Regarding the "Gay Cure" Ad
To the Editor:
I was astounded to see the advertisement in the July 31st issue with the headline "I Used To Be A Homosexual." To me The Memphis Flyer always seemed to be a somewhat alternative paper which prided itself on being somewhat different from the rest. I know that as a free publication, most of your funds do come from advertisers, but I want to know what Southern Baptist gave up their tickets to DisneyWorld to pay for an ad like that. If there is any hope for anyone, as the ad suggests, let's hope it's for The Memphis Flyer. Just because we live and work in the Bible Belt doesn't mean we all have to act like it. And, by the way, I am homosexual, but I used to be a Memphis Flyer reader.
Shannon Yarbrough
Memphis
To the Editor:
What makes people think that homosexuals are not free or don't have Christ in their lives already? I hope that you are aware that many homosexuals read and contribute to The Memphis Flyer. It hurts not only me, but the entire gay and lesbian community to see advertisements like this in a paper that we have considered to be gay-friendly. I know of several predominantly gay establishments that carry The Memphis Flyer. I don't think that any of them were pleased with the ad that you chose to run in your paper. I do not think that you understand the harm and pain that you cause when you put ads like this in your paper.
There are so many homosexual people who are already free and have Christ in their lives. After so many years of oppression, we do not need any so-called transformed homosexual to tell us how we can be free in Jesus Christ. Maybe he is the one who needs to be set free.
L. Thornton
Memphis
Lennon on Elvis
To the Editor:
In his [August 7th] article "Perfectly Normal," Jackson Baker cited a remark by John Lennon about Elvis' existence. Too bad Mr. Baker did not include the comment Lennon made upon hearing the news of Elvis' death: "Elvis died the day he joined the Army."
But then, this week Memphis comes to praise Elvis, not to bury him.
Richard DeLisi
Memphis
Art Film Pioneer
To the Editor:
I was glad to see Bill Kendall's name mentioned in Elizabeth Lemond's August 6th cover story, "Coming Attractions," on the status of the art-film scene in Memphis.
As the longtime manager of The Ritz, Mr. Kendall was largely responsible for developing the art-film scene in Memphis during the '40s, '50s, and '60s. He also brought some of the first (and perhaps only) gay films to be screened in the Mid-South during the '60s and '70s. I had the good fortune to become friendly with Mr. Kendall when I interviewed him for Memphis Memoirs, a WKNO-TV special which I helped produce. He remembered getting around Binford's film bans by showing a forbidden flick and then spiriting the film reels out of his office window to outstretched hands below. The canisters would be whisked out of town in the dark of night, sometimes only minutes before the cops showed up to confiscate the goods! Derring-do indeed.
Jane Schneider
Memphis
The Hard Life of Artists
To the Editor:
I had already warned an artist friend what to expect when we heard that Cory Dugan was doing [a review of "Introductions" in the July 17th issue]. Being a professional artist in this town is hard enough. I feel if we have to endure reviews on top of the difficulties of being an artist, it should be done with a level of respect.
Cindy Blair
Memphis
The Incorporation Crisis
To the Editor:
In any conflict, the logical solution is one that satisfies the basic needs of as many parties as possible. Our current crisis in local government is caused by the tension between the natural need for Memphis' central area to grow and the desire of suburban residents to retain at least a degree of independence. The pro-incorporation movement does not solve this problem, because it is merely a furtherance of the "anti-Memphis" mentality in the suburbs that has contributed to our failure to gain new industries and major-league sports franchises.
The solution is metropolitan government. Under a charter of consolidation, existing cities such as Bartlett and Germantown could retain their distinctness as suburban towns, while the unincorporated areas of Shelby County would receive the benefit of extended services from Memphis. Reduction of dual and overlapping services would cut the costs of providing services, and the election of one mayor and one council for Memphis/Shelby County would go a long way toward easing our region's omnipresent racial tensions.
In other successful consolidations, tax increases were avoided by dividing the metropolitan area into different property-tax-level zones based on whether basic rural services or full urban services were provided.
The answer to the incorporation crisis is within our grasp, if our elected officials will just reach out and take it. Through consolidation, Memphis can grow, and the suburbs can retain their individuality.
John M. Shaw
Bartlett