Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

Should we allow vaginal birth?

I find it hard to believe the story by Jim D'Entremont found in the April 2003 Guide, Vaginal Birth is Child Abuse.

I tried to find both SPECS (Society for the Promotion of Elective Caesarian Section) and SAVE (Society Against Vaginal Extraction) on the Internet but with no luck. What documentation does the author have to back up his claims of pending legislation in the states he listed? Does he have the number for the Senate or House bills?

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I fully realize we have too many attorneys in this country and think they have sunk to an all time low if they need to drum up business by saying we were sexually abused by our mothers if we are a product of vaginal birth.

What will come next, legislation to protect cows, pigs, sheep, elk, deer, antelope and all the other species that give birth through the vagina? We already have a law in Florida to protect pregnant pigs but not to protect gay and lesbian children in schools from being harassed and discriminated against.

I think it is time we get our priorities in order. If this is really a true article and not a joke we should all write letters to our legislators or, better yet, be sure to go to the voting booth and put responsible people in office.

R.B.
rjbarnes1@earthlink.net

With insane sex legislation routinely introduced and passed by legislatures across the country, it's no wonder that some readers took our April spoof seriously. Rest assured, vaginal birth, though it involves children and genitals, remains legal.

Wants old editorial

I wonder if you can help me. I am trying to get hold of the July 1995 Guide. I particularly want the editorial "The Real Child Abuse," which I have seen commented on in your letters section.

G. R.
cyberland

Thanks for the request; we've emailed you the requested editorial. Readers looking for Guide material older than our web site archives should feel free to email their requests to theguide@guidemag.com.

Baran's story provokes tears

I am pleased to see that you published Bernie Baran's Story: How hysteria railroaded one gay teenager to prison for life (December, 1999, available at www.guidemag.com).

I cried as I read it, reminding me of the fact that my partner, who committed suicide six years ago, was sent to prison for being a "child sex abuser" when nothing could have been further from the truth. Being in Australia, I tried to approach several Gay and Lesbian organisations in order to get some support to help my partner, but it seemed nobody wanted to listen.

Because of a bigoted justice system and a "community" unwilling to be of any assistance to me or my partner, I lost someone who can never be replaced and who I still miss very much. Prison may have destroyed him, but every person in the justice system, the police, and the gay rights movement all have his blood on their hands as far as I am concerned.

I hope this article is read by as many people as possible, so that these sorts of cases never occur again--anywhere in the world.

a reader
Australia

Bernie Baran's bid for a new trial proceeds, ever-so-slowly, through the courts; readers wanting to help may consider donating to the Bernard Baran Justice Committee, c/o Swomley and Wood, 83 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 USA.