Letter to the Editor:
Cover to cover, no more!

I want to express a personal view that issues of the paper during
the past year or so have seemed less relevant than what I have
experienced in past years. I used to read Out In The Mountains
cover to cover. I no longer do that. I would like to share with
you some thoughts about what I’would like to read as well as
what I would like to write:

Highlight Vermont communities through interviews with men,
women, and youth living in those communities. So much focus
is upon Burlington and Chittenden County. If in fact the paper
is to serve as a means of communication among Vermonters
who, as you noted in the (September 1994) issue, live in more
isolated areas than one would experience in most other states,
then the paper should focus upon who those people are and
what their lives are like...

Much more needs to be done to connect with youth...I would
like to see some focus placed upon what is occurring in public
schools that is enriching to Vermont gay youth so that
information is communicated to all the youth who read the
paper as well as those of us who are interested in those issues...

Highlight one person each issue, someone who might not
otherwise be highlighted. I have a plethora of suggestions: the
leader of SAGE, a person such as Chris Cozzy who (ran) for
public office, a woman who works with AIDS patients in
remote communities...I am not suggesting that the “highlight”
be of people...wh0 are already visible but instead of people who
otherwise do not gain the recognition they deserve.

More book reviews, most especially of books which may have
relevance to people’s lives in Vermont...

A major theme should be churches and synagogues——those that
are affirmative, those that are struggling with the issue, and
those that are preaching hatred against gays. In addition I would
like to see coverage of New Journey, the group Rev. Craig
Benson has started in Jericho in his “ex—gay ministry”. This is
happening here in Vermont and should, I believe, be explored
by the gay press.

Cle/and E. Selby
Middlebury

(Editor’s reply: I agree with many of the ideas mentioned
above. The problem is that the necessary human resources are
not available and willing to cover such stories. In fact, I
contacted the short list of reporters who have written for OI TM
in the past year trying to find someone to cover Chris Cozzy’s
campaign eflort. No one was available or willing to write the
story. If you feel passionate about a story that you feel should
be covered by OITM, write it. If anyone is interested in
becoming a stafl reporter, please contact me immediately.) V

November 1994

Letter to Another Editor

The following letter appeared in the September I 6, I994,
edition of the Burlington Free Press. Just in case you were
feeling a little apathetic today, we thought we would reprint it
here in OITM. Enjoy!

I would like to address articles/letters regarding homosexual
lifestyles and the politically correct idea of considering this
normal, and, therefore, totally acceptable.

A reputable New Orleans organization for homosexuals who
wish to change had a first—year success rate of 70 percent; five
years later 60 percent were still happily heterosexual.
Subsequent initial years have had 40 to 70 percent success
rates. Students of psychology/statistics know this success rate
would not be possible if it were as ingrained, as natural, as
many of the homosexual community would have the general
public believe.

A psychiatrists’ report on the average male homosexual sexual
encounter shows nothing nomial/loving about it. Figures
show homosexual males may have 50 to 100 partners a year;
other figures, a minimum of 100 partners in a lifetime. This
dispels the picture painted of most homosexuals in warm,
loving relationships.

Gay bashing/beatings are wrong. Also, discrimination in the
job market——with, however, some restrictions in dealing with
youth. This lifestyle should not be condoned/supported as
normal and with special legislation, i.e. offering employees
health care coverage for live—in partners; allowing adoptions;
artificial insemination.

What a strange, peculiar idea of equality/justice is working to
pervade society today.

Stella Burke
Enosburg Falls V

Opinions In The Mountains

Readers are encouraged to voice their opinions by responding to
the question posed in this monthly feature. Please send re-
sponses to OITM at P.O. Box 177, Burlington, VT 05402, or via
the Internet at OutVermont@aol.com.

In the wake of l994’s political season, this month’s question
concerns the gay and lesbian community’s traditional allegiance
with the Democratic Party.

Do you usually vote Democratic simply because it is the tra-
ditional home of the gay and lesbian community? Do you
use a candidate’s stand on the issue of lesbian and gay rights
as a litmus test?

Readers’ opinions will be printed next month. Responses to Sep-
tember’s question concerning domestic partnership legislation
are not printed here since none were received. V