Dear Editor:

Nicole: you must really have a close relationship with Lorena Gonzales since you can’t even get her name right. As a Latina, Nicole, you must be able to distinguish between Gonzales and Sanchez.

It is amazing since you claim to have known her “since her days as a top advisor to the lieutenant governor and supported her for her first council race” that you would mistake her as a Sanchez.

I agree she has a great political future ahead of her since she is smart, articulate and has core values, but if that depends on you maybe you should get her name memorized.

How can any of your readers trust your political choices when it is clear you suffer from a serious case of hubris?

Ian Trowbridge

Editor’s note: The following letters were addressed to Robert Hoehn, owner of Hoehn Motors. Hoehn made a financial contribution to Protectmarriage.com, an organization attempting to qualify a November ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage. Readers who were customers of Hoehn’s dealerships sent these letters to Hoehn and the Gay & Lesbian Times expressing anger at Hoehn’s contribution.

Dear Mr. Hoehn:

I am writing this letter to express my extreme anger and offense at your financial support for an amendment that simply denies that all citizens of this state possess equal rights and protections under the law.

To use your money, millions of which come (correction, came) from those very citizens you wish to deny equal status and civil rights is frankly pathetic, and yes, categorically anti-gay.

Your specious argument that by allowing gay marriage would somehow disallow faith based institutions from holding and teaching the tenets of their particular beliefs is patently ridiculous, offensive, and unconscionable. By allowing all of our citizens of legal age to enter into equally recognized unions by the state in no way restricts or forces religious based institutions or anyone to change their definitions of marriage or beliefs.

The revealing of your generous financial support for this hate-based amendment is heartening only in the knowledge of the complete loss of a substantial customer base that you used to rely upon that will result. The prominence of your family name associated with so many dealerships is simply too rich for words.

Having a friend who owns new car dealerships and who are doing everything they can to achieve sales at this time, your brother and all of your employees who count on you for their livelihoods are no doubt muttering a collective “WHAT AN IDIOT!”

Tad D. Bratten

To Whom it May Concern:

Given the recent disclosure in the Union Tribune of Mr. Hoehn’s sizable contribution to anti-civil rights causes, I no longer wish to purchase any vehicle from any Hoehn owned or affiliated business. Please remove my name from any and all mailings and other distributions from Hoehn Motors.

I must express my disappointment with Mr. Hoehn’s decision. As a businessman who markets his dealerships to the entire San Diego community, to choose to donate money to causes which seek to restrict the rights, privileges, etc. of a part of that community is surprising. While he is certainly well within his rights to support whatever cause he wishes, I as a consumer share an equal right to choose not to patronize any Hoehn owned or affiliated businesses. I will also ensure that anyone I know, be it friends, family or co-workers, will know Mr. Hoehn’s political and social beliefs so they too will make the reasoned decision to purchase their vehicles elsewhere.

Adam K. Woellert