Thanks to Gene S. for the tip about the new book _Gay New York_, which traces the history of (self-)naming in gay urban subculture. I've just called my local booksupplier to have them hold a copy for me, as it sounds like precisely the text I've been seeking to verify some interpretations I make of the use of the word "queen" in the 1930s, in publicity for Mae West's films. I'm sending this note to the list only as a demonstration of a point that has repeatedly been made over the almost two years that I've been subscribing to it (remember the repeated discussions about moderating, sending posts of presumbably narrow topics to individuals only, etc.?): namely, responses to media topics that diverge into issues that may seem irrelevant to some prove indeed most useful and thought-provoking to others. My sense is that the person who has repeatedly objected to further discussion of this topic, in language that I for one consider quite rude, may be new to the list and so not yet realize that the topic will die out for lack of interest when the group as a whole sees no more tie-in to media concerns. Hasn't that been our rather laboriously reached repeated consensus, for this unmoderated group: that those not interested in a topic can quickly delete the messages rather than trying to dictate or control the discussion? Indeed, I expect this topic has extended even the short time it has only because the tone of the messages from the one person objecting has impelled some people such as myself who do not often post to respond, in defense of tolerance. I'm wondering if others have noted a shift in tone on SCREEN-L of late (and also in the volume of messages, even now that the duplicity has been eliminated (thank you for handling that, Jeremy!) Is this a consequence of the school year's winding down for many participants, of an influx of new members from the "gateway" or what? Not to start a process-oriented discussion (rather, preferably, to bring one to a close), but perhaps, Jeremy, you as list owner could report briefly what effects you see to date from the Gateway link-up, if you think that's been operating long enough to have any impact. Thanks. Ramona Curry Dept. of English University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [log in to unmask]