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In This Issue
u Expanding Peace Corps
u Questions in Malawi
u Telling Students How It Is
u Web Site Redesign
u Pride Events 2002
O
ur August issue begins with a discussion of plans for reinventing the Peace
Corps. q Mike Learned reports on plans for growth, demographic diversifi-
cation and security. q A current volunteer in Malawi describes the questions
he is asked about his personal life and the decisions he’s made while he remains there.
q Anna Roche writes about a recent experience meeting with lesbian and gay college
students and talking about Peace Corps service. q We have news about our website,
summer Pride events and recent social occasions. q Would you consider joining our
Mentor Program as a mentor?
Questioning Malawi
- A Peace Corps Volunteer
“Are you married?” It was a question Government AIDS prevention outreach money at certain beach resorts on Lake
I’ve been asked many times before. “No, program offers outreach to men who have Malawi. One also wonders about older
I’m not.” I always go for the truthful sex with men. students at boarding schools who have
answer. “Ah, but you are 29 years; why Recently, at an In-Service Training close relationships with some of the
are you not married?” Now here is where I program attended by volunteers and our younger boys.
pull out one of my Standard Answers. I local counterparts, we had a presentation While heterosexual transmission
have them for each of the Standard by a representative of the National AIDS officially accounts for about 92% of HIV
Questions one is inevitably asked upon Control Board, who mentioned during her transmissions in Malawi, I have a hard
making a new acquaintance in Malawi. presentation their outreach to prisons. time believing that all homosexual
“Are you married?” is almost always One of the gay volunteers, who was transmission is taking place in prisons.
accompanied by “What is your denomina- surely just trying to cause a little rise in Underreporting is sure to be a problem in
tion?” to which I always give the the crowd, raised his hand and said, “I a country where male to male sexual
perplexing answer of “I don’t have one,” don’t understand. Why are prisoners a activity might not even be considered sex
which is easier to explain than “I was by many. The national AIDS prevention
raised a Catholic, but I don’t practice strategy doesn’t yet address this fact. Of
anymore.” Then there is “What are your “What do you mean course, this is just one of many challenges
hobbies?” to which the best answer would by exercising together?” in stopping the spread of AIDS in a
be “Watching football,” which is only true country where officially 10 to 20% of the
insofar as I like watching England’s David It took him a few blush- population is infected, and unofficially up
Beckman play. ing seconds to say it, to 30% or more have the HIV virus.
I find it more comfortable to just say Before coming to Malawi, I have to
that I’m not married, and that unmarried but he did say some- admit that I generally didn’t find myself
29-year-olds aren’t uncommon in the thing about men having attracted to men of color. But after a year
States, which is definitely true, than to here, my tastes have definitely changed. I
make up another story about a girlfriend sex together. find myself more and more attracted to the
back home. A friend of mine keeps a local men. However, considering the many
picture of a friend from home around so cultural and legal issues to consider here,
that when he’s asked this question, he can target community for your prevention I’ve decided that there are just too many
just pull it out and pass her off as his strategy?” risks associated with “exercising” locally.
fiancée. What I’m really not comfortable The presenter just turned the question
doing, however, is telling my friends here around to our local counterparts, wanting Because of the topic discussed in the
that I’m gay, homosexual, a man who for one of them to answer the question. To article and the social stigmas related to
reasons he can’t quite explain loves other my mild surprise, one raised his hand. “I homosexuality in Malawi, the author
men. believe it’s because they remains anonymous. If you’d like to
I’ve read stories about gay Peace Corps are....ah...exercising together.” Well, I contact the writer, email the editor at
volunteers in West African countries who thought, that’s an interesting way to say 103571.2317@compuserve.com, and we’ll
seem able to live as openly gay men, at it. But the presenter wouldn’t let it rest. forward your email to him in Malawi.
least to a small degree, during their service. “What do you mean by exercising
I don’t know if that has anything to do together?” It took him a few blushing
with a difference in cultures between West
and East Africa, or if it’s just chance that a
seconds to say it, but he did say some-
thing about men having sex together. E-mail
couple of guys there have made that bold I was a little surprised by this
choice independently. I’m sure that the exchange. There’s no recognizable gay Connections
laws aren’t too dissimilar. Most African community among Malawians, only a Keep up with the latest LGB Peace
nations have similar laws against homo- loose network of volunteers and aid Corps Alumni news, information and
sexuality. workers. I have never heard homosexuality informal discussions, as well as the latest
In fact, here in Malawi a teacher at an openly acknowledged among the people I from Peace Corps Washington and the
international school was recently regularly interact with. Yet homosexual National Peace Corps Association by
convicted under the sodomy statues. In activity definitely happens, even if it’s not subscribing to our email listserv.
truth, the man was taking street children, labeled as “sex” even by those taking part. The listserv is also a great way to make
tempting them with nice things like good One of my expatriate friends acquaintan- contact with other LGB Peace Corps
food, clothes, and money, and then ces has more than a few stories of Alumni in your area or around the world.
molesting them. It was really a case of a dalliances with Malawians from all over All you have to do to subscribe or update
pedophile, but it was portrayed in the the country, and he reports it isn’t just your email address is send an empty email
media as being mostly about homosexual- mzungus (foreigners) with local men, but message (no content) to:
ity. The teacher now spends time in a that the local people are enjoying each lgbrpcv-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Malawian prison, which interestingly other, so to speak, as well. There are also
enough is the only place where the instances of “beach boys” offering sex for
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - August 2002
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - August 2002
Expanding, Diversifying...
Continued from page 1
of color to be interested in Peace Corps force out of which the Peace Corps
the Peace Corps is a high administration service, starting in their high school years. strength arises. He wrote, “The Peace
priority. Insider Washington “skinny” He has also gone out of his way to appear Corps is committed to fostering an
suggests that the White House and some on ethnic radio and in the ethnic press. environment of understanding and fair
congressional staff find some of the This theme is present in almost all public treatment by including issues of sexual
provisions of the legislation excessive. appearances and media interviews that orientation in non-discrimination policies
There is broad based support for the I’m aware of. and diversity management programs.” As
legislation, but more attempts to solicit I’m currently serving on an NPCA many of our readers will recall, the
support from more senators and represen- (National Peace Corps Association) Task president did not sign a gay pride
tatives are needed. So Force to figure out a proclamation for the month of June again
contact your senators way to affiliate a this year, something that President
and congressional Were there were no group of mostly Clinton had previously done. Federal
representative and more than 198 African African-American agencies have been handling the issue
ask for their support and Hispanic RPCVs individually with very mixed results. The
for the Charter. We’ll American and Hispanic (a group called the Environmental Protection Agency and the
keep you up to date. women and men with Minority Peace Department of Justice both acknowledged
Corps Association) June as Gay Pride month with proclama-
Diversifying the college degrees and with the NPCA. tions and/or events. The Department of
Several years ago the Commerce did not. We congratulate
Peace Corps appropriate skills who NPCA changed its Director Vasquez for his proclamation and
The Director has
made diversification could be recruited as bylaws to preclude his support for the lesbian and gay
of the Peace Corps Peace Corps volunteers organizations like
ours and the RPCVs
members of the diverse Peace Corps
family.
family a major goal.
He has reiterated the in 2001? for the Environment
importance of a and Development Safety and Security
“cross-section of from joining the In his June speech at the World Affairs
America” represented among Peace Corps NPCA as “interest” groups. We were Council in San Francisco, Director
volunteers. He talks about the importance allowed to stay in the organization, but Vasquez called the “safety and security”
of the Peace Corps reflecting “the face of future “interest” groups would not be of Peace Corps volunteers his first goal.
America.” This is of course the argument allowed to join. Emphasis on NPCA He cited his experience as a law enforce-
our group made several years ago when growth was to be with geographic and
Peace Corps finally added “sexual “country of service” groups. The Task
orientation” to its Equal Employment Force is looking at current bylaw
Opportunity statement. Diversification of interpretation or bylaw change as a way
the Peace Corps family has been an to affiliate this new group. The Minority PO Box 14332
important goal of each Peace Corps Peace Corps Association includes San Francisco CA 94114-4332
lgbrpcv@yahoo.com
director with whom I’ve been familiar. recruitment of minority volunteers as one http://www.lgbrpcv.org
Peace Corps runs several pages on its of its prime objectives. A final recommen-
dation to the NPCA Board probably Editor Mike Learned
website that provides statistics on
won’t be made till shortly after we go to Layout Kevin H. Souza
participation of people of color as
volunteers. Between 1996 and 2000 press, but I am reasonably optimistic that
participation of people of color as this group can join the NPCA family in The LGB RPCV Newsletter is
volunteers increased from 12.8% to short order. published quarterly by the Lesbian,
15.2%. In 2001 that participation rate Also on the subject of diversity, I had
Gay, Bisexual RPCV Organization,
declined slightly to 15.1%. In 2001 only a short conversation with Director
Vasquez at the NPCA 40/41 Conference an affiliate of the National Peace
99 African Americans and 99 Hispanics
gala dinner in D.C. in June. He and his Corps Association. We exist to
joined the Peace Corps (there were of
wife were sitting at the next table. After promote Peace Corps ideals and
course other African American and
Hispanic volunteers serving during that dinner I went up to him, introduced acceptance of gays and lesbians
year who joined in previous years). Asian myself and who I represented. I told him throughout the world. Submission
American participation seems relatively that although we had opposed his of articles or graphics to be pub-
representative of the overall population nomination, we now supported him and lished in the newsletter is encour-
(3.9% of all volunteers joining in 2001). his goals for the Peace Corps. I went on aged. The right to use or edit
It seems to me that Director Vasquez in to thank him for the email he sent to all materials remains with the editor.
his speeches and appearance has placed Peace Corps staff on June 14. In this
email, the subject: Gay and Lesbian Pride Copyright remains with the author.
more emphasis on diversity goals than
Month, he included gays and lesbians as Send submissions or inquires to the
previous directors. He has suggested
part of the diverse volunteer and work above postal or e-mail address.
several ways to encourage young people
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - August 2002
Expanding, Diversifying...
Continued from page 4 was particularly concerned. There are “Were there were no more than 198
ment officer, and the special importance he however very real security issues that African American and Hispanic women
feels for this goal. In a question from the have been heightened by world events and men with college degrees and
audience that combined issues of diversity since last September. In one recent appropriate skills who could be recruited
and security, he was asked how he thought instance a volunteer in Bolivia disap- as Peace Corps volunteers in 2001?” The
racial, ethnic, and religious and gender peared after assignment. According to Director and Peace Corps can increase
discrimination and homophobia that some Peace Corps he did not follow Peace recruitment of people of color and do it in
volunteers experience in host countries Corps policies in finding housing and then the short term.
should be handled. He gave a balanced reporting back to his APCD. His local The issues of safety and security in our
answer that included the importance of congressman has been critical of the Peace changing and troubling world are in
effectively dealing with these issues in Corps’ efforts in trying to find the themselves troubling. One of the reasons
training. He said that in his recent trips volunteer. Many volunteers have been that most volunteers have remained safe
abroad that he had talked with women killed over the years. Security is an and secure in their communities has been
volunteers about the limited roles of important issue. It’s an issue that our because of their and Peace Corps’ low
women in many of the countries where organization deals with all the time with profile. Identifying the Peace Corps as an
volunteers serve, and even the sexual lesbian and gay volunteers who receive instrument of United States foreign policy
harassment they experience. He noted our newsletter and write articles for us. (“we will renew the promise of the Peace
earlier in his remarks that there would be a Corps, double its volunteers over the next
security manager in every Peace Corps The Challenge Ahead five years, and ask it to join a new effort
country who reported to the Country Director Vasquez and his staff face to encourage development and education
Director. He also said that the Peace Corps significant challenges. Peace Corps’ and opportunity in the Islamic world” -
manager responsible for worldwide infrastructure, program proposals and the president in his State of the Union
volunteer security reported directly to management processes will require a message on January 29) raises that profile
him. major overhaul to successfully increase and increases the vulnerability of
There has been some concern about the volunteer force to 15,000 in the next volunteers around the world.
security issues among the volunteer, staff five years or so.
and RPCV communities about how an Peace Corps can do a better job of Mike Learned was a volunteer in
increased security structure might impede recruiting people of color as volunteers. Malawi. He can be reached on
the effectiveness of volunteers in the field. When looking at last year’s diversity 103571.2317@compuserve.com
One former country director I talked with statistics, one has to asked the question,
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LGB RPCV NewsLetter - August 2002
Phone/Fax/E-mail: