No joke.

• Author: Herzberg, Jack
• Position: Letters

Andrew Webb ("When Rubbers Hit the Road," November 2001) makes some interesting observations about the context in which gay men are "slipping," and practicing higher-risk sexual behavior. He notes that "in almost half the states, consensual sex between two men remains a criminal offense." True enough. But then he states that "most gay male relationships are a joke and rarely monogamous."

Andrew, dear boy. If you think that most gay male relationships are a joke, clearly you are hanging out with a bunch of clowns. The relationships I know of, including my own of 12 years, are enlivening, enriching, and fulfilling. Are they made more difficult for lack of societal sanction? Certainly. But to describe our relationships as a...