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Subject: Fight discrimination with more discrimination?

Author:
Carl

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Date Posted: 10:05:52 08/24/04 Tue
In reply to: Suz 's message, "Try this one on for size....(no pun intended)" on 09:33:59 08/24/04 Tue

I'm sorry I wasn't in that course with you - it sounds like it was VERY challenging and stimulating. Reading the messages about the course, I'm moved to comment to the women who don't want to be in a sensuality class with men:

I understand, sympathize and even empathize with your feelings of discomfort. But if we deal with discomfort by insisting on separateness, can we ever hope to overcome homophobia, anti-gay prejudice, etc.? Do you think the best way to deal with racism would be to insist on segregating schools? How is your reaction to male sensuality different from the reaction of homophobes to the thought of two gay men together?

Your life experiences entitle you to your negative reactions. But how you deal with your reactions is your choice - you are creating your own reality. Learning to be comfortable with "the other" would be a step toward a better reality, in my opinion. If we insist on segrating ourselves, sticking to "our own kind," we're surrendering to a life of fear and suspicion - - a life disturbingly similar to the life of a homophobe or a racist.

Are straight people entitled to ask that gay people stay out of sight? If not, then why are gay women entitled to ask men to stay out of sight? I'd rather live in a world where we learn to accept "the other", rather than a world in which discomfort entitles us to insist on segregation.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
try this one for size...	Lord B	14:05:52 08/26/04 Thu
Mixing & matching -- Carl, 17:23:32 08/26/04 Thu Mmmmm -- Suz, 11:20:34 08/27/04 Fri