Dear Editor:

I am responding to the recent article about the harassment of Mr. Wil Kenney at the Disneyland Resort. Mr. Kenney was frisked, searched, and publicly humiliated for holding hands with his partner, an officer with the San Diego Police Department.

I have admired Walt Disney and his creations all my life. I am a member of the Carolwood Pacific Railroad Historical Society, who’s sole purpose is to preserve Walt Disney’s railroad legacy. We maintain Walt’s barn which originally stood in his backyard and was the birthplace of imagineering. I also own an extensive library of Disney books and memorabilia, and a bust of Mr. Disney I sculpted in 1975.

However, today I am saddened and appalled by what occurred at the Disneyland Resort. Deana Van Noy, Disneyland’s security and emergency manager, was quoted as saying that a cast member was either threatened by a gun, felt threatened, or was offended by Mr. Kenney. She also stated that she would have responded as she did no matter which version of her story is applied. Being offended at the sight of two men holding hands was serious enough to subject Mr. Kenney to public humiliation while someone in the crowd was heard saying, “Those fags are disgusting. Thank God they finally did something about them.” Although no gun was found, no apology was offered by either Ms. Van Noy, her superiors, or any of the Disney executives who were made aware of the event.

An apology is owed to Mr. Kenney, his partner, and the gay community. And Ms. Van Noy is in need of anti-bullying and sensitivity training.

Because this form of hate, bigotry, and intolerance is condoned by the Disneyland Resort, I will not be renewing my premium passport to the Tragic Kingdom. Instead, I will be sending that $320 to the American Civil Liberties Union, to assist with their legal efforts against Disney’s insensitive and discriminatory practices. Disneyland lost a lawsuit in the 1980s for not allowing two men to dance together, and they will lose this case too.

John Lake

Dear Editor:

My name is Jeff Kleinberg, Ph.D. I was born, grew up and was raised in Southern California. Just about every year since I was 5 years old, I asked to be taken to Disneyland for my birthday. I’ve only been to Knott’s 1 TIME and Magic Mountain a few times. The majority of theme park activity in my life has been spent at Disneyland (that’s 38 years). I’ve always lived either 2 hours south or an hour and a half north of the park.

The article I received on Wil Kenney was both shocking and appalling. I know people, very close to me – see they are people – human beings first and foremost, who second, happen to be either gay or lesbian. In educated and professional circles, both of which I am a part, we do not receive these newsworthy events lightly. I think that from a pure business model Disneyland is doing a disservice to itself economically – this is a business issue. You have the option of having your business thrive and rise to the opportunity or of cutting yourselves short financially and acknowledging the true sense of diversity of employees and customers who walk through your gates daily. I don’t know if you’re aware of how many people happen to be gay and lesbian. Who cares? They are potential customers, period. Forget anything you know or believe you know about this group of people, they buy tickets, food, clothing, toys, accessories, caps, gifts and candy from your theme park. And as you know, or may not know, people who happen to be gay and/or lesbian exist in every facet of life, from blue collar to white collar workers, to police and fire people, doctors, lawyers, construction workers, gardeners to CEO’s, CFO’s, COO’s of small, medium and large companies who all have a potential economic impact on the business you receive.

I sent the article I received on to people in two other major cities and another country. This will spread like wildfire as it should. I am not even posing a “who’s right or who’s wrong” scenario. What I am posing is a pure “Customer Satisfaction and Retention” proposal about the customer “always being right.” In this case, it is clear that the alleged acts/perpetrations were untrue. A mistake was made. It happens. The one view of justice I see happening here is a protection of pride over the value of retained customers because like it or not, even if they complain, many straight people have friends, family and loved ones who are gay and lesbian. Whether or not those straight folks accept and/or tolerate the non-heterosexuals in their lives, they do love them and as the old saying goes, “blood is thicker than water.”

Jeff Kleinberg

Dear Editor:

We’d like to join Tyrone Jones in his congratulations for Mayor Sanders and those brave councilmembers who voted to support marriage equality. We would like to take issue, however, with his shortsighted comments about Nicole Murray-Ramirez, and his apparent assumption that he was missing from this battle. Mr. Murray-Ramirez has been highly instrumental with changing minds regarding this issue at the highest levels of city government and with all councilmembers. Kevin Faulconer’s stand was truly disappointing and will be remembered. However, equating that with a lack of action or consideration from Mr. Murray-Ramirez on marriage equality makes no sense whatsoever, and is completely inaccurate. If Mr. Jones disagrees with Mr. Murray-Ramirez’s political endorsements, that’s his right, but please don’t mix apples and oranges, nor make illogical and unfounded judgment leaps to make points that are unrelated, moot, and shed only heat and no light.

John Laird & Aaron Borovoy

Dear Editor:

There are few people who have been advocating for equal rights longer than Nicole Murray-Ramirez. Contrary to a recent letter criticizing him for not contributing enough to our community’s recent marriage equality victory, Nicole was there, as always, pushing for marriage equality in his column, talking to our public officials and community leaders and making a difference. Just because we may not see every action, doesn’t mean those actions aren’t taking place. We’re lucky to have Nicole’s voice in our community and right now with momentum on our side, we need his voice more than ever before.

Sid Voorakkara

University Heights

(Editor’s note: This letter was sent for publication in the Gay & Lesbian Times, and was sent to Mayor Jerry Sanders.)

Dear Mayor Sanders:

I am not one who writes to those in political office but I read an article this evening sharing your change of heart on equality for gays and lesbians as it pertains to marriage. I am a former resident of San Diego and hope to come back to “America’s Finest City” one day when my journey here is over. Your veto of a bill that is truly unconstitutional and blatantly wrong makes my decision to do so that much easier. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you for taking a stand that could not be more difficult especially someone in your shoes. Thank you for your courage.

Andy Wingstrom

Boston, MA