One of the letters to the editor of Out magazine (Jan 2002) asks that more affordable items be featured in its fashion layouts instead of high-priced couture. Here is the editor's response:

"Readers who look closely will notice that the majority of Out's fashion spreads include goods at a variety of prices. For a fashion pictorial that features affordable items almost exclusively, please see our "Shades of Gray" T-Shirt story in this issue."

(That's right...he said T-shirts. An entire layout of male models wearing gray T-shirts. By the way, did you know that a gray crewneck mercerized T-shirt from Prada cost $130? A ONE HUNDRED THIRTY DOLLAR T-SHIRT?! There is just something very wrong with that.)

I find this response kind of insulting but it's pretty common for Out magazine. Out has sucked for quite sometime, but this year has been exceptionally remarkable. Most of the year they have elected to put straight celebrities on its cover instead of featuring gays or lesbians. The tackiest covers featured straight male fashion models who, after reading the articles I discovered, have no real connection to the gay community other than being lusted after by tons of gay men. I realize that sex sells and most people would rather look at Abercrombie + Fitch models instead of Nathan Lane, but it's offensive month after month to have a magazine called Out look more like a gay man's Maxim.

Also, there is a noticeable lack of lesbians in the magazine. I can't even think of a lesbian who was on the cover this year. (Oh wait! Allyson Hannigan from Buffy the Vampire Slayer was on the cover this year. Oops! She's straight. "I'm not really a lesbian. I just play one on the TV.") This appears to be a conscious decision. Case in point: The current issue features some guy from the next season of MTV's The Real World (Hey-he's gay at least. That's a start). The article features a lot of photos of him and two of another cast mate who is a black lesbian. I have to wonder why they didn't feature her on the cover. Is it cause she's black? Lesbian? A healthy normal sized girl (the guy is very athletic and chiseled looking)? Here's a thought...why not put them both on the cover? Won't that appeal to more of the market?

It's not like the editors haven't heard this before. Every issue they print letters chiding them for their inability to produce out cover models. Maybe they feel vindicated from any responsibility if they print the letters. Maybe they are just trying to sell magazines. Maybe they don't care.

Maybe I'll cancel my subscription.