Date: Tue, 1 Aug 1995 14:33:46 -0700
From: Tom Condit <tomcondit-AT-igc.apc.org>
Subject: gays & ultraleft


In February, the question was raised on the list as to positions of
"ultra-left" groups on homosexuality in the pre-Stonewall period.
I promised to ask some questions of people who were in News &
Letters and/or Facing Reality in that period.  Below is a comment
from a comrade who was in News & Letters and closely connected with
the French group Socialisme ou Barbarie, led by Paul Cardan
(Castoriadis).
 
 
'As far as SouB and N&L are concerned, the subject never came up
during my years beginning 1959. I would have been extra sensitive
since I was going through adolescent "homosexual panic" syndrome.
I recall only two mentions. At a party of SouB in Paris,
Castoriadis proposed as a subject for a debate-game "Was the
homosexuality of the Spartans sterile?" A year later, I overheard
a person from N&L (but not a central figure) refer to me as "the
red fag" and was hurt by the joke.'
 
 
He also forwarded to me an article reprinted from _Workers World_
in the Cougar.Com list "United" (a labor discussion list) about the
role of gays in the Marine Cooks & Stewards Union, which I'll send
to anyone who's interested.
 
Tom Condit


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