Dear Editor:

The editorial department is quickly trying to cover their butts concerning the poor choice of cover models used for the “Reflecting Lipodystrophy” issue. As you stated in your response, “but finding someone with facial wasting or the “protease belly,” for example, who would feel comfortable posing on our cover, has proven difficult.” Did the Gay and Lesbian Times run an ad requesting for such model? I do not recall reading an ad in your classifieds section. So before you say it was difficult to find a more appropriate model for the cover, make sure you have exhausted all of your avenues in seeking a model out.

As a person who is living with HIV/AIDS, I fear the “look” that will someday haunt me. Though the article was informative, the physical representation was ineffective and in a society where looks out weigh everything else...the cover should have been someone who is affected with Lipodystrophy and not some young, buff guy who is “looking into the future.”

Jim Leckliter

Dear Editor:

I find it interesting that the 2200 Club’s neighbor to the west is the F Street, also an adult entertainment business, at Florida and University. It is completely surrounded by residences as well, all within 1000 feet. Apparently, the F Street falls under a different category and different jurisdiction as I am not hearing any uproar about this establishment. Regardless, as an individual who lives close to both of these establishments and as a regular walker, I find the F Street to be a bigger nuisance in that it attracts more traffic, more loitering and is a blatant eye sore. In comparison, the 2200 Club is discreet and quiet. My two cents.

Ann Huguenard

Dear Editor:

Thank you for your recent editorial “Tina’s back in the news.” As you pointed out, this is an escalating epidemic particularly in the gay male community and there seems to be a lack of leadership and action on the part of our local health officials, media, and our gay community leaders.

It’s important to acknowledge and commend both David Contois, Chair of the HIV Funding Collaborative and Steven Johnson, Health Policy Consultant who decided it was time for action and launched an effective harm reduction campaign two years ago. Despite the campaign’s success our local health officials and organizations lacked the vision and commitment to build on its success and carry it forward. I wonder how many individuals lives could have been spared the harsh realities of this epidemic had more been done?

We as a community need to come to terms with what really is fueling this epidemic and challenge each other and our leaders to step up to the plate. We need progressive, collaborative efforts - - now - - on the part of our health officials, politicians, the media, and gay community leaders to effectively and compassionately turn the tide on the growing epidemic. I hope we can count on the G&L Times to support these efforts.

Frank G Scarpaci