Incidents of anti-queer violence have more than doubled in the last decade. Inpart because gay menhave been (need we say, erroneously) scapegoated for the AIDS epidemic by the inhumane, vote-seeking agendas of governmentofficials, but also because Queer liberation gains strengthasamovementand lesbians, gay menand bisexuals become more insistentin their demand tobetreated with simple, human dignity, the homophobia that often appears tobe lying dormant under the thin veneer * ofliberalism thatcovers thiscountry, rears its ugly head. Douglas Collegeis no exception. In the recent past... In response to a court case involving aman with AIDS who was unfairly terminated by the WhiteSpot restaurant chain which used to run our cafeteria, the former cafeteria manager voiced his support for the White Spot on the condition that the | Homophobia CAN Be The Other Press was attacked for printing an erotic safe sex guide for gay men. Interestingly, one of the chief complainants was Ross Bogle, who was subsequently appointed by the DCSS as Ombudsperson. A two page document signed anonymously by “members of the Douglas College Student Society” was posted throughout the College, savagely attacking i ia gay president Jamie McEvoy and other student council members for their sexual orientation, racial originand/ or feminist consciousness. Although the hateliterature was immediately condemned by the administration, it was also dismissed asa product of “political infighting,” once again ignoring the real motivation behind such documents. An internal investigation was conducted which, curiously, despite the testimony of those attacked, produced no culprit(s). Neither the the Other Press Cured! final report to the College President are available to the public or to the people who are victimized. The apparent reason for _ the confidentiality is that they may be, in the words of then Acting President Al Atkinson, “incriminating.” Indeed! __ Last year, more than 50 posters advertising theLesbian, Gay, Bisexual Collective were ripped down or defaced. Douglas College still has not implemented an anti-gay discrimination policy. The Sexual and Personal Harassment policy states that itis wrong todiscriminate onevery other basis, but still does not acknowledge gays or lesbians as a target group for discrimination. Ifthis bothers you,anditshould, getinvolved by voicing yourconcern to administration, the DCSS, the J Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Collective on Campus (527-5335 voice box 4550) 1, 1991 i Clip and Save ! ! Homophobia Primer | i i | Homophobia: an irrational fear (or hatred) of lesbians, gays or i bisexuals. I Heterosexism: the deliberate and systemic suppression of the i I entire gay culture. Twenty-four years after the modern North i I American lesbian/gay liberation movement began, there is stilla | | news blackout in effect. What little representation there is of the J j lesbian/gay community in the mainstream media, and in i classrooms is still skewed with homophobic myths that reinforce dangerous stereotypes and kieep the lives of every lesbian, gay i manand bisexual in constant peril. Attempts toexplore the culture i I of the community are almost, without exception, superficial and | demonstrate a profound ignorance of its incredible richness and J | diversity. i ; To come “out”: the process of revealing to people you care about, your sexuality. This process can happen when you're still in high I school or after you've been married many years. It is a slow, i sometimes painful and exciting time and requires alot of support | from friends and family. SOS ay SP RT PET I NEL aI NE SS SEE STE MEE STS I ars man in question was gay. minutes of the investigation or the ~ or the Other Press. - Outing: this when you tell another person of someone else’s 5 sexuality and must never be done. It is a betrayal of trust, none of \ I your business and can put people in serious emotional and | SILENCE = DEATH. Handy Hints for Hets: Don’t “out” people. J the time to educate yourself. The oppression we encounter in ourdailylivescansometimes prevent us from being open and “out,” from meeting other queers, and finding the vibrant and diverse community that makes up ev ing we are. . The followitig is brief run-down on thelesbianand gay scene,on campus and off. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual (LGB) collective is made up of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals on campus who are looking for a safe and friendly environment,anda place ‘© meet other queer students. It can ct as a support group, a referral service, ora political force, depending mn the needs and purposes of those that join. I hope you realize that your heterosexuality will not necessarily prejudice my eventual affectional-preference choice. Collegedoesnothavea resource room (like the Wimmin’s Centre), so to get in touch with the Collective, see the College Directory in this issue, under “Lesbian, Gay, So, why isn’t there an LGB # resourceroom? And whyarewestill are at least 2.6 million lesbians and gays in this country. According to the Kinsey Scale, 10 percent of the population is straight, 10 percent is gay and the other 80 percent is bisexual to some degree or another. The odds of you being straight are not in your favor. There are at least alone. We have the means to speak with a powerful voice. There is thing stopping us from demanding recognition from the college and our student society. Aside from the resources you can find through the LGB Collective, the Douglas College library now has thanks to the Collective, several good, recentbooks thataddressissues 8 : physical danger or cost them housing, grades or employment. J Anti-homophobic: the fight for justice for those who define j themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual is a deadly sedrious one. 1 Fighting homophobia doesn’t stop with the condemnation of blatant verbal harassment or outright gay-bashing. Italso requires t a proactive effort to make every environmentsafe for lesbians, gay ‘I men and bisexuals. It is not enough to say “Live and let live.” } Stop telling/laughing at homophobic “jokes.” They funny and they helpcreatean atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Don’t assume everyone around you is heterosexual. aren’t If someone comes out to you it means, for whatever reason, J they have decided to trust you with that information. This is a f i difficult process for most people. Respect their courage and do i your best to putaside yhourowndiscomfort. Itis hard tobreak free Vtrom our homophobic socialization, but don’t place that i responsibility on your queer friend /relation/acquaintance. Take L.G.B. Collective affecting gay men. Unfortunately the same can not be said for issues ing lesbians. Infact, thesituation is pretty ‘dismal for lesbians at DC, although there is some material available at the Wimmin’s Centre. Vancouver is known internationally for its vibrant lesbian and gay community. Bookstores, restaurants, gay clubs and the like, can be found in the Davie Street area of Vancouver's West End. Dykes tend more toward the east side of town, in the Commercial Drive area. Angles, Vancouver’s Lesbian and Gay Magazine, isa good placeto find basic information. Angles and Diversity—The Lesbian Rag arelocal periodicals which are available at most of the bookstores listed in the directory as well as some gay clubs and restaurants around Vancouver. They advertise community events, discuss issues important to the community and are always looking for volunteers. Vancouver's Gay and Lesbian . Centre and the Vancouver Lesbian Connection (listedin the Community Directory) offers positive environments, plenty of reading material (the largest gay/lesbian library in Canada and west of Washington DC. in North America), and people to talk to. If you are angry that we still can’t live openly, without fear and that the government is still responding to the AIDS crisis with criminal neglect, help ACT UP and/ or Queer Nation take that outrage to the streets. Make your voice count. Is there homophobia at Douglas College? If you are lesbian, gay or bisexual, or think you might be, you already know the answer. If you think the answer in no...think again...