Dear Editor:

I want to thank you for your new policies on transgendered reporting as described in your editorial of October 25th. Personally, while I noticed the gender marker usage in the article on transgendered children, I did not find it detrimental to what overall was an informative article.

I know the GLT is doing it’s best to be sensitive to transgendered issues. Each year around this time the GLT prints an issue where the lead article and cover deals with transgendered issues. But each year it seems you accidentally step in it, and instead of pleasing the community there is some faux pas which incites complaint.

The GLT can’t expect every freelance writer to be versed in the AP Stylebook and as copy editors move to other assignments it easy for good intentions to get lost in translation. May I suggest that in addition to your new policies, in the future you have one or two transgendered people review articles prior to publication. This would (hopefully) reduce errors that unintentionally offend members of the community and provide you the positive credit your publication deserves.

Jamie Starr

Mr. Pena:

One of your columnists, Nicole Murray-Ramirez, has taken a lot of flak from the GLBT community for his “tolerance” for City Council District 3 candidate, “St. James” Hartline.

As a former Radio broadcaster, I am an ardent, uncompromising supporter of the First Amendment right of free speech. I would never say that Nicole or any other columnist cannot show their support for a figure like Hartline.

But Gay and Lesbian Times is also a news journal, providing informative, enlightening and important information to the LGBT community and our friends and supporters (such as Mayor Sanders). In that light, I direct you, your staff and your readers to this latest rant from Hartline, regarding the recent natural disasters that have afflicted San Diego and the region:

http://jameshartlinereport.blogspot.com/2007/10/they-would-not-listen-and-now-we-are.html

Yes, I am one of the other candidates in the District 3 council race. But I’m also a gay man and citizen who is sickened by Hartline’s hypocritical, anti-gay invective. The fair-minded people of District 3 and the city of San Diego need to truly understand and appreciate where this individual—Hartline—is coming from. It’s not a very attractive prospect.

Thank you.

Robert E. Lee (for District 3)

So you see nothing wrong with the story “Born in a Bind: Treating Transgender Children?” Your writer broke promises, twisted facts and that’s OK? I have to assume you previously published tabloids. You people certainly have no more journalistic integrity than they; I suggest you return to tabloids and leave publishing to educate to those with the intellect and the heart to do it properly.

Mary Sier

Dear Editor:

I must have been in a different court room... Hell, for the past three years I must have been living in a parallel universe. Never the less, as Bob Smith asked readers last week, “Please [do] refer to the court records and Russel O’Brien’s [kool-aid] editorial in the 2-15-07 GLT.” But please also refer to my reply that cowardly was not printed until 4-5-07.

Proving my point however, Mr. Smith chose to impugne my character even misrepresenting the truth rather then speak to the issues I have raised. It is no “bizarre allegation” that Smith made the decision to hire the former manager of the Mustang and the only “fabrication” here is when Miss Nicky told the community 2200 would have an “entirely new management and staff.” The only “vendetta” I may have would be against those in this community, such as your publisher, who believe their responsibility to the AIDS epidemic and to our youth ends after they write a check to some administratively heavy charity.

Wheather or not Smith believes I had anything to do with the closure of his club is of no importance to me. Perhaps he should keep in mind Al Capone who never went to prison for racketeering, conspirisy or murder but for tax evation. Any reason to shut down 2200 was fine with me. Finally, I have made my “motivations” quite clear. I beloieve any one of average intellegence who can read understands what has driven me.

Kevin McCarthy

So when your paper offends people you write about, and they tell you exactly what went wrong, you still can’t get it right. You allow your reporters to write like politians talk - in circles. “Subsequently”, a male pronoun was used in reference to the child thoughout the story” !!!!!!

It was Celene Adams job to get the information for this sensitive of an article - CORRECT - THE FIRST TIME!!!Once she offended, and messed up the story, you people could’nt even admit it, and tastefully fix the problem.

As far as stating the name was approved “by the child”, I can’t even believe you would pass the buck to a kid.

In this case, the last sentence should have been the first!!!!!

Joann Parrick

Dear Editor:

San Diego City Council Candidate and ex-convict James Hartline blamed the wildfires on homosexuality by saying, “They Would Not Listen—And Now We Are Burning! They shook their fists at God and said, “We don’t care what God says, we will issue our legal brief to support gay marriage in San Diego!”

Then Mayor Jerry Sanders mocked the Christian vote and signed off on this rebellious legal document to support same-sex marriage.

And then the streets of La Jolla under the Mt. Soledad Cross began to cave in.”

“And then the wildfires of Southern California engulfed the land like a raging judgment against the radicalized anti-christian California rebels.”

“Was it all worth it? Were the few years of sexual immorality worth the eternal destruction and earthly chaos it brought?” (The James Hartline Report, www.jameshartline.com, 10/22/07)

This is the same James Hartline that Nicole praised by saying “The truth is that Hartline has turned his life around.” (GLT 8/2/07) and after the candidates forum, “Hartline was the big surprise of the evening as he was articulate, knowledgeable of the issues and I found myself agreeing with him on many of the problems our neighborhoods are facing.” (GLT 10/11/07)

Hartline may have Nicole’s vote but the rest of us are scared to death of him.

Marie Lopez