GAY WRITER ACCUSES INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' GROUP OF HOMOPHOBIA
13 04 2008

http://fadingad.wordpress.com/2008/04/13/gay-writer-accuses-international-writers%E2%80%99-group-of-homophobia/

Today, I received an e-mail from my friend Larry Kramer and I am reprinting this letter with his permission.

Mr. Michael Roberts
Executive Director
PEN American Center
533 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012

Dear Michael:

I am in receipt of PEN's program for your "PEN World Voices: The New York Festival of International Literature." It is shockingly deficient and upsetting. It is particularly upsetting that you, a gay man, would sanction such an exclusionary undertaking. Have you no sense of responsibility to your people to equal the sense of responsibility you are obviously extending to others? It is equally sad for me to note that my friend and fellow gay activist, Michael Cunningham, is on your board. (Shame, Michael, shame.)

Of the 180, repeat 180, "World Voices Participants" I can recognize a scant few as gay or lesbian or transsexual, perhaps six or seven.