Dear Editor:

Your editorial of Nov. 1, “Cross-sex hormone treatment of transgendered children,” shows the misconceptions between those involved in the treatment of such children and the gay and lesbian community and the public at large.

Being transgendered is not a choice a parent or child makes. It just is. When a 4 year old says he’s a girl, and insists on this through puberty, the child is probably correct in their gender perception. Parents and medical providers should listen to the child and take the appropriate corrective action.

Certainly every case is unique, but when a child’s rights to medical intervention are denied for legal, economic, religious, or social reasons the effects are often catastrophic. By age 17 the body has completed most of it’s development. In a genetic female the breasts have developed. In a male to female transsexual early hormonal treatment is the difference between their ability to live undetected in their perceived gender or not. The voice will have dropped to a lower octave, a male muscle pattern, bone and facial structure, and body hair have developed.

While Lupron to delay puberty would usually be the treatment of choice until a child is of age to make their own legal decisions, the effects of delaying treatment because of the cost can be devastating. In cases with medical and psychological consensus where economics make Lupron impossible, hormone treatments at the onset of puberty are preferable to no treatment at all. Early intervention is the best way to support a successful life.

To say that depression, health, and suicide can be addressed by community support, shows a lack of understanding of trans youth. You can provide all the “support” in the world and when a young trans girl starts growing chin whiskers with no option to stop it, she may choose the only solution she sees available to her. When a large percentage of young transsexuals commit suicide or die of Aids by age 30, cancer is the least of our concerns.

Your editorial stance to support the denial of medical treatment of transgendered children based on social viewpoint, is wrong and intensifies the unnecessary gap between the GLB and T communities.

Jamie Starr

Dear Editor:

First I have to say; I don’t understand what has changed regarding policy the GLT has used since I was last interviewed in 2002. (GLBT Fathers) The GLT’s disrespect of transfolk over the last five years along with the poll recently conducted by the GLT on ENDA have demonstrated a lack of concern and an effort not to understand trans issues in this city. There has not been a supportive voice for transfolk in GLB media since early 2006.

This lack of a supportive voice in GLB media adds fuel to the growing separatist movement that exists in the TG/TS communities here and around the country. I sincerely hope THIS TIME the GLT will “walk it’s talk” and afford some support and understanding of transfolk and the issues we face.

Sue Robins

Dear Editor:

Many in the LGBT do not understand Nicole’s political endorsements. Nicole endorses the candidates that he believes will get elected as indicated in his recent column where he bragged about picking the winners over ninety percent of the time. By doing so he believes that these officials once elected will then support him. In other words he does not endorse the candidates that he would like to see get elected but those that probably will get elected. The theory is that when he needs their support on one of his issues he might have more leverage.

The problem is that when the readers of his column see his endorsements they mistakenly believe that those politicians are the best choice for our community when they are not. For that reason use the endorsements of the GLT or your favorite political organization and never Nicole’s. Unfortunately Nicole’s endorsements of the three councilmen who voted against the marriage quality issue probably helped them get elected in the first place. Unlike Nicole I suggest that we attempt to get the good people into office rather than to try to manipulate the bad ones.

Rose Steinberg

Dear Editor:

Mike Aguirre, the San Diego City Attorney who seeks LGBT campaign donations but wants to curtail LGBT sex, is now trying to identify causes of the widespread damages in the recent wildfires. He alleges more homes could have been saved if the city had a better brush management program. (SD Union Tribune 11/02/07) He probably believes that his office’s actions of sending undercover police officers into LGBT businesses looking for sexual activity between consenting adults may have avoided more fires. After all the hot action at the 2200 Club could have easily sparked a fire in Hillcrest and North Park. Thank goodness he recognized that priority over the objections of many who thought the police were desperately needed fighting violent street crime which is rampant in our neighborhoods. He might consider sending some of the undercover police who now work their shifts at taxpayers’ expense in the GLBT bars, hotels and bathhouses into our neighborhoods enforcing brush management.

As alleged in the Union Tribune (9/28/07) Aguirre’s erratic and ill-considered conduct has led to tens of millions of dollars in new liability for the taxpayers.

Of course if he can curtail the legal sexual activity in our community then it is money well spent. I suggest that we follow Aguirre’s evacuation plan and send him packing at the next election.

Marlene Lintz

Dear Editor:

I agree with Nicole Murray-Ramirez that James Hartline deserves compassion. However, in my opinion, Hartline’s focus on sin is quite limited.

I wonder if Hartline considers that the wildfires could also be punishment for our illegal, sinful war in Iraq. While safe sex between consenting adults can hurt no one, the sin of unprovoked war has killed thousands of precious lives.

Why do Christians single out sex as the only sin? Why is a senator asked to resign because he attempted to have sex in a public toilet, while no congress members are asked to resign when they publicly vote billions of our hard earned tax dollars to continue mass murder in Iraq? How many politicians are kicked out of their churches when they accept bribes?

As horrible as the wildfires were, the wildfires of war, crime, ignorance, prejudice, greed, political corruption, hatred and religious brainwashing can also cause damage to our quality of life.

Gilbert Q. Rubio