"Unexpected Allies"

For sometime we TVs have fought the battle for identity and re- cognition alone. We still do as far as our specific pattern is concerned. But in the larger sense of awaking public awareness to injustice, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry and ignorance we have allies.

In the racial confrontation white people are learning that black people can be capable, friendly, intelligent and all the things they were formerly thought not to be. Whites are having to learn to get along with and to work side by side with them.

That group which has really been the source of our own difficulties -the homosexuals are turning out to be allies too in unexpected ways. For all past years the HS was hounded by society and he (and she) had to live in a type of social isolation not daring to admit his pre- dilictions. The ignorance that society had about HSs worked to our disadvantage since that same ignorance lead society to assume that any male who wore feminine things was a queer. We therefore paid their social penalty.

Today the homosexuals are coming out of hiding. They are fight- ing (and often winning) cases of discrimination in employment, in the military, in civil service and elsewhere. They publish numerous journals, have numerous societies and organizations and are making the public aware. In many cities they have picketed publicly with signs such as "Gay is Good" etc. Society is going to have to learn to live with them too and to accept their behaviour as "their own thing."

re-

Finally there are our GG sisters. Women too are getting tired of being 2nd class citizens and they too are organizing, protesting, marching, picketing, etc. More importantly they are coming to alize that both men and women are locked into roles and expectations and that these restraints need to be broken for both genders. This means they realize that just as they want some of the previously mas- culine freedoms, men must be allowed some of the previously fem- inine freedoms. This is up our alley I'm sure you'll agree. Several of our members including me have joined NOW the National Organiza- tion of Women. Men are admitted to membership. How about look- ing into it and joining up as your brother probably, but you will still be striking a blow in the right place. Allies are allies, so help them where you can for your own eventual victory.

38

Virginia.