Definitions: Closet

The Closet is a word that is used often but whose meaning is not always clear. Ask your friends you'll surprised at the answers you might get.

The word closet has many meanings. Most people are familiar with the architectural type of closet. Many of the readers of this paper are familiar with other meanings. Some definitions these describe the usefulness of the closet, others the horror. Still other definitions include "coming out" of the closet.

The closet many of us know has smelly sneakers, perhaps a few articles of clothes that we wanted to hide during Aunt Sophie's last visit, some assorted memories, and a half eaten candy bar. A closet with the doors closed is a dark, empty, lonely place.

Because of its size,

a closet can be a haven. In some ways it's like mom used to be.

A closet is a place to hide. hide our things there. We hide lives there. We hope nobody peek into this secret domain.

We our will

Children have sought refuge in closets and perished fires. Similarly, adults have sought refuge and suffered a long agonizing death.

Closets have other uses too. friend has converted his closet into a small library A retreat from the world. Several movie closets like Ma and Pa Kettles and others were noted for their capacity to hold discarded items just in case they were useful.

Some of us know that a closet is a

place to abandon. Some can only venture out infrequently and are prisoare still those who hopelessly trapped.

ners.

The

are

What does the word closet mean to you?

Gays and the Holocaust

ONTARIO, California The California State Board of Education has approved explicit mention of human rights violations against Lesbians and Gays in the Model Curriculum Human Rights and Genocide.

Previous to this action, the only reference in the curriculum to victims of the Nazi Holocaust was to "Jews and others." Now the curriculum includes violations of the rights of people with "differing sexual preferences" in appalling historical events like the Holocaust, as well as the American genocide of the Indians, Black slavery, unequal treatment of women, the World War II JapaneseAmerican internments, apartheid in South Africa, and others.

Turkish Queers

ISTANBUL

not

Gay people in Istanbul and Ankara have been hunger striking and protesting police brutality and police raids on gay bars. Despite the fact that homosexuality is outlawed by Turkish law, police have raided bars and beaten up and shaven the heads of gay customers. They have also forced the datained gay people to take tests for venereal diseases.

The International Lesbian and Gay Association is calling (ILGA) for international solidarity with protest actions and letters to the Turkish government. Send your letter to Excellency Turgut Ozal, Prime Minister, Government Palace, Ankara, Turkey. copy can be sent to gay group at: LAMARTIN, Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey.

the c/23-6

In testimony to the Board, a representative of the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF) said, "We believe that the inclusion of Lesbian/Gay history in the curriculum will help increase sensitivity to all people who have endured torture, humiliation, and murder at the whim of homophobic prejudice."

"Not

Congressmember Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) wrote in her supporting letter, only were Lesbians and Gay males victims of Hilter's death camps, but a type of 'hysterical homophobia' seems to be resurfacing today which must stop, lest we write another unhappy chapter in the history of human experience.

333 In the

Kitchen with Auntie Ray

It's time again to get ready for Christmas and you have a million things to do. Shopping, card writing, and endless rounds of partying takes a lot out you and now here is a recipe put some of it back.

Beef-Barley Soup.

of to

one

Into your Crock-Pot put pound of uncooked beef, cut into one inch cubes. Add five cups of beef stock, 3/4 cup pearl barley and 1/4 cup chopped onion. Simmer four to six hours till the barley is tender. Ground beef may be substituted but it must be cooked first to remove excess fat.

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