OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME IN DEVELOPING A POSITIVE LESBIAN/GAY/BISEXUAL IDENTITY
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1) "SILENCE" -- few openly "out" role models; little sense of lebian and gay
                history/culture; invisibility of gay/lesbian contributions 
                to history

2) "LIES" -- distorted images and stereotypes/myths by news media, church, 
             tv/films; lack of accurate/responsible research; etc

3) "ISOLATION" -- without the freedom to gather or be open, gays and 
                  lesbians cannot easily share ideas and strategize ways to
                  combat heterosexism and homophobic oppression

4) "INTIMIDATION" -- as gays become more open, society becomes more overt:
                     ridicule; jokes; legal threats of attack, prison, 
                     blackmail, custody battles, job loss, eviction; etc.

5) "PHYSICAL VIOLENCE" -- assaults; rape; murder; electro shock therapy; etc.

6) "DENIAL OF THE BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS" -- such as: employment; housing; child
                                         custody; freedom of association and
                                         assembly; freedom of speech; etc.

Adapted from: Baetz, Ruth, "The Coming-Out Process: Violence Against 
Lesbians," in Darty, Trudy and Potter Sandee (1984), Women-Identified Women,
Palo Alto: Mayfield Publishing Company, pps.45-50
Kathy Obear, The Human Advantage, 1989   (413) 584-0812


--
Tina M. Wood       ____  | "And when the walls begin to
al715@yfn.ysu.edu  \  /  |  fall, can't hold back the joy
EQUALITY is not a   \/   |  that love will conquer all."            
"special right"!         |             --Three Dog Night