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gay church, particularly the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Akron. MCC provides a chance for

groups within the gay community itself. For example, the difference between the lifestyles of gay women

gays to worship without having to de-and men, the forces of double or tripnounce their sexuality, an opportunity frequently denied gay persons by traditional institutions. MCC also provides social alternatives and counseling for gays and their parents

He re-

Dr. Howard Brown discribes being gay and a professional. Brown is a former Akron area resident and now professor of preventative Medicine at New York University. lates his coming out at a medical convention in 1973. The last section. of the article deals with how some individuals are attempting to help parents of homosexuals accept the reality of their children's being gay. The feelings expressed are accepting. Efforts are made to preserve family ties. Treatment is aimed at the problems which exist for gay people, not homosexuality per se.

I was impressed by the articles attempt to help people understand us as gays. The basic problems that gay people face because of their sexuality were dealt with but not in the sense that the problems are overwhelming and can't be worked out. It showed gay people willing to face the hassles and trying to overcome society's oppression. The tone of the article was positive and highlighted two personal relationships which pictured the partners as normal, healthy, and interpersonally satisfying. Even the photographs carried out this theme of warmth.

There was a refreshing emphasis on identifying the problems faced by gay people as the problems of society's reaction to the gay person. The story was written with a focus on local people rather than on well known national figures which brought the issues right home. My only criticism is the article did not distinguish between different

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le oppression faced by gay women (we are still living in a male dominated society), and gays of different races (all the pictures were of whites). I found this to be a serious omission from an otherwise excellent article. The newsletter will provide a copy of the article for the cost of reprinting and postage (90 cents).

by Sue Vasbinder

YOU CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS WITHOUT A PROGRAM

There are, among the women of the gay community, a number of readily identifiable "types". There seems, however, to be some confusion lately regarding the terminology applied to them. To dispell this confusion, I have outlined here a system of classification and identification in hopes of preventing misunderstanding, assisting the recently emerged gay woman in finding her appropriate identity, and especially aiding the rest of us in our continuing efforts to pidgeon-hole everyone we meet.

To begin, one catagory of woman is the person who identifies herself in every way with women; as lovers, friends, business associates, etc., spurning all but the most superficial contacts with men. She is called a "lesbian" or alternatively a dyke, sister, homosexual, queer, gay woman, or person.

On the other hand, the woman who loves women but also deals with men as though they were humans is called a "lesbian" or alternatively a dyke, sister, homosexual, queer, gay woman, or person.

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