Dear Editor:

In response to the letter [in the Union-Tribune] on 08/12/06 from Allyson Smith of El Cajon, who alleges that “the homosexual community demonstrated its hatred of innocent children by allowing them to view a parade where adults engaged in public nudity and simulated sex acts; exposed hardcore gay pornography, sadomasochistic practices and devices and same-sex behavior in the festival area to impressionable teens,” I’d like to know what Gay Pride Festival she attended because it wasn’t the same one in which I, myself, participated.

As a proud mother of two wonderful gay adult-children, and a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), I have marched in Pride parades for many years, and I also work in the PFLAG booth at the Festival every year. Although I will admit that some of the costumes are close to the edge, 95% of the participants are colorfully and joyfully dressed, music is playing, people are dancing, smiling and waving and having a wonderful time. To me, Gay Pride is much like Mardi Gras and should be viewed in the same fun, light-hearted manner.

Allyson is probably someone who would come unglued at seeing a same-sex couple walking down the street holding hands, but she doesn’t blink an eye at an opposite-sex couple doing the same thing. I invite Allyson to attend a few PFLAG meetings to become more educated and familiar with the gay community. Overall I have found them to be particularly creative, intelligent, sensitive and interesting people. Not a cut below us heterosexuals, but a cut above! Frankly, I am a much better person for having two gay children than I otherwise would have been by staying in my predictable middle-class, white, straight world.

Gail Folkman

Dear Editor:

Just wanted to make a couple of comments on the article. First off, not everyone that goes to these circuit partys is doing drugs, I myself have done these events, and only drank alcohol, so I think it’s a rather unfair generalization to non-drug users who go to these parties. Secondly, whether the G&L Times includes ads for these events in their weekly publications or not, people will make their own decisions on attending these events. By no means is the G&L Times twisting peoples arms by simply advertising. Thats all, thanks for your time.

Joshua Thompson

Dear Editor:

I’m with you on the meth and party issue. Recently I had to go through a number of gay and lesbian publications for a publicity project. Some of the ads in the free publications snapped at me like a whip. It’s not the club nights that spook me or the skin (geezes, I’ve spent a lot of time working in porn and I’m kinky, I see plenty of that). It’s the legal ads, that offer to cure such troubles as DUI, lewd conduct, drug charges, fraud, domestic violence, theft, forgery. Goddamn man, a stranger would be left to wonder if the community had dredged up every rapscalious, law-breaking, deviant West of the Pecos River...of course with lazer hair removal, toned abs, and a really trendy condo.

While these ads may be just as common in the LA Weekly, they still stand out. Just how much trouble is going on in the community, and are we just using the terms gay and lesbian to justify it? I’m not saying the lifestyle shouldn’t be adventurous. Geezes, I write a column about things like fisting and knifeplay, but the ads point out a lot of trouble in the party crowd. It’s bad enough defending what it is we do to the press, but isn’t it time to consider what we shouldn’t be doing?

Jay Moyes