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From: Kevin Kirby
Subject: Re: Mr. Naquin-Delain,
I received your letter concerning the boycott of HRC. I am sorry you feel the way you do and I am sorry you feel we will win our struggle for equality be boycotting each other.

The mission of the Human Rights Campaign is to create a world where lesbian and gay people are ensured of their basic equal rights- and can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, and in the community. We ask all fair-minded people who believe in this mission to join. As you may know, our lobbyist work closely with BINet, a bisexual organization and GenderPAC, a transgender organization. We would love to be able to advocate on all issues of equality, but with a limited staff and finical resources we simple can not. However with coalition building in the progressive movement we will create an America where all Americans have their basic equal rights. Please feel free to write or call anytime.
--Kevin Kirby, HRC membership, kevin.kirby@hrc.org

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From: Michelle Steiner
Subject: The HRC Boycott
What Kurt Vorndran fails to understand is that the HRC not only does not support inclusion of transgender in ENDA, but actively opposes such inclusion. The HRC deliberately advocates a policy that is detrimental to transgendered people because they think that by excluding transgendered people from ENDA, the chances of ENDA passing into l will be increased.

He calls the boycotts and pickets "sabotage." I call it "fighting back."

He says about the transgendered community "never do they feel an obligation to explain why they believe the boundaries of the community fall one place rather than another." Actually, the transgendered community has spent most of its time explaining just this. To the ultra right fundie Christians, there's no difference between gay and transgendered. They lump us together, and treat us the same.

The response of the HRC, and Mr. Vorndran is, in essence, to say "Hey! We're not like those peverts; we deserve to have rights. They don't."

Sorry, Mr. Vorndran, but like it or not, we're all in this together, and if you try to suppress someone's rights, be prepared for them to fight you.
--MichelleSteiner

From: Michelle Steiner
Subject: Follow up to my previous letter re HRC Boycott
Eduardo G. Marvez-Valls, M.D. wrote
>I pose a question to all who feel under-represented by the HRC....Does the >transsexual and transgender community truly feel that HRC does not fight for >the rights of their group against the prejudices of society? Do they feel >thatthey do not benefit from the efforts of the HRC?

I can't speak for the transgender community as a whole, but I can speak for myself. The answer to this question is a resounding YES! The HRC (HUMAN Rights Campaign) has actively fought to exclude transgendered people from ENDA.

>It is very clear to me that there is a difference between gender >identification and sexual orientation. HRC was developed to fight for the >rights of all groups that are discriminated against, and doesn't need to >define every subcategory which would benefit. Then the HRC should not promote the exclusion of transgendered people from ENDA.

>It is up to all of us to stand >together and fight and keep the fight for equality alive.

Tell that to the management of the HRC. They are the ones who refuse to stand together.

>I would like to suggest that if the transsexual and transgender >community doesn't support or appreciate the efforts of the HRC in fighting >for their rights, then make a stance in a positive way. We have; our efforts fell on deaf ears.

>A boycott is wasted energy >and effort. Undermining and slandering HRC only serves to harm all the >efforts of the many people who volunteer their time.

When their efforts are designed to be to our detrimient, it's time to harm those efforts.

>I again reiterate, we have enough placed on us through out our daily >lives, and this trivial attitude is just one more way to discredit us as >worthy members of society. One last suggestion, perhaps the transgendered >community should work in coalition with the Baptists and boycott Disney, >since transgendereds aren't included in Gay Day. Actually, we are.
--Michelle Steiner

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From: Jessica707
Subject: Letters From Eduardo G. Marvez-Valls, M.D. and Kurt Vorndran
Dear Editors, Eduardo G. Marvez-Valls, M.D. and Kurt Vorndran misstate the truth about the HRC. For years the HRC has been saying that Transsexuals and Transgendered are included in their fight for human rights, but they have allways left us out at the last minute saying that they will include us at a later date. This is after they have promised that they would not do that, and after we have contributed thousands of our dollars after they say that we would be included. Then they issue two statments saying that we are basicly crazzy. We have doccumented proof, and corrospondance from them saying that we were to be included.

Your right that were mad as hell. We've been lied to and ripped off, how the hell would you feel?
--Jessica Kelly, (A Bisexual/Transsexual and proud if it! )

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From: greg morisse
Subject: HRC boycott
Hello. I am concerned person about this HRC boycott. I completely understand and agree with the urgency of inclusion of not only bi and trans, but questioning, non-identifying and queer people (some people make a distinction between gay and queer). The queer community (I use queer as inclusive of trans) needs to recognize not only issues of sexual and gender orientation, but internal sexism, racism and classism (among other isms).

However, despite this need for improvement and change, how does hurting an ally help? What possible gain can become of hurting an organization that is, however poorly, fighting on our side?

Should we not focus our activist energies on people who attempt to keep homosexuality out of public education curiculum? Should we not focus our activist energies on those who are trying to keep us down, versus those who just are not helping us rise?

I think the HRC definitely needs to reevaluate their standing, but are there other ways to make them do this?

In my opinion, the radical right wing would like nothing more than to see the queers self-destruct and start fighting among themselves. While we boycott each other, they can continue to implement more and more conservative policies in our communities, our schools and in our nation.

I would ask you and your affiliates to reconsider this boycott, or give me a more valid justification along with ways you can see to replace and continue the work that the HRC -does- already do. Seriously,
--greg morisse
ps, I hope this letter was not offensive or mean-sounding. I am just really concerned. Please help me understand your point of you as I hope you try to see mine. Thank you for your time.

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From: DeDarlene
Subject: HRC Boycott
I am against the action of HRC and as a TRANSGENDERED of our society will not participate nor acknowledge their interpetations of what Human Rights are until they have acknowledge me and all of my brothers and sisters who are human beings.

I am calling all who share our common interest to do so the same.
--Darlene Poole

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From: Nicole2U
Subject: HRC Dinner Boycott
I'd like to voice my support of the HRC dinner boycott and thank the Gay and Lesbian community of NOLA for their support of the Transgendered cause. I am a member of Gulf Gender Alliance and it is a wonderful thing to be accepted into this community. I realize that this is a difficult issue for those who have fought so long for Gay and Lesbian rights!

Transgendered individuals do not fall easily into the framework of the Gay and Lesbian movement (regardless of sexual orientation) and this makes the boycott more significant to me. The point is not prejudice based on sexual or gender orientation, but unfair, hateful prejudice based on anything. And while I acknowledge that you have to choose your battles carefully and can not hope to correct all injustice at once, we have to understand that allowing society to target one group will weaken the whole. I have often heard TGs defend themselves with the line, "I'm not gay." and conversely, the gay defense, "Hey, I don't wear dresses." That doesn't mean a thing to the person you're addressing, all it does is reinforce the idea that one is bad and the other is okay--when, in fact, to someone who accepts neither, it sends the message that even we do not accept each other so why should they? Let's not be turned against one another, rather, let us unite against all forms of hateful prejudice.

Do you want to work towards a world without hate or merely be accepted and no longer the target?
--Nicole Adams, Nicole2U@aol.com

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From: DeltaDyke1
Subject: Fwd: Great news!
< There may be time to alert your local gay newspaper about the airdate. If you have a contact for me I would be happy to call or write them.

This is a big victory for the community there in Pensacola. If you give permission, I would like to highlight your efforts and mention your name on the "ITL News" page of our website. This kind of local activism is the surest way for IN THE LIFE to get new stations, and best way for people to help us out. Tell me what you think. Thanks again. I hope you enjoy the program June 7th. Spread the word! Regards,
--John Catania>>

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From: PeterMora
Subject: Petunia's Website Comments
Gentlemen, I collect Louisiana restaurant recipes. I was surfing the web when I came across your website. I thought it was wonderful.

I also thought it would be enhanced if Petunia's would share some of their recipes with us. Keep up the good work! Best regards,
--Peter Mora

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From: Alan
To: becky@gayneworleans.com
Becky! Love your tour. I come back to it over and over! It's like having your FAB city at my fingertips. Thanks for the great job!
--Sterl'

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From: glen costa
To: becky@gayneworleans.com
Subject: BACK IN RI
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BIG CITY? WE MISS YOU AND AND BARRY BARE-ASS HOW'S THE GONG SHOW? WISH WE WERE THERE, TELL US ABOUT IT!! SMOOCHES SWEETIE,
--GLEN & CHRIS

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From: Victor Zhichko
Subject: From Russia with love
Russian man, 35, seeking friend between 25 and 45 to exchange e-mail, photographs and possibly visits. I live in the beautiful historic city of St. Petersburg. My interests include music, travel, geography and gay literature. I would love to hear from you, or feel free to give my address to a friend who might be interested.

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From: King0road
Subject: Will be missed
just read the new Issue of Ambush Mag (5/15-28/98) and was very saddened at the news of the passing of Andy Boudreaux. It was such a shock to me. I first met Andy when he was delivering produce to the Golden Lantern where I worked as a Bar back/tender in the late 1970's. He has been a big supporter of the gay movement in New Orleans and will be greatly missed by me and I'm sure others who know him.

My sincere sympathy is with his family as well as the gay community.
--Robert King

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From: hirsch
Subject: How Fabulous
Dear Mardi Gras Web Master, How fabulous, your Mardi Gras Web Page! Here we are stuck in the conservative Midwest and blammy, we discovered the Mardi Gras. Wonderful Music and attention to detail. thank you for sharing Gay Mardi Gras. Sincerely,
--Tony Hirsch & Fil Batchelder

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From: BVicll
Subject: George Patterson Li'l Abner Review
Hi- I'm writing this for no reason except to tell you that I stumbled across your review and enjoyed reading it- I wish I could have seen the show.it's a score I'm fond of but except for the (scary) movie have never seen.. I'm a musical theatre conductor (here in New Orleans to do a show this week) and I love to hear about people doing good work, especially with young(er) actors. I hope Mr. Tracy keeps up the good work, and that New Orleans can keep the noise down while he does it!
--Ben Whiteley

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From: Scott Stafford
To: becky@gayneworleans.com
Subject: [Fwd: URGENT!!!]
I am writing to you on behalf of a group of student at Tulane's School of Public Health that is taking a class on research methods and person to person interview techniques. We are attempting to contact lesbians in the New Orleans area that would be willing to share their ideas and opinions about the lesbian community and what it means to be a lesbian in New Orleans. Our interviews would only last 20-40 minutes and they would be completely confidential and anonymous. Names would never have to be exchanged. Thank you.
--Scott sstaffo@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu, 504.482.7261

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From: Doug Williams/Geo.
Subject: New Gay Bar in Rutiand,VT 12 Merchants Row 802 747-3366
Dear Webmaster, Recently I visited Killington Ski Resort, and inquired about the gay scene. I was told about the newest gay establishment in nearby Rutland called The Edge. I had a wonderful time!! The DJ had us dancing all night in a retro 70's type disco setting with male strippers intermingled. The people were mixed gay and straight but they were very friendly and the owner tells you at the door that it is a gay bar, no red necks. Rutland is a very safe and progressive town, I walked the streets to my car, amid other partiers and no one bothered us.

I have no vested interest in the club but thought I would pass the information to help the gay skiers like myself. It seems that the gay bars are hard to find in ski country, and we are looking for apres ski adventures with athletic hot mountain surfers ... I was very Lucky! regards,
--Doug Williams

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