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Three Queers For Metro’s Language Choice
Dear Editor,
I agree with you 100 percent when it comes LGBT, GLBT, or any of those other politically-correct acronyms we use to represent our community (“Language is Queerific” July 7, 2005). These acronyms are code words for our community, where only we understand them. They tend to make our community invisible to the general population, a population that neither understands us nor wants to know that we actually exists. It’s much easier for the media to use “LGBT” or “GLBT” rather than the words “gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender” because the acronyms make it easier to pretend we don’t really exist.
And if we don’t really exist, then we don’t deserve any rights at all. We as a community have shot ourselves in the foot by creating and using these acronyms. We’ve made ourselves less visible to the straight community by using the terms rather than being more out in the open with our own orientation.
As for your second reasoning, I again agree with you. Acronyms do become less inclusive and leave our straight allies out of the picture. Remember: our straight allies would be considered “queer” within their straight families or friends who disagree with their thinking when it comes to queer rights. So, likewise, I personally go along with the word “queer” because it’s not conforming to what our society wants to hear or use and it basically states it like it is.
We are “queer” because we don’t fall under the so-called “norm” of society. We are unique and queer from the rest of society. We need to keep it this way and remain “queerfic” instead of becoming totally assimilated into general society. Otherwise we are going to lose ourselves into the general population forever.
Mark Swonson
Salt Lake City
Dear Editor,
As a straight woman involved in the leather scene, I agree with you one hundred percent about using “queer” instead of gay or GLBT. So many of my friends are gay or lesbian or bisexual that I find myself taking part in Pride and other similar events all the time.
“Queer” is great because I think it lets people like me—open-minded people who have explored their sexuality beyond vanilla, missionary-position stuff—feel welcome and included. Thanks.
Mistress Ravenholm
Evanston, Wyo.
Dear Editor,
Props to you on your use of the word queer. Who really wants to be considered average anyway?
“Donkey”
Salt Lake City
Two Views on Bisexuality
Dear Editor,
I just wanted to say that your coverage of bisexuality was way off (“Getting It From Both Sides” July 7, 2005). I don’t know where you found these people in your paper, but every single person I’ve ever met who claimed to be bisexual was either just afraid to admit they were gay, or such drunken sluts that they really didn’t care who got them off as long as someone did—usually a different person every weekend.
Why should we, gays and lesbians, embrace bisexuality? Even if there are a few people like the kind of bisexuals interviewed in your article, they are perfectly capable of getting by in the straight world by deciding to only date people of their opposite sex for a while. If they decide to date people of their same sex, they should call themselves gay while they do it and support our cause instead of hiding from it.
But in my experience, bisexuality is a disgusting, perverted whore-ish lifestyle that will never be accepted by hetero society and shouldn’t be accepted by us, either.
Jessi Reade
Layton
Dear Editor,
I wanted to thank you guys for your thoughtful and informative coverage of bisexuality. I’m actually straight, but my sister is bisexual and I never really understood what she meant by that. I just thought she was confused and probably a lesbian. When I saw your paper at Coffee Garden, I decided to read it to see if I could better understand what made sis tick.
You’ve certainly opened up my eyes. I think I’m starting to get a better understanding of alternative sexuality—not just bisexuals, but I think I understand homosexuality better than I used to. Even though I’m straight, you’ve got a new loyal reader. Keep up the excellent work!
Cody Telfer
Salt Lake City
QSaltLake welcomes letters from its readers. Please email letters@slmetro.com or mail your letter to: Editor, QSaltLake, 352 S. Denver St. Ste 350, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. We reserve to right to edit for length or libel. |
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