Salon | Letters to the editor

_______________ HILLARY WAS RIGHT BY ANDREW ROSS (03/19/98)

Thank you for writing about and exposing the right-wing conspiracy that is determined to bring Clinton down. It was a real service.
Now, could you please tell me where to go to join it?
-- John Posthill
In your right-wing conspiracy article you refer to "discredited figures -- from Gennifer Flowers to Dolly Kyle Madison ..." Whatever the merits of the rest of your arguments, this seems a bit disingenuous, given that President Clinton recently admitted in a deposition to an affair with Gennifer Flowers, after his staff vigorously denied it, presumably on his behalf, during the 1992 presidential campaign. It would seem that it was the '92 Clinton campaign which has been discredited, not Gennifer Flowers.
-- James Wetterau

_______________ ASK CAMILLE BY CAMILLE PAGLIA (03/17/98)

Camille Paglia's recent column "Giving homosexuals a bad name" raises several concerns. As the founder and chair of the Youth Pride Alliance, I am writing to "set the record straight," so to speak, and inform your readers what "Gay Youth Pride Day" is about and why it is necessary for us to have one.
First of all, we are not trying to impose a "rigid political paradigm" on anyone. In fact, Youth Pride Day celebrates the dignity and courage of young people everywhere as they discover their sexual identity as either gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight. The day hopes to increase awareness of many of the issues that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth face on a daily basis, including being verbally and physically abused in high school.
The second goal of the day is visibility: demonstrating the dynamic diversity that is the bedrock of the GLBT community. I personally felt alone and isolated growing up. It wasn't until I attended my first pride event and was surrounded by a sea of diversity that my feelings of isolation and alienation ended. We hope to replicate that feeling for GLBT youth who are struggling everywhere.
The final goal of the day is to celebrate our pride in who and what we are. Through our speakers, entertainers and programs, we hope to provide youth with several positive role models. By watching their peers as testimonial speakers, we hope that Youth Pride participants will leave with a much better sense of self and a higher degree of self-esteem.
It is not our intention to silence the bigots and cowards who use the First Amendment as a shield for their fear and intolerance. It is, however, our intention to provide a one-day sanctuary for youth who are struggling with their fundamental human right to exist as proud gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or straight supporting youth.
Ms. Paglia's attack joins those we face every day in schools across America. We deserve better in those schools, and also from adults. We encourage her to apologize, and replace overwrought attacks with support and respect. The simple fact is: There are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight youth who are dying out there because they have no hope or pride in who they are. This day sends a powerful message to those who are struggling that they are not alone. Everyone deserves to live, love and be loved.
-- Christopher J. Dyer
SALON | March 23, 1998

R E C E N T L Y+| THE ROAD TO HALE BY JONATHAN BRODER AND MURRAY WAAS

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_______________ HILLARY WAS RIGHT BY ANDREW ROSS (03/19/98)
	Thank you for writing about and exposing the right-wing conspiracy that is determined to bring Clinton down. It was a real service. Now, could you please tell me where to go to join it? -- John Posthill In your right-wing conspiracy article you refer to "discredited figures -- from Gennifer Flowers to Dolly Kyle Madison ..." Whatever the merits of the rest of your arguments, this seems a bit disingenuous, given that President Clinton recently admitted in a deposition to an affair with Gennifer Flowers, after his staff vigorously denied it, presumably on his behalf, during the 1992 presidential campaign. It would seem that it was the '92 Clinton campaign which has been discredited, not Gennifer Flowers. -- James Wetterau
_______________ ASK CAMILLE BY CAMILLE PAGLIA (03/17/98)
	Camille Paglia's recent column "Giving homosexuals a bad name" raises several concerns. As the founder and chair of the Youth Pride Alliance, I am writing to "set the record straight," so to speak, and inform your readers what "Gay Youth Pride Day" is about and why it is necessary for us to have one. First of all, we are not trying to impose a "rigid political paradigm" on anyone. In fact, Youth Pride Day celebrates the dignity and courage of young people everywhere as they discover their sexual identity as either gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight. The day hopes to increase awareness of many of the issues that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth face on a daily basis, including being verbally and physically abused in high school. The second goal of the day is visibility: demonstrating the dynamic diversity that is the bedrock of the GLBT community. I personally felt alone and isolated growing up. It wasn't until I attended my first pride event and was surrounded by a sea of diversity that my feelings of isolation and alienation ended. We hope to replicate that feeling for GLBT youth who are struggling everywhere. The final goal of the day is to celebrate our pride in who and what we are. Through our speakers, entertainers and programs, we hope to provide youth with several positive role models. By watching their peers as testimonial speakers, we hope that Youth Pride participants will leave with a much better sense of self and a higher degree of self-esteem. It is not our intention to silence the bigots and cowards who use the First Amendment as a shield for their fear and intolerance. It is, however, our intention to provide a one-day sanctuary for youth who are struggling with their fundamental human right to exist as proud gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or straight supporting youth. Ms. Paglia's attack joins those we face every day in schools across America. We deserve better in those schools, and also from adults. We encourage her to apologize, and replace overwrought attacks with support and respect. The simple fact is: There are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight youth who are dying out there because they have no hope or pride in who they are. This day sends a powerful message to those who are struggling that they are not alone. Everyone deserves to live, love and be loved. -- Christopher J. Dyer SALON \| March 23, 1998