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COMMENTS
 
Re “Playing our parts in ‘genderfuck’” (op-ed by Meredith Stepp, July 15):
Jennifer Vanasco’s article (“The death of femme,” op-ed, June 17) was the first time I’ve heard anyone express my own feelings about the disappearance of femmes. I am a high femme and very lesbian, and have now started to feel animosity from butch or tomboy lesbians because I’m not fitting the mold. I’ve been told that I’m stuck in the hetero world and that I’m not being myself. I feel quite the contrary. Maybe they’re dealing with their own lack of confidence for having fallen into what the stereotypical lesbian should look like. I feel free to wear make-up, grow my long hair, wear fake nails, and my butch loves it all. I disagree with Meredith Stepp; Vanasco wasn’t saying femmes were weak and butches were strong. In most cases, you find the opposite. Although I look dainty, I’m a butch top in relationships and in the bed. Maybe we should all stop basing judgments on the labels we give people. What happened to unconditional acceptance of all that is supposed to be our end goal?
Re “Study suggests bisexual men are only aroused by men” (health news, July 8):
There are certainly true bisexual guys out there. I should know; I’m one. I identify as a bi male even though I’ve been in a same-sex relationship almost 10 years now. Still, I can be aroused while looking at naked girls to prove it. What annoys me are all my gay friends thinking exactly what this article states. It’s taken about 10 years of seeing me flirt with girls and renting bi porn, but I think they’ve finally come round to seeing that I am the real thing and that bisexuality really does exist. So while I’m happy for a study that will likely help gay guys who identify as bi come to terms with their true sexuality, it’s certainly not going to make life any easier for those few of us who are really bi.
This headline is highly misleading. In other places, where the study was explained in greater detail, it was reported that 75 percent of those who self-identified as bisexuals showed arousal pattern similar to gay men, while the remaining 25 percent showed patterns similar to heterosexual men. This statistic does not translate to concluding that “many self-proclaimed bisexual men are in reality gay men who have not fully accepted their sexual orientation.” I am a gay man, and would like nothing better than greater acceptance of homosexuality, but we need to be careful about overstating the implications of scientific studies.
Re “Straight-washing of Luther Vandross” (editorial by Chris Crain, July 8):
No one was ever under the impression that Luther Vandross was straight. Because he carried himself in a dignified manner, we gave him respect where his love life was concerned. Gay people have sung love songs to and for heterosexuals as long as the world has turned. Who in the world do you think is sitting behind that piano and belting out those love tunes at your weddings? A straight man with flair? Honey, no!
This was very nicely written. As an African-American female, I “sensed” Luther was gay, but to me it really wouldn’t have mattered because his music was so powerful. Still, I wish I could have known the truth.
Re “Minister won’t apologize for anti-gay sermon” (news, July 15):
When are people going to realize that the same ideology that fuels racism also fuels anti-gay remarks? We’re fighting the same battle. It’s too bad Rev. Willie Wilson can’t see past his blinding homophobia.
Bravo, Rev. Wilson! It is about time someone was honest. You wouldn’t invite drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes to have a major role participating in the Millions More Movement, so why bother with the gays?! The homosexual lifestyle isn’t any more healthy than taking crack cocaine!
I see that Rev. Wilson hasn’t learned much about Christian love since he achieved notoriety for his anti-Asian racism. The Bible lists the fruits of the spirit, and virulent bigotry isn’t one of them.
As a bi woman of color, I now know that Willie Wilson and other organizers to this “so-called” all-inclusive Millions More Movement were paying lip service to our community by leading us to believe that we would be welcomed to ...
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