CGLA: Who We Are and Why We Exist
This is an article which I direct to the
••gay" as well as to the "straighf
community. I feel there are some very
basic questions which the student body has
concerning the purpose of a gay and lesbian
organization on this campus--and these
questions should be addressed so students
will understand both who we are and why we
exist. Students need to know what it means
to be accepting of those who identify
themselves as homosexual, and the
significance of joining the Carolina Gay
and Lesbian Association.
Let me try to articulate why CGLA is
so heavily wrapped in controversy, and why
there is such a negative perception of
homosexuality and CGLA at UNC. Here are
some of the prevailing attitudes on campus.
a) "No one 1 know is a gay or lesbian"
b) "Homosexuality is a sin against God
c) ••Kill the fags and queersf or
d) "CGLA is spreading AIDS."
I believe that these are poor, untrue
assumptions which lie at the core of why
an organization of gay and lesbian
students is discriminated against.
•‘No one I know is a homosexual. Why is
this statement untrue? Primarily because
it is statistically. impossi^_e. You may, in
fact truly believe that no one you would
call friend, roommate, sister or brother
could possibly be gay or lesbian, but
approximately ten percent of the U.S.
population is exclusively homosexual and
the chances are good someone you know is
gay. At UNC, there are gays and lesbians
living in every single dorm, teaching in
every department and curriculum, working in
administration, health care, etc., and we
can be found in all walks of life. Gays
and lesbians are every_w.h^re. One cannot
alter or "convert" this many people because
homosexuality is a social phenomenon--
similar to being born left“handed, with
green eyes, or with white skin.
"Homosexuality is a sin against God.
It is important to realize that there are
just as many theologians, scholars, and
everyday Christians (including gay and
lesbian ones) who would argue on the other
side of the issue--that God does not
condemn homosexuality or gay and lesbian
people--as there are who would use the
Bible as a plank for justifying
homophobia. Also, I would remind those
who would use the Bible to discriminate
against unpopular minorities that the
Bible has historically been used to
justify slavery, anti-Semitism, and the
subjugation and domination of women.
There has always existed a fundamental
Schism in emphasis in Judeo-Christian
heritage: on one side, some believe a
God is an old, white man sitting on a ug
throne throwing thunderbolts at peop e e
doesn't like; on the other side, those w
Believe God cares for all people an
promotes the principles of peace, love.
and faith. I do not pr-efend to speak for
one side or the other--I am sure there are
those of other faiths who would disagree
on particular points.
"Kill the fags and queers!" What does
this interesting statement really mean?
This attitude is representative of homo
phobia, or the irrational fear of homo
sexuals and homosexuality. Those who
suffer from this illness may be uncomfort
able with their own sexuality, leading
them to attack those who are openly gay or
perceived as gay.
If you know someone who has this
attitude toward gays and lesbians (or if
you have this attitude yourself) you can
be sure that at least one of these things
is true; this person may in fact have
homosexual tendencies which He/she is
emotionally unable to handle; or, if the
homophobe does not harbor any. homosexual
emotions, then elements in his/her social
environment have reinforced the belief
that it is acceptable to degrade and
brutalize gays and lesbians. This is, in
fact, quite common, and the United States
judicial system has only recently begun
protecting the rights of victims of
homophobic attacks. A year ago, three
attackers who caused the death of a gay
man in San Francisco in July of 1984 were
convicted of second degree murder.
"CGLA is spreading AIDS." This is an
irrational fear which is caused by a double
whammy of ignorance about CGLA and about
the disease called AIDS. 'CGLA exists as a
support group and social activities network
for gay and lesbian students at UNC-CH.
CGLA IS officially recognized by the
University of North Carolina, and has every
right to exist and receive student fees.
There is no way to acquire AIDS by being
active in CGLA, and because of the
organization's educational activities,
CGLA's existence may actually prevent
future cases.
Now about AIDS... There is probably not
a more dangerous health threat to those who
are sexually active than this mysterious,
fatal disease. 15,000 have died of AIDS,
but please note AIDS is ^OJ. a gay plague.
It is true that approximately 13% of those
diagnosed have been homosexual or bisexual
men, but the percentage of straight and
female People with AIDS is on the rise.
In Africa, the disease never had an
association with homosexuality and is
predominantly spread by heterosexual
contacts to men and women in near equal
proportions.
I hope I have disspelled at least SOME
of the myths and rumors you may have had
about gay men and lesbians, and about the
CGLA.
-Mark Donahue
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