: Franklin Abbott, Charlene Ball,
Matt Montgomery, Angela Motter, Andrea K. Brown,
Terry Francis, Dave Hayward, K.D. Childers, Cliff O'Neill,
KC Wildmoon, Ian Ginsburg
Calendar Editor: Gale Reter
Southern Voice is published by Ryan Publications, Inc. with offices at 1179 Virginia Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. All material in Southern
Voice is protected by federal copyright law and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Executive Editor.
GENERAL POLICY The views of Southern Voice are expressed only in the editorial columns or in the editor's notes. Opinions expressed
are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Southern Voice or the publisher.
The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, cartoonists, and writers published herein is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of
names or pictorial representations does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons.
Advertising is subject to the approval of Southern Voice and the publisher. Although Southern Voice appreciates its advertisers, we cannot
accept responsibility for claims made. Services and products are not tested and appearance of advertising does not imply, nor does it constitute,
endorsement by Southern Voice. Advertising rates and conditions are available upon request. Advertising (404) 876-1819.
Southern Voice welcomes unsolicited material, including letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit or reject any material submitted. All
rights revert to authors upon publication. Unsolicited manuscripts not accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope cannot be returned.
Address all correspondence to: Southern Voice, P.O. Box 18215, Atlanta, GA 30316. Editorial (404) 876-0789.
Southern Voice/August 30,1990
7