This essay examines the uneasy relationship that Arturo Islas's "The Rain God" has had with narratives of identity, focusing on how the representation of Felix's sexuality makes him a problematic figure for certain strains of Chicana/o and queer studies. In other writings, Islas criticizes Quinto Sol, the chief publishing house of Chicano…

Delineates several effects of oppositional interaction in the issue culture of variant sexuality--issue cultures consist of unstable interpretive packages. States that progay and antigay packages define collective identity, the nature of conflict, relationships among antagonists, and appropriate symbolic strategies. Finds issues culture analysis…

Asserts that most gay young people grow up in a culture where social forces preclude healthy growth. Looks at the attitudes that define this culture, and challenges families, youth-serving agencies, and communities to provide gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth with the love, protection, and support that they deserve. (JOW)

If lesbian and gay students are to be moved into the classroom writing communities consciously and aggressively, in the same way other "minorities" are included, then first-person narratives are an effective starting place for their own work and as material for reading and discussion. Half of the reading selections in one composition…

The ability to function independently as a reader and writer in the society is defined here as "functional literacy" and includes, for gay or lesbian students, access to their own cultural literature and the recognition of a multi-cultural literacy that includes gay and lesbian culture. Two central beliefs are at the heart of the…

All talk of sex was taboo in Korean society until the middle of this century. Only during the last decade has sexuality been a topic of discussion, but still the discourse was dominated by traditional male views regarding sex. Today, the number of homosexuals living openly is growing, and active debate about homosexuality in Korea is now emerging.…

In an episode of MASH in which Radar O'Reiley takes a correspondence course in writing, Col. Potter advises him, "The first rule if you want to be a writer is to be yourself." But what if O'Reiley wrote a series of stories about a corporal's negotiating his place in a system which urges, "don't ask, don't tell?" The colonel's…

Two educators debate the pros and cons of discussing the sexual preferences of authors as part of the literary contexts of their works. (RL)

Teachers of writing are well trained to take the lead in inspiring a change in communication and behavior within the classroom to create more positive schooling experiences for gay and lesbian students. Many gay teenagers become aware of their sexuality at an early age; however, by the time most of them reach college composition, they have still…

HIV/AIDS prevention messages catered to Anglo homosexual/bisexual men are not effective in teaching preventative behaviors to Hispanic homosexual/bisexual men. Hispanic sociocultural traits associated with homosexuality and bisexuality prevent the effectiveness of these messages. The Hispanic family is also extremely important in influencing…

Argues that the U.S. Supreme Court has been an active and liberally biased participant in the U.S. culture war. Historical evidence is presented, including areas of tuition tax credit and segregated private schools, abortion and the Right-to-Life movement, and prayer in public schools. The author discusses how the Supreme Court has strengthened…