GLT » Letters to the Editor

editorial

Letters to the Editor

Published Thursday, 12-May-2005 in issue 907

“If the Times doesn’t think that achieving equality for our community is a priority, then it should kindly do us all a favor and close its doors for good.”

Dear Editor:

I was incredulous when I read the recent GLT editorial saying “the GLBT community may need to prioritize what is best for the city in lieu of politicized issues concerning our community” when considering for whom to vote in the upcoming mayoral race. It left me wondering when Tony Zampella started writing editorials for the Gay and Lesbian Times.

It is not acceptable for a GLBT community organ to suggest we willingly move our concerns to the back of the bus so that other, apparantly more important, issues can have the seats nearer the door.

San Diego faces a number of serious issues, given, but having the LGBT community accept second-class status while the city works on what is “best” is not going to bring about unity in city government, it will only perpetuate our secondary status. For the suggestion that we defer our concerns to have come from a publication representing our community is beyond the pale.

If the Times doesn’t think that achieving equality for our community is a priority, then it should kindly do us all a favor and close its doors for good. We have enough trouble in San Diego with certain “ex-Gays”and assimilationist radio talk show hosts without the GLT telling us that fighting discrimination and intolerance isn’t what is “best” for San Diego.

Rev Keith W. Ramsey

“It is sad that so many Gay Americans are unable to see that when almost the entire human race becomes liberated from criminal tyranny and dictatorships, gay people are also freer.”

Dear Editor:

What if President Bush was right just as former President Ronald Reagan was right? That thought strikes terror in the hearts of so many gays who have become anti-war and hope disaster rules in the War in Iraq.

But a flood of good news is swamping Teddy Kennedy, Michael Moore, Barbara Boxer, John Kerry and most of Gay America. Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, Ukraine, and the Palestinian territories have new popularly elected governments. Egypt is planning free elections and even Saudi Arabia has made tentative steps toward democracy. Libya has abandoned its nuclear program, Pakistan has stopped exporting nuclear secrets and has moved troops into its border areas to hunt down terrorists, and the Gulf states have corralled hundreds of terrorists. Syria is facing demands to withdraw from Lebanon from the United States, France and the rest of Europe.

This wave of democracy is similar to the 1991 fall of the Berlin Wall that liberated hundreds of millions in Eastern Europe, the Old Soviet Union and Central America thanks to the courageous international leadership of Ronald Reagan. Yet, most of Gay America refuses to celebrate either event despite the fact that Reagan’s and Bush’s leadership directly liberated millions of gay people across the globe. Yes, with the outbreak of democracy gay people of all ethnicities became freer to express themselves, socialize and build their own subcultures.

It is sad that so many Gay Americans are unable to see that when almost the entire human race becomes liberated from criminal tyranny and dictatorships, gay people are also freer. It seems that so many gay activists are so blinded by hate that they have abandoned intellectual honesty.

What‘s good for the United States and Mr. Bush is bad for the Gay Democrats who want to dominate our culture. Mr. Bush was right to invade Iraq, and the Gay Democrats are still having trouble processing that.

Matthew Veritas Tsien

“I think the controversy stems from people assuming that ‘alternative lifestyle’ is a ‘gay issue.’”

Dear Editor:

There is a historical difference of opinion in the gay world. Some feel that gays should work to be included as part of mainstream America, while some feel that gays should change the world to accept alternative lifestyles, not just more mainstream ones. The current discussion about gay marriage is highlighting this controversy, as some people feel that if America accepts that married gays are “just like them”, then those gays who don’t choose this lifestyle will be seen as even more unacceptable and “different” than they are now.

I don’t believe that gay marriage is hurting the “gay cause”. Gay marriage is an issue unique to gays, while “alternative lifestyle” is not. Some gays are interested in pursuing an “alternative lifestyle”, but some are interested in marriage and the proverbial white picket fence. However, since the 60’s at least, there have been many heterosexuals who are interested in alternative lifestyles, such as communal living, childless families, experimentation with gender roles, free love, non-monogamy, etc.

I think the controversy stems from people assuming that “alternative lifestyle” is a “gay issue”. There is such diversity in the gay world, that it’s hard to find any issue that represents everyone, other than basic civil rights and equality. I think that those interested in the “alternative lifestyle” issue would find more strength in a larger umbrella than just the gay world, an umbrella which includes gay, bi, trans, and heterosexual people. Then the “grouping” would be based on a shared type of lifestyle, not on the shared sexual preference of many otherwise diverse people. The “gay cause” would still be supporting their fight for equal acceptance, but it wouldn’t have to become divided because of it.

Carol Scherbaum

Letters Policy

The Gay & Lesbian Times welcomes comments from all readers. Letters to the editor longer than 500 words will not be accepted. Send e-mail to editor@uptownpub.com; fax (619) 299-3430; or mail to PO Box 34624, San Diego, CA 92163. To be printed, letters must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

All letters containing subject matter that refers to the content of the Gay & Lesbian Times are published unedited. Letters that are unrelated to the content of the publication will be published at the discretion of the editorial staff.