LGBTers and Allies: How LGBT Friendly is your Community?

[Smarmie Doofus]

39. Backatcha, Closeup. I've always preferred non-ghetto, mixed...

... social and residential settings myself. I feel I'm more than my sexual orientation and the larger culture continues to insist that it defines me.

Bullshit. It defines a *part* of me; a completely natural and normal part of me but still ... only a *part* of me.

The trick is being involved in the larger community and not compromising one's identity at the same time. I guess that's why the subtle, hands-off attitude of the mainstream toward this entire subject bothers me more than blatant homophobia... which , outside of school settings ( i.e. among kids; I'm a teacher.), I really don't see very often.

What one doesn't talk about is often more significant than what one does talk about. That superficial tolerance covers-up a lot of primitive attitudes. They are therefore harder than hard to change. Because the issues never really get dealt with. You can't re-evaluate what you don't acknowledge.