EEEElllIElli + WEE
A PUILIBATIDN or THI: LIXINIITDN BAY AND LII-IAN llnvmln DRIIANIZATIDN
COMING OUT: National Gay/Lesbian Crisis Line
INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP T (820) $732835
Coming out is considered a developmental eenage ay es ian upport
process where individuals become more public (800) 347'TEEN .
regarding their sexual orientation. The process Thurs. - Sun. 7pm-Midnight
can be viewed as moving from a private level to a
more public level. We often begin by coming out FAIRNESS SURVEYS LOCAL ELECTION
to ourselves, as we become accustomed to this, RESULTS: FASTEN YOUR SE ATBELTS!
we come out to other lesbigays and finally, we . . . .
become comfortable enough with our sexual According to Fairness Committee member Linda
identities to come out to non—lesbigays West, this year’s local elections results will not
During the first step, at the private level of benefit the lesbigay community: Here in Fayette
coming out to ourselves, individuals question their mag}: %n|}:_;i‘:‘:s:f 3:: gagsldggeiggig wgrre
own sexual identity and often begin to question Devine were elected 19hr eryf yr new star:
common ideas about sexuality held by family, ’ . . ' e o 0” . .
friends, community, church, government and senators, constituting half of our representation in
society in general. As a result of this questioning, g]? hstt’agicljegirzlatwe aredmembers (i); ”tie 2:32:
a new non-exclusively heterosexual label may be g . . . . 0 eco as oppos g .
accepted or denied. decriminalization of sodomy as well as equal rights
The second stage involves coming out to other for lesbigays. According to MS' West, there are now
lesbigays. Individuals begin to venture out from enough legislative votes stateWIde to put a new
their private world to into the “gay" world sodomy law on the ballot for the 1996 election.
. . . . . ’ This could mean trouble for Kentucky’s lesbians,
searching for support, recreation, SOCIalization, bisexuals and a 5
sex and relationships. . ’ g y ‘ . .
The third step involves coming out to non- Fairness surveyed all the local candidates fortheir
lesbigays This step is considered the most opinions on Lesbigay issues and shared the results
difficult and risky The risks can include the loss in their newsletter, that was mailed to 1700 people.
of basic human needs (i e family friends housing The night before the election, Fairness volunteers
and employment as well 'as the’love belonging called approximately 750 people to remind them to
and the safety these things represent) On the vote. Fairness also volunteered 800 hours from
positive side, this process of moving from the 130.volunteers-in support Of Don T9dd’ who ran
. . . against Tim Philpots one of the areas most vocal
private level to the public level can also include . .
important gains (i e a stronger sense of self opponents of equal rights for gays and lesbians.
positive self image and a sense of authenticity -a Fairness members have already met to plan
continued on page 8 continued on page 4