Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 20:03:50 -0400
From: John Ellison <paradegi@rogers.com>
Subject: The Phantom Of Aurora: Introduction

The Phantom of Aurora

Dear Friends of The Phantom,

As previously written, I have completely rewritten my original story,
adding detail, expanding some areas, removing text and dialogue in others,
as I felt that I had done you all a great disservice by not giving it my
best shot the first time around. What follows is, U hope, a much better
story.

As you will notice, I have changed the name of the story slightly, and made
appropriate adjustments in the text to ensure that what I write will not
rebound legally on me, or Nifty. I must point out, however, that when I was
approached by a certain organization, in which I was "recognized" as a Sea
Cadet who had been to a certain training base, I really did not have it in
my heart to tell them that while yes, I had been a Sea Cadet, and a few
other things (some of which can be spoken about it public), I was never
there as a Sea Cadet and, in fact, I was in the RCN when the place was
officially opened. I did visit it, several times, but as a rating. I will
say this, however: I have the greatest love and respect for the officers
and cadets of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. In many ways they, and they
alone, have kept the White Ensign flying.

When I first sat down to write, three years ago, I was determined to offer
my readers a story about real people, in real situations, a story about
young gay men who would not let the times, the churches, or the government
stereotype them, to label them, or classify them as "fags" or "queers" or
any of the pejoratives that spring to mind. I wanted my young men to reach
their full potential as human beings, each one individual, and each with a
common goal: to enjoy their lives as they wished to enjoy their lives, to
live their lives as free individuals without fear or favour. In a great
many ways I wanted you, the reader, to know and understand that there were
many young, and not so young, gay men and women who willingly served their
Queen and Country. They endured severe restrictions with regard to their
personal lives, the threat of jail if they were open and frank in their
sexuality and, sadly, death, most often at their own hands, all too often
at the hands of bigots. I wanted my boys to be able to tell the world that
they were just as good, if not better, than any other cadet or sailor and
that could, and would, reach any goal set before them, and bear any burden
pressed upon them - and they would do it in spite of, or perhaps because
of, Society's condemnation of them. They would persevere and, in the end,
in their own way, contributed to the on-going fight for gay rights, rights
for gays not only in the military, but also in civilian life, a fight
against the true "Axis of Evil" which, despite the gains won in recent
decades in Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, continues to
deny the truth: that gays and lesbians can serve with honour.

Sadly so, the true "Axis of Evil" continues to rotate, to deny, deny, deny:
the Vatican, the divines of the religious establishments and the rabbis of
Judaism driving the legislatures, the judiciaries and the military
establishments to deny the truth - especially where service to society by
gay men and women is proscribed from the highest levels. My story attempts,
in a small way, to show the bigots that we will prevail. We are always
here, and we will always prevail.

Over the years since I began to post my original story, I have received
well over 300 e-mails from many wonderful people, expressing their
encouragement and delight at my story. David, the Nifty archivist, a man
whom we should all thank, has been a pillar of support.

I hope to publish what follows as The Phantom of Aurora. I hope that you
will all buy the book when it is published. In the interim, I present to
you the latest edition of my story. Enjoy.

Love to all,

John