I am an avid Countryside reader that has,nt found any other gay readers or homesteaders listed or any articles about alternative lifestyle issues that effect our group.Often I feel ignored or excluded even though I enjoy the magazine and am a Christian.So will we be allowed to use the "gay/alternative lifestyle" words in the new Contacts being published,or is their another magazine for our untapped market?

-- Boonie Johnson (booniejohnson@hotmail.com), May 08, 2000

Answers

Boonie, I can't answer your question specifically, but did you catch this discussion here?

http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=002zOY

If there is another magazine aimed at gay/alternative lifestyles, I also don't know what that would be. Have you tried searching or querying on a gay board? What Countryside plans on doing I have no idea. Maybe Steve will see this and answer it for you.

As to feeling ignored or excluded, I understand the feeling, happens to me and I assume everyone at some point. While this board isn't really for personal-type ads, any other homesteading questions are wlecome, no exclusions due to your lifestyle. I KNOW we could all find fault with each other if we chose to. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 08, 2000.

Hey! I have friends who are Democrats! I even have friends in California! (Come on, guys - joke!) You are welcome as far as I am concerned, although I disagree with your lifestyle. Just don't preach or become militant, and we can be friends! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 08, 2000.

i have many many friends, all are different, but then I am too so I can relate to being ignored and prejudices. I believe everyone lives their life as they need to, what they do is their personal decision and its between God and themselves. i don't judge anyone nor preach. i may not agree with everything everyone says and does but then folks don't always with me either. Its unfortunate that there are still in this day and age uncertanities about those who have alternative lifestyles and hence judgements.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), May 08, 2000.

Hay Brad answers some of my Questions and i'm from california! I don't care about you sexual oriention or anyones on the fourm if you need help ask GL. Shaun

-- shaun cornish (shaun-terri@juno.com), May 08, 2000.

I could be wrong or thinking of another magazine. Back a number of years ago CS had a personal column and they dropped it because of Gays advertising and striaght people complaining and it got to be too much. I have not problem with gay folks but, then do I need to declare myself in any comment that I might make on this forum? For example: I am a gay white male, 35 and I have an oil pressure problem with my 1950 Ford tractor are there any other gay people out there who can hlep me? Sorry, I could not help it.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), May 08, 2000.

Boonie, Gay/Christian=oxymoron. I don't get it, what has sexual orientation got to do with homesteading? The alternative lifestyle we are talking about on this forum IS homesteading. Leave your sexual preferences at home and let's talk about what's relevant to homesteading. Brenda

-- B.Reise (d+breise@northcom.net), May 08, 2000.

Brenda, I wish christians and other religious folks would leave out that info 'cause it has nothing to do with homesteading either, and last I looked one of those christian questions got a crapload of answers.

And RELIGION has no place here really. Unless that's what drove you to homesteading??? But then being gay can drive you there too. Forget what others drive and just ask/answer questions!

-- Juno (popcorn@care.com), May 08, 2000.

Juno,

Gosh I have thought that so many times myself. Thank you for finally saying it.

Steve, I for one will be jolly P.O.'ed if you exclude the words gay/ alternative lifestyle. The strength of the homesteading movement is the diversity we represent.

Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), May 08, 2000.

Let's not have this forum turn into the flaming mess that has ruined the BHM forum.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), May 09, 2000.

I don't think anyone needs to talk about what sexual prefences they have .The animals or fields could care less !I won't preach to you if you don't preach to me .As for the christian thread ,if you don't like a certain thread don't go to it .If I find one that is not interesting I go to the next , no need to complain.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), May 09, 2000.

Boonie, I have never had a problem with anyone's sexual orientation but agree with others that I can't see what it has to do with homesteading. I mean there isn't anything in Countryside for middleaged single women who work full time and live alone, never mind if I am black or gay or just lonely. If you want to start getting into personal lifestyles then maybe you aren't really that interested in homesteading but are looking too hard for rejection or exclusion. I have many friends of every race, religion, and political beliefs, what we have in common is a love of the Earth, and a desire to live in harmony with our surroundings and each other. Oh and repect for our individual personalities. But please Boonie, lets leave sexual orientation out of the forum. I could not help you with a personal problem that had to do with homosexuality or even heterosexuality but ask me about chickens or goats or rabbits now I know a little about them or gardening or canning, that's what this forum is all about. and if you need an old sometimes tired and cranky woman for a friend, I can do that too. There are a lot of neat people at this site and I have no idea of their sexuality, it is not relevant. So relax and enjoy the fellowship, okay karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), May 09, 2000.

Friends (and I feel I can call many of you that on this forum),

Below I append a post made on an earlier thread. I think it states clearly why gay and lesbian homesteaders face some unique challenges. Challenges that are central to homesteading and I think do not in anyway violate the Countryside philosophy. I apoloize for just sticking in someone elses post but I think it is important. To the extent that discussing issues such as this pertain directly to homesteading, I think it is relevant to this forum. It doesn't apply to me (just like the thread on what to wear to church) so I likely won't pay any attention to them. That doesn't mean they don't belong here!

Paulette, it is because rural safety is a different issue if you prepare for potential hate crimes. Because property rights and deeds are different for unmarried partners. Because some people label you and don't even know you. Because your particular minority doesn't understand your apparent alliance with a majority, in any manner. Because its always nice to know there are other people like you in yourcommunity, even on-line.

I don't know why religious beliefs matter so much to people here either, except for all the reasons I just mentioned.(!)

-- A (Razerfish@aol.com), April 19, 2000.

My apologies to A for just copying his/her post but I think it is quite well stated!

Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), May 09, 2000.

Thank you all for such food for thought. I, too, was thinking sexual orientation was irrelevant to this forum, as I consider religious stuff, but after reading the re-posting of A(razorfish...)'s eloquent comments, I realize that there are some issues which deserve discussion and which support & suggestion can help. There are problems which unite us all in our search for the good life. We are all in some way swimming against the tide. We are each, in some environment or other, the minority, the outsider, the underdog, the misunderstood. Listening to the amount of swaggering homophobia out here in the country, I'd have to say that to admit you're gay in a rural place requires a great deal of courage, and I welcome that courage to this forum. I like knowing that there is diversity of all sorts among the contributors to this forum -- it doesn't scare me a bit. It is not relevant to me who you're sleeping with -- what matters to me is what you know and is there kindness in your heart.

-- snoozy (allen@oz.net), May 09, 2000.

I think what Boonie was asking about was the Countryside Contacts in the Magazine. We reserve the right to accept or reject any and all submissions for any reason or no reason at all. Honest-to-goodness homestead requests get top priority.

I would like to keep it from becoming a personals ad (looking for any kind of mate). There are plenty of places on the net or elsewhere if you want a date. I can't help anyone with that. If you want information on homesteading we are here to help.

As for articles, send them in as we are interested in what you do on the homestead but we could careless what I or anyone else does in the bed room, unless it's about the baby turkeys in the corner by the dresser.

-- Steve Belanger (steveb2win@yahoo.com), May 09, 2000.

Steve,

Although, I don't know that you'd want to hear about all the different types of turkeys I've had in my bedroom either. :-)

Peggy

-- Peggy Adkins (adkinsonthefarm@hotmail.com), May 09, 2000.

Peggy! I wanted to post that!! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 10, 2000.

Peggy!!!! You are a scream!! That was the best laugh I have had in a while.

I'm glad we have diversity on this forum, too. I said I wasn't going to discuss politics and religion anymore (and got sucked into the feminism thread!) I'm going to stick to my guns and stick to homesteading topics. *sigh*

I don't care about your sexual orientation, political affiliation, skin color, whether or not you have a bridge in your mouth, or how many turkeys have been in your bedroom (talk about using up bandwidth!).

I prefer this as a forum and not a pulpit.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), May 10, 2000.

Steve, it is my birthday so I can say anything I want right? I for one appreciate the fact that you keep alternative lifestyles off this forum. My 14 year old son comes on here to read animal posts and I do not want him exposed to this kind of thread. I will not apologize for my intolerance of this subject to anyone. I find it offensive and degrading to myself and my family. There must be thousands of other forums this can be discussed on if my censor indicator on my system is any indication. I would just as strongly object to someone here discussing their "straight" sex life too? What in the world does sexual orientation have to do with homesteading?

-- Susie*Ks (goodartfarm@msn.com), May 10, 2000.

"Steve, if you censor this thread, please censor the religious-mostly christian stuff too. I don't want to be exposed to such offensive, irrational thoughts as someone else's religious beliefs."

Susie--see how censorship works? No one wins. Try being with your children when they use such a new technology if you do not believe they can filter the world for themselves. Know that they are most likely interacting every day with people different from you and your belief system. Their teacher or principal or friends' parents or even your relatives are not just like mom and dad.

Teaching kids to think and discern is an important journey. Don't leave it to those that control the media you use.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch@hotmail.com), May 10, 2000.

Anne, no offense intended, but just so I am clear in this. I homeschool my child. he is 14. where he goes his Dad and I are right with him. I have a satalite with the rating code set to G. We use the computers a lot for business and schooling. there are security codes updated at least weekly. I have never dropped any of my children at a mall till they were 18. My oldest is 32 and the youngest is 14 come July. They have become vet, supervisors and a RN. I have 7 grandchildren who are raised the same way but for 1. I am no better or no less than anyone else here. But I try to be very watchful of what I expose them to. I can't tell you none of mine will ever shoot up a school, but it won't be because my gun safe was unlocked or I didn't know what was going on in their room or tv or net. We fish hunt trap and travel together. That is the only reason I am so outspoken about a subject like this. If I gave the impression it was the persons sexual orientation only I mislead. I also don't want anyone telling my youngest about safe sex, I promote abstinence. A number of things shouldn't be in view of some of the young people we are attracting here. And I see the point about religion as well. But some folks who don't like those notes seem to be all right with poking fun at churchs. I can't really apologize for my feelings because I am under the impression that if it is all right for people to say they support this view then it should be allright for me to say I don't. But I do apologize if my tone is harsh. Its the way I come across. I am actually a mild mannered, soft spoken southern gal (I am serious here). I have not hidden any of the world from my children, they understand all about it. I just want their questions answered by their father or myself and my security won't work on Countryside. And as if anyone cares, I am also very vocally opposed to the death penalty, abortion, assisted suicide and animal cruelty. I also love to bake, sew and knit, spin and weave. I care for my elderly father, and the game wardens call me when they find a stray dog. Well folks that's my life history so you know as much about me now as my husband. Except he will tell you I can pitch a awful fit if I get mad. I also ramble don't I?

-- Susie*Ks (goodartfarm@msn.com), May 10, 2000.

I thought we were talking about chickens, goats, gardening, farm wives and stuff like that. I must admit, however, that I enjoyed all the comments about going back to another time period. Thanks, the Fonz (not really) Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), May 11, 2000.

The difference between censorship and setting guidelines is fairly obvious. Homesteading is what this forum is about.

Although I personally find God and faith an intregal part of homesteading and farming, I also understand that others don't. But no matter how hard I try to knead "alternative sexual livestyles" to fit into the homesteading bread pan, I just can't. But I guess in fairness, both Christian discussions and gay discussions probably belong on their own forum...and there are plenty of forums for both out there. I come here for information about homesteading and its related subjects. I go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays for my faith; I get alternative lifestyles thrown at me everywhere I look, at work, and on TV nightly. I hope we can keep this a place to learn and discuss Homesteading subjects.

-- Jim Roberts (jroberts1@cas.org), May 11, 2000.

Well, I favor a fairly narrow definition of what constitutes "homesteading" but I'm afraid it would make many here feel constrained because it does not include your sexual orientation, your religion nor even your politics. If you want to talk about goats, gardening, fencing, most anything pertaining to building, maintaining, running, buying, selling and generally just living on a home/farm in the country or even the city then that is "homesteading."

There are pagan homesteaders just as there are Christian homesteaders and probably even Islamic and Buddhist homesteaders. All fine by me but it seems like the moment you mention something like sexual orientation, religion and, far too often, politics things are wont to get out of hand. Try being a distinct minority of most any type such as gay in a rural area, gun owner in a heavily anti-gun area, liberal Democrat in a conservative Republican area, Wiccan in a conservative Christian area, a conservative Christian in a secularly liberal area and so on and so on and so on and you'll begin to understand why it's nice to know there is somebody else like you to communicate with.

Here in the county where the University of Florida sits I am at one and the same time both in the majority and the minority. Alachua county is part of rural North Florida which I like but the University engenders a very liberal element that has essentially gained political control of the county. As I'm fairly libertarian in my outlook I often find myself siding with one side or the other depending on the issue and not really feeling like I'm a part of either side. Both sides threaten principles and liberties that I find to be of great value.

We don't live in a two-dimensional world, everything is not either/or. If Boonie wants to make casual mention of the fact that he's gay and would like to talk to other gay homesteaders then I have no problem with that provided he's actually here to discuss matters relating to homesteading. I have no more problem with that than I do with the fact that many here so often find it necessary to make mention of their religion when we're discussing homesteading. As I see it, it only becomes a problem when the discussion begins to focus on sexual orientation or religion or politics and homesteading gets pushed into the background such as is happening in this thread right now. It happens far too often in religious and political discussion as well.

I'll guarantee that there are some here who I find to be morally or politically insufficient but as I'm here to discuss homesteading not a person's morals or politics I'll generally let it go and tend to my knitting so to speak. A little less self-rightousness and a bit more tolerance and sticking to the topics this forum was created for seems to be what's called for here. Unless you're dead certain you will never make casual mention of something that somebody else will take offense at then be a little less quick to judge somebody else for doing the same.

OK - rant mode off

........Alan.

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), May 11, 2000.

Alan, I like how you said that. And Susie, you're entitled to your opinion, I don't think religion/sex/politics really belongs here, except in passing. All these differences are what makes this place work. So lets get back to goats and chickens and gardens....

-- Anne (HealthyTouch@hotmail.com), May 11, 2000.

As was said by someone in an earlier post on this thread, different things drive people to homesteading. I think that it has a distinct influence on our discussions. Personally, it is SO enjoyable to me to see people with the commonality of homesteading discussing things that are perhaps seen as being outside of it. It helps to see what makes others tic, and it shouldn't be censored so long as the context of the discussions stay above board and remain clean in language. Also, as pitiable as it may sound, some of us might not really have other people to talk to very often.

I don't want to see a bunch of people looking for dates on here either...yuck. But that is such a drive for some people that they can't seperate themselves from it on any level.

Boonie, if you feel excluded perhaps you're looking in the wrong place for what you want. Just because you can't find a dayglo orange fun fur cape at the Farmer's Market doesn't mean they are oppressing you. That just isn't what they offer.

I really love the diverse opinions expressed here. Even if you are politically/religiously/sexually/chemically polar-opposites, there is still the chance that a person on this forum will be able to and WILLING to help you if you have a HOMESTEADING problem.

I bet that we are all different, and can't agree on most things. That is just the way of the human being.We still bleed red, breathe without the use of gills, and eat, evacuate, sleep, laugh, cry, on and on.

From my rant side,I just hate it when we identify ourselves by our sexual preference, it seems to demean the person and glorify the sex. As if this world needs anymore of that. Doreen

-- Doreen Davenport (livinginskin@yahoo.com), May 11, 2000.

Doreen's comment about some of us not having anyone else to talk to most of the time is true. I don't feel too bad about that but it has been nice to be able to chat about things on the forum, whether they are obviously related to homesteading or not -- and I must say that my faith in God is integral to every aspect of my life, so it is hard to communicate without it creeping in. Sorry if that offends some people, but I might as well stop breathing as try to stop talking about my Lord. It has been really nice to have new friends to chat with via e-mail, too.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 11, 2000.

I have to totally agree with Kathleen! My hubby & I are Christains-- it is as much who we are as what we eat, or anything else! I don't ever want to offen anyone--but it is just WHO WE ARE--everything we, do or say, is about haveing Jesus as our Lord & Savior! We can do nothing without Him! If my faith slips out on this forum--I want ya to know it slips out in EVERYTHING we say & do! My faith is as much apart of me as any body part. If I say something about my faith it is because I truely care about the people here. It is soooo much apart of who I am--that I'm sure it effects everything I do & say--it is who I am! If I ever offen anyone I guarantee you it is never intentional--it is only in my ignorance! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), May 11, 2000.

Kathleen and Sonda--- the same goes with being gay. It creeps into everything ie. because you don't change the gender of your partner in conversation or pretend you are someone you aren't. Be ready to let others just be who they are as well. The same goes for ethnic identity/ race. How can anyone pretend to be who they aren't? Lets just let them BE.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch@hotmail.com), May 11, 2000.

Anne, I know Boonie has heard this one a million times--but some of my best friends are gay! ha! I'm an old hairdresser--who worked platform for 20 years & almost all the people I worked with & traveled with were gay! But it was something we never talked about, much! We were just best friends! We did talk about our beliefs more than anything else, other than hair & hair shows! I again think we are suspose to respect each others opinions, even if we don't agree! If Boonie & I were one on one, I'm sure we would talk about things we won't on this board--as he can't see into my eyes & see my heart! And things can come across wrong on the net! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), May 11, 2000.

Boonie, I totally agree with Alan. Thought about raising Dairy Goats on your homestead? The Dairy Goat industry would welcome you with open arms. We not only show with openly gay folks, we also had a very nice man who was the President of the American Dairy Goat Association. It must be an irratant to you that the only thing most folks think about gays is sex, when in fact it is only as important in most gay families as it is in heterosexual families, and when kidding season and show season and milk season are in full swing on our homestead, sex isn't on the top of anyones priorities. :) I for one don't see any diffence between you saying your gay, as me saying I am married, or someone else saying they are Christian. Just keep posting! And perhaps that young man or women, who is reading this forum will understand that their are folks around with natural feelings just like him. Heterosexual folks are the parents of Gay folks! And abstinence is great for folks to preach to their kids, but at what age where they sexually active? And weren't your parents praying and preaching abstinence to you? Didn't work did it, so why do you think it will work with this generation? A blatant attempt to promote goats (Nubains of course) and a few rants of my own. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 12, 2000.

Vicki, just a note on abstinence, my oldest daughter was still a virgin when she was married at almost twenty-one, and the next one still is at almost twenty-two, and plans to stay that way until she marries, if she ever does. So it is possible -- I think we are kind of shooting ourselves in the foot by assuming that it can't be done, just because some of us didn't do it.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 12, 2000.

Vicki, my Nubians are still virgins!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), May 12, 2000.

Sheepish, you really need to sit down with your does, and, explain to them that abstinence is really the best policy! Of course the minute you turn your back that ole buck will have his say also! That's about all that are virgins in our neck of the woods, is the yearlings! Course when you ask most mom's whos daughters aren't already pregnant, out here, they would tell you that their daughters (some how we need to get our sons involved also!) are virgins also, problem is I was the one who took them to the clinic for their shot! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 13, 2000.

Please, if there are still children practicing abstinence, and saving their virginity for when they get married,and if there are still parents who are willing to undertake the very difficult task of teaching their children that they should not engage in premarital sex"just because everybody else is doing it",I think they deserve our full admiration and encouragement! Sure would be a lot easier for a teenager to succumb to peer pressure and raging hormones, sure would be a lot easier for the parent to hand the kid a few condoms, but they have instead undertaken to live according to their principles and to enforce boundaries. They need all the support they can get.There are still girls( and boys) who are virgins when they marry, I can count quite a few of them among my own family. There are also a few who didn't- they are the ones who also seem to have more marital trouble and moral problems in general.I also think that for a parent to say, go ahead if you want to, here's a condom, takes away nearly all the incentive for a child to be abstinent, and almost guarantees promiscuity. For those of us who were virgins when we married, the reasons were- that it was wrong to have sex unmarried,that there was some kind of a social stigma attached to people who behaved in that manner,and that we were waiting for the one we loved, to marry us, and to build a healthy marriage. Sure it's hard to be abstinent when you'd rather give in to the natural impulses we all have. That's what sets us apart from the goats-we choose not to do things even if we feel like doing them.The goats just slam right into each other when they get mad, we don't,even if we might feel like it sometimes! There are people who practice abstinence, and they deserve our respect.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), May 13, 2000.

Thank you, Rebekah.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), May 13, 2000.

While you may be able to get city folks to fall for the gay christian thing. Its not going to work in rural america. You are either Gay, A gay person who has found his wrongs with the help of christ and is leaving the lifestyle or your christian. Make up your mind where you want to be.

-- nospam (abuse@aol.com), May 14, 2000.

Hard to take anyone seriously who doesn't have enough back bone to state their feelings with a real name and E-Mail addy! In my years of bible study I have never seen a list of degrees of sin. So if you feel that homosexuality is a sin, well so is lieing, passing judgement and murder. We sin every day, and every day are forgiven. A gay person can not change their sexual preference, they can abstain. A heterosexual person can not change their sexual preference, they can abstain. A pedifile can not change their sexual preference, they can abstain, hopefully while in Jail for the rest of their lives. The one common thread in folks who homestead is compassion, whether it is for the earth, animals, children etc. Where is your compassion? Have livestock? You don't have to have animals more than 5 minutes before you realize that God made them all, and they mimmic human behavior. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 14, 2000.

Hi, folks,

I just dropped by after babysitting my 83 year old mom for a week up in Washington, where she lives and is recovering from surgery. (she's doing VERY well, by the way:)

I just want to say that, when I sit around with my "real" friends, we allow each other to talk about whatever we feel like talking about. Some of my friends (who will never be my BEST friends) are too uptight to talk about certain issues, e.g. homosexuality, or teen promiscuity,or religion. Some don't want to talk about politics. My best friends will discuss virtually any topic with me.

My point is that we don't just sit on the porch saying, "yep, sure looks like it's gonna rain, all right". Or, "how many eggs did YOUR chickens lay today". Community is made up of other things besides canning, farming, cooking and killing your animals.

I really like this forum. I am different from many of you, but I enjoy hearing about many different issues from most all of you. There are some items I pass right on over, such as how to make sausage, and other meat oriented threads, because I'm a vegetarian. No big deal; I just don't open the threads.

I can't see a problem with anybody talking about any topic they want to talk about. If a person doesn't want to read it, don't read it.

To the "mild mannered, soft spoken southern gal (I am serious here)." who has "not hidden any of the world from my children", sorry to be contentious, but it sounds like you are trying to hide a great deal of the world from them. What a shame. We all need all the education we can get to become contributing members of society. Unless, of course, you want your kids to remain isolated from society. And that seems very cruel to me. My opinion, for what it's worth.

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), May 14, 2000.

JOJ, I talk with my friends about anything and everything as well. It makes for good friendships. What my friends don't do is pass judgement on me for having thoughts different than what they have, and they also don't tell me how to live my life. That is why we continue to be good friends, and continue to talk to each other, even though we don't always agree.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), May 14, 2000.

I just came back to this thread to see what has happened. I am amazed and alarmed that some of you uninformed, or ill-informed, people have opinions that are in contrast with mine! Apparently you haven't been paying attention, as I am in agreement that all of my opinions are correct! Shame on you! But to the many who have said this forum (we?) is about homesteading, putting by, raising (many things, including children), and all the other "homey" activities, I say "Right Arm!, er, right home!, or something like that". Hey it was a couple of years ago! Lets just get back to helping each other. We certainly have enough to address there! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 14, 2000.

SUGGESTION FOR BOONIE JOHNSON! ! ! ! ! If you feel there is such a strong need for a homestead type magazine or newsletter targeted at gay/lesbian individuals,---WHY DON'T YOU START YOUR OWN NEWSLETTER OR MAGAZINE????? I should think that you would be able to make it into a profitable operation, and you could then have your own "Contacts" department where like-minded individuals could contact each other. I personally could care less about anyone's sexual orientation. If I get a sure-fire solution to why my chickens are falling over dead for no apparent reason, I don't care if the answer comes from a gay, lesbian or a little green man with antenas on his noggin. All I care about is the pertinent information I receive. (I've probably had a few questions answered by gays or lesbians already, and to tell the truth, the question of a respondent's sexual behavior hadn't even entered my mind until now. So, Give the magazine or newsletter some serious thought, Boonie. You'll be hitting your target market right where they live.

-- Dan (dshaske@excel.net), May 15, 2000.

boy, it sure is nice to hear such a diverse range of opinions coming out about this issue. it would be nice,however if certain people would not use this forum to criticize other people, rather use it to help. i know that boonie was simply asking a legitimate question, finding and having a partner is more or at least as important to homesteading as finding and having a good truck. for you staight married folks, how would your homesteading experience be different if you did not have a partner (or a truck)to share it with? would you be able to homeschool your kids and raise all of your food, and make enough money to pay your taxes and pay for medical care and insurance? of course some of us (gay or straight)could get by ok without a partner. some may prefer it. most people have a need to share life with somebody. gary and i have different things that we take care of around our little homestead. we also work together on things when we can. frankly, i think i would survive without him, but there would be a big void in my life that i would want to fill. when you are a homesteader, gay or straight, that void could best be filled with someone else who has an interest in homesteading, and i'm sure that is why boonie came here with his dilemna. i for one wish him luck, applaud his courage, and welcome a new e-friend. thanks boonie!!!

-- john houser (farmrjon@juno.com), May 15, 2000.

Boonie,

are you still there? I think I now understand that all you really wanted was to meet some countrysiders who are gay, right? Hopefully some of these folks have emailed you and you have some kindred spirits to talk to and ask questions. I vote for the dairygoat idea if you like goats(not everyone loves them like I do). I had some gay homestead friends in Tennessee, and a really good friend who is also gay gave me a copy of Mother Earth News many many years ago and started me down this road, Danny has moved away from Kansas a long time ago and I still miss him. So I hope you are doing fine Boonie, and have some contacts, the Christian community makes it difficult for many alternative lifestyles to exchange information. It is unfortunate but I can't see that changing soon. I have the utmost respect for all beliefs and try not to inflict my own unique ideas on others(too much anyway) I live by the rule of treating others as I would like to be treated, a lot of holy people have said that is the way to live. I have had a few turkeys in my bedroom too! karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), May 21, 2000.

Wow what a heated discussion!! I feel sorry for Boonie! I also can understand many of the other responses. We are all at this website because of our love of the countryside philosophy. Be we gay (I am), straight, black white yellow or green. It doesn't matter. We have no right to expect others to accept our lifestyles as we don't need to accept theirs. We don't have the right to push our views on anyone. We are just like everyone else since everyone is unique. I have 4 nearly grown children, all doing very well for themselves. It is a known fact that the suicide rate is highest for teens who are just coming to terms with their own sexuality, and I would imagine it would be extremly difficult for any teen let alone a teen in a rural environment find someone they could talk to about it. I think it is important to be yourself no matter who that may be. I could have used someone to talk with 20 some years ago, and I know that my son could have when he was 17 and needed a role model. We are just like anyone else, we get up, go to work, come home do chores, help with homework take care of our elderly parents pay taxes etc. Many people see the outlandish types from any culture and base their feelings on them rather than the couple down the street or uncle jerry or whatever. I don't much like Dykes on Bikes or the other more rebel types of gay lifestyles but thats them not me. I just wish everyone would take people for who they are, there is good and bad in everyone. I was raised in a very strict religious home by very devout parents who had as near a perfect marriage as anyone could have. I was very lucky. I still hold true to my beliefs. And one of them is to the countryside philosphy. So keep up the good work every one. Sorry, didn't mean to be so defensive, just wish people could see us just like we are and not judge us on 1 or 2 others. We are not all bad!!!!! Neither are all you white,christian, straight people (just kidding, sorry!!) Just me, thanks for letting me vent its been a long day at work!

-- Barb (WILDETMR@YAHOO.COM), October 13, 2000.