Speak Out

The Salvation Army has reported not being able to obtain enough bell-ringers at Christmastime and we have seen shabby, unshaven men sucking cigarettes while attending Salvation Army kettles. Our guess is that we gays could bring in more money!

Proven religious anti-gay bigotry (whether Mormon, Baptist, Roman Catholic or Salvationist) ensures that Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative will further enshrine anti-gay discrimination in our nation and lower the appeal of religion to educated and thinking people. This federal money will come with a price.

What are those words on Salvation Army kettles? "God bless you"? Guess that means only if you’re not gay.

Corey & Douglas Marshall-Steele

Thanks HB99 Supporters! Our Delaware legislative session for 2001 came to a close on July 1st and HB99 is still very much alive!

Honorable Representatives and Senators rallied together to ensure that this very important anti-discrimination bill will receive a full Senate debate during the next Legislative session in January 2002.

The fight for fairness in the First State has only just begun. Your personal call of support to Senator George Bunting needs to be recorded in Dover. Please call 302-744-4144 today for a better Delaware—tomorrow!

Herb Russell

Thank you for being a part of our Fourth Annual Golf Classic on June 4, at the DuPont Country Club. We had a great turnout, and a wonderful June day for the event.

This year’s proceeds of more than $25,000 will support the HIV/AIDS services administered by the Consortium, including Statewide HIV early intervention and treatment education. Encouraging people to be tested for HIV infection, and if positive to seek early medical care, is crucial to successful treatment of this disease. For four years, the Tournament has been a wonderful way to bring people together in the effort to make that happen.

We are grateful to all of our sponsors, especially to those who have been with us each of the past four years for our pro-am event. We hope we will see you at the 5th Annual Golf Classic next year!

Sue Weimer
Executive Director
Delaware HIV Consortium

I am excited to let you know that I’ll be running in the Dublin Marathon in Ireland on October 29, 2001. That’s right, 26.2 miles! During my training, I am running a little further each week...I expect to log nearly 500 miles. It’s all part of the National AIDS Marathon Training Program, which raises money for Whitman-Walker Clinic, the leading provider of AIDS services in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area.

I am asking for your support. Any donation would be most appreciated! The money raised will allow the Whitman-Walker Clinic to provide advanced drug therapies, medical care and other important services to help keep people alive until there’s a cure.

This program is certainly the most arduous physical challenge I have ever faced; yet it is nothing compared to the challenge that those living with HIV/AIDS face every day. I can’t think of a better way to do something to help in the fight against AIDS.

Thanks in advance for supporting me. When I hit the road on October 29th to complete the Marathon, I will know that you helped me and many others along the way. Together, we can proudly represent our community in this endeavor.

Donations on my behalf can be made on line at www.aidsmarathon.com. or mail checks (payable to AIDS Marathon-DC) to P.O. Box 14520, Washington DC 20044. Reference number DC-0278.

Jaime E. Savage

I have to say first and foremost, I understand if this note does not find it’s way into the Letters to Letters section. Every issue I love to read Fay’s CAMPout column. Although this last issue
(June 29, 2001) I was very shocked by what I read.

I know we all have an opinion on this and other gay related issues, but to slam a show that is as real as you can get is pretty upsetting. I know Fay is trying to find and show the very best in every gay person in Rehoboth, but remember we are not a church summer camp! We have faced EVERY major issue that has been brought up on this show. We have seen men arrested in public places for lewd sex acts and other promiscuous activities, major alcohol and drug abuse. If I remember, we have ALL dealt with that issue and we are not Princes and Princesses to that.

I must say Fay needs to get off the boat and out of the new house and hang out at some of our fine nighttime hangouts and experience the "REAL WORLD." It scares me to think that we have a person as naive as she seems to be teaching police sensitivity classes and other related classes. Maybe we should take Fay on a trip to the REAL Rehoboth and show her the side she must not want to see or believe. Because the show is as real as you can get in many ways.

It is not my intent to make anyone mad with this letter, I just think Fay needs to open her eyes and maybe have Sal take her on a few "field trips" and to some of his workshops to get a feel of what it’s really like in the REAL WORLD OF REALITY.

I hope in the next issue I see Fay talking about getting tied up and flogged by Bonnie at the Safe S/M class. But then again, in the world according to Fay do gay men tie each other up or is it all classy dinners, wine and satin sheets, and being the perfect camper in the morning?

James Warren

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Fay Jacobs responds:

Well, James, I accept the invitation to check out all that Rehoboth has to offer, although as a reporter I reserve the right to observe the flogging rather than being the actual floggee. Seriously, I’m glad the column touched a nerve, and far from making me mad, I’m happy to have readers take a stand and to be able to respond.

Contrary to being naive, I think I have a pretty realistic view of our community. I know there are exactly as many different lifestyles within the gay community as there are in the straight community. That’s my very point. And, by the way, that was the point I made in our police sensitivity training.

But if there’s going to be only one gay drama on TV, I’m sorry it can’t show a broader view of gay life. Maybe that’s where I’m terribly naive. Been-there, seen-that, don’t-need-it-to-be-the-only-gay-people-on-TV.

When there are dozens of shows featuring a whole spectrum of gay relationships, characters and lifestyles, I can’t wait to belly up to the Blue Moon bar and hoot and holler with everyone else enjoying it. After all, as I said in the column, I know why QAF is fun. After years of watching heterosex on TV and film, it’s really great to see same-sex romping on the screen.

I’ve gotten lots of comments about my QAF column, both positive and negative, from people I like and respect. And I appreciate the feedback. As for life not being all "classy dinners and wine and satin sheets," boy is that true. Satin sheets are slippery as hell and you can be killed sliding out of bed. I’d like to see that on QAF.

Thanks again for thoughtful and witty comments. And I’m ready for that field trip whenever you are.

Fay Jacobs