Out in the Mountains

To send your queer queries to Gertrude and
Alice, write to us c/o Out in the Mountains,
P.0. Box I 77, Burlington, VT, 05402.
Anonymous questions are fine. We'll even
hide your identity for you!

Dear Alice and Gertrude:

(Alice always did seem to get the bum
deal, at least in the literatrrre if not in her life
with Gert, which we’ll never know, so I
thought I‘d give her top billing for a
change.)

I’ve been thinking about getting more
involved in the gay and lesbian activities
going on around Burlington. But I’m hesi-
tantbecauseI’ve foundinthe past thatwhat
I’m willing to offer is not seen as good
enough. you see, I’m not very “out.” My
friends know and that feels okay, but I’m
not yet comfortable being more public
about my lesbianism. I feel like this is not
okay in the groups I’ve tried to join, like
I’ve been put down because of it. Why can’t
people accept what I do have to give and

respect that I’m not ready to do more? They
can wish I was [more out] (I do too) and
evenbedisappointed,butitdoesn’thelp me
or them to put me down, or to not respect
my wishes to stay behind the scenes. I give
myself enough heartache over this, but I
know the time will come when I’m ready to
do more. For now, I just accept myself and
try to move forward at my own pace. How
can I start giving what I do have to give
instead of staying away because of what I
don’t? Sign me-

—Wary of working in the Community

Dear Wary:

WHO won’t accept you as you are!l??
We want names, dates, places! We’ll write
an expose! We’l1 thrash them with month
old tunas! But, before we lapse into threats
of violence, we should confess that we, too,
are sometimes intolerant of not-”out”
people, Gertmuch more so than Alice (who
appreciates, and deserves, top billingl).
Gert, however, recognizes the error of her
ways.

FE «$@—.e%”l ”

Prevent 0lTr~l Volunteer lOmfn~ovt{,’ Land at l’\av\¢l(.

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JOAN KNICHT Photography

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10

We think that the discrimination you
are feeling results because the people who
are so “out” and who do so much for the
lesbian/gay/bisexual cause might be think.
ing, “hey, I’m fighting for YOUR rightsas
well as my own—why aren’t you fighting '
as much as I am?” Such people, whih
necessary to the gay rights movement, need
to become more sensitive to individual -
differences and differences in priorities.

Please don’t give up! While we can’;
speak for other groups, at OITM thereare .
LOTS of “behind the scenes” activities:
typing, editing, distribution, even writing?
withoutaby-line! As for what you can doto
get others to understand: have you tried’
confronting these people and saying, in
very straightforward (no pun intended)
manner, “This is what I’m comfortable’
with giving at this point in my life. A little
is better than nothing at all, right? If I’m not
welcome here, where do I go?” Let us know -
how it turns out.

Closet from page 7

“staying in the closet” seemed to manyal
the conference to be appropriate; Black
participants reminded the rest of the people‘
present that “passing” has never been ac-,
ceptable or ethical within the Black com-'
munity, and suggested that it was time the
lesbian and gay community took a similarly
strong stand against closeting. While the»
conference was not prepared to make any
sweeping statements about whether closel-
ing is ever justifiable, participants did rec-‘
ognize that coming out is a process that
lasts for years and perhaps for lifetimes.
and supported the idea of a national event»
where every individual could find a waytt
continue their own process of coming out
Further organizing for National Com-_
ing Out Day in Vermont will begin witht
request for volunteers to be made at the next
Vermont Coalition meeting which willbev
held June 5 in South Royalton. If youttt
interested in volunteering you can 3190
write to the Coalition at P.O. Box 1125»
Montpelier, Vt. 05602 ‘

 from page 9

munity, not a major city. “This fact malt?‘
this case more difficult since the judges”
not yet used to having lesbians appeal‘ 
fore them, much less lesbians having Chll"
dren. This case will serve as an import?”
educational tool.”

Founded in 1973, Lambda is it
nation’s oldest and largest legal organ“
tion dedicated to the rights of lesbians
gay men, and to educating others al)0lll__”‘€,-
gay and lesbian community. The organ“
tion celebrates its 15th anniversary in 1933,

:4