Out in the Mountains“; . are .,f‘ Editélrial The True Recruiters l-Ii’ig°li'C?oyle, Editor of OITM That’s why for some people, it’s important that scientists find the gay gene, if only to prove that we don’t choose homosexuality; we’re born that way (read “victim” again). Likewise, heterosexuals don’t have to “choose” heterosexuality. They have groups all over the country, and they work aggressively to lure children into them. Then they get into the school system and demand that their special agenda be included in the curriculum. They want to make children act and behave just like they do. They ’d like nothing more than to have kids engage in the same practices, even if they have to force the children to do things against their own free will. But what of thatlpesky “bisexual” from Middlebury who “chose” to be a dyke? The notions of recruitment and choice ride the same rails; they’re closely bound together. If we do have the freedom of choice (and even the Bible tells us we do), then recruitment becomes a possibility, as long as you choose to perceive it as such. If we don’t have the freedom of choice, then recruitment shouldn’t be an .iePam‘°leen.. _ , Sound familiar? That’s actually ‘a fair description of how radical issue ,i=_;_¢;dpgngf 9 right-wing groups like the Christian Coalition operate in our K?thi¢.5?WYeI"— « 5°e1e‘Yt°d3)’-Bhtwheplaysfalfln th1Sd3YaT1d3ge? Consider religion. Religion is, as far as we know, a choice. M'k'_Th°h‘§5. . . _ _ _ _ Scientists to date haven’t even theorized about the existence of a §h¥!$’;9vI;*?.f§tS:» Whs‘»n,1tcomes_t,0 dlscussmg gay and lesbian youth, groups Ilke the Buddhist or Catholic gene. Since we aren’t born Buddhist or 5 oegp. . .3 °n A Chrlshah Coahheh are the hm 10 eehlhre UP the Speeter Of Catholic, we have to be recruited somehow. Our families and . 0* » I .; recruitment and level blame on groups like Outright Vermont and , A .- _ L high school Allies. The very mention of the words “gay” or “lesbian” in schools “promotes” homosexuality and lures by_M°un1takih‘.Pr'§d>e"\Med‘ia except “innocent” children down the dark corridors of “satanic” sexuality. for ca -.combi0.€d.»* Jnlv/AUQUSI. ‘ issue. The childhood environments play a great part in this process, though even that isn't a certain indicator of the faith we will choose in adulthood. I recall an incident from my high school days. My Spanish class had saved up enough money to venture overseas to Spain, and I was determined to join them, despite my very strong fear of What’s even more disturbing is the significant effect such accusations have within the gay, lesbian, bi, and trans communities themselves. Often, some pf us do all we can”to avoid heights_ 1 had never been on a piane before then, and as 1 Sat in my our e_n;a“ 5 address is the TeeTh1hheht“eh3Ige- We fhhge he _L_e5h13h AVehgefS Peslers assigned seat facing the prospect of many hours aloft, I took some on-M@a°;_eem Bulk lhat Preelalm We Reerhhs ahd ehhelze the. group 5 Pehheal comfort in the gentle hellos of the kindly older man and woman Mme "wing “me newspma, is incorrectness. When we do “address youth issues, we often Seated next to me approach them from a victim perspective: we want to be there f0T Y0Ulh because the)”Te at “SK fer Shleldeg Substance abuse: and Just as the plane charged down the runway and began its leap Siam. » . , , O HIV/AIDS — not because we actually consider them to be sexual heevenward, the woman leaned in elese, teuehed my arm, and heh1g5- asked me, “Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior?” She had a brochure at the ready, along with some other pamphlets she thought I might be able .to read before we touched down in Madrid. ©e199<§,QutlntI;eMouiita_Ifis;‘i _ ' 7 i I ’ if At the recent “Building Bridoes to Equity” conference in Montpelier, high school and college youth discussed their own I _ ’_ gay, lesbian, and bisexual experiences. One woman, a ;;:spis”ml self—proclairned “bisexual dyke” from Middlebury College, spoke mane, gay menehieexualee tens; of flirting with “straight” women, and of succeeding sometimes in ’ ” ye’, end " ‘ff getting akiss and maybe more. ‘ I chose not to be recruited into her Lord’s service that day, despite her insistent protests. She did not accept my refusal gracefully, just as many evangelical fundamentalists don’t let you close the door too soon when they show up on your doorstep looking to change I Adults in the audience fidgeted, and before long, the recruitment issue surfaced. Weren’t these young people, and those who work in support and ally groups with ‘them, afraid that they were “recruiting” young people who were simply confused or uncertain about their own sexualities? The bi/dyke from Middlebury jumped at the chance to respond. “If I go up to a guy and ask him out,” she countered, “Does that mean your life. They are masters of fast talk, quick to make a bid on your soul, the true recruiters among us. Let us remember that fact whenever our opponents level charges against us. Let us also realize that our own discomfort with recruitment may be some form of internalized homophobia, a lingering dread that we are luring youth into something bad or evil. ..._..... ..i. ..., .. ..-.. ..... - -»« I’m ‘recruiting’ him to be a heterosexual? And if I was, what’s so bad about it if ‘have What he Wants?” And finally, let’s look where the real recruitment problem lies in our society: with those who continue to prey on the fears and frustrations of others as they gather around them the legions of hatred and intolerance. May we reach our nation’s youth with an alternative promise of acceptance and understanding — before it’s too late. V » Perhaps some straight people are worried by the all—too—real possibility that they could be recruited the “other” way. They desperately want sexuality to be an either/or kind of thing; you’re either straight or you’re gay, and there’s nothing in bi-tween. BETH ROBINSON ;5Ow1Mo1mtain Bu‘; ,r . L‘ . LANGR(l)\$3TIO{R§§E/lE:ILlA3‘/IV& WooL %f,‘2._‘35§i‘§:;3% ~ x 15 SOUTH PLEASANT STREET MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT ~ r 05753 -~*“‘“~~—-'*"", , Burlington Office: fl canscbcné-LOLLS 4’/D~Proa’Ch 275 College Street Area Code: 802 t0 ’~‘5£d‘"'t””1’ °“"5t7"“Ct£""' Burlington, Vermont 05402 Telephone: 388-6356 5cTVl’*"{9 F'irU11