Hitting close to home.Thanks for the Best Places to Live article in the March 27 issue ["Where We Live"]. There is another city where something truly remarkable is happening--Modesto, Calif. When I moved here in late 2000 from San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , it was like dropping off the face of the planet. In the last few years, however, the place has metamorphosed. A gay community center opened in December; in two weeks the third Modesto International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival opens; there are four bars and discos, two great gay cafes, and several new gay organizations and restaurants; the local school district offers domestic-partner benefits; and in June the second gay pride festival--all in a city of 210,000. If this can happen in Modeste, it can happen anywhere, and it is. ROBERT BARZAN Modesto, Calif. I enjoyed finding Missoula, Mont., as one of your best places to live. There is one major correction that needs to be made. Diane Sands is serving her third term in the Montana legislature this year. She was the first out lesbian to serve in the legislature and to win reelection re·e·lect also re-e·lect tr.v. re·e·lect·ed, re·e·lect·ing, re·e·lects To elect again. re . Her partner, Ann Mary Dussault, is the chief administrative officer A chief administrative officer (CAO) is responsible for administrative management of private, public or governmental corporations. The CAO is one of the highest ranking members of an organization, managing daily operations and usually reporting directly to the chief executive for Missoula County. NICK ENGLER Missoula, Mont. We in Dallas are thrilled that The Advocate has discovered something we've known for years: that Dallas has a large, vibrant gay community and is indeed a terrific place to live. I would, however, like to point out an error and an omission in your blurb blurb n. A brief publicity notice, as on a book jacket. [Coined by Gelett Burgess (1866-1951), American humorist.] blurb v. on our city. First, our pro-gay ordinance is actually far broader than you indicated, as it also includes nondiscrimination in housing as well as public accommodation. It also applies to employment generally--not just "public" employment. Second, under "gay public officials" you failed to mention openly gay city councilman (and current mayoral candidate) Ed Oakley. JEFF Jeff boob who usually bungles Mutt’s schemes. [Comics: Berger, 48] See : Dimwittedness S. PHILLIPS Dallas, Texas Once again a state that has granted civil unions for gay couples, poor little New Jersey, is forgotten. Maybe it's not known yet, but venerable yet still quite decrepit de·crep·it adj. Weakened, worn out, impaired, or broken down by old age, illness, or hard use. See Synonyms at weak. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin d (read "affordable") Asbury Park is being bought up and developed by gays faster than you can say "stone pony." Multimillion-dollar developments are in the works, which is turning this fired old town into a vibrant mecca of culture and nightlife. We all know gentrification gentrification, the rehabilitation and settlement of decaying urban areas by middle- and high-income people. Beginning in the 1970s and 80s, higher-income professionals, drawn by low-cost housing and easier access to downtown business areas, renovated deteriorating is our middle name, so let's not forget the Garden State. It's more than that place between Philly and New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . RICH COOPER Boonton, N.J. We were so pleased to open the latest edition and see Tucson highlighted as one of the best places to live. But imagine our surprise and disappointment when we saw that you left out the heart of the community by erroneously stating that there is no gay community center in Tucson. Wingspan, Southern Arizona's LGBT LGBT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, has been a hub of our community for 19 years, providing meeting space, a lending library, a cyber center, and an array of services such as anti-violence assistance, youth programming, and transgender transgender or transgendered adj. Transsexual. support. Wingspan also played a critical role in helping make Arizona the first state to defeat a "protect marriage" amendment last November. In fact, with a budget of over $1 million and a crew of 20 staff and over 200 volunteers, Wingspan is one of the largest community centers for a city our size in the nation. KENT BURBANK Executive director, Wingspan, Tucson, Ariz. |
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