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|| Print this article: Letters  ||

April 25, 2008

Judging a Magazine by Its Cover

Ivan Sondel

Ninety-nine percent of all national magazines are by or about straight people and marketed to straight people. I'll admit that lots of magazines have become more gay friendly and inclusive (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY comes to mind). Still, THE ADVOCATE is "OURS" - it's "OUR" magazine, "OUR" forum. I don't mind it when straight actors appear on the cover when they're in a film about gay people (BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, THE CRYING GAME, RENT, ANGELS IN AMERICA...). However, enough is enough. It's "OUR" magaizne - WE should grace the cover. Chuck Palahniuk is a great writer with broad appeal; the extended article about him is terrific. So, why isn't he on the cover? Kim Cattrall is great (I'm a huge fan of SEX AND THE CITY) - but she ain't gay. The director of her film is gay - couldn't you have at least had a picture of them together? I'm tired of reading great stories of gay people achieving great things in society, politics and the arts and then find the face of some pretty straight celebrity on the cover. PLEASE STOP THIS PRACTICE. There are plenty of pretty gay people - and I think Chuck Palahniuk is one of them (a damn fine looking man). [Editor's note: Chuck Palahniuk backed out of our photo shoot at the last minute.]