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Dear Editor,

I'll admit to being one of those who cheered Sen. Larry Craig's revelation as a hypocrite for allegedly soliciting sex in an airport bathroom. And then about 10 days after the event, I read Chris Crain's column (Issue 10.15).
It was incredibly well thought out, and revealed aspects of this media and political driven show that I had not previously considered. These include the right to free speech—if he were verbally going to ask the police officer to join him in a sexual escapade somewhere other than the public bathroom.
I also, quite frankly, do not understand what would motivate a police officer—or anyone else—to occupy a stall for several hours, seeking to entrap someone looking for sex. No one could pay me enough to take such a job. Unless, of course, I had a secret yen for such a thing.
I had not really thought through these—or Crain's other—arguments until I read his column. I agree with his conclusion: Gay rights is a worthy enough cause on its own merits that we do not need to exploit others’ failings to achieve them.
I've gone from great joy at Sen. Craig's downfall to a more balanced view of this as a personal tragedy. I still take great delight, however, in how it helps expose and implode a too often hypocritical and bigoted Republican party.

Joseph Hanania
via Internet

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed [Dana Miller’s] “downer” column in [last] week’s IN (Issue 10.15). I am finding that as a middle-aged openly gay man, there is a dearth of information on, and attention paid to, my generation. We are breaking new ground—there has never been a generation of middle-aged gay men and women who have been out for most of their lives. There are new challenges every day and it would behoove us to pay some attention to them.

Larry Kaplan
via Internet

Dear Editor,

I loved Jackie Beat's anti-religion column (Issue 10.14). I guess that is because everything she says is right on! There is nothing to argue about, in my opinion. Thank you very much for publishing this column! I hope it is eye-opening to many people.

William Cooksley
via Internet

Dear Editor,

Since downtown real estate interests advertise their lofts, condos, rental restorations and the “downtown lifestyle” so heavily to the L.A. gay and lesbian population in all the gay publications, I find it odd that no one has seen fit to open a gay bar downtown or along the Wilshire Boulevard corridor through Koreatown, where I live. I see many gays and lesbians in the neighborhood and when I shop down at the new Ralphs, but have yet to find a gay bar! With all the bus lines and the Metro converging there, parking would be no problem and the Boystown bars do bore after a while—especially if you’re a city kid like me.

Alexander Wallace
via Internet

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