Alison Bechdel is one of the most
important chroniclers of our lives  It is
outrageous that a question should ever be
posed as to the “appropriateness” of her
cartoon.

We are obliged as a point of honor to
protect and validate one of our own who
has given us so much. How could we do
different?! If we don’t hold the front line
on this, who will? The churches?

Nat Harrison
Chazy, NY

*****

I love Alison Bechdel’s “Dykes To Watch
Out For”!!! I think it is very appropriate
for OITM. It’s one of the first things I
read when my OIT M arrives.

Tereea Mitonell
Hanover, NH

*****

Is “Dykes To Watch Out For”
inappropriate for this newspaper?!? Are
you kidding? I think this question is
inappropriate  !

Alison Bechdel is a cartoonist of
extraordinary talent whose work is
syndicated all over this country. She’s
also a local -- a Vermonter, for God’s
sake! And you question whether her work
should be printed in Verrnont’s queer

newspaper based on a complaint from the
apparently heterosexual and presumably
homophobic leadership of the Rutland
United Methodist Church?!

 What’s going on with OITM that you,
of all people, would ask such a question?
Are you merely trying to goad readers into
responding to your question of the month?
If so, I would suggest that you try to come
up with an issue on which there is a
debate of real significance with the g/1/b
community. Or are you really going to
allow a bunch of Christian homophobes to
dictate which parts of OITM will be
considered questionable content?

These folks say they understand the
purpose of OITM, but I don’t believe they
do, and perhaps your editorial staff needs
some reminding as well. The masthead
clearly states that OITM is “Vermont’s
newspaper for lesbians, gay men, and
bisexuals”. Educating the “general public”
(which in the Rutland Methodist Church’s
usage seems to be restricted to
heterosexuals) may be a secondary effect
of this mission, but this is not a paper for
heterosexuals, and in any case no real
education could be accomplished by
whitewashing our image until it no longer
reflects the full reality of who we are.

 Dear God, if we respond this way in
response to criticism from relatively
mild-mannered, struggling to be open (but
not too open) heterosexual Christians,
what will we do when the Religious Right

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rides in screaming hellfire and damnation?
Roll over and play dead?

Next time you have a dilemma like this,
run it by Auntie Pearl before you run it by
your readers. I’m sure she’ll set you
straight (or not) in a jiffy.

Helen Johnson
Brattleboro

More responses will be printed next
month. V

‘ i .0  l.orilI.Dowe

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