I was pleased to note, in a recent article outlining some of the changes evolving in publications for gay men and lesbians in Chicago, that I am associated with a feminist publication. If feminism means that I have as much respect for women as I do for men, then so be it. If feminism means dislike for men, then I am not a feminist, and neither is this publication feminist. When I was being published in GayLife and Windy City Times, I donÂ't think I was anti-feminist.
Perhaps a word others might try to use to characterize the opposite of feminist is masculinist. I am masculinist is that the objects of my sexual and romantic desires are genitally male. Women are not. They are, however, just as are men., my objects of admiration for their talents and achievements, whenever and wherever they have them. If that makes me a feminist, so be it.
ItÂ's true that the editor and publisher of the journal you now hold in your hands is genitally female. ItÂ's true that I have read ( and enjoyed reading ) , among others, Jane Austen and A.S. Byatt. But there are some women authors whose writings I do not care for. I hope that doesnÂ't make me anti-feminist. ItÂ's true that I believe that women can be, and are, as talented ( or as untalented ) as men in any field which crosses my imagination, and that I could possibly name a woman who excels me in any of my own fields of endeavor.
A woman carried me in her womb for 9 months ( not without the help of a man of course ) , and for that I am grateful. A woman, as well as a man, assured me of food and shelter when I was unable to provide them for myself, being too small and incapable. A woman, as well as a man, showered me with love and affection, and provided me with the wherewithal to be educated, and guided me through some of the pitfalls and potholes of life, without which I would not be the person I am today. But I think my caring about women, as well as about men, makes me a humanist, not a feminist.
To me, a humanist is a person who cares about all of us, male and female, without recourse to whom we have sex with and with whom we establish romantic bonds. So, a publication which prints stories about women, as well as men, seems to be saying that there is more than one gender which is important. Women can achieve and produce those things which can be of benefit to society, just as can men. Women can love women, just as men can love men. In my mind, that doesnÂ't make lesbians feminist, although I am empathetic with them, if they feel any animosity towards men for the thousands of years of oppression under which they have suffered.
In a like manner, I am empathetic towards both gay males and lesbians for feeling animosity towards straight people for the thousands of years we have suffered from their oppression and prejudice. ItÂ's just that I donÂ't think that animosity gets anyone very far. I, myself, feel a lot better with positive feelings than with negative ones. I want middle class, upwardly mobile gay men, as well as lesbians, to continue their climbs up the ladders of successful living. I want those who are not in that socio-economic class to be successful, as well. I want us all to enjoy as many of the joys of life as we can. To me, it doesnÂ't matter whether one is male, female, rich, poor, white, Black, Christian, or Jew. Live and let live, thatÂ's one of my mottos.
When the object of oneÂ's sexual desires is of the same gender, the keywords are homosexual, gay, queer ( in the best sense ) , lesbian, etc., not feminist or masculinist. When one is interested and cares about all people, thatÂ's being a humanist.
When Bill Clinton and George Bush were running for the presidency, people were concerned about using the "L" word ( for liberal, of course ) . I am not afraid to use the "H" word and I hope that people will not label me in any other way, except to also say that IÂ'm gay.
Knopf is a gay psychologist, who is also a humanist. Fax ( 312 ) 565-1872.
