Fear or Not

Fear or Not?

By

Don Flowers

Mr. Howard, Instructor

English 2010

October 29, 2005

Don Flowers

Mr. Howard, Instructor

English 2010

October 29, 2005

FEAR OR NOT?

The gay and lesbian culture what is it for and what do we have to fear from it? I didn't know much about the culture or what purpose it meet for them? I went to two different bars, one was called Todd's, the other was MoDiggiy's, and I also went to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. I noticed that they are welcoming, friendly, loving, and carefree. I saw and felt the love, excitement, and electric felling of joy. I studied the gay and lesbian cultural in bars that they attend. I saw couple kissing, hugging, laughing, drinking, singing, and just hanging out with others. Some were playing pool, a computer game, talking, and dancing. They were accepting of others and didn't judge them. They places I went to gave a place for gay and lesbians to be them self. They didn't have to worry about being judged or ridiculed by others.

The methods that I use were observation and asking questions. I went to Todd's Bar & Grill, Modiggity's, and the Gay Cultural Center. I observed that they people that come here are just like you, and me except that they are gay or lesbians. They want to be accepted for who they are and what they are. I was very nervous and didn't fell comfortable. The culture is very different from what I thought it would be and I felt a shock when I realized that it was not going to be like what I thought. I was worried that I would be treated like dirt and not welcome here, but I was welcomed. I felt that I was accepted, welcomed, and felt that I could make a lot of friends here.

One person that I asked a few question said, "I felt like I was born a lesbian and had no choice, she understand that this is how most gays and lesbians fell." In my questioning and observing I found out that most feel that they had no choice in being gay or lesbian. MoDiggty's is a place that same sex couples and other can come to hang out, meet other women of the same sex orientation, and be able to be them self. It was an eye opener to see women kissing, showing love, and hugging each other, but once I took it as it was, I realized that they are just like you and me. They want someone to love and be loved back. There was a feeling that they wanted to be accepted by others. Several others told me them same thing. They want to be accepted and loved for who they are, not be judged for there sexual prefaces.

I was able to get a lot of information at the center about the gay culture. They have a lot of programs to help their community. They have AA meeting, HIV/Aids education, worldwide magazines, sports teams, and group outings. In one of the stories I read, "Before I lived in Utah, I had a pretty set idea of what it must be like. I imagined that queer people pretty much hid in their homes for fear of being stoned to death by angry Mormons. The bars would be dimly lit and cramped. People would show up to special events in trench coats and fedoras. That's what life is supposed to be like in one of the reddest of the red states, right?" (Keys 32). This person had a set mind on what Utah would be like, what would give him that impression? Yes the LDS feel that being gay or lesbian is wrong and against God's word. Do other gay and lesbians feel that Utah is like this or do they have other opinions of the gay cultural in Utah?

At MoDiggty's they have pool table, air hockey, pinball, drinking, and sports on the television. The bar support of softball team and