Dear Editor:

The GLT editorial about getting our political priorities in order is spot on. We need to stop this anti-same sex marriage initiative NOW or we will have to spend even more time and money battling it before the November vote. And I have no doubt that wealthy supporters of the initiative, like Doug Manchester, would ante up again to support the effort. As a volunteer in the decline-to-sign campaign I have been impressed with the first rate organizers and spirited volunteers who sally out each weekend to disrupt the initiative signature gathering. But we need MORE volunteers over the next few weeks to ensure our success. Let’s wait until the initiative deadline has passed in April before we focus on any organized boycotts. I intend to exercise my own individual discretion as a consumer to express my outrage at the merchants who would take money from the same people whom they would deny constitutional rights. There are other targets for individual boycotts as well. For example, I have not spent a penny at an Exxon/Mobile station since I learned about the corporation’s policy to curtail Pride activities. I would NEVER purchase a Domino’s pizza (there are also aesthetic grounds for this of course). It is likely that the LGBT community and our supporters affect at least 10% of the local consumer economy. We can have a discernable effect on the profits of businessmen like Manchester, Caster, Benson and Hoehn acting as individuals. That is good enough for the immediate future. After we have defeated this dreadful initiative, I’d be happy to put energy into an organized boycott of appropriate targets.

Charlie Pratt

Dear Editor:

As a customer of Hoehn Motors in Carlsbad I was shocked to learn that owner Robert Hoehn had given $25,000 to the measure to ban same-sex marriage. I was horrified to realize that in essence a small percentage of that money came from me through my patronage of his business.

After the Union-Tribune published the story about Hoehn’s donation, he wrote a letter to that newspaper responding that it was “unconscionable” to call him a bigot because he was just trying to protect faith-based institutions from legal recourse in the event they refuse to recognize or officiate same-sex marriages.

Hoehn’s argument, however, doesn’t hold water. Every religion has its own marriage requirements and no one is advocating changing that. Only Catholics can marry in the Catholic church and there are other requirements as well. The requirements for Mormons to marry in their church are very strict and family members aren’t even allowed to attend the ceremony unless they’re complying with church taboos and their donations are up to date. For Robert Hoehn to offer that argument is a weak excuse.

Needless to say I won’t be buying any more cars at Hoehn Motors. There are many other dealerships from which to choose.

Carson McIntyre

Dear Editor:

As a member and personal and professional friend of the Gay community I was very hurt to read in the Union Tribune and the Gay and Lesbian Times of proposed boycotts of my employer, the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina by the Gay and Lesbian Community.

It’s a shame that the Union Tribune report “the Manchester-owned San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina was again repeated in the G&L Times.” The San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina’s majority ownership is Host Hotels and Resorts with Doug Manchester having an extremely small ownership percentage since Marriott began buying him out some 10 years ago.

The Marriott has been a great partner in the Gay and Lesbian Community for several years, hosting the Centers Annual Gala in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, making significant contributions to the Gala. Marriott also played host to the North American Gay Softball World Series in 2005 and the North American Gay Volleyball Championships in 2002, proudly flying the Rainbow Flag in front of the hotel for several days during both of these events. Marriott has also hosted two Gentleman’s Martini Nights, welcoming the community to the hotel.

Yes, Doug Manchester developed the hotel 25 years ago and maintains a very small ownership percentage, but it is not the “Manchester-owned San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina”, it is the Host Hotels and Resorts owned Marriott Hotel and Marina.

Michael V. Aldworth

Dear Editor:

I think this is a great debate we are having in our community between two gay men for city council—Todd Gloria and Stephen Whitburn. Every week, I read your letters and Nicole’s articles on the election between these two men. I have had the pleasure to meet both candidates and think they are both great people. The choice that I have made was not easy, but I have decided to support Stephen Whitburn for city council for several reasons.

1-Stephen Whitburn has been endorsed by several progressive organizations and prominent individuals that have carefully vetted the candidates on their qualifications and positions on the issues. Stephen has been endorsed by the Democratic Party, Stonewall Young Democrats of SD, the Sierra Club, Progressive Majority, San Diego Unity League, San Diego Democratic Club, San Diego Renters Union, SD Democrats for Disability Rights, SD for Democracy, Democracy for America, SD Labor Council, Congressman Bob Filner, Lucy Killea, Donna Frye, and many more.

In all honesty, I think earning 74 percent of the vote of the San Diego Democratic Party was an impressive accomplishment by Stephen Whitburn—one that any candidate in district three would love to have. The support of the Democratic Party in such a crowded field of Democrats is extremely significant.

2-Stephen Whitburn has the experience to usher in a new era in city government that is more responsive to the needs of the people. Stephen is on the North Park Planning Committee, was President of the politically active San Diego Democratic Club, is a spokesperson for the American Red Cross and volunteered endless hours to help register new voters and help elect Democrats to office.

3-Stephen Whitburn will represent the GLBT community well as our first openly gay man elected to the San Diego City Council.

I think we all need to advocate for our choice without being mean and saying terrible things about the other candidate.

Kevin Beiser