FEATURES 6 El Grande By A. Dorian
36 Indiscretion By Bruce Rand
60 The GUYS Short/Short: Biology Lesson By Brian McLeod
92 Liberty on Planet Gaia By Tim Glade
120 Go for Broker By Lee Williams
140 The GUYS Novella: Summer Sessions By Tom Roberts DEPARTMENTS
5 EDITORIAL
GUYTALK Contest-winning letter: READY FOR RANDY
2/4 GREAT GAY GUYS: CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS, TOM WADDELL, ALCIBIADES, CONSTANTINE
CAVAFY By Thomas Ryan
4A GUYTALK: FUN WITH THE FRAT BOYS
54 POINT OF VIEW: FUNNIES II
68 IN THE BEGINNING True tales of coming out
74 GUYTALK: CABIN FEVER
88 STARSTRUCK: A Victim of Time By Terence Spoza
108 ROLE CALL MODELS: THEY CALL IT YUPPIE LOVE
116 GUYS BUYS By Quinn Roberts
130 THE GROANING BOARD: SMALL PLEASURES By George Fields
132 GUYTALK Contest-winning letter: I WANT MY MAN-TV
EDITORIAL
With Mother's Day just around the corner and Father's Day following close behind,
perhaps it's time to reflect on the kinds of relationships we have with our families.
Based on the responses to our In the Beginning department, as well as the stories
related by friends and acquaintances, it seems that a large and growing minority
of gay men have been blessed with supportive parents and siblings.
Unfortunately, however, most of us have to deal with at least one or two family
members who are bigoted against gay people. Most of the time these latter-day
Archie Bunkers can't bring themselves to use the word "gay" or even
"homosexual," preferring instead "fag," "faggot,"
or "queer." They can't bear to use a word for gays that doesn't drip
with hate.
Anti-gay bigotry is usually due to ignorance, but often there's a special kind
of ignorance involved: willful ignorance. You could give people like this a book
that contains the facts about homosexuality, and they wouldn't read it in a thousand
years. Whenever the topic comes up in a positive way on television, they'll immediately
switch to "Hogan's Heroes" or "Wheel of Fortune." Willful
ignorance is more than just lack of knowle.,dge, it's avoidance of knowledge.
So how do you deal with willfully ignorant family members? Well, you don't. You
can be cordial and polite, but don't bother challenging their hate. It's useless,
at least until they give some sign that they're becoming less close-minded. Remember,
you can't teach someone who doesn't want to learn.
Instead, concentrate on winning over (if you haven't done so already) those family
members who have shown themselves open to new ideas. Your efforts are more likely
to be rewarded, and you could end up isolating the bigot or bigots. Bob Harris, Editor
