Dear Editor,

“...conducting an audit prematurely could potentially disrupt our ability to focus on this summer’s Pride events,” Schaim and Ramey, co-chairs, SDLGBT Pride in a letter to the editor 5-13-10. “...dispute the lack of an IRS deduction,” Stanley, executive director of Auntie Helen’s wrote in his letter of 4-29-10, wrote that he prefers “to give directly and anonymously to our clients when I see the need)” In the very next paragraph he states he would not know how to “abscond with funds,” as, “there are checks and balances in place making it impossible...” I document yet two more examples of the arrogant brazen audacity from ‘persons in a position of trust’ in this community, (the piapot.)

But who can really blame the piapot for their unmitigated gall? For a couple of decades gay charities, organizations and some adult businesses in this town have operated with no oversight nor demand for accountability or the truth from anyone. This community historically has taken for granted that its leaders operate with our interest in mind rather then their own personal agendas. All a piapot has to do is mention a fundraiser for AIDS or for one of those elusive HIV prevention programs and people will send money without ever questioning where the money goes or how it is used.

All a piapot has to do is scream “the city is targeting gay owned business,” and watch how many from this community will goose step behind them not ever even wanting to know true facts. Why would any person in a position of trust in this community not feel Omnipotent when this very ‘news magazine’ which claims to be “the guard to the guards,” has never been any kind of arbiter of the truth, but only a forum for all those bitch slap fights that take the focus away from the true issues of import.

Sure portantino will take time off from his “extended leave of absence” to counsel me on liable. (I’ve been waiting to be contacted by miss nickey about how to be magnanimous.) As your publisher e-mailed, if he made it clear it was his own belief, he can call me “a delusional, self aggrandizing, angry, bitter, old, half witted, bi polar drunk.” (OUCH.....I hadn’t ever been called old before!) Sure a former editor will call me a “raving lunatic” in an editorial designed only to rally troops, (rather doops,) for some kind of modern day Stonewall. Sure a gossip columnist will call me a “bald faced liar” in bold headline print in a column designed only to make an attempt to legitimize his own agenda. But niether has ever spoke to the issue of true import I had brought to the table..... 2200 never did have an entirely new staff and management as they all had represented either direcally and/or indirectly.

Mr. Braatz, I could accuse you of plagiarism. Seems I recall your editorial of last week being written and published by every editor de jour over the past six years. Never the less, some “different viewpoints” remain to be acknowledged, forget discussed. Given what has always been an integral part of “my vision,” I will ask you my first question. You mentioned the “HIV positive” as a “sub community” that you thought should be part of those you will give new access to in “two new weekly commentaries...” While “[expanding your] commentaries,” will you include what, I guess what you would refer to as, “the sub community” of those of us who are proud to have remained HIV negative for 30 years? Will those of us who believe, and as my own experience has taught me, that this community is unforgivably negligent when it comes to HIV prevention programs and attitudes, be heard as often as we hear about the “HIVPOZ?”

Kevin McCarthy