Genghis,
I would have thought that aviation and/or flying was the common link rather than race, colour, or sexual persuasion. Generally people look for like minded souls to be around, thus we can re-enforce our own views on life.
Perhaps the race/colour/sexual oriented pilots associations spring up because people don't really like different people and thus the 'minorities' try and find like minded souls. This would help avoid poofter bashing etc.
One only has to read many of the posts on PPRuNe to see how much acceptance there is of gays and people of non Anglo/European descent.
For example, had the recent Gulf Air tragedy instead been, say BA, would the ensuing thread have run to >500 posts, with derogatory comments about the crew and culture? Probably not.
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bottums up !
[This message has been edited by Capt Claret (edited 12 October 2000).]