Open Letter by Mary Lou Regarding Explicit Fanworks

While the debate about K/S certainly had its start in smaller ways among fans, it was an Open Letter in the form of a con report from Mary Lou Dodge, publisher of Delta Triad (a Star Trek zine featuring stories with heterosexual sexual situations, of a mild "R" variety), that set off much discussion. Dodge, horrified by what she experienced at the SekWester*Con, wrote an open letter in May 1977 to the convention organizers, Paula Smith and Sharon Ferraro. It was published in Menagerie #12.
It was this letter, and the debate it set off, that gave rise to the Age Statement, and later, Warnings. Modern labeling conventions also began here.
Modern readers should keep in mind that in 1977, Mary Lou's perspective reflected that of most people in mainstream American culture. Homosexuality was considered a pathology, associated with child molestation and bizarre behavior."As a kid, you're taught ...that queers are weird, queers are funny, they're a danger to kids, they're afraid to fight, and they all want to cop your joint." Denzel Washington as Joe Miller in Philadelphia (1992). Literature and film describing homosexual relations, even if not explicit, was considered to be pornographic and indecent by the general public. It was illegal to send such works -- fanzines included -- through the U.S. Mail. In many states, including Michigan, sodomy laws prohibiting homosexual acts were still in place, although several gay politicians had been elected to city councils in Ann Arbor and East Lansing. The passing of a gay rights ordinance in Dade County, Florida that year had sparked a nationwide anti-gay backlash led by conservative gadfly Anita Bryant. (See Daniel Tsang, "Gay Ann Arbor Purges," Midwest Gay Academic Journal 1 (1977): 13-19, cited in the 'Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader' by Henry Ablove (1993)). This convention, and this incident, did not happen in a vacuum.
For more: see 
* various issues of Interstat.
* The SekWester*Con Porn Debate.
* Kirk and Spock: Do They or Don't They?
* Open Letter by Winston A. Howlett Regarding His Review of "Alternative: Epilog to Orion" (1976/77)
==Mary Lou Dodge's Letter==
==Responses and Follow-Up ==
*See comments in Interstat/Issues 001-010 and Interstat/Issues 011-020
===Reactions and Reviews: "Menagerie"===
See many fan responses at Menagerie #12. 
One of the first responses was from Paula Smith, to whom the original letter was addressed; she was the editor of Menagerie and one of the founders/organizers of SeKWester*Con (May 1977): 
Dian H. wrote: 
Jan L. wrote: 
Cynthia L. wrote: 
Leslye L. wrote: 
Teri M., one of the few commenters to express agreement with Mary Lou, wrote: 
Anna Mary H wrote: 
Shirley Maiewski wrote: 
Vicki K. wrote: 
Johanna Cantor, editor of a number of fanzines, wrote: 
Gerry Downes writes: 
Leslie Fish wrote: 
Theresa H. writes: 
Joan B. wrote: 
Rob McC. writes: 
Beverly C. wrote: 
Lila H. wrote: 
Penny Warren writes: 
===Reactions and Reviews: "Spectrum"===
Jeff J wrote:
Karen F. writes:
===Reactions and Reviews: "R & R"===
Johanna C wrote: 
Leslie Fish writes: 
===Reactions and Reviews: "Interstat"===
Leigh W wrote: 
 
Vicki K chides another: 
Rebecca H points something out to another fan: 
===Reactions and Reviews: Other Forums===
===Mary Lou Dodge's Letter: After Reading the Letters of Comment in "Menagerie" ===
The editors of Menagerie, Paula Smith and Sharon Ferraro, allowed Mary Louise Dodge to read the letters of comment in #13 before they were printed. "Last time, you remember--in issue #12, actually -- we printed by permission a letter from Mary Louise Dodge about SeKWester*Con, Too. That letter netted us more comment than the rest of the issue totaled; see the LoC column at the other end of this ish. We allowed Ms Dodge to see an advance copy of the column, and this was her reply."
Mary Lou Dodge's response:
===Reactions and Reviews: 2000 ===
==See Also==
* comments in Interstat/Issues 001-010 and Interstat/Issues 011-020
* Slash Controversies
* Age Statement
* K/S
* History of LGBT In Michigan
* LGBT History in the U.S.
* Pornography in the U.S.
* U.S. Obscenity Law
==References==
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