Letters to the Editor
Straight
Guy Impressed
My sister, Susannah Kiss, talks often
of you and sent me a copy of [the November 2005] Out in the Mountains,
so I thought I would drop you a note.
I was really impressed with
OITM. I am incurably straight and live 500 miles away, but I
found several interesting articles in the paper. I particularly liked
the "Letter from Hungary" [by Stacey Horn] (we are Hungarian),
the article about straight people ["The Amazon Trail" by regular
columnist Lee Lynch] (she actually had lunch with a straight couple!),
your editorial and the posting about the American Catholic Church of New
England [Classifieds].
My first novel, Gladius
Sanctus, was recently published – more people probably buy
your paper than have bought my book – and tells the story of a Jesuit
priest from Vermont who leads American Catholics into a schism with Rome
and founds his own church, the New American Catholic Church. I did not
know at the time of the ACCNE and I think I will make contact with them.
My sister told me you will do
a feature on her yarn shop. I look forward to reading it ["With Every
Fiber of her Being" in the December 2005 OITM].
She also tells me that
you are leaving OITM. From what she has told me and what I have
seen of your paper, I can tell you that you have put out a first-rate
little paper and done a great service to your community. You should leave
this position with a profound feeling of real accomplishment. I wish you
well in all your future ventures.
Good Luck!
Stephen Kiss
Montpelier, MD
Bon Voyage
Even though we've never met, I've
felt a great kinship to you through your work at the paper, and I am very
sorry to hear you are leaving. Your contributions to the community have
been remarkable. Thank you so much for all you've done. I do indeed hope
you enjoy some well-deserved time off and some well-deserved cuddle time
with your partner.
Good luck in your new endeavors!
Grace Noble
Colchester
GOP
= GAY?
Many Gay activists mockingly ask an
important question that is rarely answered honestly in the gay press.
What have Log Cabin Republicans accomplished
with their loyalty to the GOP?
In the evolution of gay rights,
the Republican Party has proven capable of making a place at the table
for gay people, and stopping or opposing destructive legislation toward
gay people.
In 1974, conservative GOP icon Ronald
Regan opposed a California state amendment to outlaw the firing of homosexuals
in public schools. The amendment failed with Reagan's help. Had the amendment
passed, it would be legal to fire any public school employee for being
gay.
In his retirement, the 1964 GOP presidential
nominee Barry Goldwater spoke out in support of gays in the military.
"You don't have to be straight to shoot straight," he famously
said.
In 1996, presidential Republican
nominee Robert Dole returned a $25,000.00 contribution check to the Log
Cabin Republicans. For several years now, Robert Dole now gives an annual
$25,000.00 personal check to a New York-based disability group for PWAs.
The Massachusetts Supreme Court majority
in support of gay marriage was made up ENTIRELY of Republican appointees
to the bench who were appointed by Republican governors. A fact that has
little or no prominence in gay media coverage. Why? Does it not fit into
the bias of many gay writers?
Passage of the Connecticut civil unions
law was primarily led by Republican Governor Jodi Rell. Across the country
most gay writers were very muted in underscoring the Republican Governor’s
partisan identity.
In Ohio, the Republican Governor,
GOP Attorney General, GOP U.S. Senators George Voinovich and Mike Dewine
and the Columbus area GOP Congresswoman Deborah Pryce, the fourth ranking
Republican in the U.S. House, all publicly opposed state amendments to
outlaw gay marriage.
State legislators in Michigan, Kansas,
Minnesota, and Idaho opposed for the record amendments denying gay marriage.
None of the gay-friendly Republicans were defeated for re-election.
Several Republican congresspersons
from south and central Florida voted to support federal hate crimes legislation,
repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and have received local awards
for their efforts in AIDS advocacy.
At the same time, traditional gay
activists need to realize that not all is well in the Democratic Party
of inclusion. John Kerry pollsters determined that 45 percent of his voters
voted AGAINST gay marriage, including 60+ percent of Hispanics, African-Americans
and labor union households – pillars of the Democratic Party.
Gay activists must not allow
themselves to be uninformed ideologues: all venomous emotion, and little
substantive research knowledge except for ghetto propaganda. Nor can they
make themselves feel better by pretending that gay legislation can pass
without GOP support. Historical landmark legislation requires large numbers
of votes from both parties.
Gay Democrats, get a grip. Get the
facts!
Bob Ruyack & Matthew Tsien
Florida Gold Coast Log Cabin Republicans
Correction
Crow Cohen ("Embracing Rejection" December 2005 OITM,
tagline) asked for a clarification of the tagline I wrote: while she had
identified as a "revolutionary" in the past, she no longer so
identifies.