This week, in celebration of their first six months in office as the first two openly gay male city councilmembers, we slated interviews with both District 3 Councilmember Todd Gloria and District 5 Councilmember Carl DeMaio.

The genesis of the interviews was at the Victory Fund Luncheon in February, where both councilmembers happily agreed to a six-month spotlight feature. And in May, at the Mama’s Kitchen Mama’s Day event, we confirmed with both candidates.

Yet when we contacted DeMaio’s director of communications, Erica Mendelson, last week to set up the interview, she said she would check with “the scheduler” and call us back with a time. When she did call, she said DeMaio would no longer do it.

The reason? According to Mendelson, DeMaio has “done profiles with all major citywide publications and is not doing any profile interviews at this time.” She also reminded us that DeMaio recently had granted an interview to GLT columnist and City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez.

An interview with Murray-Ramirez? Only if throwing back drinks while cruising together at Martinis Above Fourth constitutes an interview. Murray-Ramirez did include in his column mentions of his tête-à-tête with DeMaio. The notes cast a clearer light on the shroud of shame about being a gay Republican the politician obviously bears, which of course our readers are naturally interested in. Still, it was hardly an in-depth reflection on DeMaio’s first six months in office.

We’d clearly communicated that we intended the interview to be about the ups and downs of his first six months of public life, the city’s problems, the day-to-day politics of how he gets his ideas to a city council vote, what he likes most and least about the job and what his proudest accomplishment to date has been – you know, the important stuff about being a public official, not, as he likely feared, his sexuality.

But perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised that DeMaio reneged on his agreement. This wasn’t the first time he’s refused the GLT an interview. Prior to his election, DeMaio, apparently concerned that his sexual orientation would be an issue in his campaign (he represents the rather conservative I-15 corridor, stretching from as far northeast as San Pasqual down through Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Sabre Springs, Scripps Ranch, Mira Mesa, and west over to Sorrento Mesa) refused us an interview and had his press people avoid mentions in other gay press.

Internalized homophobia or not, DeMaio, as a public figure, is behooved to give the press – all press, including gay press, access to his views and commentary on what he’s doing in office.

Wanting to get the goods from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, we approached DeMaio in person at the Nicky Awards. But he gave us a less than warm reception, curtly stating that the decision had been Mendelson’s and that he “stands behind” it. Both DeMaio and Mendelson have mentioned a possible interview at his one-year mark in office. We’re not holding our breath.

Needless to say, we are very disappointed that our city’s first elected gay male city councilmember has declined to speak to the GLBT community. We are similarly dismayed that he’s proven to not be a man who keeps his word – or only does so when it is convenient for him.

It seems DeMaio believes in that old saying “a marriage of convenience.” The fact is that DeMaio courts affiliations in District 3. Just last week, he and his new beau, Jonathan Hale, the publisher of San Diego Pix magazine (whose advertisers and distribution are almost entirely in District 3), invited local bars, clubs and restaurants to a “small business luncheon.”

Hmm. Despite DeMaio’s contention that he’s focused on his own District 5, it seems his personal life has blurred the boundaries of representation.

But DeMaio, whether he represents the city blocks between Park Boulevard and First Avenue or not, and whether he likes it or not, represents the GLBT community as a role model and a leader – just as do sports players and entertainment figures who have the courage to come out of the closet.

Further, DeMaio’s views on issues affect members in all districts. His votes are not limited to District 5, and decisions that he and the rest of the council make have an effect on all of us.

Consequently, he’s obliged to speak to all constituents via the press.

We take pride in the fact that we now have two openly gay city councilmembers.

But we also believe in holding these officials accountable for their actions – or inactions. We have done so in the past, and we will continue to do so. Just because an official happens to be GLBT does not mean a free pass when it comes to transparency and accountability.

Consequently, we leave the reader with this: You will find our planned feature which begins on page 30. We’ve provided space for interviews with both Gloria and DeMaio. We’d like to thank Councilmember Gloria for proving to be a man of his word – one who follows through with integrity.

As for DeMaio, unfortunately, his page is blank. We gave him every opportunity to fill that space; however, his silence speaks volumes.