Curve Magazine Slashes Staff

I never ever ever said Sara Jane (or any staff member of Curve) was non-essential! I would never say that and I certainly didn't mean in any way to imply it. I can't believe how catty and mean these posts are. Why do we have to attack each other? If a lesbian business has to cut staff to make sure the business survives, does that always have to open it up to endless attacks? That's way not cool or feminist.

I know two freelance writers who write for Curve, and they are both lesbian, as I'm sure most if not all of Curve's contributing writers are. So I agree with Rey - if someone is editing content rather than writing it, their lesbian experience is irrelevant. As long as I find the magazine interesting, which I do, and the content informative for me as a lesbian, which I do, I don't care who the staff snuggles with at night.

Some of these responses are embarrassing and nonproductive, and say more about the constant discrimination and exclusion within our own community than anything about Curve magazine. Criticize Curve for its content or business decisions, but who the editors choose to sleep with is sort of besides the point when the magazine is still written and read primarily by queer women.

From what I know Diane's partner is someone who was female and later became a man... I'm not aware of any rule that would now kick her off the Island of Lesbos, unless there's something on the books about people who love their partners so unconditionally that they accept them regardless of the gender they wish to be. Also, is this not a gay magazine, with articles written by gay writers, founded by a gay woman, and staffed with gay women? Why does the presence of one heterosexual editor or staff member bother you so much (and what if they are bisexual)? Do you really need to be a gay woman to help edit verbiage in a gay magazine?

Looks like Diane got her rabid Portland dogs out. Or is it Diane herself posting as numerous beings..."she has done more for lesbian culture and visibility than anyone living today." Wow, quite a statement. The fact still remains, CurveEditor, MichelleE, Stacy and Kathy, you are married to a man and the rest of Curve's staff is straight. So according to your mast head your team consists of two more members. I actually met them on Curve's Napa retreat and was shocked they were both straight. I heard one of them mention that she missed her boyfried. Seems like your team has a lot of lesbian insight.

"CurveEditor, you are married to a man but yet you are a lesbian. Interesting." What does this have to do with anything? Diane is married to a trans man and I think she can still identify as lesbian if she chooses. Regardless of who she is married to or how she identities, she has done more for lesbian culture and visibility than anyone living today.

I'm disappointed in the ugliness and inflexibility I'm seeing in the comments here. Queer culture is so widely varied. There are so many gradients, so many unique circumstances. Diane identifies as a Lesbian, and that's all anyone needs to know to respect that. Language is a social contract, each word an informal agreement -- Tree is the word we use to describe the tall, branchy things in the forest. We've all kind of gotten together and made that agreement, and each time one of us learns the word and accepts the definition, that contract is enforced. But sometimes our definitions don't match up. Sometimes a contract can't be formed. Sometimes life isn't as simple as an absolute. And that's OK. I'm not interested in anyone that would seek to define me against my wishes. And I'm not interested in the opinions of those who would define anyone else that way, either.

CurveEditor, you are married to a man but yet you are a lesbian. Interesting. But it is true, you let go all the gays and kept the straight women, like yourself. Good to know you know how to post as MicheleE too!!!!

I've read Curve since it was Deneuve and I think it's a great magazine. I think it's better this year than it ever was so whatever you have to do to keep it going is awesome. I appreciate all the hard work of you ladies!

Well, I really don't want to dignify this comment with a response because these comments are endless she said-she saids. But I can't let it go without clarifying that I'm a big old lesbian and so is my publisher, just for starters. I don't think having one straight girl on staff dilutes the queer sensibility of the magazine, especially when she has a queer sibling and has grown up under the banner of queer pride. Maxim has female editors, Vogue has male staffers, and I'm sure The Advocate has more than one non-gay person on staff themselves. We care about our readers and making sure they get what they need—the ability to do that is what's most important to us from our staff.