Re: [UUPoly-L] D/s in church (was: Report from PNWD AGM)

Victor Raymond <vraymond@iastate.edu> · Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:55:20 -0000

To put some historical
At 05:54 PM 3/1/2007, you wrote:
   Let me wade back in on this ...
   I can see no logical reason to not tolerate and accept someone being
   visible about a 24/7 D/S relationship at church.
   I agree, there is no _logical_ reason, but there are plenty of emotional
   "reasons" why people may be intolerant towards anyone who is different.

All the more reason to engage in education efforts to create the 
tolerance and acceptance that we're striving for.
A little less than 20 years ago, I was at my first Creating Change 
(annual conference of NGLTF), and got into a lengthy discussion with 
a member of the NGLTF board, Ivo Domingues (might be off about the 
spelling - it's been awhile).  As a gay man, active in the leather 
community, Ivo was absolutely committed to building acceptance of 
bisexuals in the (then) "gay and lesbian" community.  When I asked 
him why, he said that it was absolutely necessary as a stepping stone 
to building acceptance of leatherfolk and the BDSM community.
That profound insight suggests that it is important to build bridges 
and figure out how to communicate with one another, when we perceive 
differences between us.  As a sociologist, to me the current social 
acceptance of BDSM seems similar to where non-heterosexual people 
were at, back in the late '60's into the '70's.  Lots of 
misunderstanding, a few pockets of acceptance and awareness, and a 
LOT of work to do.

Victor J Raymond

vraymond "at"  iastate.edu  

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