The Responses

In response to January ’s question, “Does the
Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights
address the concerns of bisexual, transsexual,
and transgender Vemionters? Should the
Coalition ’s name be changed to explicitly
include bisexual, transseaaial, and transgender
Vermonters ? ” one reader wrote 

As a bisexual man, it really doesn’t bother
me NOT to see bisexuals included in the
title. After all, it’s just a label, and we should
insist on moving beyond labels ratherthan
restricting ourselves to them and then
arguing about semantic points. That is why I
favor an all—inclusive label like “Vermont
Coalition for Sexual Rights” or some such
thing.

To be honest, as a bisexual, I have the right
to act on my heterosexual instincts without
fear of reprisals or denial of rights. It’s only
when I act on my homosexual instinc --
when I identify myself as “gay” (which I do
since I’m “manied” to another man at the
moment) —— thatl need to have my rights
defended. So, though you might label me as
bisexual, I identify myself as gay, and
therefore find strength and support in
movements which acknowledge that side of
my sexual orientation and seek to liberate it
from oppression.

Hugh Coyle, Ripton

*****

The letters still keep pouring in responding
to December’s question concerning the
“appropriateness” of “Dykes To Watch Out
For”...

I think it’s ridiculous to call DTWOF
inappropriate for this type of paper regardless
of where it is distributed. First off, the
subheading of OITM makes it clear that this
paper is for gay men, lesbians, and

' bisexuals. Its main purpose is not to

enlighten the religious right Secondly,
Alison Bechdel’s realistic characters are no
more offensive than the characters in any
blockbuster movie released within the last
ten years. The language in this cartoon is
frequently tame by comparison.  Anyone
who feels turned off by this feature is
obviously leading too sheltered a life.

Steve Stowell, St. Johnsbury

*****

 When I think about some church-going
folks being offended, my response is: this is
OUR magazine. I’d like to think that they
are choosing to subscribe or read because
they are interested in finding out about our
issues, lifestyles, lives, etc. DTWOF is really
pretty tame and a pretty good reflection  of

the real lives of many lesbians in this
country. I personally don’t think that the
language and/or subject matter are any more
offensive than  some (het)  birthday cards
on display in a local store.

I wonder why the Rutland church receives
this newsletter, and what they think is the
purpose for its publication. Are we
publishing  to keep g/I/b/t’s in the state of
Vermont (and surrounding rural areas) in
touch with each other and the relevant
happenings in Vermont, or is its purpose to
“cleanse” our real lives of enough detail in
order to make them palatable to those we
hope to “educate”?  I

Renee Kieingeong
Hanover, NH

*****

Some of my fellow readers, in response to
the question of the appropriateness of the
content of the comic strip “Dykes To Watch
Out For” exploded with alarmist cries of —
homophobia. It’s completely unreasonable
to call members of the Rutland United
Methodist Church homophobic. That is,
unless you know they have comic strips in
their lobby that depict heterosexuals in
graphic sexual situations and want to
exclude only those depicting homosexuals.
Of course, they don’t. In fact, Rutland UMC
was the first church in the Methodist Troy
Conference to become an “Open and
Affirming” Congregation, which made them
the only one in 336 UM churches to
welcome out homosexuals as members.
Allies in places like the Rutland UMC are a
great resource for the g/I/b/t community and
if they actually care enough about us, and
our justice issues, to express an‘opinion
about the way we come across to them, we
should welcome the dialogue and be open
minded, not nasty.

But beyond that, I would ask everyone to
remember our own community is diverse.
Diverse enough to include g/I/b/t people
who think graphic depictions of oral sex 
do not belong in a newspaper. I love sex. I
even like some_“pomography”. Still, I don’t
think graphic depictions of sex, whether they
be woman to woman or man to man, are
appropriate for the pages of 01 TM." So
perhaps I’m a prude. Some gays are prudes.
I enjoy reading DTWOF and I frrrnly believe
that the strip has a place in our paper and
should remain there. But, Ialso think that
the strip sometimes goes too far. '

And why slam the editor for asking the
question? If the editor has had conflicting
opinions on any subject, I think it’s fine for
(the editor) to ask our community for clarity.
Why should a comic strip be above
discussion‘?

Joseph F. Wateon, East Middlebury V

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March 1995

Lellerslothe Editor

Freeing Her Mind

In your January issue (covering) the Queer Town Meeting, you listed a section called
“Free Your Mind”, which were things people said into the microphone at the hour
long Town Meeting.  You included many people’s statements but failed to include
mine. This really upsets me because I feel I said something very important and want
my voice heard. Being the last speaker, I set a nice finishing tone. I am displeased this
had to happen. ‘

I am still going to be a supporter of (OITM), but I want you to know how I feel.

Bethann Frendergaet .
Burlington T
*****

Blair’s Is Theirs, Part Deux

This is in regard to the letters criticizing the only lesbian/gay bar in Plattsburgh.
Again, we have a case of self-cannibalization. It’s ours, the owner has been more than
supportive of any efforts on the part of the local les/gay community, and we’re
fortunate to have it. Jill Cerrone, the owner, renovated the interior, new floors,
bathrooms, and atmosphere. I don’t want to compare bars, because we need them all,
but have you been in there lately? Maybe it’s time for a return trip.

We have to support any efforts made to give us a place of our own. Criticism and
oppression is what we can always expect from the outside world. Why do that to
ourselves?

Nat Harrison
Chazy, NY

*****

Shame, Shame, Double Shame

I’ll wager I’m not the only individual in the community who, at times, feels the
ingratitude of our community makes it difficult to sustain any level of contributing
activism.

I looked in vain for any gesture, anywhere within the pages of the January ‘95 issue of
OITM, or in the record of the recent gathering in Middlebury, for comments about the
lengthy and significant service to our community by Holly Perdue and Keith Goslant,
our immediate past Co-liaisons to the Governor. Holly and Keith served in those
positions for years, received no pay (contrary to the shockingly ill-infonned beliefs of
some in our community and elsewhere), and no expense reimbursement worth
mentioning. They also received very little, if any, thanks in any formal or informal
way. In return they -gave our community thousands of hours of dedicated, thoughtful
service, picked up the tab for thousands of phone calls, returning calls at all hours of
the day and night when the need arose. They traveled thousands of miles, which is
remarkable when one considers how small Vennont is, and that most of their travel
was in-state. They have spoken to thousands of people on our behalf. They have
facilitated positive results far beyond what has been credited to them thus far.

After all the years of such service, not a whisper of tribute or even a simple thanks.
Shame on you all. Shame on OITM for this gross oversight -- and no matter how
pressing other issues may seem to be, this kind of failure to recognize and inform the
community about such service is inexcusable. Shame, especially, on the leadership —- -
past and present —- of the (Vermont) Coalition (for Lesbian and Gay Rights). some oi‘
whose leaders‘ disdainful treatment of both Co-liaisons in recent times is ditficult to
tolerate (one of the reasons I resigned from the Board of Directors this year), and
marks them as thoughtless and small—minded. Most of all, shame on Vcrmont’s g/l/h/t
community for failing to inform yourselves about the labors ol‘ people who you
expected to work on your behalf. without you ever giving them much in return; and
shame on you all -- yes, every one of you who has not spoken out in anger about this
gross oversight  No thoughtful person or group of people would have failed to give
appropriate thanks.  .

Gene F. Barflelel
Barre V

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