reader forum.

You say D'Amato

Your story about the Human Rights Campaign's endorsement of Sen. Al D'Amato ["A Painful Coming-of-age," December 8] quotes Elizabeth Birch as saying, "This was very much a Sophie's choice." Funny--I've read the book and seen the movie, and I don't remember either of Sophie's children being a Nazi. D'Amato, while a prominent leader of the Senate, failed to use that leadership to promote equality. His party, with his leadership, has led the attack against equality. The HRC should be ashamed of itself. In my eyes, it has ruined its credibility.

Tom Castele, New York, N.Y.

A victorious California politician said it herself: That there is more political diversity in the GLBT movement is a sign of maturity. I don't know if it's unique to one raised properly "Southern," but I don't see any benefit in riding out any candidate because they have ties to certain groups, even the opposition. We must have our fingers in all political pies. We must even try to infiltrate the Christian right if possible. To have allies everywhere is our only hope. I wasn't alive during Stonewall, but I come from the land of Helms and Lott. Let me tell you, while these guys may represent some conservatives, they certainly don't represent them all. To keep HRC or any other GLBT organization leaning left is to cripple any advances we may have. Especially down here.

K.D. Olive, Louisville, Tenn.

HRC, in supporting D'Amato, was simply trying to increase its leverage within the ruling party. Unfortunately, it misread the voting public's dissatisfaction with negative politics and the hypocrites who play them. It is ridiculous for HRC to consider only the past legislative session in its recommendations. D'Amato caused more pain during the gays-in-the-military fiasco than he could ever correct. He may have voted for gay-positive issues that he knew would fail this past session, but the Christian Coalition would not have rated him highly if he hadn't tipped them off to his true intentions.

J. Moohan, via the Internet

As an openly gay man living in New York City, I was upset at HRC's endorsement, but to be outraged and show the kind of reaction the New York gay community did is nothing but the immature ramblings of people who need to grow up. The integrity and fairness HRC showed in this situation should be commended. How do we ever expect to be treated equally if we are so ready to be unfair and show prejudice? I did not agree with HRC's decision, but I was able to sort through the anger and see that they had to stick to their policies in order to maintain the degree of fairness we all seek.

Mario Stazzone, New York, N.Y.

Picture-imperfect

I was first horrified and then saddened to see the December 8 cover. I fully expected to see Tammy Baldwin. How in the world could you not put the first openly gay person elected to Congress on the cover of your magazine? It's unconscionable. LaChapelle is a terrific photographer, but opting for an erotic image when so much more is happening in our world is so pathetic and, unfortunately, says so much about you.

Michael Dillon, Milwaukee, Wis.

No offense taken

The recent letters attacking The Advocate for not giving full attention to the Shepard murder [Reader Forum, December 8], when in fact coverage was to come in a later issue, share an attitude I witnessed from even my first steps out the closet: We are much too eager to ambush our own. Though self-awareness and constructive criticism are imperative for growth, the importance of understanding one another is key to our strength. Each one of us knows the harsh sting of judgment; perhaps we'd learn to be more careful in passing it out ourselves. Together we can better spend our energies offending all the right people.

David M. Schoelen, Riverside, Calif.

Creating change

Urvashi Vaid needs a reality check [Last Word, December 8]. It's all about politics, whether or not that offends her sense of moral superiority. Even Gandhi's principled stands were quintessentially political in nature, and therein lay their effectiveness. I too am puzzled by gay Republicans (and gay "Christians," for that matter), but I'm certainly glad not everyone shares my outlook. In the real world, the causes of human dignity and social justice are far more likely to be advanced by Log Cabin types than by "movement spokespersons" like Vaid. Her implication that those who are not "GLBT progressives" are unprincipled is the kind of left-wing zealotry that has always fractured the gay rights movement and prevented any real effectiveness in the larger society.

Michael Boyle, San Diego, Calif.