Dear Editor,

The Center really shined this weekend! This years Gala Event was GREAT! I really liked the set up this year with a brief program and champagne toast at the beginning, limited speeches, open seating, buffet and DJ with a dance floor. It really made the celebration of the Center 30th Anniversary a real celebration. The Center Staff & volunteers that spent countless hours planning and promoting this event deserve a round of applause. I can’t wait for next year!

John Dillon

San Diego

Dear Editor,

In response to “It’s about more than just marriage” (GLT issue 825, Oct. 16, 2003). “Misguided Bush supporters”? I think not! You fail to write about the fact that it was President Clinton who signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It is not only the Conservatives who are against us. Bill and Hillary would sell us out in a New York minute if it suited their political means. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” was brought to us courtesy of a liberal President who did not have a clue on how to get the job done correctly.

President Bush is a man of his word. This is a far cry from the previous eight years. However, on the gay marriage issue he is definitely not the ‘compassionate conservative’ he claims to be. In fact, he is quite ‘Neanderthal’ in his views on this issue, and yes, he contradicts himself too.

Gay marriage would encourage gays to accept a more –what’s the word? – Conservative lifestyle. It would also strengthen families that already exist. Many established gay couples have the task of raising children, who would be better off with parents who are legally joined. Conservatives may think gay households are not the best place for children. But the fact is, the children are already there.

I will never defend the Presidents views on the gay marriage issue, but I will support him on the war against terrorism. So far, I have yet to see just one person running on the Democratic ticket who has any desire to protect this country from these outside forces. The war on terror is expensive, and will most likely go on for many years. The alternative would’ve been to take a more passive stance in trying to negotiate with these terrorists, but history has proven that the appeasement process does not make for a secure nation.

Gay marriage is only one issue in which you criticize this president, because your article was in reference solely to gay marriage. So, you say I am misguided for supporting Bush? Let’s look at just one of the many ‘tolerance’ groups gay elitists support? GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) claims as its mission the protection of so-called gay, lesbian, and transgendered children from harassment and discrimination. Gay and Lesbian children? Transgendered children? This is wacky liberalism run amok. I believe we should let children be children without having to expose them to sexuality of any kind, especially when it’s used as a pretext to gain access to a child.

Gay marriage, when it comes to be, will promote more conservative issues when it comes to our families. I think we will find that we may become less tolerant of these current radical gay agendas.

So please, don’t try to put gay people who support the current president into this one little neat package marked ‘misguided’ solely on this one issue. If you need some examples of ‘misguided’, look to the Left.

Bill Lullo

Mission Hills

Dear Editor,

I wanted to write and tell you what a great job you did on the Breast Cancer issue. I know that you have performed a valuable service to our community by letting folks know who to call if they need help while fighting this disease.

Abby Schwartz did a wonderful job in her “Getting it Off our Chests” article. There are just two points I wanted to add, one minor and one major.

1. The Minor Point: I served on the LGBT Community Center Board of Directors from 2002-2003, when I left to take a job out of town. I didn’t want to take credit for years of service I did not perform.

2. The Major Point: Liz Jardine’s role in the founding and funding of the Center’s Breast Cancer Support Group was not included in the article. Liz was tireless in her support of this group, donating thousands of dollars worth of art and attending every one of the fundraisers. We simply would not have been nearly as successful in our efforts were it not for her generosity and selflessness. I know that all of the other founding members would echo this sentiment and wanted to let Liz know how much we appreciate her efforts.

Thank you again for such a timely article and for helping in the fight to defeat this terrible disease.

Dr. Lisa Rhodes

Philadelphia, PA