understanding: Repplier and Lyons

What I don't understand is why it is so important for a non-heterosexual to share his or her sexual identity. Hopefully I will get that by the end of this unit.

Repplier talks a lot about limited acceptance of homosexuals and blatant non-acceptance from her own experience and those around her. Although I have not come out as homosexual I don't think I've ever been truly accepted by my parents. First because I ran off to get married, then because I was a starving artist, now divorced; I haven't carried through the dream of happily ever after for them. They want their kid to be happy and I don't think they see that happening. I wonder what it is behind Repplier's family's feelings. Is it simply because they are homophobic? Is there more to it? It's hard to say becasue the article only gives us one side of the story.

Lori Lyons talks about pda's and how difficult it is for a lesbian to hold hands in public. When I lived in toronto this was no big deal - it happened all over the place where I was. Same for men. I don't think I've seen it in Windsor yet. When a partner from a lesbian couple walks into the womyn's centre I'm always surprised they do not greet each other with a hug or peck on the cheek. Of all places, i would hope the womyn's centre doesn't feel threatening. I think some desensitizing is in order: if lesbians want to be able to openly show affection, someone is going to have to start doing it. As long as people are hiding, it's not going to get easier. But yes, sure is easy for me to say sitting here by myself at the computer when I don't have a girlfriend.