Dear Editor,

Tom Shepard, who more accurately should be described as a Republican political campaign consultant, makes the bogus argument that the distinction between Corky McMillin’s (a developer) bundled campaign contributions and those of the owner of Cheetahs (a strip club) is clear. Shepard argues McMillin and developers like him simply contribute money to politicians whose views and actions they support whereas the strip club owner demands a quid pro quo.

Let me remind Mr. Shepard of his earlier comment in the U/T (June 23, 2003):

“‘Contributions are typically bundled so that the business responsible for soliciting the contribution gets credit with the elected official for having collected them,” said Tom Shepard, a veteran San Diego political consultant.

In what way do they get credit, Mr. Shepard, if not by a quid pro quo?

The alternative, of course, is that neither developers nor strip club owners demand a quid pro quo for their bundled campaign contributions.

Ian S. Trowbridge

San Diego

Dear Editor,

Your editorial was right on the dot. I can never understand how gay men I know can spend Friday to Sunday clubbing, paying several covers club hopping and who knows how much for drinks and food, yet can’t spare $5 to $10 for a worthy GLBT cause, or, even a few hours a month as a volunteer for our many non-profits for the gay community. When I first moved here 8 years ago the first thing I did was to call The Center to be a volunteer knowing this would be a good opportunity to make friends, as well as contribute to the community. I am happy to say I have made many acquaintances there, 3 of whom are very close friends and I was able to give back to the community by being a Front Desk volunteer for 7 years as well as volunteering for other Center activities along with the AIDS Walk, AIDS Foundation of San Diego and Gay Pride. At the present time my good friend, Otto, who was my Front Desk partner, and I are volunteers at Mama’s Kitchen doing a delivery route every Tuesday. Currently I am employed part-time and in the near future will be completely retired at which time I plan to increase my volunteering for gay non-profits.

I make monthly contributions to the I Belong Program at The Center, I rationalize this by the fact that I eat out at least once a week and, along with this, spend easily $50 to $100 a month on myself and I feel my small monthly contribution will help to assure that The Center will always be available to the community, also, along with this contribution, from time to time I give to other gay related causes. I am not talking of great sums of money, but, if every gay in San Diego contributed even a small amount each month to a worthy gay cause the combined amount on an on-going basis could have a tremendous affect for all of us.

There is a lot of assistance for the gay community in many areas, but to guarantee they will always be available it’s up to all of us to help. This can be easily done with small contributions from our “self fun” funds or with time.

Roger M. Negro

San Diego

Dear Editor,

First of all, I read your magazine all the time.

The reason that I am writing is that I am a high school teacher, in Fallbrook, North County, San Diego. Ever since my employment at Fallbrook Union High School, I have had difficulty with issues of gay-hate related sexual harassment. I have been told, by long-time teachers, that this problem has existed in Fallbrook for a long time. In this extremely conservative (Christian) community, it is even offensive to discuss the rights of gay students to receive an education in an environment free from harassment and verbal abuse.

Many at FUHS believe that they are free to verbally assault GLBT students and teachers. I believe that due to Fallbrook’s extreme rural location and isolation, its high school is one of the most bigoted in all of southern California (even worse than Grossmont). At least in the Grossmont School District, people are aware that such problems exist.

Currently, I am on administrative leave, while the school district is trying to find a way to terminate my employment. Why? Because I stand-up to hold administrators accountable for looking the other way and ignoring acts of anti-gay harassment and intimidation. My outspokenness has placed me into trouble with administrators who tolerate (condone) illegal anti-gay actions. As a school teacher, I am disgusted and ashamed of the anti-gay, hateful behaviors on our high school campus. The superintendent’s actions have violated my constitutional rights to free speech, to freedom of association, and due process. However, the larger crime is that of preventing community knowledge of GLBT students’ and teachers’ rights to learn and teach in a hostile-free school and workplace. All of this is accomplished through acts of intimidation and retaliation for anyone who speaks out against bigotry throughout the district.

I would hope that somehow, your magazine can find a way to help expose the anti-gay bigotry of the Fallbrook community and Fallbrook Union High School. Maybe someone in your organization can visit the high school. Maybe your readers can make a public outcry or picket the high school. Something must be done to bring FUHS into the 21st century — treating all citizens “with liberty and justice for all!”

Tad Jordan LeGrand

Escondido