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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 37, Number 9. 1st May 1974

Where Roger darling can jam his attitude

page 14

Where Roger darling can jam his attitude

Dear Readerds,

First, that was written as a reply to both the editorial and the article on the GLF that appeared in Salient, April 24.

To deal with the editorial: how condescending of your divine Editor to give his half-hearted support to us. I for one would dearly love to tell him exactly where he can Jam his attitude.

How nice of him to so graphically illustrate our oppression; how convenient to be able to list our oppressors under the label of the bourgeois state.

Why does he swing over then to the side of the bourgeoisie, and so very destructively criticise the very structure of the GLF? Is this not a con-traduction of ideals?

I object to being called, quote, a case study of the unfortunate results of the system we all live in, unquote. A person's sexuality is based on that person's own likes and dislikes and as such is the result of nothing but that Individual's choice, conscious or unconscious. We must get rid of the idea that homosexuality is a disease. For a start, Roger darling, it's not — repeat not — contagious: so you go ahead and keep feeling secure in your own stereotyped, heterosexual closet; and get left behind when the real revolution happens.

We have not cheapened the name of liberation, We have not Jumped on the liberation bandwagon. We also are fighting the shackles off — of race, class, imperialism, and in fact any form of totaljtarianism. What right has the editor of a supposedly radical newspaper to print his own viewpoints, fucked as they are, as the viewpoint of that newspaper? While I do realise that it is the privilege of the editor to write an editorial, I wonder how he would equate his revolutionary viewpoint on other matters with his narrow minded ideas on human sexuality, is this not in itself, being both conformist and restrictive? If you think of revolution solely in terms of throwing bombs, my darling I would be only too happy to oblige. Just send me your address. I make a very good molotov.....

As far as being, quote, a product of social relations under capitalism, unquote, I assure you that the Soviet Union has its share of homosexuality, as does Communist China, or for that matter any country. Not meaning to disillusion you but we are everywhere: one of us may even get your Job one day as it doesn't seem to require an over-abundance of intelligence: that's if one goes by your own editorial. As we are a cross section of society there's a lot of us more than capable of coping.

Drawing of a closed eye

Sexual liberation is in itself, an integral part of the liberation movement. No-one will ever be able to say that they are liberated until all oppressed groups are free: until all our brothers and sisters can live together in harmony regardless of religion, race, colour, gender or sexual orientation,

I am certainly anything but sexually inhibited, and feel in no way disorientated by the fact that I am a homosexual. Rather I would go as far as to suggest that it is you who are disorientated. Are you so afraid of your own sexual identity that you fear seduction? Or is it the thought that a woman does not want and will even reject your sexual advances (crime of crimes!) that hurts? A classic example of chauvinism at its worst.

Next there's a lot to recommend 'gayness' as a way of life. If by being gay, we are rejecting such narrow ideals as you seem to possess, then 'gayness' must surely be a sign of mental health rather rather than the opposite. Much better that people develop their own sexuality than try and force themselves into a pattern of life they may not feel free and happy in. If I want to turn on to anyone does it really matter that the person happens to be of the same gender? Many gay couples do actually stay together for many, many years. My sister is a prime example: eleven years is certainly not a short term plan. She is a lot happier in her lesbian relationship than many heterosexual couples I know are in their love lives. However a short term relationship can be just as valid as any other.

The Gay Life is certainly the good life for us. We have never tried to say that it is the good life for everyone. However If you feel it necessary to restrict yourself so one isolated aspect of human sexual behaviour, that's your bag and your loss, not mine. It always amazes me that the people who are most adamantly against homosexuality, quite often purport to support the idea of our leading our supposedly sad lives behind locked doors and in private. Fuck you brother, I'm as good as you any day.

Now for the article...sorry Marty darling but you did misquote and that's very, very naughty. And you're not so good in bed that I'd let you get away with it.

Firstly, although I'm a transexual I came to the conference with doubts about my own ability to fit in, not doubts on my acceptance by my Gay sisters and brothers. It is true that some of my Gay brothers have oppressed me in the past — but they were isolated instances. My Gay sisters have never oppressed me in any way. In point of fact they got together at the end of the conference to show their support of Howard, Michelle and myself in every way. It was a very beautiful gesture and actually moved me to tears.

Furthermore GLF's attempts in Rotorua were far from being a failure. If we managed to help one Gay person, then we were a success. In fact we did a lot more than that. We actually made them realise that there are Gays in Rotorua: and we made them think, which is always a starting point.

The case of the male Maori drag was misquoted. She herself was not given the note of immunity: it was the witness for the prosecution. Quite a difference. The note was produced in court, the witness tried to retract his earlier statement (statement under duress); the jury was instructed to ignore the note of immunity; and the drag concerned was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. However the other witness was not later charged. At least they kept one promise.

I have never at any stage accepted that the drag image was detrimental to GLF. What I did say was that what could be detrimental to GLF is the anti-drag attitude of the general news media.

The decision the conference as a whole came to was that role playing could be detrimental but that if a person felt it was genuinely their thing, then all power to them. I will leave it there as, mainly due to a fuckwitted editorial, I'm feeling very close to physical violence.

Yours in Peoplehood,

Sandy Gauntlett,

Gay Liberation Front.