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LETTERS
Letters
Policy
We
love to receive your letters at OutSmart—tell us
how we’re doing, what you like, don’t like,
want to see more of, what you’ve got on your mind.
Although you can request anonymity, we must receive
a name and a contact number for every letter. We also
reserve the right to edit letters. Send or e-mail letters
to OutSmart, 3406 Audubon Place, Houston TX 77006, letters@outsmartmagazine.com.
We love Galveston, Galveston Loves Us
What a wonderful issue! It is no surprise, after reading
the issue, you were voted Nation’s Best Gay and
Lesbian Local Magazine. We always like to put Galveston
in a positive light and you all certainly turned a bright
light on The Island. However, we’ve found The Island
to be just as it was described in the articles—friendly,
open. and “live and let live.” We hope to
see you in Galveston soon.
—Bob Wilkins and Sherman Houck
Hollywood Guesthouse, Galveston
I just finished reading the on-line version, and I’m
wow-ed! It’s probably the best issue I’ve
seen in years.... Thanks, too, for the fine words you
selected about us. Congrats on such fine work. I hope
it brings lots of success your way.
—Janet Cohen
Galveston
This is your one and only “Island Diva,” just
writing to thank you very much for the article on Galveston
and myself. [“Play Misty for Me; Misty Valdez and
the grand tradition of Galveston drag entertainment,
July OutSmart, by Angela Hoover.] Like I told Angela,
no one thinks of Galveston except on special occasions.
Well, thanks to you and your magazine, they do know
that we exist each and every day. I have met many wonderful
and friendly people from around the world because of
you.... Hope you don’t forget us and keep in touch.
—Misty Valdez
Galveston
Many happy regards
We were thrilled to read that OutSmart magazine received
the Vice Versa award for Best Local Magazine. We are
proud to advertise our business in such an acclaimed
publication. We wish you continued success in the new
millennium.
—A. Katherine Hubbard
Hubbard Financial Services, Inc.
P-FLAG Houston wishes to thank you for your coverage
of our billboard campaign; our scholarship recipient
wrote a touching story. [“Unflagging; With their
ambitious billboard campaign, PFLAG keeps up their never-ending
crusade to ‘Tell the truth in love relentlessly,’”
April OutSmart, by Laura Springel]. We also thank you
for donating your booth space to us for the International
Festival; it was a great opportunity to gain exposure
and to pick up some donations for the billboards, too.
—Sue Null
PFLAG Houston
Just a note to compliment you on the two bio features—Don
Sinclair and
Richard Wiederholt [June OutSmart, by Ann Walton Sieber].
Most inspiring and thoughtful! Hope you can find many
more personalities like that who have a spiritual dimension
to their story.
I vote to give a frowny face to Sandra Wilkins, however,
for promoting
prostitution and drugs in her travel tips [June TravelOut,
“Top gay travel destinations in the U.S. and the
world”]. People that are into that already know
about Bangkok and Amsterdam, and they don’t need
any encouragement from OutSmart.
—Howard Maple
Houston
Many thanks for publishing the item on [the John Steven
Kellett Foundation’s recognizing the importance
transgender inclusion] on p. 12 of the June issue. Its
inclusion in the Pride Issue seems particularly appropriate
in view of the successful Houston Gay & Lesbian
Film Festival 2000 just concluded, and its efforts to
include films on transgender issues.
—John Kellett
Houston
WOW! What an inspiration Mr. Vergel is to those of us
with HIV and the related physical issues that result
from infection [“Pumped-Up Prophet,” March
OutSmart, by Nelson Vergel.]. Thank you so much for
the article and putting out the word about his new book,
Built To Survive. I am sure that others will appreciate
your kindness.
—David W. Lewis
Houston
Got Milk?
On May 22, OutSmart and the Houston Lesbian & Gay
Community Center celebrated what would have been Harvey
Milk’s 70th birthday by screening the documentary
The Times of Harvey Milk, followed by a panel discussion
facilitated by Jack Valinski with Cleve Jones, Ray Hill,
Clarence Bagby, Cicely Wynne, and Ray Ramirez.
What a wonderful program!—to see the important
film The Times of Harvey Milk, and then hear and be
able to ask questions of Cleve Jones, the originator
of the AIDS memorial quilt project, along with pillars
of the gay and lesbian community. Really, this even
should have been showcased with the gay and lesbian
film festival. Thank you so much for your service to
Houston and the community.
—Barry Reese
The Rothko Chapel
... your wonderful Harvey Milk birthday gathering. Did
you get the feeling that a special force was at work
bringing just the right people together to share just
the right stories? Many thanks for taking the time to
organize that event—we need many more like it in
Houston!
—Howard Maple
Houston
The real difficulties are interpreting life, not the
sheer technical problems. Milk came from limitations
and soared for us all. Thank you for sharing Harvey
Milk...the real thing.
—McKay Otto
Houston
We
Want to Hear Your Stories
“My decision to stop that shame—to stop rationalizing
why I didn’t need to come out—was the most
important decision I’ve ever made. What I thought
was such a tremendous risk has taken me on a spiritual
journey I would’ve never experienced otherwise.”
—Ellen DeGeneres
October 11 is National Coming Out Day, and we’re
looking for your inspiring coming-out stories for possible
inclusion in our October issue. If you’d like to
share your story, please call Ann Sieber at 713/520-7237.
Stories should be about 300-500 words in length (about
a page to a page and a half, double-spaced).
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