Dear Editor:

Like most in our community, I was stunned and saddened by the death of John McCusker. John was not only a succesful businessman, but an inspiring leader and a great role model for our community. He was generous both financially and with the time and energy that he dedicated to community organizations. It is very important that John always be remembered for all of the good things that he did for our community.

John’s death was truly tragic. It is no secret that John struggled with an addiction to drugs and that his death was a direct result of a drug overdose. Unfortunately, it seems many people are too willing to ignore this fact. I understand that this is a very painful time for John’s friends and family but this is also an opportunity to open the dialogue on substance abuse in our community.

This community has a serious and pervasive problem with drugs and specifically crystal meth. There is a large underground scene of house parties and PNP (party and play) sex, and this problem is prevalent in all strata of our community. I personally know several business owners and a medical doctor who have an addiction to crystal meth. HIV infection rates are rising among men who are abusing this drug and having unprotected sex, and examples of young people ruining their lives through crystal meth addiction have become far too common. Why has this behavior become acceptable and to a certain extent even glamorous in our community, and why are so few people willing to speak out against it?

I commend the Gay & Lesbian Times for taking a leadership position and not being afraid to speak out openly about this problem. It is time for our community leaders, politicians, and business leaders to do the same. Our leaders and community organisations need to come up with real solutions. People are losing their jobs, their friends, and tragically their lives. What will it take for people to realize that there is nothing cool or glamorous about crystal meth and substance abuse?

Nicholas E. Moede

“It will always be easier to stoop to the lowest level than to look at something from a new perspective.”

Dear Editor:

Here we go again. And I had just recently defended the G & L Times as a good balance of information and entertainment, substance and fun. Then you go and print your attempt at humor with the April Fool’s piece on massage and Mueller College. To me, the more intelligent the humor, the more funny it is. Well, this piece was neither. Here are some examples of people whom, with me, are shaking their heads instead of chuckling:

Members of the gay community who are portrayed as being hung up on sex in every encounter – certainly including massage. Is this who we are? Is this how we want the larger community to see us? Maybe gay people are just not able to discern between a sensual experience and a sexual one?

Students of Mueller College may also not be laughing too loud, as each of them spends a great deal of time and money in their education in order to enter into a profession in which they will undoubtedly encounter on a regular basis, the exact type of ignorance and misconception that your piece perpetuates – by both gay and straight people, by the way. You even used their school logo, which they proudly wear on their chest (there’s some more material for your writers). What were you thinking?

Thank you for showing us once again that, despite the mounds of research substantiating the many benefits of massage on health with a variety of conditions, and even though massage has been recognized by the medical community and incorporated in the comprehensive health care by many insurance providers, we still have a long way to go. It will always be easier to stoop to the lowest level than to look at something from a new perspective. The bottom line is that all people can benefit from massage – all types of people and all types of massage, certainly including members of the gay community. Why not serve them well with good information?

Here’s an idea – how about if we have an interesting discussion about sensuality versus sexuality – how are they similar / different? Wouldn’t our time be better used in this way instead of stupid cracks that bring us all down instead of lighten us up – which is what good humor does.

Darren Snapper

Dear Editor:

Thank you once again for engaging the debate on drug use within our community. Like it or not, we all need talk openly and honestly about its costs to all of us without demonizing those who use drugs. John McCusker was a wonderful person and the cause of his death does not diminish what he did with his life. John was one of the first people to provide financial support for our crystal meth campaign and when I asked him for sponsorship for our annual Toys for Tots party, John said yes again. His struggle with drugs is not something his lover, friends, and family should feel shame over. Stigma drives drug use underground and like HIV, it feeds the epidemic. Talking about how John and others like him in our community have died from drug use and addiction will only honor his memory, let others know they are not alone and hopefully, just hopefully, our collective community will do what it takes to stop this from happening to anyone else.

Steven B. Johnson