So I was walking by the Res today just prior to noon and got to see the "Kiss-in" taking place. While I am not a big fan of PDA to this extent, I recognize it was done to draw attention and I am sure it was effective at doing that, I don't know if it is going to draw the "right" kind of attention but that is not for me to decide. My beef with this lies with one of the handouts. I will elaborate on each statement on it. THE LESBIAN AVENGERS - is a direct action group using grassroots activism to fight for lesbian survival and visibility. (good purpose statement, makes sense and is reasonable) - wants to shock and educate you (Looking up the work "shock" in the Websters dictionary at MacCraken, it listed four different definitions as a verb. The "kindest" definition of the word is "To disgust". This seems not to be a good goal to me.) - thinks the word 'Redskins' is offensive (What does this have to do with the group. I don't mind the viewpoint, I just don't see how that relates to Lesbianism) - wants a course curriculum that represents and respects queer culture, art, and experience (fair enough. this makes sense and is definitely a reasonable demand) - thinks it is imperative for Miami to offer benefits and privileges for same-sex partners of faculty, staff, and graduate students. (I fail to see the word "Equal" anywhere in the above statement so I am left to believe that TLA is striving to have benefits and privileges beyond that which are allotted to non-lesbians) - wants you to recycle (fair enough, but how is this relevant to your group?) - is outraged at anti-lesbian violence and hate crimes. (fair enough) - wants everyone to practice safer sex (good) - takes stands against homophobia (fine, but understand it is someone's right to remain ignorantly scared of homosexuals) - wants to recruit you (here is the biggie. First of all sense I am male, does TLA want to recruit me? Secondly, why would they want to "recruit" people to TLA? Especially, those who do not fit the definition of Lesbian? Is it a goal of that organization to try to "change" women who are straight to become lesbians? I do not know the ties between this group and the GLBA, but I know the GLBA strives to emphasize they are not out to change you (this is just from people I have talked to in the group, I don't know if that is an official stance.) It is the TLA's right if these are there opinions, but I lose a lot of respect for them for having them. -- Take it easy, Steve Harry GO PENS! STANLEY CUP CHAMPS '91-'92 [log in to unmask] http://www.muohio.edu/~stharry/ There is nothing you need to do first in order to be enlightened. -- T. Golas