Telling A Story About The Comfort Zone

The following is a letter sent to Paul Schindler, the editor of the New York-based Gay City News. It was written on January 3, 2008:

Dear Paul: I was trying to respond to a comment posted by Mike Holliday at the tail end of my Comfort Zone [underwear sex party] story but was unable to. Holliday wanted an authoritative, analytical , investigative article. I am not an investigative reporter or a gay leader with an ax to grind. I write feature stories; I am a storyteller. "Showing Your Laundry"[ Gay City News, December 20, 2007] is typical of the type of stories I wrote for the New York Native in the eighties. I was documenting a black gay venue so that years from now historians and other academic types will have a written record of it.

As to it being "a puff piece," I disagree. If Holliday had carefully read the story, he would have noted my criticisms. That's why I contrasted the Comfort Zone and Mount Morris Baths. Mount Morris was doing real community service with the many programs it sponsored. For all I know, Holliday might be a disgruntled customer looking for someone to find dirt on the Comfort Zone. That was not my intention. I saw an opportunity to write about a phenomenon that was interesting and about a personality [E.J. Parker] who was compelling and, at times, funny.

I look forward to reading other comments from readers. Two of my friends have read the story. One thought it was hilarious. The other thought I should have been more objective and that I showed anger that Mount Morris [where I was employed for two and a half years] is no longer around. (I disagreed with him about that.)

Anyway, who wants to read a dry as bones, put-you-to-sleep analysis of a sex club in a newspaper?

Flirting With Danger

Dwan Prince, who in 2005 was savagely beaten by Steven Pomie in an anti-gay attack in Brownsville, Brooklyn, blames himself for what happened. According to the Gay City News (Aug. 6-19, 2009), Prince flirted with Pomie. "I have made some big mistakes in my life and that was the stupidest and biggest one of all," he stated in a letter to Pomie, who is currently serving time for the attack.
In the letter he wrote on July 20, he expressed a "desire that you get out as soon as possible" and for them to become friends.
The attack not only has left Prince partially paralyzed but apparently it has done something to his mind.
Who would want such a vicious person out on the street? And who would want to be friends with a person so easily offended by flirtatious behavior that they are willing to maim or kill?
Prince must be really hard up for friendship and filled with self-hatred. I can't think of any other reasons for him to want to have anything to do with someone like Pomie, who deserves to serve significant time behind bars. Would he truly feel safe alone with Pomie? I wouldn't.
If Pomie had made the first move, showing remorse and empathy, maybe there might be some hope. But the reaching out seems one-sided and pathetic.