That subgroup of Express letter-writers, the perpetually offended, is at it again. Caught in the crossfire this time: The L Word. From today’s edition:
Kissing Photo ‘Disgusting’
I would like to express my disappointment towards your judgment towards what you print. Tuesday’s Express shows a picture of two women being intimate [accompanying a story on the Showtime program “The L Word”]. This is not only offensive, it is disgusting to me and, I dare say, to many other readers like me. This is not the first such picture you have printed; I remember seeing another similar one printed this year. I challenge you to revisit and increase your standard so you can cater to this respectable nation’s capital with respectability, decency, appropriateness and conventionality.–LILY WONDIMU
Silver Spring, Md.
Here is the photo. Since most of you reading this are indeed the choir, I won’t take the time to preach to you, but seriously, Ms. Wondimu needs to get out into the real world, which is the world I assume any “respectable” newspaper aims to reflect. Thanks to a member of the gaydc LiveJournal community for posting about this.
» Previously (Dec. 16, 2004): “Gay Canadians get married (and kiss!).”
[Update (May 19): There are two follow-ups in today’s Express, one commenting on the predictability of the letters (a meta-letter if you will), and another tackling Ms. Wondimu’s letter directly.]
Letters Too Predictable
Wednesday’s letter described the photo printed Tuesday of an intimate same-sex couple as “disgusting.” Predictably, Thursday’s letter will be a comeback directly contrasting that letter and supporting Express. It’s a complaint I have about the letters in this otherwise trendy paper; they’re too predictable.–STEVE SAUER
Washington, D.C.No Offense — Guaranteed
With respect to Wednesday’s letter regarding the writer’s disgust at seeing the photo accompanying the story about “The L Word,” please contact me so that I may offer my requirements for what you’re allowed to print to keep from offending me. Definitely no politicians I don’t agree with, protests I don’t support or comic strips I don’t find funny.–ELLEN BURNS
Arlington, Va.
3 replies on “The kissing game”
Dear Lilly
Dear Lilly,
About your letter to the Washington Post Express concerning the picture of two women kissing. Save me some time and energy, and please just see my note to Lachelle concerning her previous letter to the same paper about a photo of a marr…
Well, I would have to agree with Ms. Wondimu…that picture is “not only offensive, it is disgusting.”
I was NEVER a Carmen/Jenny supporter. That picture is repulsive!
I am TOTALLY on the Carmen/Shane bandwagon! Thank goodness those two finally got together in the season finale! That’s some hot stuff! Now if only the paper would print some of THOSE pictures!!!
🙂
I love how the original letter-writer says that the paper should “cater to this respectable nation’s capital” with “conventionality.” Not just respectability, decency and appropriateness, but conventionality! She’s explicitly telling the newspaper to be like everyone else. Usually people just use the codewords, but you have to hand it to her for being blunt.