After 15 years, the Gay & Lesbian Times has decided to change its policy governing letters to the editor. Not resembling other newspapers and magazines, our policy has generated a substantial amount of controversy over the years. Underpinned by the notion that all voices have a right to be heard, the crux of this policy has been preserved – the Gay & Lesbian Times will continue publishing all letters. However, as the community becomes increasingly connected, if not reliant, on the Internet, it is within technology that we find a solution to a long, unyielding policy.

This week, the Gay & Lesbian Times has devoted the editorial page to lay out the new letters policy. Our former policy was as follows: The Gay & Lesbian Times has printed all letters to the editor, unedited and in the order they were received. Every letter this paper has ever received – with the exception of letters containing blatantly profane or offensive content, confidential medical information, or whereby publishing the letter would put the GLT in legal jeopardy – has been published. Despite its lack of popularity, the policy has remained, until now.

The letters to the editor portion of the GLT creates a space for the community to communicate openly, unedited – even down to the punctuation. Publishing every letter ensures all voices are heard equally. The changes to our policy provide a practical means of staying true to this basic tenant.

Letters to the editor will no longer be required to be printed in the order in which they are received. Since the paper has limited space for letters each week, oftentimes the GLT would be forced to run letters referring to topics weeks, even months, after they’ve been reported. Meanwhile, letters containing relevant, timely subject matter affecting our community had to wait their turn.

The recent election season is a prime example. Prior to the actual election, we provided extensive news coverage of local and national races relevant to the GLBT community. With President Bush the incumbent, marriage equality issue number one, and a mayoral race we are still reporting on today, letters flooded in – many providing insightful commentary on candidates, including endorsements. It was cardinal these letters run prior to Election Day. However, many letters did not make press until mid-November as a result of our policy.

Contributing to this clog, the Gay & Lesbian Times publishes every letter. Our “Get Fit for 2005” feature published Jan. 6, for example, has prompted over 20 letters (we are still getting letters on this topic today), all similar in nature with little variance outside the two predominant opinions. As readers snore their way through yet another week of the same tired letters, other, timelier letters are itching to be printed.

Further, because the community is aware of our commitment to the former policy, the letters section unfortunately has been used as a forum to air dirty laundry and slander business and community members. Letters received, which do not contain subject matter in reference to the content of the publication, will be published at the discretion of the Gay & Lesbian Times.

The Gay & Lesbian Times will continue to publish all letters to the editor, unedited. However, as mentioned above, we will no longer require these letters to be published in the order they are received. It is impractical. As do the majority of publications today, a letter we deem timely will have priority.

Furthermore, every single letter that refers to the content of the publication will still be published. If the opinion it’s expressing has already been thoroughly represented in our print edition, it will be published on our website.

The online version of the GLT is updated every Thursday afternoon following the publication of the issue. If additional letters appear on the website that were not published in the paper that week, an editor’s note will appear to notify readers that more letters can be read at www.gaylesbiantimes.com. All letters must be under 500 words and accompanied by full name, telephone number and address. Telephone number and address are for verification purposes only and will not be published. For further questions regarding the Gay & Lesbian Times’ new letters policy, please email the editor at editor@uptownpub.com.