HALF-EMPTY MCGREEVEY
September 17, 2006
To the Editor:
“McGreevey ‘Underwhelming’”—why did you pick that negative reaction to headline the McGreevey News Brief (by Andy Humm, Sep. 14-20)? What about “very real?” Two points of view about the former New Jersey governor’s appearance on “Oprah,” but, why the delight in the most sour? John Freimann
Manhattan
Humm’s brief on the McGreevey appearance on “Oprah” can be found at http://gaycitynews.com/gcn_537/newsbriefs.html.
September 18, 2006
To the Editor:
Hats off to Gay City News for having a reviewer with the keen perception and sensitivity shown by Eva Yaa Asantewaa in her comments on Brendan McCall’s presentation at Dancespace Project (“What The Buddha Saw,” Sep. 14-20). Her awareness of the total atmosphere created by the physical space juxtaposed with McCall’s dramatic presence, no less than her focus on his every gesture and change. She seems to have a philosophical and spiritual depth to verbally translate what the dancer so strongly expressed in movement. I am appreciative that Ms. Yaa Asantewaa has given voice to what I felt at McCall’s performance, but have been unable to put into words. Ellen Ensig-Brodsky
Via e-mail
Yaa Asantewaa’s review can be found at http://gaycitynews.com/gcn_537/whatthebuddhasaw.html.
September 17, 2006
To the Editor:
Read the article regarding the denial of name change (“Advocates Protest Name Change Denial,” by Duncan Osborne, Sep. 14-20.) I have a suggestion—the judge who denied the name changed should be held accountable and sued. Gender Identity Disorder is a medical condition, and according to the Standards of Care developed by the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association in 1990, the transsexual has to get a legal name change before pursuing surgery. The judge is interfering in that process, and therefore should held responsible if the person suffers adverse affects from this barrier. The judicial system needs to get with the times and be understanding and compassionate on these issues. Chromosomes do not dictate if you are a man or a woman, nor do your genitals. It is proven scientific evidence that transsexualism is a byproduct of genes failing to recognize signals presented to them as happens in other people. Here is a link that will explain that development process: http://www.isna.org/faq/y_chromosome. Judges need to go back to school and get a refresher course on compassion and tolerance. Mark Angelo Cummings
Hollywood, Florida
Osborne’s story can be accessed at http://gaycitynews.com/gcn_537/advocatesprotestname.html.
September 26, 2006
To the Editor
Disgraceful is the word that best comes to mind when reading Empire State Pride Agenda’s deputy Director Carmen Vasquez’s take on the same-sex marriage movement (“Center Forum Weighs Marriage Strategies, by Andy Humm, Sep. 21-27). All the underhanded remarks by some of our paid leaders purporting to have their finger on the pulse of our community bear some degree of scrutiny. “This is not a moment… it is a movement,” stated Vasquez at the recent ESPA-sponsored forum on marriage. Apparently she and her own agency’s executive director, Alan Van Capelle, don’t see eye to eye on the issue. While Vasquez notes that people sacrificed and died in the African-American civil rights movement and that this one is going to be “a long slog”, Van Capelle, in a statement at the rally in Sheridan Square protesting this summer’s Court of Appeals decision that sent the issue to the Legislature, said, “We’re going to win marriage faster than Albany knows it.” How patronizing for Vazquez to even suggest that same-sex marriage advocates are claiming our movement is anything like that of African Americans in the civil rights era of the 1950s and ‘60s. We’re not claiming that our struggle for justice is anything like it—not more difficult, nor less difficult. It just is. However, in injecting race—as have some LGBT marriage opponents prior to her—in discourse about marriage strategy, Vasquez revs up the anti-marriage sentiment and in effect works to demoralize those of us who have worked so hard for this cause. Van Capelle and Vasquez best be on the same page on this issue if they’re going to lead us in this fight. Describing our journey to marriage equality as a “long slog” is akin to telling our elected officials that we expect to wait a long period of time. Marriage is a civil right too and we haven’t got the patience. And we certainly haven’t become complacent. Shame on you, Vasquez. Jesús Lebrón
Upper West Side
Humm’s story on the September 20 marriage forum is available at http://gaycitynews.com/gcn_538/centerforum.html.
Please address letters to the editor to
Or fax them to 646-452-2501
Gay City News | 145 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10013© 2006 Community Media, LLC
You must include your phone number, which will be use for confirmation purposes only. The editors reserve the right to edit all letters due to space constraints.
gaycitynews.com
DEFT TRANSLATION
JUDICIAL IMPRUDENCE
LONG SLOG OR FASTER THAN THEY THINK?
WRITE US!
