March 12, 2010 - Speak Out

I am a senior at Penn State University (Harrisburg Campus), working on my Bachelors Degree.

I am conducting a study through Penn State that involves Lesbian couples who have conceived or adopted a child together (inclusive are couples that may have separated since). The main focus is on resources available and negotiations of custody for the mothers, legal or personal. My goal is to eventually offer LGBT parents resources and a more thorough understanding of what is involved in negotiating in states where same-sex marriage is not recognized.

If you are willing to be a participant, I am offering a small compensation, as the interview lasts approximately 40 minutes. The questionnaire can also be emailed. Everything will remain confidential.

Thank you sincerely for your consideration. Please contact me if you are interested: Erin E. Greene, (717) 364-0453, Eeg5036@psu.edu

Erin Greene

I enjoyed Bill Sievert’s column “We’ve read ‘em, so now we weep,” about the changes to the Advocate and closure of the Washington Blade but wanted to clarify a few points for your readers.

First, the Blade’s problems were due to one factor: a corporate parent mired in debt. The paper’s closure was not the result of the recession or the much-publicized troubles in the wider print newspaper industry. The paper’s parent company owned many businesses in diverse industries unrelated to newspapers.

Second, the DC Agenda—the successor to the Blade launched immediately upon that paper’s closure—has no plans to abandon print. The dirty little secret in publishing is that print still pays the bills. No newspaper is making more than 10-15 percent of its revenue from web ads. Indeed, the Politico, the much-lauded news organization that debuted as online only didn’t move into the black until it launched a print edition.

And third, Sievert is correct that the Blade had become the national “newspaper of record” for the LGBT community. I’m happy to report that the DC Agenda has taken over that mission, reporting from the White House, Congress, state legislatures and anywhere news related to our community is happening.

I know that many Blade readers like Sievert had a strong and sometimes emotional connection to the paper. Rest assured that the same people responsible for the Blade are now producing the DC Agenda each week and adhering to the same standards of quality journalism.

Kevin Naff, Editor, DC Agenda (former editor, Washington Blade)

 As you celebrate your 20th year I want to thank you for providing so many memories—not only to Rehoboth but to those of us who follow from a distance. My cousin is Tony Burns and while I have not been to Rehoboth since my 40th birthday—10 years ago—Tony has faithfully sent me a copy of Letters. CAMP Rehoboth and Letters have been a passion for Tony and I am so happy that you have provided so many treasured moments for him.

As we walked the streets of Rehoboth, Tony would introduce me as his gay cousin! He gave me a picture at that time of me sitting on his lap with my five brothers surrounding us—that was 45 years ago! Little did we both know we had so much in common. I still do not know his age but I can do a little guessing from that picture! I would be happy to send it to you, but he might never speak to me again if you publish it!

As I write this Tony is headed to South Florida for a month and stopping overnight to stay with me in Palm Coast. He is already telling me when he has to get back to get the photos ready for the spring Letters and to get the thousands of pictures labeled for the new library. You are all truly his family. Thanks for the memories.

Pete McKinley, Palm Coast, Florida