Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, June 15, 1984 Page: 4 of 32
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Page 4/Section I
June 15, 1984, The Dallas Voice
Your Voice
A Minority Without an Identity?
By Don Baker
Recently a major Dallas newspaper
ran an article about the dilema of job
discrimination against gay people in
Dallas. The concluding remarks in the
article were by an unidentified architect.
He stated that he kept hisaffectionaland
sexual orientation a secret at work
because he thought “they wouldn’t judge
me on my performance if they knew I was
gay. Most of us with professional jobs
have to remain invisible. We are a
minority without an identity. ”
These last five words are a poignant
reminder of the shortcomings of our
modem day gay rights movement. In
spite of noticeable accomplishments in
the political and judicial arenas for “our
ca use,”we have yettoadequately identify
“the soul” of our people. The ageless
questions of “Who am I?”and “Who are
we?” have a special relevance to gay men
and lesbians. This search for identity
takes various forms. Most often it is the
silent, aching self-doubt and confusion
that arises in our personal med itations.
The questions are there, some serious,
some silly—“Yes, I know 1 am gay, but
what does that mean?”“If I am gay, does
this mean I am supposed to be a trend
setter for fashion design?” “If I am gay,
does this mean I mustbeaDemocrat?”“If
Iamgay,doesthismeanlamsupposedto
dress up in drag?” “Jf I am gay, does this
mean 1 am supposed to have alot of cold
sexual encounters?””If Iamgay.doesthis
mean I have to abandon the traditional
values with which I was raised?” “What
‘is’and what ‘is not’gay?”“Do I dare tell
my parent’s what my natural inclinations
are?”.
The number and degree of provoking
questions are overwhelming. This is
perhaps what the architect meant when
he said, “we are a minority without an
identity.”
Other means of our search for identity
canbetracedintheeversobriefhistoryof
our movement. In the late 1960’s and
early 70’s this search was usually evident
through the rebellious and outward signs
of frustration and confusion about our
oppression.
In the middle and late seventies it was
found in our formation of advocacy
groups to challenge the legal, govern-
mental and traditionalinstitutions which
denied us equal opportunity andthe right
to affirm our dignity. The 1980’s have
seen a proliferation of social clubs and
events that supplement the traditional
“bar scene.” All of these periods have
attempted, in one way or another, to
explore the identity of our people.
Social history, however, documents a
more sure and successful way to capture
the mystical and driving search for self.
This “way”has been through the arts.
Since the beginning of time, the visual
and performing arts have been a valuable
tool in the search for affirmation and
“belonging.” The earliest cave dwellers
used art to depict and define themysteries
of human existence. Early religious
groups used music and the visual afts to
pass on the tradition of their beliefs.
Every nation, past and present, andevery
ethnic group in America have used music
and other forms of art to project the
deepest sense of human emotions and
“reason for being. ”
There is a reason for this phenomenon.
Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy explained it
this way: “Art is a human activity having
for its purpose the transmission to others
of the highest and best feelings to which
men (and women) have risen.” John F.
Kennedy stated, “...art establishes the
basic human truths which must serve as
the cornerstone of ourjudgement. ”
Art is magic. Art is a universal language
that bridges the barriers of confusion,
isolation, and self-defeat. I propose that
art may be that missing ingredient to help
us discover ourselves and project our
humaneness to others.
In regards to this cause, the Communi-
ty Arts FoundationofTexas(CAFT)was
founded last year. It was formed as anon-
profit corporation to provide the artist a
forum to explore, interpret, and define
the gay experience—the individual as
well as the community. It is the intention
of CAFT to encourage and support the
visual and performing artists who
attempt to explore the gay identity
through music, painting, sculpture,
theatre and dance.
Though slow in starting, CAFT is very
much alive and well. Plans are underway
to effectively organize our efforts. On
June 24, 1984, a show will be held at the
Gran Crystal Palace at 7:00 pm and 9:00
pm. This event will feature the acclaimed
Spotlight performance of the Turtle
Creek Chorale. Tickets are on sale at the
Crossroads Market or by calling (214)
522-3801.
CAFT exists to help discover that
intangible “something” that can ignite
the human spirit. Hopefully, when our
projects are in full bloom, our efforts will
enable more of our people tosay,“I AM,”
rather than “Who am I?”
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Ritz, Don. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 6, Ed. 1 Friday, June 15, 1984, newspaper, June 15, 1984; Dallas, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth616528/m1/4/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.