High Gear, Page 7

Watching your language

"Sexual" with a prefix added

By R. Woodward

In her " Smorgasboard" column last month M.F. Castle objected to my statement in the September issue of HIGH GEAR that “celibacy is, after all, a form of nonheterosexuality." Her doing so has made me realize that some discusIsion is in order of how the words. "heterosexuality" and "homosexuality" are frequently taken to have broader meanings than they actually have.

by

Homosexuality is defined Webster's New World Dictionary of the English Language as "1. sexual desire for those of the same sex. 2. sexual relations between those of the same sex." Heterosexuality i defined by the same dictionary as. "1. sexual desire for those of the opposite sex. 2. sexual relations between individuals of the opposite sex."

Putting these definitions together

seems to show that the only difference between what is referred to by "homosexual" and what is referred to by "heterosexual" is the gender of those with whom particular individuals might desire to have sexual relations.

The word "heterosexual," like the word "homosexual," is the word "sexual" with a prefix added. If something is not sexual, it is not homosexual or heterosexual.

"Non-homosexuality" is not a synonym for "heterosexuality" and "non-heterosexuality" is not a synonym for "homosexual."

The word "celibate" means more nan single or unmarried. It suggests that the individual in question is abstaining from all sexual activity in order to devote all of his or her time and energy to some higher cause.

An individual who is celibate may feel the urge to engage in sexual relations from time to time, but the main

Gay Hotline Service In Lake County

By Ray Koppel

Lake Educational Telephone Service sure is a mouthful. Shortened it spells LETS, and so I say LETS get together and say hello to anew Gay Hot Line Service in Lake County. They will be serving people in Willoughby, Mentor, Painesville, Concord, Fairport and Perry.

LETS is a service that was founded by Director John Quail of Lake County for our many Gay Brothers and Sisters who have been in need for such an information center in that area for a very very long time. Their telephone number is 357-1199 amd volunteers are on the phones from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. 7 nights a week. They are there to help

you in any way they can. Your questions will be answered and they will try to help you solve your personal problems. LETS, the Lake County Gay Hot Line, provides you with information, and also referrals for legal and medical care. There will also be counseling provided on a limited basis. Keep in touch with LETS for social events and where to go for entertainment. Once again the LETS telephone number is 357-1199.

We want to thank Director John Quail of LETS, and wish his staff Good Luck and Best Wishes for their new Hot Line Service for Lake County.

Thank You

For Your Support In The

Recent Election. I'm Here To Serve

Everyone. Call Me If You Have A

Problem Or Concern.

664-2000

John J. Lynch

Councilman Ward 171

point of his or her celibacy is to not give in to these urges.

Celibacy may be thought of as a form of non-heterosexuality if the aim of an individual who is celibate is thought of as being non-sexuality in general.

It is important to keep in mind that the word "sexual," when used by the general public, does not usually have as broad and diffuse a meaning as it does when used by psychiatrists and psychologists.

Except when the word "sexual" is obviously being used as a synonym for "gender"--for example, "the fair sex" -most native speakers of English will be quick to assume that what is being referred to is overt genital activity.

How little one knows

It is important to keep in mind how little people know about a person if all that they have heard about him or her is that he or she is "homosexual."

The only thing they know is the gender of those with whom the individual might desire to have sexual relations.

They have not been told what sort

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of personality the individual has.

They do not know how the person behaves, what specific sexual acts the individual might prefer, the preferred age of those with whom the individual might desire to have sexual relations, or even if the individual in question has ever actually engaged in any homosexual acts at all.

As many lesbian activists will probably be quick to acknowledge, the word "homosexual" does not mean "being a promiscuous, unmarried, neurotic young male with a drinking problem."

Insisting upon the basic literal meanings of the words "homosexual" and "hetersexual" is not just a matter of semantics. It is also a necessary and unavoidable strategy.

One of the greatest difficulties facing gay man and lesbian women in the United States is that among nongays most people's knowledge of "homosexuality" does not extend beyond idle superstition. Many nongays who criticize “homosexuality" have not even bothered to find out what it is basically that they are referring to.

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