Greg Bales

H.U. Queer Press

These kids at camp have got stones—some they carry; others they throw. Here’s Brett Keller discussing why, at some length.

Since I don’t write about camp anymore, I’ll just say this: Kids, I wish you the best. I hope it doesn’t take too much trouble or heartbreak for you to realize, and I mean really and deeply grasp, how small the glass house you’re tossing your stones in is. It gets its special character from that glassness. Its inhabitants, afraid both of being seen and of what they might see, only look out through the corners of their eyes. The house seems bigger because of it. But the quarters are indeed cramped. Look up—you’ll see what I mean. I worry that, as you toss your stones about, you’ll sooner than later discover that that the thing with living in a glass house is that it doesn’t really matter if there’s glass at all. And that might be a hard lesson to learn. But something tells me many of you have learned that lesson already, and even if you haven’t, going by your stories, I think you’ll come out okay on the other side.

Meanwhile, mazel tov for a fine first issue! This post is a link to honor it. May your graduation day come soon, your loves be honest, passionate, and long-lived, and your weddings—and I do mean your gay weddings—be here in Iowa!