Letters to the Editor
Dear OITM,

I want to tell you how much I am en-
joying my subscription to OITM. Each is-'
sue keeps improving with lots more in-
formation & good articles on a variety of
topics.

I am particularly thrilled to hear about
important events taking place on the east
coast & elsewhere. You are a wonderful

resource and I am so happy you are there

to keep me abreast of what is important
to know.

Thank you.
Joya B. Beattie V

Dear OITM,

It is regrettable that Al Santerre has al-
lowed his feud with Chiltem Mountain
Club to be aired in the pages of OITM.
Mr. Santerre was a long-time member of
Chiltem. As such, the executive com-
mittee of the club allowed several of his
events to be listed in the newsletter each
year despite the fact that they violated the
club policy that all events must be out-
door-oriented and not just social. As it
became clear that the “Peter Pan Orgy”
and “Maple Sugar Party” were not only
social but also not women-friendly, the
executive committee finally decided to
end this exception.

 

Mr. Santerre’s response has, un-
fortunately, been to launch a mean-
mouthed campaign against the club. To
combat the mistruths of recent letter, let
me provide the following facts: (1) Chil-
tem in NOT rife with sexism (the exec.
comm. is majority female), exclusion
(except for social events), age dis-
crimination (none exists), and a steadily
declining membership (membership con-
tinues to grow in the world’s largest les-
bian/gay outdoor club). (2) Chiltem is
not a “Boston organization.” It is, and al-
ways has been, a New England organiza-
tion and even included the Albany, NY
area until they were able to form the
thriving Two Rivers Club. I am not fa-
miliar with he Vermont Lesbian & Gay
Outdoors (mentioned by Mr. Santerre)
and that club is not listed by OITM, but
Chiltem would be glad to assist any such
efforts by sister organizations as we con-
tinue to do throughout North America. In
the meantime, the availability of healthy
outdoor events is the widest possible thru
Chiltem: bicycling, hiking, canoeing, ski-
ing, birding, etc. In May, Chiltem had 27
events (13 in Mass.., 5 in VT, 5 in NH, 2
in Conn., 1 in Maine, & 1 in R.I.)
Chiltem invites all New England Gays &
Lesbians to join us in the enjoyment and
preservation of our wonderful outdoors.
Vermonters may reach me at (802)-333-
9448 for more information.

Sincerely,
Bob Bland
Past President V

We’re Here

  

To the Editor,

In the May issue editorial regarding the
use of the word queer you stated that by
wearing a pink triangle “...we were snip-
ping it of its negative social and political
connotations and appropriating it for our
own use...”

Exactly! By using the word queer to de-
fine ourselves we strip it of its negative
social and political connotations and ap-
propriate it for our own use. We remove
the fear from a word our oppressors
would use against us, and take away the
power of that word to hurt us. I don’t ad-
vocate “acceptance” of the word; I rather
favor claiming it. Make it ours.

Years ago, the word dyke was unbearable
and offensive to many lesbian women.
Now we use it ourselves. We claim it,
and it no longer carries the power to in-
timidate or hurt.

I would argue, also, that “odd, un-
conventional, or eccentric” are not objec-
tionable descriptors. Many of the world’s
most creative and brilliant people would
fit into any or all of these categories. One
of Webster’s definitions of gay is “in-
clined to social pleasures.” A lively ho-
mophobic imagination could get a lot of
mileage out of that one. And if we invent
words to call ourselves, no one else will
know what we’re talking about. We’ll be
speaking in code. Sounds a little too clos-
eted for my taste.

So, I don’t know. Lesbian takes too long
to say; gay -- well, I just don’t always
feel merry; and queer, y’know, it takes
my whole mouth to say it, and it makes
me feel bold.

Sincerely,
Peggy A. Grant V

Dear Publisher:

We are interested in reprinting your ar-
ticle Reflections on a Year Lived Alone
in the July orAugust issue of Couples. ...I
would like to commend your publication.
I have been in publishing for several
years and I find your monthly to be equal
or superior to any gay and lesbian period-
ical available nationwide. Continue the
good work!

Kenneth A. Osherow,
Editor, Couples Newsletter V