Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

'Sublime raunch, artfully rendered...'

We loved October's cover art! Delightfully saucy and transgressive! Your cheeky sensibility is the main reason why we savor The Guide year in, and year out. You're faithful to us, and we're faithful to your editors and advertisers.

Let the buffed clones of the sanitized gay corporate media choke on their skin-care products and PC swill. The Guide is always provocative, always worth getting hold of. Absolutely sublime raunch, artfully rendered.

B

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ig Josh
Palm Springs, California
St. Tropez, France

Teens easy to manipulate?

I had to laugh reading last month's letter concerning your November, 2006, article "The Big Chill" [about internet service providers pulling the plug on chat boards that feature discussions about sex with, or amongst, minors; available at Guidemag.com]. The letter writer asserts, "adults are easily able to manipulate children into doing just about anything."

He's obviously never been a parent! I can assure you, teenagers have no trouble both letting their will be known, and tenaciously resisting efforts to get them to behave in ways they care not to, or to do things they do not want to. If, indeed, kids were so easy to manipulate, there'd be no fights about finishing homework, calling to let parents know where they were, taking out the garbage, etc, etc, etc.

Of course, the serious question remains: how do we decide when and what (and with whom) sexual activity is appropriate for what age kids-- and then, how to give kids the skills and info necessary to make better decisions. But this is true of all aspects of their lives, not just sex. Pregnancy and disease are real issues that teens (and adults!) need be wary of, but pretending like "just say no!" will protect them, or that they are utterly incapable of making decent decisions is counterproductive.

Of course, it is insane to shut down discussions of these issues-- we should be talking about them more, not less.

M.
Los Angeles, California

Key West Fan

What a very special edition of The Guide (December 2006)! You guys seems to get better every month. The photos of Key West and the cover made everyone here feel so good!

I have received several emails from around the world referring to your mag and our site, PistolAndEnema.com, listed therein!

Keep up the great work!

Ron (Pistol) Babcock
Key West, Florida

Xmas Editorial 'Smart'

As I scan your pages for travel inspiration while planning dream vacations, I always appreciate the interesting perspectives and clear thought of the articles. So why should I be surprised that your editorial on Christmas met the same high standards? It was as cogent and concise an explanation of the real meaning of Christmas in a social context as I have ever read. So, I say thank you for that excellent commentary! Not only was it thoughtful, but it was smart.

The real Jesus is portrayed in your Nativity. So often consumerism and sentimentality smother the power of the ancient words. And Christianists in general have wreaked so much havoc on LGBTs that the Slaughter of the Innocents story pales by comparison. That LGBTQI persons would feel disconnected from the true sense of identity that true Christianity can provide always saddens me. Your editorial shows that need not be the case. In your telling of the story, justice and compassion emerge as the real meaning of Christmas. And LGBTQI persons can claim that justice for equal rights and that compassion for people who are excluded from the traditional tale and familiar roles for themselves. I think that is the way it is supposed to be and I hope we will.

The real Christmas message is that Love cannot be denied in the world. No law, no tradition, no distance, no state of being can keep people from love and loving. So, however it works responsibly for you, keep at it. God bless you.

Rev. Kev
Palm Springs, California