Dear Editor,

I’m an avid reader of the Gay and Lesbian Times. I’m a gay man in my 50’s living in North County Community of Escondido.

I have a bone to pick with the Gay Community of San Diego. I was a member of a Gay club BBC – Bare Buns of San Diego. I was a member for several years till I was not allowed to rejoin. The Steering Committee claimed that I was pursuing guys and chasing them off. It was a lie and pure speculation on the part of their steering committee. I was not even allowed to rejoin after a year. The By-laws made it clear you could rejoin the club after a period of 6 months. I feel I have been discriminated (sic) by the attitudes of certain people on the Steering Committee of BBC. Is this the way gays treat each other? I’m sick and tired of hearing about Gays being mistreated by Hetrosexuals (sic) and yet within gay Groups they treat each other in a worse way. I feel that I’m an outcast and been poorly mistreated by a gay Club. Several of the members are a member of Primetimers of California and I tried to join them and got no answer.

Another thing is I get tired of being distanced by San Diego Gays as I don’t live in Hillcrest or Northpark. I go out to the clubs and get the “cold shoulder” as I’m from North County.

This has been a peeve of mine and I have heard it from others as well. There were some nice people in Bare Buns that wish I was still a member but the selfish attitudes of the Steering Committee have made it clear that I’m not to be admitted ever.

I hope others will read this letter and make their views known. We need to be fair to all Gays.

Jeff Wark

Escondido

Dear Editor,

It is time for the Gay Community to look around and pay attention to what is happening. We are entering perhaps the most dangerous time of our existence. Yes, we have won some very important battles, but with each of these victories our enemies are becoming more active against us. Nothing promotes hate more than fear, and, our enemies fear us.

Read the papers, pay attention to the news and you will discover that the Republican Party is considering an anti-gay plank in their platform, the Vatican is stepping up it’s (sic) anti-homosexual agenda, the Anglican Church is in turmoil over the election of an openly Gay Bishop, add the Right Wing and Reverend Phelps, et al to the mixture and my friends, we have trouble.

What can we do?

1. Be aware, read, watch, question, discuss.

2. If you are not a voter, become one.

3. VOTE

4. Support deserving Gay and Gay friendly candidates, with your vote, when possible donations, and volunteering.

5. Let elected officials and publications know when you agree or disagree with them.

6. Always let those in #5 know when you appreciate what they are doing.

My friends, this is a battle that can be only won by us. God is not sending a band of angels, there is no Moses to lead us. We are the band of Angels and Moses, it is up to each one of us to win this battle.

Roger M. Negro

San Diego

Dear Editor,

Bravo!! for writing comprehensive and intelligent editorial on the fate of women living and dealing with Breast Cancer. When I saw the cover of the GLT I wanted to cry with joy and sadness. The joy was for seeing a woman being featured on the magazine who was not a star, political figure or sharing the space with a group of people. The sadness was for what this beautiful, forthright woman was representing — Breast Cancer. “Getting It Off Our Chests” was a stunning exposé of real women, our mothers, our partners, our sisters, our friends, facing a devastating disease.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for delivering to our community the information that is needed to give women the resources to stay healthy and continue to be survivors.

Pierrette Van Cleve

San Diego

Dear Editor,

In regard to Lee Shoenbart’s editorial in Issue 825, dated 10/16/03, I just couldn’t believe what my eyes read! Mr. Schoenbart, to me your article sounds like nothing more than the whining of someone who sits on the sidelines, observing life and making cynical quips about “those people.” The last time I checked, a person was free to make the choice of sexuality or gender identity according to how they feel, not according to the box you think they should fit in. And for that matter, in this day of war, inflation and unemployment, we’ve got enough to concern ourselves with — I don’t think that your kibitzing about the order of the words Lesbian and Gay in the LGBT acronym is going to make a difference here.

Furthermore, I don’t understand why you would contradict yourself as you did, by speaking of the “embarrassment of bi- and transgendered” of bi/trans groups, and in the same letter, turning around and saying that we should be more inclusive of Latino and Black groups! C’mon, is it liberty and justice for all, or just for those you think are deserving, Lee? Also, did it ever occur to you that these Black/Latino groups you speak of don’t want us to take them under their wing, and show them the way it is? Couldn’t it be that they just want to do it for themselves? Isn’t it possible that you could just get over yourself?

For me, the bottom line is that bi and trans groups, like all other queer groups, represent points of view that are valid and worth listening to, no matter who does or does not agree with them. I strongly suggest that instead of criticizing the bisexual and transgendered communities, be thankful that they exist in the first place, because they are a sign that our community works.

Eric F. Crow

San Diego