Author's talk addresses outing, gay culture

Author Frank Browning, whose book Culture of Desire: Paradox and Perversity in Gay Lives Today was recently published, spoke last night to a filled Houston Hall room. The lecture, sponsored by the Lesbian and Gay Academic Union, is part of a continuing series of events coinciding with this week's Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Awareness Days. The author, who grew up near a Kentucky apple orchard, told his audience that he would "talk a lot about sex and identity." After reading several passages from his book relating to his struggle with identity as a youth, he fielded questions from the audience. The discussion focused on issues ranging from the practice of outing closeted gays and lesbians to the concept of gay culture. When one participant asked about the propriety of outing, Browning replied that "if a political figure has acted in an antagonistic way towards the freedoms of gay people, and he himself is having queer sex, then why not? You should expose the cheap little whore for what he is." On the other hand, he said, "It is quite another thing to use this label as a weapon to control someone else's existence. You should certainly have a set of principles to guide you." While the lecture was well attended -- nearly 50 people showed up despite the rain -- few University students were present. Most participants said they heard about the meeting through Giovanni's Room, a local bookstore that co-sponsored the event. "I came out of interest -- the book is fantastic," said College student Jason Walthall, one of the co-coordinators of BGLAD Week. "He took on an ambitious topic by trying to define what gay culture is all about." "He was very engaging," said lawyer Peter Cicchio. "He dealt with some theoretically complex topics on a very personal level. He was humorous, open and highly articulate." "I had a great time," Browning said of the discussion. "[Gays and lesbians] yearn for a sense of place -- the home we make is in flux. Browning said he "felt as though we were exploring these issues together, as opposed to me giving a passive reading."