Paulk Is a Documented Phony
Until I read your piece on the ex-gay get-together in Cincinnati ("Equality Is the Only Fix," issue of June 14-20), I didn't know that John Paulk played a role in it.
The last I heard, Exodus International had taken him back but kept him out of leadership positions after his little return to his natural sexual orientation a short while ago. My criticism -- and I consider this to be severe criticism because what Paulk did was covered thoroughly by the weeklies, the gay press and even some corporate mainstream press -- is that you made no reference to any of it, as though it hadn't happened. Paulk is a documented phony, and any coverage of a conference where he played such a prominent role is derelict if it fails to mention it.
New message to our youth: If it's OK for John Paulk, it's OK for you.
-- Eric Resnick,
Canton, Ohio
Get It Straight
I liked your article "Equality Is the Only Fix," but you need to fix the last line. You recognized only gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the Gay Pride Parade and left me and my friends out. Many of us straight people were there, too.
-- Kathy Laufman,
Cincinnati
Gay Bashing Is OK, Wink, Wink
With June being Gay Pride Month, a lot of very positive things are happening all over Ohio and the country. June 10 saw the second annual Cincinnati Gay Pride Parade and festival. What a wonderful experience to be able to openly meet and have fun with others who only want to be able to meet openly without prejudicial criticisms from those who would think they are the power in Cincinnati and mistakenly think they represent the thoughts and feelings of the majority of those who live in Cincinnati.
I moved to Cincinnati last year because I've met some wonderfully accepting people wherever I go. But, no matter where I go, the specter of WLW radio looms over those in Cincinnati who might actually be able to think for themselves. I know that, by criticizing the station, I'm giving them what they want. They seem to delight in taking partial facts and mixing it with their own ultraconservative slant and then promoting it as the "voice of the common man."
I am a common man among most other men. I vote, I work, I pay taxes, I love my family and they love me. I was once married and have children. I own my own home and pay property taxes toward all the same endeavors as anyone else does. The only difference is that I cannot choose to love the one I want publicly because I will then be told I want "special" privileges. Yet, if you listen to WLW, you'd think we were demons who were going to Hell in a handbasket.
I deliberately listened to WLW the day before the Gay Pride Parade because I knew something stupid would be said about the festivities. Darryl Parks, the new program director, talked about the "gays and lesbos" who were having a parade on June 10. Then he kept laughing about how he just couldn't understand the concept of bisexuality.
It is my guess that his idea of a real man is one who goes out nightly drinking his beer, getting drunk and then coming home to his wife after he's had an affair with some woman he met at the bar. Real men do things like that, I suppose. Things like that are joked about on WLW as if they're OK to do, wink, wink.
-- Peter DeDominici,
Cincinnati
Only Game in Town
I agree with Steve Ramos' Arts Beat column this week 100 percent ("Esquire Theatre's Operator Explains the Naughty Bits," issue of June 14-20). My wife and I moved here from Chicago two years ago, and the Esquire was one of the few cultural highlights of Cincinnati.
We will not attend any more movies at the Esquire as a result. If it means the death of interesting film in Cincinnati, so be it. We can rent movies and watch them at home without lining the pockets of the ignorant operator, Gary Goldman.
Our only fear is that Esquire patrons will accept the incident and continue to support Goldman's operation. I sense he knows he's the only game in town and can do whatever he wishes.
-- Paul Czarnecki,
Cincinnati
Is Just Is
Your Men's Issue (issue of June 14-20) offered the same boring tales: "Duh, I believe in a creator. I pray." What about men who don't believe that hogwash? The idea of a creator is manmade. No other evidence is present. Billions of prayers every day aren't answered.
A ridiculous notion -- babies are born evil so old men in long dresses for a fee can try to make the human animal un-evil. That rap was in some religions, and so was the unproven myth of a virgin having a baby.
The artistic men profiled in the issue are unwittingly blessed and made the most sense. Only art apparently lives on. We know it has existed at least for 20,000 years. Artists don't know why they need to create beauty which the human animal loves. That same animal creates ugliness. How come? Some results of a diseased cerebral cortex?
I've had a blessed life for almost 84 years -- not rich, not poor, but ordinary, with a number of unusual gifts, flaws and attributes. I don't know why my life is worthwhile. I don't know who or what to thank. Is just is. I wasn't born evil. What little I know about existence tells me so.
-- Mark Warren,
Clifton
Only Katie Can
I just read the column "Wandering & Wondering" by none other than Katie Laur ("Grandfather Twilight in OTR," issue of June 7-13), and I can't recall when I was so moved by a piece of literature. She's able to talk about a topic that is stormy to begin with, explains different points of view and illustrates her own thoughts without disrespecting others. And she does it all in a story format written in the eloquent way only Katie can.
Writers take notice: This is what good commentary looks like. We are all privileged to live in a metropolis where an artist like Katie Laur is our neighbor and friend.
-- Tom Weast,
Cincinnati
Hail Country Music!
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate someone in Cincinnati finally writing or saying something good about Country music ("Countrypalooza," issue of June 7-13). I realize there are many people in this city who don't like the music and never will, but there are many of us who do. We just aren't as loud about our preferences as others might be.
I've worked at Riverbend for the past three years and had the opportunity June 9 to work backstage for the Brooks and Dunn Wild West Tour. I have never met so many nice and polite people in my years working here as I did that day. They were friendly and courteous, and they didn't think they were better just because they were stars.
-- Katie Brosch,
Cincinnati
Correction
In the article "The Art of Belief" (issue of June 14-20), Brian Joiner was misquoted talking about his Dracula Series of artwork. He actually said, "I'm taking the historical Dracula to represent the ruling class." Sorry, Brian.
