Dear Editor:

I left the mayoral candidate forum held at the Center on June 17 disappointed with all the candidates, including community favorite Donna Frye.

Of all the candidates present, including several with reputations for being supportive of our community, only Jim Bell even once used the words “Gay and Lesbian”. Frye and Jerry Sanders both alluded to the LGBT community with Frye saying twice that “everyone” should be equal and Sanders once mentioning San Diego’s “diverse community”, but in my book, allusive mention is insufficient. Saying the words counts. LGBT people are not “everyone” in a “diverse community”. We are a specific group, with specific concerns, and deserve specific acknowledgment, particularly at a forum held in our community center.

Both Sanders and Steve Francis opposed the idea of requiring companies doing business with the city to offer domestic partnership benefits to their employees; Frye (and Bell) supported the idea. When the subject of same-sex marriage was raised, both Sanders and Francis stated their support for domestic partnerships/civil unions, but made no mention of marriage. Frye explicity endorsed marriage.

Aside from the issues, I was also strongly disappointed with the frequent personal sniping between Francis and Frye, with Francis in particular going off-topic at length to do so. I’m tired of that kind of negativity and find it a strong disincentive for awarding a candidate my vote. Character is as much a concern to me as ability and stance on LGBT issues, and bashing one’s opponent is a sign of bad character.

I left the forum still undecided on where to cast my vote. Frye is clearly the strongest on LGBT issues, but her exchanges with Francis put me off; Sanders had the strongest “gravitas” but is tepid on our issues; Francis’ supporting civil unions rather than marriage equality and his attacks on Frye left me resentful and angry. (At least I know I WON’T be voting for him.) With just over a month before the election, I hope someone finds a way to persuade me why I, not just as a voter, but as a Queer voter, should fill in their bubble on my ballot, otherwise I may just check the box marked “none of the above”.

-Rev Keith W Ramsey

Dear Editor:

I have to say that I was disappointed in the fact that such a supposedly high regarded person, Nicole Murray-Ramirez, in the GLBT community was so disrespectful as to not consider the reasoning of the person who choose to model for the cover of the GLT’s issue 909. Perhaps for not one second did Nicole think that maybe the individual on the cover did serve in the United Stated Marine Corps. I did. Perhaps Nicole did not think about the fact that a female Marine is not allowed to have that sort of outrageous hair cut or is not even allowed to wear that kind of underwear. I did. Perhaps Nicole did not think that maybe the model identifies as queer and would rather wear a mans issued uniform than a womans issued uniform. I did. Perhaps Nicole did not think about the fact that being a Gay Leather person is frowned upon in the United States Marine Corps. I did. Perhaps Nicole did not think that a Marine is not allowed to look or be anything like the model while serving for this country. I did and I am that model.

Disrespect is not considering the cover story (of the very magazine Nicole writes for) and the symbolism of the cover in context to the story. Dishonor is the Military and the country leading by example by refusing queers to have the same privileges and rights

as heterosexuals do. Disrespect is my country telling me I am not worthy of being in the United States Military because I am queer. I stood before the United States Marine Corps and proudly told them I was gay when in question after the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy because I wanted to be me, a Queer Leather Person and a Marine. They stripped me of my uniform and sent me home with nothing. I am proud of having served but I am also proud of being a Queer Leather Person and I will not cover up who I am for no one.

Being queer and kinky is not dishonorable or disrespectful or wrong. Did you read the article? Do you want that sort of prejudice to continue? I most definitely do not and to think that the prejudice is even against each other in our own community is sad.

I choose to model for the article in the manner I did because being queer and kinky was what was beneath my uniform, but I also did it for our ancestors that have passed that are queer and for those that are serving now who are queer. Because they should have the freedom and right to be themselves and we should all be working towards their freedom.

D.I. Mickey

Dear Editor:

As recently as 10 years ago, you had interesting interviews in the cultural world. Can you return to those “good olde days”? I suggest Jack O’Brian (old globe) as your first interview.

Curtis Dickson