From jweins@u.washington.edu Tue Apr 23 10:47:21 1996 Return-Path: Received: from homer14.u.washington.edu by lists.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW96.03/UW-NDC Revision: 2.33 ) id AA29277; Tue, 23 Apr 96 10:47:20 -0700 Received: from localhost by homer14.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW96.04/UW-NDC Revision: 2.33 ) id AA164631; Tue, 23 Apr 96 10:47:19 -0700 Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 10:47:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Jacqueline Weinstock To: UW Tacoma Pride Coalition Subject: Re: Barbara Jordan In-Reply-To: Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII I too do not agree with many of the author's assertions, yet I find it important to consider the felt experiences described, which is in part what motivated me to post this piece. I would like no one to feel as if she or he must hide identity so as to be the most effective spokesperson, activist, educator, etc. Yet I understand the context out of which those feelings develop and are sustained. I fight it everyday, myself, and still have a long ways to go. It is in fact the fight in the classroom around this very issue that I struggle with. My motivation to post the piece came in response to the portion of it that moves the focus into the classroom. The words and experiences and internal battles the author describes are just those I fight against--inside myself and in others. My training has told me to focus on the students' education (and that if my identity gets in the way of that then it is my role to keep it from them); my students have told me to leave my personal life out of the classroom; students have directly and indirectly told me they cannot listen to me on other issues because they cannot respect or accept who I am in regards to my sexual identity; and I, at times, tell myself that this is legitimate, because I am being paid to be an educator, not a lesbian. Yet I am both, and each, in my opinion, enhances what I can contribute. And neither can be separated from each other. I also firmly believe neither should have to and that, ultimately, education is enhanced when we do not tow the line put forth by current educational practice and societal standards. Still, I resonate with Pegueros' struggle; I do not want to find the same solution as her, yet I felt that she put important words to a pressure that exists in education and in society and in myself. Her words convey as well part of what we are fighting against in/through the Pride Coalition. My hope is that we continue to engage it all the more... Jackie jweins@u .