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Barbara Mallut wrote: > > Ivan.... > > One thing I've noticed about the members of this List is that folks don't > really seem to care one way or the other if anyone is part of a minority, be > it religious, ethnic, gay/lesbian... even LAWYERS! <grin> (That's a joke, > people) > > I believe you're not seeing the real issue here and that is we are ALL alike > when we have Parkinson's. I dont' give a rat's ass whether you're gay or not. > I don't care if your blue and tattooed! I couldn't' care less if you worship > a tree or an invisible entity, or if you worship anything at all. But I DO > care that you're life is burdened with the this awful disease. > > I suggest you consider that there may be others in our PD List community who > are gay/lesbian who just don't see the relevance in bringing that up in a > group which is together because they have PD, not because of their sexual > orientation... I'd hope they WOULD feel free to mention that if they felt a > reason to do so... > > EACH of us on this List is unique, Ivan. And each of us will be on Oprah > (should we ever make it that far) as INDIVIDUALS... Individuals who have one > thing in common.... PD. If you are affectionate towards your partner, that in > no way reflects upon me or my own sexuality, nor upon anyone else's, OR upon > our having the same disease. In my opinion, you're making an issue of what > appears to me to be a non-issue, at least as far as PD and Oprah are > concerned. > > One last thing, Ivan. Last year you posted here on the list about being gay > and it barely caused a ripple. THIS year you've posted the same information > once again, and other than a few "No biggee, live and be well" messages (and > any you may have received via email, which of course, we're not privy to), the > general response here has been "Ho hum." I urge you to consider that it MAY > be that most of us just don't CARE what anyone's sexual orientation is.. or > maybe we're just all too damn lethargic 'cause of the PD to make a big stink > over it. > > Either way, Ivan, if you're "getting any", consider yourself lucky, 'cause > most Parkies seem to be born again virgins! <g> > > Barb Mallut > "Lil_Honey" on the PD Chat > [log in to unmask] > > ---------- > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Ivan M Suzman > Sent: Sunday, February 23, 1997 1:40 AM > To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN > Subject: GAY PWP's are EXCLUDED! > > >From the midwinter desk of Ivan Suzman ([log in to unmask])............ > > Dear listmembers, > > Thank you all who have written so far, and shared your feelings about > my proclaiming my GAY sexual orientation to our listmembers.. > > There are many reasons why it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for me to IDENTIFY > myself as GAY to the Parkinson's List...... > > Here are just two examples: > > 1. OUR PUBLIC IMAGE ON THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW > > In the last few wonderful weeks, mostly thanks to the DEDICATED > work of Stan Houston and Barb Mallut, we have teasingly, but also very > seriously, begun our first effort to be visible on the OPRAH show. > > Could the sight of two men holding hands in loving support of each > other , a PWP and his CG, and REPRESENTING us on OPRAH, make the > Parkinson's world recoil in internal turmoil? Would our Parkie style of > propriety, especially in this age of Udall Bill work, discriminate > against us same-gender partners?? > > WE talk about being VISIBLE, but the heterosexual PWP 's and CG's > are burying the thousands of GAY Parkinsonians. An obvious fact supports > this: > I AM THE ONLY GAY PWP who feels safe enough, so far, to be open about my > sexual orientation. Ask yourselves why this is happening............... > > If I, as a gay, younger (47), blue-eyed blond, bearded PWP, held > on to, or hugged, or gently kissed his very cute, special, 32 year-old > male friend ON THE AIR, and while REPRESENTING OUR PWP COMMUNITY, that > behavior would be perfectly natural for me. But a lot of our > listmembers would probably, I am disheartened to say, find this behavior > to set off red flashing sirens, screaming," out-of-bounds!" Is this > fair??? > > These expressions of love and support, SO acceptable in the hetero > world, would probably be the source of an outcry of "OH NO, DON'T LET > THIS BEHAVIOR REPRESENT US!" > > So, listmembers, what do you feel is acceptable? Please be honest. > I already know from at least one message sent to me after I had said, > like Barb Mallut had also said with an excitement that had me in stitches > with laughter, that I MIGHT enjoy seeing a man wearing a kilt (I didn't > say anything to suggest I would pursue dear Jeremy Browne!), that the > Parkinson's Community has never confronted the homophobia that pervades > and divides us from one another.. > > And unless we are open about our worries, we cannot move towards a > consensus. > > 2. CAREGIVER IMAGE > > If you look through the MAGAZINES AND FOUNDATION REPORTS on > Parkinson's (at least what I've seen), we GAY and LESBIAN Parkinsonians > have NEVER EVER been shown with our CAREGIVING PARTNERS, as role models. > > ....It's no wonder gay and lesbian PWP's and CG's are hiding. WE ARE > STILL EXCLUDED. > ANd that EXCLUSION hurts us. > > So, I must pursue this, because I feel like I am a lone voice for > thousands of creative GAY and LESBIAN PWP's and CG's who are completely > INVISIBLE. > We have so much to give to our whole community, but will you let us do > that for the benefit of all, while meanwhile not pushing us into the > closets of the world?? > > So my question is, WHAT PUBLIC IMAGE OF PWP's AND THEIR > CAREPARTNERS is comfortable for you?? What public image is unacceptable > as a role model of our common battle?? Again, PLEASE be honest. > .............................................................................. > ............................................................................ > "The world is like a spider's web---touch it anywhere, and it quivers > everywhere" > > Ivan Suzman > 47/10 Portland, Maine > land of lighthouses > and, "Proud-to-be-gay!" > .............................................................................. > ............................................................................. like others, i dont care if your gay or what ever, it doesnt make sense that this be the focal point of every communication. I understand that being gay is a big part of your life, but... pd is something seperate, it seems like you have alot of gay issues to deal with. but they are two seperate and distince subjects. ok lisa