LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Letters to LETTERS |
A copy of the following letter, addressed to Rehoboth Police Chief Creig Doyle, was sent to CAMP Rehoboth for publication:
Dear Chief Doyle: The Delaware Coast Press of July 21, 1998 reported that the Rehoboth Beach police arrested an individual because he was yelling "anti-homosexual epithets." An arrest was in order and I hope it will include increased penalties. I and my partner have been victims of these epithets (3 times this summer) as late as last evening on Rehoboth Avenue. I take exception, however, to the departments characterization of this act as the yelling of "anti-homosexual epithets." The more suitable termand the more sensible phrase taken from common understanding about gayness and homosexualityis "anti-gay epithets." It has been my impression that CAMP Rehoboth has been working with your department to sensitize your officers about this type of hate crime. I share this with you so that your police department can continue to be sensitivein words and actionsto all citizens. Thank you for your time. Sincerely yours, Gerald J. Brennan Dear Steve, I want to thank you and CAMP Rehoboth again for helping me to publicize my annual Blue Moon fundraiser for Whitman-Walker Clinic. Through the generosity of the patrons of the Blue Moon restaurant, bar manager Rob Dick, and the incredible willingness of Blue Moon owner Joyce Felton to host this event and make a generous donationas she always doeswe again raised over $4,000. This brings our six year total to just under $25,000. I have the honor of being part of the planning committee for each LOVE benefit and am proud to be a sponsor of SUNDANCE each year. Both the year-round and summer residents of Rehoboth always come through for every fundraiser that is put on. Though I havent spent as much time as usual in Rehoboth this summer, I feel like I am home each time I get to the beach. We part-timers owe you and CAMP a debt for makingand keeping Rehoboth a place that can feel like home. Again thanks!!! Peter Rosenstein Dear Steve, We are writing this because we feel the need to express to you, as the editor of LETTERS, our disappointment in some of the content of the "Being Scene" column written by Tom Minnuto. Since LETTERS is a publication for distribution to anyone choosing to read it, we feel there needs to be closer scrutiny before printing the above mentioned column. We are particularly concerned with the current issue (vol. 8, #9), with reference to the July 4th party at 10 George Street. Here, Mr. Minnuto has chosen to mention a "rumor" that a Baltimore Oriole player attended the party. That was bad taste enough, but then to put into print what this player might have engaged in later was totally outrageous, and even possibly libelous. If this Oriole player is gay, he most certainly is not "out," and we hardly believe he would put his great career in jeopardy by flying from New York City (after a game) to attend a gay "open to all" party, then fly back to New York for a 1:30 p.m. game the next day. In the future, we hope Mr. Minnuto will think about his "rumors" before he puts them in print. Sincerely, Ken & Bob Dear Steve: Glen Pruitts column in the last edition of LETTERS (vol. 8, #9) really pushed a large button of mineone that was installed in the 70s when I became aware of the womens movement. Dont misunderstand, I am not a radical feminist who lacks humor. Humor is one of the mainstays of my life and has seen me through some difficult times. What I do find objectionable is stereotyping, especially that which assigns gender specific roles. Glen has never changed a diaper? Good for him. Trust me, changing a diaper is not the high point of anyones day. But what he apparently doesnt "get" is that you dont have to have a pair of breasts to perform this task. Being of the "female persuasion" doesnt mean you are born dying to have the chance to wipe poop off of a babys bottom. Since Glen had to enlist the assistance of a woman to ensure that if, poop happens, a female would be there to clean it up only reinforces his ignorance. If he really needs help with understanding why changing a diaper doesnt require high estrogen levels, perhaps he could contact my son Patrick, father of two, for some of the finer points of being a man of the nineties. I find Glens silliness to be as objectionable and ridiculous as if someone were to infer that gay men are just too sissified to be athletes. Anyone who chooses a public forum to write should THINK. Sincerely, Marion Editors note: I thought it only fair to give Glen a chance to "come clean" on this subject, and Marion concurred. Youll find Glens response in his CAMPlite column on page 24. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 8, No. 10, July 31, 1998. |