Letters
continued from page 8
book is available at $3 each (plus $1 handling)
from Discipleship Resources, P. O. Box 840,
Nashville, Tennessee 37202.
The book presents every biblical and
theological viewpoint on homosexuality,
giving equal weight to each one. Of course,
that “balance” creates some difficulties, and
the book almost seems designed to confuse
its readers.
Despite the inclusion of homophobic
perspectives, this book is bound to further
understanding and acceptance of the gay
community among those Christians who take
the time to read it. We suspect that before
now most Methodists have only heard one
Christian viewpoint on homosexuality—a
negative perspective centering on two or
three isolated Bible verses. By also including
gay positive Christian perspectives, the book
has got to be a plus.
We might add that Now That You Know,
the acclaimed book for parents of gays by
Betty Fairchild and Nancy Hayward, has
been reissued in paperback by Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich. After a too long absence,
it should be available in the more complete
bookstores.
Just a few
kind words
Dear Michael Baker,
Your newspaper, The Front Page, is an
extraordinary paper. It opens doors in all
facades of life. For the young and old alike and
also expressing support to the gay members
who are just beginning to see their own
shadows. Thanks a lot for giving the support
that we all need. And I think I can speak for
everyone who holds a state of mind.
Sincerely,
Anthony III
Raleigh, NC
" i
Dear Front Page,
The Front Page is the best local paper with
local ads that I have seen. May you continue
with the best of success.
Ken
Greensboro, NC
Dear Editor,
Hi! I just want to say that I enjoy reading
The Front Page and I think it is a great service
to the gay community of North Carolina. The
knowledge that lesbians and gay men are
socially conscious (beyond “who did what to
whom” the previous weekend) is exciting!
Sincerely,
D
Hickory, NC
Is The
Front Page
Oppressive?!?
Several issues back, we printed a release
from the Paths Untrodden Bookshop but we
made a mistake in the cost of their catalogue,
which the following letter corrects. Their 1981
catalogue lists 1,115 titles concerning the
“gay male experience. ” The mailing address
is PO Box 459, Village Station, New York, NY
10014.
Dear Brothers:
We were pleased to see our Press Release
published in Vol. II, No. 9 of The Front Page
but were alarmed to see the catalog price
listed as “$12.00.” It should be—$2.00—
which is refundable from the first order.
Also with respect to page C 4,1 noted the
statement under restaurants “appropriate
behavior is expected and appreciated."Frank
ly, I do not ever recall reading a more
oppressive statement. Homosexuals have
nothing whatsoever to gain by denying their
very existence, and adopting behavior to suit
their oppressors. It is not the behavior of
homosexuals which should be modified but
the mentality of heteros.
1 live on Christopher Street in New York
where gayness is freely expressed and most
neighborhood establishments are completely
gay. In this openness lies hope, there is
nothing to be gained from hiding. Anne Frank
lived in hiding in an attic in Amsterdam for
years waiting for footsteps on the stairs. One
day those footsteps were heard.
All Good Things,
Walter J. Phillips
Proprietor
Paths Untrodden Bookshop
Thanks for writing, Walter. The line you
mention from our irregularly-printed
“Nightlife Guide" was included at the request
of several of the restaurant owners. It was the
only way some of them would consent to be
listed. You must remember that living in New
York gives you a different perspective. . it’s
perhaps worth noting that none of our North
Carolina readers have yet commented on
that sentence.
Arnie Kantrowitz once wrote “Christopher
Street and Castro Street are really one long
street separated only by America.” Please
haue patience with those of us who struggle in
less protected environments. For a
constrasting point of view, see the following
letter which comes, ironically, from San
Francisco.
Dear Front Page:
I live in San Francisco, but I happened to
read a copy of your paper since my roommate
has a sister living in Greenville who sent it to
her.
Anyway, 1 feel very lucky.to live in a city that
provides so many services to gay people;
where gays have freedom to a greater extent
than our brothers and sisters in other cities.
But after reading The Front Page, 1 realized
that San Francisco doesn’t hold the monopoly
on kindness, sensitivity, and caring. It’s
obvious that neither your readers nor your
writers have developed the hard-edged
cynicism that is all too commonplace among
gay San Franciscans. The sensitivity and unity
expressed throughout your paper is
extremely reassuring.
Keep doing what you’re doing and maybe
well be lucky to have your attitude rub off on
us!
Sincerely,
Gary Skop
SF, CA
And, just in case anyone needs reminding
about what life is like outside the big cities,
there are these recent letters. .
Please send me the free brochure on
coming out. Thanks. Be sure to seal envelope
real good with scotch tape if possible.
Joe
York, PA
Dear sirs:
Please find enclosed my check for a one
year subscription. I am very lonely here in the
“boondocks.”
Please print my ad in the next issues.
Thank you in anticipation. .
Sincerely,
P
Winterville, NC
Dear sirs:
Please send me a sample copy of the Front
Page in a plain envelope. I live in a very small
community and I will be watched by Post
Office ladies and the red-neck neighbor ladies.
Thank you in anticipation.
Sincerely,
C.M.
Dear Michael,
This letter is a statement of my personal
appreciation for the work that you and the
other people at The Front Page have done to
establish your paper and to keep it alive. If you
care to publish part or all of this letter, please
do so—though I ask you not to print my name
or location. We gay men and women still have
cause to maintain what I think of as a
“reasonable” level of paranoia in North
Carolina.
I am a nearly-middle-aged man with a
history of a long straight-only sex life, followed
by a mixed and then a mostly-gay sex life.
continued on following page
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