Dear Editor:

I read your column in the Gay and Lesbian times and wanted to comment on how tasteful I thought the entire gay pride weekend was here in San Diego. Looking back 15 years ago when everything was in your face weather you wanted it or not. The San Diego parade, festival, and parties along the parade route were all a celebration of our gay community and diversity, for all to enjoy. I commend the people who worked to organize all the events. I walked through the adult area of the festival and thought how well it was set up, behind other booths so that the people without an interest or with kids did not feel uncomfortable, well done! It is this that will continue to integrate our pride parade to those having a difficult time coming out or those people having difficulty accepting homosexuality. Eventually in time, I believe, these are the people who will step up and defend us against the so called “Family Policy Network” people, flying Jesus banners and portraying to know the mind of God in their tiny, minuscule ways.

David Reicks

Dear Editor:

Surprise, surprise! San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre is at it again. He is still sending undercover police into more LGBT businesses in an attempt to close them for homosexual activity between consenting adults like he did with the 2200 Club. Once again these investigations have nothing to do with illegal drugs, prostitution or violent crimes. Some of the owners of these businesses are aware of the presence of the plainclothes police and are waiting to see what charges will be brought.

Aguirre’s persistence in prosecuting gay businesses has been encouraged by his relationship with self proclaimed “cured gay” James Hartline and now a Christian soldier and an announced candidate for Hillcrest’s San Diego City Council seat. Hartline described Aguirre’s assistance in closing the 2200 Club in his campaign literature “He worked with the city attorney’s office to alert authorities of blatant sexual activity in a local homosexual bathhouse, which closed its doors in April.” Hartline praises Aguirre in his newsletter, The Hartline Report, saying “Recently, San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre became the first prosecutor to actually enforce the state law by prosecuting the 2200 Club.” With Aguirre’s assistance Hartline hopes to completely shut down the gay community in San Diego. When you see Aguirre riding in the San Diego Pride Parade or attending a LGBT event remember what he and Hartline are doing to our community. And when you receive a campaign donation request from Aguirre, like many in our community have, write “not this time” across it and send it back.

Do not believe the praises that Nicole has for Aguirre. Wait and see what new charges will be filed by the city attorney against LGBT businesses in our community.

Juan Gonzalez

Dear Editor:

Upon opening issue 1022 of the GLT, I didn’t know if I should have been flattered or offended. However one thing is certain, I am hurt. For the past 9 months my Sisters and I have been on the streets of District 3 handing out bar cards called “Top Ten Ways Clever Sluts and Hos Stay Alive” and “Top Ten Ways Clever Drag Queens Stay Alive” both of which were designed by Sister ROMA! and Sister Kitty Catalyst both of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc. (each card can be found on http://www.sdsisters.org) And yes “Knowledge is half the battle,” but it seems a little reactionary that Toni Atkins, Delores Jacobs, Bob Lehman, Nicole, and everyone else would wait over a year from the events that started out the rise of crime in District 3 to take our simple concept and claim it as their own without any credit to where they got it from. They can’t claim ignorance about it because Toni’s office at one point wanted to work with us, but than backed out, and each person on the committee I have personally handed cards to. Is this another example of people wanting to hide less “heterofriendly” aspects of the community regardless of their work because of a fear of a bad image, or a sign of another failure of City Council failing to meet the needs of its citizens in a timely fashion?

Eric Hufford

Sister Iona Dubble-Wyde

Dear Editor:

Here is an idea: How about the Councilmembers who voted against banning supercenters yesterday offer up where these megastores should go in their districts. I am sure the good voters of Point Loma, Rancho Bernardo and Del Cerro would be thrilled to have Wal-Mart Supercenters in their neighborhoods. Or maybe the Mayor would offer up his Kensington neighborhood as a potential site?

Brian Polejes

Dear Editor:

I would have hoped that the police and festival monitors would have enforced more strictly the “no smoking” law in the park and at the festival Saturday and Sunday. Notice of the “no smoking” law was clearly posted at the ticket sales windows and other places in the festival area but I saw many flaunting this.

Philip Maitlen

Dear Editor:

This being my fourth year of Gay Pride in San Diego, I found this year’s events to be quite poor in comparison to others.

First, the parade, right from the starting point, had huge gaps....causing alot of viewers to become bored and leave. There is no reason why there should be such huge gaps right from the very start of the parade (and I was on University, just off Normal Street).

Second, the charge to enter the booth area is unheard of. I have been to Gay Pride events nationwide and none charge to enter the booth area, including Boston, Palm Springs, New Orleans, San Francisco, New York, etc. The commercial end of the booths covers any needed cost...to charge people a high price to view commercial booths is ridiculous. If it is to pay for the entertainment, then enclose the entertainment and charge to view it.

Next, to exclude SDMC from performing after all these years is an outrage. The organizers should apologize to SDMC for an obvious lack of judgement.

Lastly, some of the groups entertaining were not only exccessively loud but also excessively vulgar. The group prior to Erasure is a prime example. They could be heard, with all their vulgarity, throughout Bankers Hill. In fact, the Bankers Hill Association is filing a complaint with the proper authorities regarding the noise and vulgarity. This does not make a good impression with the non-gay community, who is forced to put up with the excessive noise and vulgar language. Also, many of the groups were not gay and really had no representation or affiliation to the gay community...other than making a buck.

All in all, the weekend events were good but certianly not one of San Diego’s finest Gay Pride weekends.

W. F. Reed