October 18, 2007.
I do not understand why men and women who are able to become editors and publishers of gay/lesbian publications do not seem to want to communicate with each other nor with their readers. I suggest that they all glance at an issue of Lesbian Connections and see what I believe our community needs.
Here is a well done publication that actually serves its readers/supporters. Even though it is aimed only at lesbians, the point is generic.
It has readers who write in and let other readers know about what is going on in their area of the country, share news of some book or event they know about, and even share pictures of their animals. This is true community.
First, why has no national publication that I know of ever mentioned this publication? The Advocate, OUT, etc. should be ashamed of themselves for their constant pictures and pages devoted to celebrities, most of whom are not gay, yet find no time to cover others in our community. And along that line, why is it they ignore probably the best national source of groups and publications serving our community, the Gayellow Pages, the book and the website? Why do the readers of Lesbian Connection tell others of places in their community while the well paid writers and publications that cover “gay” travel ignore the resources in the different areas and instead give us only the same coverage we can get from any non-gay publication or writer?
It is time for homosexuals to support the few publications that do give us information we need, that treat us as friends, not as consumers, giving us only material that helps their advertisers sell us their car or liquor, etc. The fact that most publications give space to the people who pay for ads is understandable, but that does not mean the editors do not have an obligation to give the readers information, not just pictures of cars and clothes no sensible person would waste money on or be seen wearing.
This is the time for us to ask more than we could get in the ’50s and ’60s. If we don’t, we deserve the non-gay way we are treated.
