Thank you very much for your profile on the Live & Let Live Alano Club and on our event at the GLBT Center Jan. 31. We would like to take the chance to elaborate on the awards presented that evening.

We honored Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins not just for her recent support of the LLLAC with the CDBG Grant process, but for her hard work and staunch support of drug and alcohol issues, which tremendously impact our community. It is this type of support and her unique understanding of the needs of the recovery community that makes it our pleasure to recognize Deputy Mayor Atkins.

We are proud to honor District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis for her development of the San Diego Central Division Drug Court. Her groundbreaking work was recognized as a national model because of the partnering of law enforcement with the courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys and treatment providers to provide substance abuse.

And of course, Carla Coshow’s efforts on our behalf have been a critical foundation for the LLLAC’s success over the last 20 years. Our community is a better place for her leadership and mentoring.

In addition, two individuals who have contributed their immense skill and countless hours of hard, patient work deserve further recognition as this event would not have been as successful without them: City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez and past GSDBA President Brian Garrity. And of course, the generous support of your fine newspaper has been instrumental and is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for all of your support over the years.

Michelle Mazzarese and Kevin Choate

Co-chairs, LLLAC board of directors

Dear Editor,

Have we forgotten so quickly the San Diego LGBT political world prior to the election of Christine Kehoe in 1993 that we feel we can scold and chastise her, as demonstrated in your recent editorial? Let me refresh all of our memories.

Prior to 1993, this community ran candidates who had little chance of getting elected, who were under-financed. Since that time, we have sat at the table of power and enacted significant changes to increase our civil rights. The recent passing of AB 205 didn’t happen by chance; we earned, through hard work, that legislation and those rights. Now we have our representatives in local, county and state government. I thought we were heading toward political sophistication.

Have we forgotten that sometimes supporting comes second to advancing our cause? Al Gore recently endorsed Governor Dean over Senator Lieberman because he felt the Senator was not a strong candidate; feelings on both sides are hurt and people get angry. On a personal note, in 1993, I had to abandon my friend Evonne Schultz, a long-time ally, in order to support Christine Kehoe. It was the right thing to do but I still remember members of our community who stated that we must support Evonne because she had championed our causes. How wrong they were.

Now I find again a lack of political savvy by the very people who profess to understand the political process and who, for the wrong reasons, endorse Vince Hall. Don’t get me wrong. I take no pleasure in writing this letter. I like Vince Hall just as I like Dick Murphy; they are both gentlemanly people who would like to do good works in public service. However, Dick Murphy is not a friend on our issues and even refuses to face us in our Pride parade.

Vince Hall has a different problem. Less than a year ago in the 78th Assembly District that was carved out for him, he ran a lackluster race that failed to be efficiently organized and understandable. I am afraid that the right wing will simply dust off the plans from that race and duplicate them in the 76th District. Political sophistication means that one understands how to win, not how to run! We shouldn’t forget that lesson that many of us learned in 1993.

I respect people who say they support Vince Hall because he is a friend who is knowledgeable on the issues and they feel obliged to support an old comrade. I supported Vince in his 2002 race. I too have supported people out of loyalty, because it was the “right thing to do.” However, we must not delude ourselves into thinking that he is the better candidate because, as his past campaign has demonstrated, that is not the case.

Have we forgotten the significance of this race so quickly? AB 205 and other LGBT-friendly pieces of legislation were passed by one vote! The possibility is strong that, if an unfriendly legislator occupies that seat, we would not have sufficient votes to continue our civil rights movement. Now, that scares me and I hope it concerns you.

I am interested in the candidate who can maintain that seat against a formidable, pro-choice, recognized Republican opponent who, in all likelihood, will have a popular governor as coat tails. I like and respect Vince but I am not convinced he is up to the challenge … and my civil rights are too important to take a chance. Let us learn from the lessons of the past ten years and look at the bigger picture.

Bill Beck

San Diego

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Nicole’s response to my letter to the editor. It would appear I have struck a nerve. I saw three letters regarding Nicole’s misguided and wrong review of Angels, but she only chose to respond to mine by name, and I must say I am pleased to have gotten his attention, after all these are important issues. I must set the record straight. First, I never wished or hoped Nicole would develop Alzheimer’s disease, I only stated that from his review of the movie this was strongly suggested.

Secondly, writing a self aggrandizing paragraph about ones AIDS activism does not excuse ones horrible misrepresentation of a great movie, in fact for one who was so involved in AIDS Activism it is all the more appalling.

Third, I was closeted because I was in the Navy, but despite this I do dare and will continue to dare to criticize anyone who does not get it that AIDS is still a horrible and dangerous disease and not just an opportunity for one to pat oneself on the back listing numerous accomplishments for the photo opportunity.

I may not be listed in a book “Aids and Americans Who Care,” but I have cared for thousands of brave men with Aids and as a surgeon practicing in our community I still risk my life on a daily basis caring for men and women with AIDS doing surgery on them.

I may not get my picture in the Gay and Lesbian Times on a weekly basis with politicians, I may not live by being supported by the rich, but I do care for the ill with compassion and am proud to be part of our community.

Fourth, what I do not think Nicole understands, is that even if we chose to disagree, and right now I am proud to disagree with her opinions, we are still both entitled to be part of our community.

I do not need Nicole’s permission to have or state an opinion. I do not need Nicole’s blessing to be outraged by her behavior. It is true, I do not personally know Nicole, but I know of her from her writings and am frankly embarrassed that one who purports to be a leader in our community would have such shallow and misguided opinions. Being a so-called activist and dropping names and dressing in drag does not give a personality the right to be wrong and irresponsible.

Fifth, I do know our community’s history with aids much more than a self proclaimed activist ever could, I live it every day. What are you Nicole doing for twenty something year old men and women who find themselves infected with aids? Calling a great and necessary and important movie depressing is so painfully unenlightened that it just reinforces my opinion of you that your activism is all for show so more people will see the great Nicole and continue to support him, but like Dorothy in the wizard of Oz, I have seen the sham who is behind the curtain. I am embarrassed by your column and think that Gay and Lesbian times is a better paper than to continue to print your dribble and personal attacks on anyone who attacks Nicole.

I have been gratified by the numerous phone calls I have received from members of our community congratulating me on my recent letter to the editor for having the courage to set the record straight. I am beginning to understand all the things Ophelia says about Nicole.

Lastly, to the editors of this paper, I again implore you to reconsider giving print to someone who writes a full page every week to promote herself, your paper could and should do much better. Nicole slanders good people and tries to decide who is worthy of her allowing them in the Gay and lesbian community. She does harm to our community and I will continue to tell anyone who is willing to listen that unsafe sex is dangerous and AIDS still kills.

I will continue to question Nicole’s opinions, however I never questioned her activism, only how an activist can be so wrong in her opinions.

Finally, I believe that from many years of hard work I have earned the right and privilege of being addressed as Dr., as this is how I signed my letter, because my opinions are based on my knowledge of this disease in this community as a practicing physician. AIDS IS A TERRIBLE DISEASE, NOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ONE TO PROCLAIM ONESELF AN ACTIVIST TO ENRICH ONESELF. Shame on you Nicole.

With Regrets, Dennis E Mayer M.D., F.A.C.S P.S. Like Nicole I was also ill last week, but unlike an activist living off the generosity of others, I had to continue to work and care for others even more ill than I was, I did not have the privilege as Nicole did of staying in bed and resting, I was fighting illness and AIDS in the trenches. I think an “activist” could learn a lot about the suffering in our community if she did the same, not only visiting the rich and famous and well connected, but caring for unnamed victims with RYAN WHITE insurance bravely fighting this disease.