As reported in this week’s San Diego news section of the Gay & Lesbian Times (page 14), a 22-year-old female camp intern was fired from Cuyamaca Outdoor School in Descanso after explaining why the use of the word lesbian in a negative context was inappropriate, and according to Jim Esterbrooks, spokesperson for the San Diego County Office of Education, told the sixth-grade group, “prominent leaders are lesbians and a percentage of you, this group here, is going to be lesbian.”

According to Esterbrooks, counselors must participate in an 80-hour training program in which they are instructed to avoid topics such as race, religion and sexual orientation. Therefore, anything “beyond admonishing the girls not to call one another lesbian is inappropriate,” and added that the intern’s behavior has been perceived by some as an endorsement of the “lesbian lifestyle.”

Before making any judgments, the Gay & Lesbian Times would like to know exactly what was said by the counselor to the students. The counselor has not been available for comment; therefore we have not heard from the source directly. As information has passed from sixth graders to staff and then to administration and parents, what was actually said is not clear.

If what has been reported is correct, it does appear the counselor disregarded her training and violated camp policy by discussing sexual orientation with the students. Had she simply reprimanded the girls to stop their behavior and then reported to the camp that she heard students using the word lesbian in a derogatory way, the camp could then take the appropriate action to deal with the situation, such as calling the children’s parents. Parents could then approach this topic in the manner they see fit.

Based on what’s been reported, we understand that the intern was simply trying to explain how being a lesbian is not a bad thing and, in fact, something common. However, these policies are designed this way for a reason. Many families do not share our beliefs. Similarly, under this policy, children would not be subject to religious discussions. It is our hope that a counselor discussing his or her belief that being a lesbian is a sin, for example, would also be fired.

This year’s Feb. 17 issue, featuring a cover story on lipodystrophy, has received negative feedback regarding the cover model used to portray the topic. On the cover, a young, attractive model bearing a flawless body stares at himself in a mirror, coupled with the title, “Reflecting on lipodystrophy.”

Almost immediately, the editorial department received letters from the community relaying their disappointment, pointing to the model as a tool to sell magazines as opposed to representing the topic featured. Those who wrote to the editor described the toll lipodystrophy has taken on their bodies and self-image, and found our choice to use the cover model insulting and irresponsible.

The Gay & Lesbian Times apologizes for any offense taken. However, the cover model does indeed represent the feature written on lipodystrophy. Men and women who are newly infected, have recently begun an HIV-drug regimen, or believe they are starting to see the early signs of lipodystrophy may spend countless hours in front of a mirror evaluating their bodies, waiting for the first signs of lipodystrophy to take effect.

As discussed in the feature, lipodystrophy has an enormous impact both emotionally and psychologically, as many in America’s image-obsessed culture are taught to rely on their beauty, youth and sculpted bodies for self worth and are now forced to look at themselves in the mirror – both literally and figuratively – in order to find new ways to build self-esteem and value.

Admittedly, a model displaying the harsh and haunting signs of lipodystrophy may have been more powerful, but finding someone with facial wasting or the “protease belly,” for example, who would feel comfortable posing on our cover, has proven difficult. It was at this realization that the Gay & Lesbian Times chose an alternative concept.