Dear Editor:

“This Moron” as Nicole wrote got her wish. I skipped her page altogether but was informed of her name calling from several friends who read her column on line. This shows what a “class-less” woman she truly is and a disgrace to the gay and lesbian community when she calls readers of this publication names. I, for one, did not resort to name calling nor would I stoop so low to do so. I stated my facts even in times of war..and so has she, that’s what makes the world go round, but for to resort to “childish” behavior (I’ve must of hit a nerve) on her part shows you what kind of person she truly is. I will continue to support this publication, but will take Nicole’s advice (which I already have) and skip her page altogether.

Ariel Aldana

Dear Editor:

I am a 36 year old therapist who had wanted a professional and dignified personal trainer, one who could perhaps help me build strength back, as I had my chest amputated due to chest cancer back in 1997.

I just wanted to convey my sincere disappointment regarding your recent article in the Gay and Lesbian times regarding “Getting fit in 2005”. I think these gay personal training “companies” do a terrible dis-service by having your trainers dress up like Chippendales and utilize such a catch phase as “Cocky? No confident”.

As a psychological therapist, I can tell you that these “personal trainer/escort” businesses do nothing but advertise the immense negative stereotype that gay men are shallow, body obsessed, vain people…who measure their confidence by their body appearance.

The saddest thing is you feature narcissistic and uneducated children like that Mexican boy on your cover, who has no personal fitness training, but trains “older” men, which is really more akin to an escort than a certified and professional personal trainer with honest intentions.

I may not be perfect and beautiful, but I run a truly beneficial support group for young adults who suffer from mental and physical illnesses. You can view my free, non-funded organization at: [The Gay & Lesbian Times does not published phone number or email addresses in the letters to the editor section of the publication].

It may pay nothing, but it has true meaning.

I am certain all these muscle obsessed men will laugh and mock this letter, and the pictures I am enclosing of my chest, which you are free to print, because a true man is not measured by his appearance, but by the strength and courage of his heart and soul…and my chest displays far more “confidence” than any of the men you feature in your magazine.

I know this letter will not be published, but I felt someone should speak out against this trend that a person is only worth as good as they look. Adult gay men should strive for more than that.

My apologies if this has offended you, I Just think we have far less to fear from President Bush and hard core anti-gay republicans, when as a culture, we embrace and encourage younger generations of gay people to value their appearance above their personal integrity and ability to take pride in their appearance…no matter how they look.

Dino Vannucci

Dear Editor:

We watch and read in disbelief at the horror, death, and destruction brought by the 12/26/04 tsunami. Many of us heard and heeded the pleas by our government for private donations and have been told our government has made a commitment of $350 million. Then while returning from Florida, I read in the 1/6/05 issue on page 10A of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that a congressional committee has received $1.25 million for the presidential inaugural ceremony and that a separate Presidential Inaugural Committee is raising another $40 million for the ceremony.

Hello! Is anyone home? Upwards of 150,000 men, women and children have died and that number is climbing because they are not getting the needed aid and what they are getting is not coming fast enough. This doesn’t even take into account the devastation of property and economies. Am I missing something here? Is this really the time to be spending this kind of money on a presidential inauguration ceremony? Would not a compassionate nation, its people and government better spend that money assisting the victims of this disaster? Are our egos so vein that we can simply turn our heads and say we need this ceremony to honor a nation and our president?

William E. Kelly