than men who have a problem with your lifestyle? In this society, do you think that it is easier for a woman fo be openly lesbian, or for a man to be gay? Terri - | think that we both have to deal with the bullshit, but I don’t know, I have never been a gay man. Lisa - | think it is easier for a woman to be a lesbian with her friends than it is for a man to be openly gay. Terri - People in general seem to have trouble seeing people of the same sex being intimate. Women seem to have more of a problem accepting lesbians, whereas men seem to have a problem with gay men. Do you think that being homosexual is a result of conditioning, or is someone born hetero or homosexual? Lisa - | have tried to figure that out. I sometimes think that maybe it is from my upbringing because I have many brothers, I was always a tomboy, but I don’t know. Terri - I wonder sometimes if it is the upbringing, but I am sure that not every lesbian or gay man has had the same common feature in their lives to make them gay. Who do you admire who is out in the world? Lisa - Melissa Ethridge Terri - Anybody who is out is great, it makes things easier for us. What do you think would make living here on P.E.I. easier for homosexuals? Terri - There should be more laws that protect the rights of everybody, no matter what their race or sexual orientation. If we want to get married, we should be able to go down to city hall just like any other couple, but right now it is illegal. We would have to go to the U.S. if we wanted to get married. There are many homosexual couples who are in long term relationships and share mortgages, car payments, insurances. If one of them were to die, and not have a will, nothing would go to the partner, it would go to that person’s family. P.E.I. also needs more gay bars, and definitely more awareness. If there was an opening of a strictly gay bar, there would be an awful lot of backlash. Thankfully, there are a lot of gay-friendly pubs and stuff, but it is still different. Lisa - | have a gay magazine from the states, and it is full of local hangouts for the gay and lesbian community, and sometimes | just wish that I lived there. I would like to be really out, but [am afraid to, Terri - Yeah, 1 don’t want to have to deal with the backlash. There is a lot of bullshit that homosexuals have to deal with, and I don’t want that. I have people look at us and ask who is supposed to be the man and who 'S supposed to be the woman. People think that there should be a butch-looking woman, and pretty woman in a homosexual relationship, | laugh and say that no one Wears the pants in our relationship! (“ees ~~ I t is so nice to see so many people with so much time on their hands. But it makes me wonder, why do so many people waste so much time trying to determine who should sleep with who? Sex. How do you feel about sex? Is it good? Is it right? Does it make you happy? Did anybody ask? Maybe I’m off base on this one, but who ever asked anyone to decide for them who they should sleep with? I sure don’t need anyone deciding for me what my type is or should be. Obviously, not everyone feels this way. Everywhere you look people are making decisions about the morality and legality of sexual relations. Sometimes it’s a cheesy film of some high school kids telling each other that they think chastity is the best decision, or an article on the internet on why gay sex is wrong. Other times it’s some insightful remarks on the walls in the men’s washroom in Robertson library. Even the Bible has opinions on the subject. A recent bill was passed in the UK on the legal age for having sex. The decision: sixteen years for heterosexual sex, sixteen years for lesbian sex, and eighteen years for gay sex. Why the extra two-year wait? Maybe the powers-that-be feel that those considering such a thing might change their minds, given time to reconsider? At least they can settle for hetero sex while they wait-- apparently, they don’t have to be as sure about that choice. Laws such as these are so great. It is amazing how out-of-touch with daily living people can become, on behalf of the people no less; or maybe it’s the people who are out CUP Graphic: The Muse MALT DECIDEDTO COME oUF ro "I ROK HER THA Nyy eta sage RN atte Tate E SAID Te HER. Mo SHE SusT Too TAR, I'm A LEsSB ay | WINE AND SA ~ Tlike cream and sugar in my coffee, is that ok with you? By Alex Keaveny of touch? Does legislation such as this actually stop people from having sex while they are still ‘‘under age’’? Similar legislation works so well with alcohol, so why not sex? Close your eyes and imagine, you and your partner are in bed or wherever having sex, when the police bust in, ‘‘This is a raid, move away from each other, show me some I.D.’’? The real-life crime shows would eat it up! But seriously folks, let’s leave private matters private. And thanks to our media (Roseanne, Philadelphia, etc...) homosexual sex is on the collective mind. Has society finally come to grips with their homophobia? We all know KRAFT hasn’t (they won’t advertise on Roseanne anymore), but how about everyone else’? Are they ready to **Morally accept’’ Gays? Personally, | think society should hold their high horses for a minute. How is homosexuality anymore of a ‘‘MORAL”’ issue than heterosexuality? A person’s sexual orientation is of no one’s concern but their own. . If I choose to be straight, gay or bi then that is up to me. The only choice anyone else has is whether or not they choose to have sex with me. If we must talk about sex then perhaps we should move away from worrying about consensual sex, in which all those involved are willing, and talk more about non-consensual sex, rape. Rape is such a devastating crime. Why don’t we devote our energy to this more worthwhile dilemma? But I won’t waste anymore of your time, for I am one person and the opinion creators are oh-so-powerful. NOT. You Like Nidal it a 8 - KA SIP of ID,“ No YOURE Boys’ INFNATddns OFTD If I choose to be straight, gay or bi then that is up to me. The only choice anyone else has is whether or not they choose to have sex with me.