All shapes and sizes.I am very saddened by the First Person article "Fat Gregg Is Dead" in the September 12 issue. What a sad state our community is in to cause a person to want to change to fit in. Isn't that what being out is all about? Being accepting of who we are, being coinfortable being ourselves? Shame on the haters, but shame on you, Gregg, for responding to them. There's nothing wrong with you. It's not a sin to be fat. There are a great many in our community who celebrate girth GIRTH., A girth or yard is a measure of length. The word is of Saxon origin, taken from the circumference of the human body. Girth is contracted from girdeth, and signifies as much as girdle. See Ell. , who are excited and turned on by size. But it's not even about that: We live in a world that is full of diversity and full of people judging and criticizing, causing distance and separation. It may be weight, it may be skin color, it may be sexual orientation sexual orientation n. The direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes, especially a direction seen to be dictated by physiologic rather than sociologic forces. that people respond to with "outright hostility." So? It's up to each of us to stand up for who we are. To go through surgery to appease ap·pease tr.v. ap·peased, ap·peas·ing, ap·peas·es 1. To bring peace, quiet, or calm to; soothe. 2. To satisfy or relieve: appease one's thirst. 3. the hate-mongering masses is insane. BUTCH LEIBER Phoenix, Ariz. "Fat Gregg Is Dead" reinforces the stereotype that if you are fat and gay, you are invisible in the gay community. That is far from true. There are plenty of happy, well-adjusted fat gay men in the world. I am glad Mr. Paz is facing his health issues by having gastric bypass surgery Gastric bypass procedures (GBP) are any of a group of similar operations used to treat morbid obesity—the severe accumulation of excess weight as fatty tissue—and the health problems (comorbidities) it causes. , but the surgery is not a cure-all for the self-esteem issues he mentions. Some strangers can be cruel. Frankly, their opinion should not matter. Let them yell. It only shows how ignorant they are. Rude service people? Speak to their bosses and let them know that you will be back and expect much better service. DWIGHT YODER Lancaster, Pa. I used to think that any time gay people criticized fat people it was abusive. Now I think people do things for many different reasons. I'm sure the bartender who called Gregg Paz a fat ass wasn't concerned with his blood pressure or risk for stroke. But being gay in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. means fitting in a national picture, where obesity is a major problem. Being overweight is something we share with our fellow non-queer citizens, and weighing 400 pounds isn't anyone's idea of being healthy. Should the gay and lesbian community support people who are morbidly obese? Gay and lesbian people, don't marginalize mar·gin·al·ize tr.v. mar·gin·al·ized, mar·gin·al·iz·ing, mar·gin·al·iz·es To relegate or confine to a lower or outer limit or edge, as of social standing. and humiliate overweight gays and lesbians, but also realize it's a major health issue. K. FERRIS San Antonio, Texas “San Antonio” redirects here. For other uses, see San Antonio (disambiguation). San Antonio is the second most populous city in Texas, the third most populous metropolitan area in Texas, and is the seventh most populous city in the United States. As of the 2006 U.S. |
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