Letter from the Editor: October 4, 2010

Hello my darlings,

The struggle for LGBTQ rights is once again gaining attention as a matter of life and death.

On one hand, Republican senators have blocked the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” keeping openly gay soldiers from risking their lives for their country. On the other, closeted New Jersey student Tyler Clementi committed suicide last month after his roommate filmed him and another man having sex without Clementi’s knowledge or permission, distributing the film on the Internet.

This week, The V is tiptoeing into these turbulent waters. We’ve published an article about “don’t ask, don’t tell” that we know full well is a rant, because that’s what we feel this backward policy deserves – pure vitriol.

We’ve also written about the misdirection of public attention concerning LGBTQ issues and a piece about the Utah Pride Center – a rare oasis of acceptance for anyone on the gender spectrum.

Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day, and we ask that you use this day to work on living a life of acceptance and open-mindedness.

Also, we are increasingly aware of our reputation as a liberal rag, and to this I say that I welcome conservative writers; in fact, they are of paramount importance to what I see as an ideal publication. If you feel upset by the opinions printed here, I implore you to either write a letter to the editor or become a reporter for us. Contact me at [email protected]

Mel Sundquist
Editor-in-chief of The V