A day in the country. (reader forum).

Danny Pintauro's My Perspective column in the June 25 issue illustrates the condescension urban gays have toward their "outlander" brothers and sisters. I've lived in both worlds, the gay ghetto and the rural South, and I'm constantly amazed by the ease with which urban queers diagnose and resolve the problems of their country cousins.

If a long weekend outside his protected gay enclave brings Pintauro to tears, he should have more respect for those who grew up in that world than to lecture them on the best way to navigate such harsh terrain. I don't expect our self-appointed gay leaders to give up their comfortable urban lives to experience the life they rail against so fiercely. I do, however, hope that one day those gays outside West Hollywood and Chelsea will get the respect they've earned for bearing the brunt of societal change.

Michael Franklin, via the Internet

God bless Danny Pintauro. I'm sure he is sincere and was truly shocked to find real, live homophobia out in the provinces. For those of us who grew up "out here," however, his observations are hardly earth-shattering revelations.

I am glad he sees the value in coming out, but his perspective is a bit rarefied. I came out over 10 years ago, but "being out" still requires some daily determination. The young aren't alone in needing to see "someone right in front of them."

Adam Crowe, Indianapolis, Ind.