|
Jim Andris, Facebook |
A challenge for gay students10/3/74 At the beginning of each school year students who are returning do so refreshed (hopefully) and willing to enter into an atmosphere of learning and involvment. This letter is to all of those returning students and the new incoming ones as well. This is directed at the gay student on this campus and challenges her/him to help support the open and active gays on this campus, those involved in SGL, Students for Gay Liberation. In considering this as one of the possible functions of your university life, we ask that you read this editorial recently printed in the "It's Time" newsletter of the National Gay Task-Force (May 1974): The great majority of Americans are going to have to adjust to a combination of culture/future shock over the next few years. Almost every week a new group, organization, institution, civic body or religion publicly changes an attitude held for scores if not hundreds of years about homosexuality. The oppressive and damaging sin-crime-sickness syndrome is noticeably crumbling. But not quietly and with dignity! Much blood, sweat, tears and toil, on every conceiveable side, is going into these changes. The most difficult part of the liberation job, it seems to us, is not necessarily heterosexual America. Attitudes, with time, will change, if not in the older generation at least in young people, and the younger generations will ultimately be the controlling older generation in a future America. No, the true problem area lies with millions of gay people themselves. So ingrained is our oppression, so permeating of society as a whole are the popular and age-old myths of homosexuality, that far too many gay people continue to shun support of gay causes. We do not speak of "coming out"—although that is of course a long-term goal—but simply support of the gay movement, from the closet if necessary. How many gay women and men do you know that tell you that they can't "relate" to gay liberation, that they "don't feel oppressed," and that it's just "not their cause"? What's the answer? Each and every gay person who has reached a certain state of awareness has a duty to be an evangelist among friends and acquaintances. Be warned: you court mockery and, in some cases, abandonment. But it's the only thing that will ultimately do the job. Liberation on a one-to-one basis could have a geometrically progressive effect. Call it a face-to-face chain-letter of liberation, or call it anything you want, but do it! It's time. Your help, however small, however quiet, could be the most important help we recieve. Help out! It's time! Students for Gay Liberation |