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. ‘ LEXINGTON GAY SERVICES ORGANIZATION
POST OFFICE BOX 11471
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LEXINGTON KEITUCKY O 11
GAY & PROUD" j ’ 4 5
' " ' ' ' APRIL 1985 ' ‘ '

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ftESIﬁAEﬁtIal MESSRQL’. Keith Elston, President Gay Services Organization
Discrimination. This could be the most important word in gay vocabulary. Gays face discriminaa
tion in one form or another and we have to cope with it.
Webster's defines discrimination as "the act, practice or an instance of discriminating categor-
ically rather than individually" and "prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment”. Discrimination
can be as subtle as not getting a job promotion when due or blatant as ”queer-bashing"; it can be
a thoughtless comment by a well—meaning friend or as intentional as being asked to leave a disco
or restaurant. Discrimination is based on ignorance, intolerance, fear and often--hatred.
How many of us have been at work or other public places and heard someone telling a "fag” joke?
What feelings did you have? Did you speak up or just smile weakly and remain silent? All to
often, we are guilty of the latter. By not challenging that sort of discrimination we are, in
effect, making a statement of our own, and that statement is that it's okay to tell degrading
jokes and use offensive terms. Our silence implies social tolerance for negative behavior.
There is a more threatening form of discrimination that affects us directly. Some months ago, I
was asked to speak to sociology classes at EKU. A student of one of the classes was a member of
the church where I was employed as music director. He made it clear that if I didn't tell my
church that I was gay, he would.
I called my minister and saw him the next day and told him I was gay. He was very supportive and
had a genuine interest in learning more about the subject. The minister felt it was important to
tell the governing body of the church. Soon the entire church knew.

The members of the choir which I directed stuck stubbornly at my side; some called for the church
to fire me; some countered that it didn't matter that I was gay, as long as I did my job. Most
people kept silent. The pressure was too much. Threatened with physical violence by one man and
the likelihood that this issue was going to split the church, I was forced to resign.
It has been over a month since my last Sunday as music director there. I still keep in touch with
the minister and others in the congregation. Ironically, many people who kept silent told me they
had no idea it was such a serious matter and that they were sorry about my resignation. Some were
embarrassed for the closed mindedness of others in the church. Some cried, some hugged me, some
avoided me in the halls. Some couldn't or wouldn't look me in the eye.

Through the ordeal, I held my head high. I let them know I was proud of being gay, and in the end
I believe I gained more respect from that congregation than is now given to those few who were so
prejudiced against the fact that I was gay.
In A Disturbed Peace, author Brian McNaught says there is a price to pay for our freedom from
oppression. This was the price I had to pay. I have yet to find another job, but I'll survive.
Some have called me a fool for taking such a risk, but I have to face myself in the mirror each
morning.
I like what I see.
I will continue this topic next month. If you have personal experiences that deal with discrim-
ination and would like to share them or if you would like to make comments, please let me hear
from you.

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