 Not all responses to editorial cartoons are complaints, actually. Once in a while, someone writes in to say how much they liked a particular cartoon. This one was printed in the Seattle Gay News, May 2, 2003:
Dear SGN, I just wanted to thank you for something that may sound trivial, but it is an important validation for some of us. I was very pleased to see that one of the men in your cartoon has long hair. There are many long haired men in the Gay community and too often we get "attitude" from the fashion police who seem to desire some uniform or clone-like haircut. It is nice to see this inclusion in light of on going discussions in the SGN about cliques and exclusivity in our community. I know that issues of race and class are more important, but it I wanted to acknowledge this positive step. LDM Thanks, LDM. I try to be inclusive in my cartoons, although I frankly had never considered being inclusive when I decided to give one of the characters in that cartoon long hair. When I am intentionally inclusive, you'll find Black, Hispanic, Asian, Islander or Native Americans in my cartoons for no particular reason (running the risk of having some reader think that I'm trying to make a comment about whatever non-white ethnic group I draw). As for giving people different hairstyles... well, maybe somewhere down deep inside, I'm a frustrated stylist at heart. While I was happy to read LDM's letter, I was a little astonished to read a smattering of responses in later editions of SGN accusing him of being whiny. I had no idea what a touchy subject hair length is in Seattle. Moving on. Message to my syndicate editors, April, 2004: Kudos to Paul Berge for being a fantastic cartoonist!!! The latest one in the Seattle Gay News about marriage vs civil unions is the best ever!!! We sent a paper copy to a lot of people who don't have access to the paper. It is brilliant!!!
Sincerely,
Aw, shucks. Warn't nuthin. After the November 22, 2007 edition of the Bay Area Reporter included one of my cartoons in which a white gay male wearing an "Equal Rights For Me" t-shirt ran through his reasons why one group after another ought to be sidelined in the fight for equal rights, the BAR ran this letter. I was relieved at the reassurance that the character's opinions were not mistaken as my own: Thanks for the editorial cartoon about boundary-marking our "LGBT movement" and community. Our LGBTIQQA communities and movements even include some folks who are straight (totally or mainly) – such as straight spouses and lovers of bisexuals, parents and kids and relatives of queers, housemates, "fruit flies" (fag magnets), most leather-folk, members of MCC and PFLAG and ACLU and Amnesty, and more. When your would-be sistah approaches, ask not "Who do you think you are?" Ask instead, "Will you try to help us queers in our struggles to liberate humanity?"
Tortuga Bi Liberty In the interest, however, of reducing the swelling of my head, LoriCMT writes: I see no social or intellectual reason for your website other than hatred for the Right. I bet you loved Fahrenheit 9/11. It must be hatred for the right if I stand up to oppose their incessant attacks on me and my family. And, by the way, I haven't seen Fahrenheit 9/11 yet, but thanks for the recommendation.
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