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College Handbook Includes Gay Listings

BY ROB DAROFF

Have you ever gotten ticked off at commercials, movies, catalogues, and books that act like the whole world is 100% hetero and happy? Have you ever gotten the feeling that writers, authors, and journalists believe that they only have non-gay people in their audience?"

Well, wait. Before you decide that you are going to 1) sledge-hammer your TV set, 2) picket the movie theaters, and 3) never again set foot in a (non-erotic) bookstore, there is hope.

Every so often, the mass media hands us a gem. This time, believe it or not, it's from the same author who brought us the infamous Official Preppy Handbook,

Lisa Birnbach. Her latest undertaking, Birnbach's College Book is probably the first college catalogue that as she puts it, "actually goes beyond student faculty ratios and the number of books in the school library."

More importantly, the College Book gives gay and lesbian college-bound prospectives a good indication of

how open or closed-minded different campuses are on the subject of sexual orientation.

For nearly every one of the 186 colleges she reviews, Birnbach includes at least one sentence on the school's "gay situation." She writes, for example, that at Penn State, few gays are open and the gay student group is "too small to be

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influential," just the reverse of Ohio State, where she reports that many are open and the organization is thriving. At Miami University, Birnbach explains that the situation is "becoming more open, but the gay/lesbian organization is not funded," and most remain tightly closeted.

If you're really a glutton for punishment, why not try

the University of Wyomingt where, says one student,,

you come out, the cowboys will beat the shit out of you" (sounds pretty kinky). On the other hand, Oberlin College sounds a bit more traditional. Birnbach notes that it has "as many gay couples as straight couples:" Of Case Western Reserve University, she reports that there are many of

CONTINUED

aids, or Body Language. There is no defense necessary. This is not to say that they would not be worthy if defense were needed.

One more thing: I have not taken issue with Mr. Glassborn's statements because I use sexual aids. I don't.

Drew Francis

already Navis

himself away as being sadly misinformed. There have been homosexuals and heterosexuals engaging in serious sex play with the use of sexual aids for thousands of years. It may benefit him to take a look at a volume called Sex in History by Reay Tanahill, unless his mind is already made up and he does not wish to be confused with facts. To guard against being offended, I also suggest that to his reading list Mr. Glassborn add Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Bells on their Toes, and that in the area of film he stick to Mary Pickford and Loretta Young epics. I guarantee will not be offended, merely bored silly.

Endorsed

To the editor:

I have read your July, 1985 issue covering the Bob Navis issue.

I have had the pleasure of hexnowing Bob and yes, of loving him, for he is one of the most sensitive, giving persons I

Mr. Glassborn has also suggested that the people who use sexual aids are not of a "decent" variety. To this I have to say that he is pigeon-holing, and that the suggestion is illogical, irrational, and completely prejudicial. In the last 15 years or so I have downed many a drink with, conversed with, broken bread with, and incidentally shared living quarters with men who have used sexual aids. I cannot think of one of those people whom I would not regard as being any more or less decent than I consider myself to be. (Yet, I am certain that there are some rogues out there).

Please do not interpret this letter to be in any way defense of of Linus, sexual

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us on campus, but little visibility.

Although some may argue that Birnbach's coverage lacks sufficient depth, the College Book is both practical and fun. The author deserves thanks. She even includes a two page essay, "Gays on Campus," in which she actually writes more about lesbians than gay men (lesbians are usually ignored by the straight press even more than gay men). It is one of the few catalogues of any kind that considers the interests of its gay and lesbian readers.

How did I as a gay person let Birnbach know that I appreciate for once being included in a book?

I bought it.

also participated in his vigil and had the honor of attending his wedding.

I am a straight woman with six children, and I know that if I had the option of chosing a teacher for my children, the teacher would be Bob Navis.

I say Bravo! for Bob Navis. His loss is the loss of the Diocese and sadly, a loss for the children.

Christ would not have turned his back on Bob, and to me, the first word in Christian is Christ. We should all be so lucky to have a Bob Navis touch our lives.

There is no evil in love and there is no love if it cannot be shared. Sincerely,

Diana Robertson

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