OSCAR LETTERS

Hollywood often gets a bad rap for the way in which movies portray lesbians and gay men. As a gay man who is HIV-infected, I want to applaud Hollywood.

It was impossible to watch the 64th Academy Awards without noticing the red ribbons worn by so many presenters, award recipients and nominees who indicated their solidarity with people with AIDS and concern with ending this epidemic. It was wonderful to have Billy Crystal explain the meaning of the ribbons and to have Richard Gere’s call for increased compassion and funding for AIDS research.

This followed by one day the TV movie “Something to Live For: The Alison Gertz Story,” which poignantly dealt with issues of discrimination, health insurance, condom use and the need for compassionate education. I am grateful to its producers. ROB EICHBERG

Santa Fe, N.M.