Dear Editor:

As the campaign manager for Kathryn Burton the third candidate in the primary for City Council District 1 and a registered Democrat, I want to echo the comments made by Nicole about Phil Thalheimer who is running against Scott Peters in the November election (GLT 7/29/04).

Phil is a decent man who will be a much better friend of the GLBT community than Scott Peters ever was.

Phil is everything Scott Peters is not: honest, ethical, decisive and genuinely open-minded. He is not beholding to special interests and will bring a badly needed sense of integrity back to City Hall.

Sincerely,

Ian Trowbridge

Dear Editor:

I was wondering if other San Diego Pride goers were as outraged as I was to be handed out a leaflet during this years parade entitled, “I was Gay?”

I checked out their website and was shocked to see in what they believe. In their own words:

“We firmly believe no one is born ‘gay;’ that unnatural homosexual attractions tragically develop early on in the childhood; and by biblically dealing with the root cause(s) of one’s same-sex attractions, homosexuality can be completely overcome – just as drug addiction, alcoholism or any other sinful behavior. Men and women can then move on to healthy heterosexuality – as part of God’s perfect design and plan for man and woman. “ I am certainly a believer in free speech, but sincerely hope that others at the Parade who received this leaflet from one of the marchers, felt as sickened by this religious hatred and intolerance as I did.

As a community what may we do to stop this hatred and bigotry? I must add it was wonderful to see so many true “religious organizations” out in full support of our community at the Parade.

Sincerely,

Brian

University Heights

Dear Editor:

I think it was just awful that Tricia Hunter was allowed to be a participant in the Gay Pride Parade on Saturday. She is a Republican will vote whatever way the party leaders instruct her. She will not stand up for gay rights. Just because Nicole is backing her does not mean that the gay community should also.

Its a shame and a disgrace.

Charles Cotton

Dear Editor:

I was saddened when I read about the cancellation of December Nights, the free holiday festival at Balboa Park, due to the lack of funds needed to put on this event. I know many of us in the community have enjoyed the festival and it has really helped put me in the holiday spirit for many years. I am writing because I think it would a great if the LGBT community and the establishments we frequent and support with our hard earned dollars would come together to sponsor this year’s event. We often look for the city to support our activities, I think it would be a wonderful gesture if we came together and saved with event and rather than trying to make it a “LGBT” event, we merely provide the needed support and let that speak volumes about our community.

Organizers are expected to officially announce today that December Nights, the free holiday festival at Balboa Park, is being canceled this year because of a lack of funds.

After issuing a call for donations in early June, organizers weren’t able to raise the additional $80,000 they needed to hold the 26-year-old event, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The official announcement will come during a news conference, according to the newspaper.

“We’re very disheartened,” David Kinney, executive director of the park’s House of Hospitality, told the newspaper. “We’re very upset, but we regretfully announce that the festival will not be held in 2004. It’s a shame.”

December Nights, known until 2002 as Christmas on the Prado, began in 1978 and has become the city’s largest free festival. Costs have skyrocketed over the past three years due to increased insurance premiums, rising city fees and extra staff needed to coordinate the event, the Union-Tribune reported.

This year’s budget was set at $120,000, but by June only $40,000 was in hand, according to the newspaper.

An additional $30,000 was raised after last month’s fund-raising call, but Kinney told the Union-Tribune, “We’re $50,000 short, and to be fiscally responsible, we can’t go forward with that kind of debt.”

Organizers are now focusing their efforts on the 2005 event.

Regards,

Don Wallar