Boston Magazine Defends Articles About Molestation

Boston Magazine Defends Articles About Molestation

I read with interest your December “Sighting” concerning my work at Boston magazine. While it is unfortunately standard practice for MassNews to get many of its facts wrong, this particular Sighting breaks new ground.

You state: “The articles by Boston magazine which have approved the molestation of children by NAMBLA are apparently not an aberration, but part of an ongoing series. A staffer, Benoit Denizet-Lewis is now advertising in homosexual emails for children under 14 that he can write about. His email address is listed at Boston magazine.”

1) Let’s start with your headline: “Boston Magazine is Leader in Molestation.” Are you aware that that’s libelous?

2) I’m not sure what NAMBLA story you read, but where in my story did I “approve” of the molestation of children?

3) My NAMBLA story is apparently not an aberration, but part of an ongoing series? Do you guys even read the e-mails you’re talking about? The e-mails are for a story I’m considering doing for Spin magazine about gay youth who are openly gay and under 14, not for a “series” in Boston Magazine.

4) Lastly, what is a “homosexual e-mail?” Is that the one email out of every 10 emails that prefers the same sex?

- Benoit Denizet-Lewis, Senior Writer, Boston Magazine

Editor’s Comment:

If what we wrote wasn’t true, then it would be libelous. But we’re sad to report it is true. Boston Magazine first surfaced as a homosexual advocate last January when it published a feature story encouraging teenagers to be sexually active, while at the same attacking two parents, Lorraine Fournier in Lexington and Sam Washburn in Newton, as evil people because they disagreed with the agenda.

It even mentioned MassNews as “the stridently anti-gay Massachusetts News,” without bothering to discover the truth. (We responded in our paper that we are not “anti-gay.” We are not against people who are homosexual. However, like most people, we believe that the practice is a foolish and dangerous choice. If children are taught about it in the schools, they should also learn the many problems that come with it. It should not be glorified as the Lexington and Newton schools do.)

Then in May, the magazine printed a long “intellectual” history of the North American Man/Boy Love Association. (That is the organization which practices and promotes sex between men and boys.) The history told about a documentary video that NAMBLA started but didn’t finish. The history said, “It was a rare chance to show the world that they [the lovers of boys] weren’t nearly as despicable as people made them out to be.”

The author of the history did not necessarily appear to be a “molester,” but he certainly had a great empathy with those who are. We assumed he was a free lance writer. We understand that all pedophiles deny that any of them “molest” children. They are “friends” who have sex with children to help them to grow.

Therefore, we were disappointed, but not too surprised, when forwarded an email bulletin from The Safe Schools Coalition, a homosexual group, to see that the author of that Boston magazine history is a full time staffer who is now using their offices to solicit very young teenagers for interviews. Here is the relevant portion of the email:

1) Writer for Spin magazine seeks gay/bi youth for article on coming out at an early age.

NOTE OF CAUTION FROM SAFE SCHOOLS COALITION: Coming out at a young age is often difficult; coming out in a magazine article may multiply the risks. Support systems, including family, can make a difference, but can’t always provide enough protection. So while it is flattering to be interviewed by a reporter, we recommend exercising great caution in responding to this (or any other) media request:

“My name is Benoit Denizet-Lewis, and I’m working on an in-depth story for Spin magazine about gay/bi youth who are out in junior high and middle school (or under 14 years of age). I am currently a senior writer at Boston magazine, and much of my work – including extensive writing about youth culture, gay culture, and gay youth – can be seen at [deleted].

“I hope to focus this story on three or four people, preferably in different parts of the country, with different coming-out experiences, etc. In addition to meeting face-to-face with these youth, I am also looking to talk to other gay/bi young people by phone or e-mail about their experiences, including older teenagers who came out at an early age and have some perspective about that.

“I will also be looking to speak with leaders of gay youth groups and people who work with gay youth about the specific issues affecting youth who come out at such an early age. I hope to work on this story during the month of November and would appreciate any help in reaching gay/bi youth under the age of 14.

“I can be reached by e-mail at [deleted] or by phone at [deleted].

“Thank-you so much for your help,

Benoit Denizet-Lewis”

Editor’s Comment Continued:

Most of us will agree that the sexual molestation of boys is no less terrible than that of girls. The sick men at NAMBLA are not to be “understood” and defended. They are to be denounced for what they are.

As David Valdes Greenwood wrote in a column in Bay Windows a year ago, “I know that any critique of NAMBLA I write will prompt criticism from far left field. I have yet to see a gay organization actively pursue an end to this terrible group.”

What is particularly egregious is that 10-year-old Jeffrey Curley was brutally murdered right here in Newton in 1997 by two devotees of NAMBLA. What kind of people are they at Boston magazine that would not take this seriously? I know some of the top executives at that business and I cannot believe that this does not trouble them.

As for Mr. Denizet-Lewis, we know nothing about him. But his expressed interests and his writings are troubling to any parent.

It is very frustrating to be the editor of MassNews because we have new readers all the time who do not know what we have written in the past. But we can’t repeat it all in every issue. If you want to really read our concerns, go on our Archives and type in “pedophilia,” “Curley,” or many other search words, and you will find a wealth of information.