What's Up

     If I could write in a way that you, the reader, could better
understand me, then you would know that we at What's Up are
here to try to help the gay community in any positive way
possible. Unfortunately, I, as well as other writers of What's Up,
have been perceived by some readers as being somehow
negative.

     If I could write better, you would certainly know that What's
Up is available to those who take exception with what we have
written and, that we would publish those views as well.

     If I had written my articles in a more understandable way,
then perhaps all LGBT, civil rights and HIV/AIDS groups and
organizations would know that we will print notices of their
events without charge to them.

     If I was better able to explain myself in the written word,
then everyone who has read What's Up would be aware that
we have moved into the mainstream of straight gay-friendly
and gay businesses other than bars. They would also know
that some of the gay bars have dropped their advertising with
us because we felt some of the ads that were being given to us
by them would not have been appropriate for many of the
places that we now distribute. Since these bar owners feel that
sex sells, they have decided not to advertise with us, even
though they do run some ads that are not sexually oriented.
They choose not to advertise at all because of our policy of not
allowing sexually explicit pictures. Fortunately, Adams Street,
Pecs, The Roseto Club and even sometimes Tear-Ez continue
to give us support.

     It is difficult for people to imagine that maybe there are
entities within the gay community that are just trying to have a
positive effect on the way that we are stereotyped by the rest
of society and try and have some influence on changing that
perception. If I could get people to understand that, then they
would realize that there are many such entities within the
Akron / Canton community. There are many individuals who
own businesses within our community and they give
generously of both their time and their money, with no profit
motive involved. Then, there are those who would not give any
type of community support unless there was an obvious profit
to be had for themselves. They claim to support certain
charities, but it seems to be true only when it is profitable for
them to do so by having fund raisers at their own places of
business.

     If I were better equipped to express myself, gay and gay-
friendly businesses would know that their paid advertisements
in What's Up, make possible all the rest of its content; such as
the free ad space and other services that we provide to non-
profit community organizations. Some of these organizations
have advertising budgets, but we feel that this money would
be better spent providing the services that they offer clients.
These businesses would also know that What's Up's intent is
not to be an entertainment magazine, but a community forum
for all to use.