Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

Who'll Be Next?

I am writing about your article "The Big Chill" (The Guide, November, 2006; available at Guidemag.com) concerning internet providers pulling the plug on certain chatboards.

This is not the first time communications-providers and hosting-providers have used their muscle to stifle free speech. Over the years many socially undesirable groups have been knocked off by web-hosting companies and ISPs for hosting everything from legal sexual material to neo-Nazi material to union-activism to whatever. This may be the first time a backbone provider has knocked off an entire hosting provider simply because that hosting provider had "undesirable" clients.

M

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y fear is if the Verizon decision is allowed to stand, if the political tides turn and homosexuals ever lose their protected status, GLBT web sites may be next. Additionally, ISPs could cut off fringe political parties before they have a chance to be heard.

Please follow this story and keep us informed.

a reader
via e-mail

Old and New

While most of your articles are good, I really liked the article on Baltimore ("Baltimore Revisited-- You Can't Go Home Again," The Guide, January, 2007; available at Guidemag.com). Perhaps it's because it covers the old and new.

I think I would like to read such articles on all our cities. There isn't much to tell about Shreveport/Bossier. There was a time for a few years when ACT-UP was here and there was activism, but sadly that lasted only a few years in the late 80s.

Billy Glover
Bossier, Louisiana

More than Fluff!

I have always loved your magazine. Your recent January, 2007 issue is especially appealing; it kept me reading and reading.

There is more to your mag than just gay fluff! Give kudos to Jim D'Entremont for "Anti-Gay Horror in Iraq" and Frank Laterreur on the "Baltimore Revisited: You Can't Go Home Again" (both available at Guidemag.com). Laterreur paints a wonderful tapestry of what Baltimore used to be like. I fantasize about those days (I lived in New York City then) and can easily relate to that energy and aura of a more free sexuality.

You can't go back, but I feel that since everything is political, I try to be an activist in keeping adult civil liberties alive before we're all frightened automatons afraid of being human.

Wendell W. Wilson
St. Petersburg, Florida

Wants Mag in Boston

I live about three hours drive from Boston, but I first picked up a copy of The Guide in London in March of 2005.

Is there a location in Boston where I can just stop by or stop in and either buy or pick up the most recent issue? Might want other issues as well.

I vacation some in Manila, and have never found a local listing of clubs, bars, and bath houses in that city. Might be able to feed you some up to date info on that city.

I am eager to hear from you and to secure at least one issue of The Guide.

asyoulike7777@yahoo.com

Thanks; you can find The Guide in dozens of Boston-area clubs towards the end of the month-- Calamus Books (92B South Street, downtown) vends the magazine, while Movie Place (526 Tremont Street, in the South End) serves as a popular distribution point after the end of the month. Of course, subscribing (see page 4) is the best way not to miss an issue!

Wants Mag in Pakistan

My name is Alleem. I am 30 year old gay mining engineer from Pakistan. Could I place a request to you for sending me a free copy of your gay magazine, even a back issue? In Pakistan we cannot imagine to have such magazines due to ultra-Islamic society. Please let me know if it is okay. I have a safer address with pseudonym to receive it. Please use a plain envelope.

Alleem
via e-mail

Your best bet, Alleem, may be to place a free (to overseas readers) MaleBox personal ad; we often send magazines to our overseas advertisers-- or consider subscribing (see page 4). Of course, we cannot control what happens to magazines once sent out (in sealed white envelopes), so you'll have to judge the risk involved.