Letters to the Editor
Progress
Now that the elections are over and I have
gotten over my disappointment of the outcome, I am reflecting on just
how much the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender community has achieved
in the past few years - even with President Bush in office.
I have been out only a few years now and
have witnessed such fantastic results because of the brave and persistent
behavior of so many GLBT people and others that know that we deserve respect
and have supported us in so many different ways. They realize that they
would love to live in a country that is fair and does not show prejudice
towards anyone. I too love this country even though sometimes I feel that
it does not tolerate me I am still proud to be a part of it.
This time Kerry did not persevere. But maybe
the next time we will elect someone who can look past our differences
and just see them as differences not a path of destruction. Correct me
if I'm wrong. I was brought up knowing that this country was a melting
pot. Everyone was supposed to be able to express their freedoms and live
their lives accordingly.
Timothy Pyer
Fairlee
Don't Buy Gay Blame
Months ago, we all knew that if George Bush
was re-elected, "gay marriage" would be blamed. A scapegoat
is required. Offer up the gays.
The right wing was indeed energized. I would
be too if I shared their "values." The Bush Administration has
catered to their every request and fed them tons of red meat - abstinence-only-until-marriage
"sex education," the "Faith-Based Initiative," the
ban on late term abortion, restrictions on overseas contraception programs,
the ban on stem cell research, and yes, gay marriage. It's sickening and
fascinating that when one in five voters said "moral values"
was the most important issue for them, pundits immediately equated that
with gay marriage alone.
Frankly, the right did a better job in turning
out their vote in key places. They've been building their machine - illegally,
unethically, or both - through churches for 30 years. They have seized
and occupied "moral values" for years.
Our side is not going to make up these deficiencies
in one cycle.
Matt Foreman
Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Correction: In Cynthia Potts' story "Looking for Lesbian Love, Virtually"
(November), Peggy Luhrs was quoted as using the (not-quite) word "commodization."
The actual word she used should have been written as "commodification."
We regret the error.