Letters to the Editor

What You Say

OVERLOOKING LESBIANS

It's ironic that in an article ("You've Come a Long Way, Baby," Jeffrey C. Billman, April 29) which purports to restore to view some lesser-known LGBT history, the contributions of lesbian or bisexual women to today's (relatively) improved queer state of the union are completely erased. Not to discount the importance of the Mattachine Society, but suggesting that we should remember the contributions of "gay men" as fundamental to today's improved (but still lacking) civil and social standing of queer people while ignoring the significant accomplishments of lesbians toward this end is no less myopic than believing (as, sadly, some do) that the current LGBT rights movement was created by Harvey Milk. How about remembering the contributions of "Lisa Ben," who created the path-breaking queer publication Vice Versa in the late 1940s? But for her, your Advocate or Out might not exist. Also, you can thank Barbara Gittings, lesbian activist (and longtime Philly resident) for her work toward the 1973 removal of "homosexuality" as an illness in the [American Psychiatric Association's] DSM-IV. Oh, and let's not forget Margarethe Cammermeyer, whose fight against DADT captured the public's attention before Dan Choi had even enlisted. Today's LGBT people still have a lot to fight for, it's true, but if it weren't for the contributions of queer women to the battle we might never have found ourselves where we are right now, on the cusp of equality.

It warmed my heart to see an article about worm farming in the Urban Garden Issue ("Worms of Endearment," Cover Story, Isaiah Thompson, April 29). My family started our worm farm at the behest of our 5-year-old daughter, Cecelia, who loves "wormies," as she calls them. It is so fun and educational to watch the worms grow and see our food and plant waste be recycled right before our eyes. It is a very easy lesson in green culture that is cleaner than you think, takes up very little space and teaches my Cece about the circles of life as we worm through them. My husband also fishes and the worms we raise save us from spending money on what can be had for free! Keep on wormin'!