Dear Editor:

I am tired of being one of those people who sits around and complains of the inequalities many of us face while do nothing to change them and so I commend Mr. Paul Benson for his letter to the GLT, published in issue 1060. I am so grateful to be a citizen of a nation that allows free speech, regardless of how misguided it may be.

Mr. Benson suggests that the GLT is promoting a “victim agenda when it comes to gay marriage”. Undoubtedly, we as GLBT Americans are certainly not afforded equal protections under the law. While I personally would not choose to identify as a victim per se, our community is forced to suffer great injury and loss with regards to our civil rights. After all, even nonreligious opposite-sex couples who choose to never have children are afforded Civil Marriage, and yet we are not regardless of our spiritual affiliation or desire to start a family.

The opposition to same-sex marriage has every right to collect signatures and propose a vote to protect their world-view. We as a community, equally have that right. Personally I do not believe it is ever appropriate to use the Constitution as a weapon for limiting people’s rights regardless of what the issue may be.

As far as Mr. Benson’s “HATE mongers” statement, I struggle to remember a time the GLT used such language to describe the oppositions’ view of same-sex marriage. Not agreeing with our “agenda” is far from being hateful, but spreading inaccuracies and lies is in-fact indicative of a strong dislike or extreme aversion to our community, i.e. hateful.

There are people from all walks of life who support and oppose our desire for marriage, even those within our own GLBT community. However, I would like to inquire about the source(s) Mr. Benson uses to claim that a “majority of the gay community” is opposed to the marriage “agenda”. I could ask a few of my friends what their opinion on same-sex marriage is as well, but certainly would not claim that the views of a select few in any way represented a “majority”.

I will not seek to dispute any more of Mr. Bensons claims as I see them being nothing less than absolutely preposterous. My bottom line is that we all have the right to say what we want, write what we want, support who we want, and boycott what we will. We also have the right to equal protections under the law. Being in a loving same-sex relationship is not illegal. Having children grow up in a world that recognizes diversity is not illegal. So why the hell are we going to amend our state Constitution to ban what would otherwise be a legal affirmation of love and family.

Thank you Mr. Benson for refusing me the luxury of resting on my laurels any longer.

Trevor K. Bombard

Dear Editor:

My name is Paul Broadway. I am one of the candidates who are running for San Diego City Council District 3. Yesterday, in the Signonsandiego.com website, I noticed that the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Coalition was holding a Candidate’s Forum at The Center, located at 3909 Center Street in the neighborhood of Hillcrest.

I immediately checked my calendar and contact list to see if I had been invited. Both my calendar and contact list did not indicate that I was invited to this event, or even contacted by the event‘s organizers. I figured that it was an oversight of the event’s organizers and I decided that I would attend anyway.

So, my Campaign Manager (Mr. David Voth) and I took time off of work and arrived at the Center at approximately 7:15am this morning. Once we entered the building, we were charged $20.00 by the persons who were working the front door. I paid the $20.00 and stated that I was a candidate in the San Diego City Council District 3 race. I was shuffled over to a side table and instructed to wait.

Ms. Amber Cypher arrived and introduced herself to my Campaign Manager and I. Ms. Cypher asked me if I had recently entered the race for San Diego City Council. I stated that I had been in the race as long as anyone else. Ms. Cypher then asked me why I had not contacted her when I found out that there was a forum being conducted by the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Coalition. I stated to Ms. Cypher that I had only discovered the existence of the Candidate’s Forum the day before from the Sign on San Diego website. Ms. Cypher then stated to me that she had planned this event in December, and that there was no way I could participate in it, as it was planned for the three candidates who were scheduled. Then Ms. Cypher stated to me that I could stay if I wished, but my participation was out of the question.

My Campaign Manager and I stayed for the entire Candidate’s Forum. At some point in the middle of the debate, Todd Gloria, one of my competitors, introduced me from the dais. At no point did the event’s organizers, or you indicate my presence. I now understand what it feels like to be completely excluded from a public event. I kept looking up on the stage and wondered why the event’s organizers did not make an attempt at reasonable accommodation of my candidacy. I asked myself, “is there enough table space?” It appeared that there was. I then asked myself, perhaps there are not enough microphones for each speaker?” No, each candidate shared one microphone.

I then began to question why I was not included in a debate that was about inclusion. Was it because I am a disabled veteran and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars? None of the other candidates on the stage served in the military. Was it because I am not a member of the Democratic Party and all of the candidates on the stage were members of that party? Was it because I was a small business owner? Was it because I was a former policeman and prison guard? I could not for the life of me figure out why I had been excluded in a place where everyone was speaking about transparency and inclusion.

So Mr. Portantino, I ask you to print this letter in the “letters to the editor” section of your publication. Perhaps your readers can shed some light about why I was excluded from a simple Candidate’s Forum in the Hillcrest neighborhood. I thank you in advance for your assistance in his matter.

Paul Broadway