Dear Editor:

The Letters to the Editor of February 28 exemplifies the need for continuing dialog and education, and less drama within the GLBT community on transgender issues.

Susan Robbin’s opinion that transgendered people “who can’t make it in the real world,” live in the gay/trans ghetto is indicative of the uninformed intolerance so often inflicted upon the transgendered, even from within the trans community itself. They live there because it’s the only place many can afford.

According to the San Diego Transgender Needs Assessment of 2004, 36% of local trans people earned less than $10,000 a year, and 57% had annual incomes of under $20,000. Only about 3% are fortunate enough to earn over $100,000 a year. In part this is because many transgendered people lose their jobs during transition and many young people do not have the education for higher paying jobs. While gay male couples earn $130,000 a year, almost 80% above the median US household income. Which returns us to the need for ENDA protections for all people in the national GLBT community.

Ms. Robbin’s comment that the GLBT community has nothing to offer transgendered people could not be further from the truth. The Center provides much appreciated support for numerous trans groups and events and has been leading the way in educating the public on trans issues. I believe the vast majority of the GLBT community supports transgender inclusion and what we have been seeing lately is a vocal minority of separatists. I believe we could be more productive by working together with a positive attitude toward our common goals.

Jamie Starr

Dear Editor:

Are developers buying Council District 3 or should we just trust our new representative?

In July 5, 2007 G & L Times, I personally challenged Todd Gloria and Stephen Whitburn to a “No Developers Contribution” pledge. Since that challenge, I have personally talked with both candidates about my concern with outside money influencing this election. I completely understand the rationale to raise lots of money to win an election, but wouldn’t it be interesting to know who is giving money to whom?

Interestingly enough, the Center for Policy Initiatives (CPI) has a website that tracks all the money going to all candidates. If you are interested, go to www.onlinecpi.org and click on “Follow the Money.” However, since the candidates did not want to take me up on my offer, I have decided to share my observation based on CPI’s analysis of campaign contributions.

The three candidates raising any money for City Council District 3 are Todd Gloria ($108,428), John Hartley ($11,220) and Stephen Whitburn ($51,695 – excluding personal loan). That might seem very impressive, but who is giving money to these candidates? Let’s start with Real Estate/Developers. Developers are contributing 19% to Todd’s campaign and 14% to John’s campaign; while Stephen can attribute about 6% of contributions to developers. Bottom line, real estate/developers seem to like Todd better than the other candidates. He is getting 6 to 7 times more money from developers than anyone else.

What about individual contributions? After all, most of District 3 is made up of individual citizens not developers. Stephen is ahead of the individual contributions, representing 28% of total contributions. John has 45% of his contributions from individuals but only make up a third of total dollars from Stephen. Todd has 11% of his contributions from individuals. The big surprise; Stephen has more money from individuals ($14,650) than any of the other candidates, and Todd should have more money from individuals ($11,940) given his aggressive fundraising strategy.

Todd has the largest variety of sources for campaign contributions than the other candidates, but he will need to answer the questions, why do developers like him more? Are developers buying Council District 3 or should we just trust our new representative?

Please don’t misunderstand me. I like Todd Gloria, but we need to ask the tough questions now because it will be too late and no one will care after the November elections. Watch out John and Stephen because I will be watching future campaign contribution reporting. I will follow the money.

John Taylor