Dear Editor:

I have very mixed feelings about the coverage of the GLT’s Memorializing the victims of anti-transgender violence (Issue 934 > Published Thursday, 17-Nov-2005).

Very positively, the article seems to me to be a sensitive piece covering an issue that is of deep concern to many members of the transgender community. Brian Van De Mark really put the issues regarding anti-transgender violence in a clear and understandable way, and as a transgender person, I appreciated it.

Also, it’s really heartening to see an obviously transgender person on the front cover of GLT. Although this might not be the first time a transsexual person has been on the cover of the GLT, this is certainly the first time I’ve can recall seeing one on the cover.

It’s really is encouraging to see transgender people publicly included by the GLT as members of our greater queer community.

My mixed feelings on the GLT’s coverage is found solely the type of cover photograph used for the article. The photograph seemed to me to be a sexualized picture of a naked transwoman that would have been very appropriate for many topics regarding transgender people; however, the picture didn’t seem appropriate for an article on anti-transgender hate violence. It would be as if the accompanying picture of a story about Matthew Sheppard’s hate crime killing were a picture of a naked gay man in sexualized pose—such a photograph may be tastefully done and appropriate imagery for many kinds of articles, but a photograph of a sexualized, naked gay male would be inappropriate imagery for a story on Matthew Sheppard’s murder.

Again, thank you for the conscientious coverage of anti-transgender hate violence, and thank you for putting a beautiful transgender woman on the cover of your publication. My only request would be for the GLT in the future to consider including clothed, non-sexualized images of transgender people when writing about serious transgender issues, such as anti-transgender housing and employment discrimination, families with transgender parents or transgender children, and anti-transgender hate violence.

Autumn Sandeen

Dear Editor:

Why does GL Times continually bash our own community?

Instead of being our advocates they’ve become the community’s self-appointed lifestyle police.

Look how the GL Times repeatedly bashed Pride. They bashed Bourbon Street this year and now our Transgender brothers and sisters. Who is next on their list?

My friends and I have no interest in reading a gay newspaper that treats it’s readership with disrespect.

Many in our community think the GL Times is the biggest joke in San Diego because of its undisguised distain.

Even though they have some newsworthy articles, this doesn’t excuse their unwarranted broadsides against targeted members of the GLBT neighborhood. Has the power of the press gone to some publisher’s head?

Constructive critiques and creative solutions are always welcome but relentless criticism for the sake of criticizing is counterproductive. The GL Times needs to get rid of its we-they mentality and recognize the common struggles of our diverse community.

Society at large already marginalizes us; why should members of our own community continue to make the same mistake?

Mike Hampson

Dear Editor:

My letter published in the 11/10 issue titled “Was the ad savvy or savvy taken to the point of blatant deception?” related to the “GLBT VOTE 2005” ad for Jerry Sanders. However, conversations between me and the Editor in Chief, Russell O’Brien, prior to that printing provided this novice activist [Bill Kelley] with details of the whom and what of “GLBT VOTE 2005” he did not know. The new information did not do away with my original concerns, but it did significantly modify my view. In a subsequent call to my hotel room in Seattle, Mr. O’Brien asked me to reduce my newly edited version to fit the paper’s 500 word limit. Since I was not in a position to meet the deadline, I requested of and gave Mr. O’Brien permission to so edit the letter in keeping with the friendly spirit of our discussions. He agreed, but later wrote a kind apology for not being able to do so prior to press time. The original letter was printed, but Mr. Russell [O’Brien] graciously offered to publish a follow up letter from me upon my return and this is that letter.

To the 11/10 version, Nicole Murray-Ramirez’s provided an honest and very informative reply in the 11/17 issue. I now offer Nicole and the readership “the rest of the story”. The edited version I intended to be printed stated rules and guidelines for political endorsement should follow a sense of ethics that remove doubt as to what party, candidates or issues are being endorsed and by whom they are being endorsed.

Many mistook the ad in question as an endorsement by the greater Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and Transgendered community rather than an independent group within the community. A disclaimer stating what and who “GLBT VOTE 2005” was would have prevented confusion. My concern has centered on honesty in endorsement not which candidate I supported. As a moderate non-partisan voter, I followed both candidates closely for months and for contrasting reasons supported both. Faced with a hard choice, I waited until after the 11/2 KPBS debates to make my decision, and stated my reasons honestly.

In parting, government has responsibility to lead, voters have responsibility to participate, scrutinize and influence the decisions made on their behalf. Prior to the election, I offered without remuneration or expectation of favor to serve the winner in whatever capacity I might be found capable and able. I challenge others to participate to the degree they are able and fasten your seat belts. The road ahead is going to be rough and it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

I sincerely thank Mr. O’Brien, Nicole and “GLBT VOTE 2005” for their civic activity and respectfully appreciate their recognition of mine. However, now is the time for all San Diegans to set aside differences and support Mayor elect Jerry Sanders. I ask that all citizens so support Jerry and give him every opportunity to repair our damaged reputation, pride, trust, infrastructure and treasury to the fullest of his capabilities.

Bill Kelly

Dear Editor:

RE: Mike Varady’s Letter To The Editor

Congratulations to Mike Varady on a timely an essential letter to our gay community. Mentoring of adolescents is a much needed and fast growing movement in the heterosexual community and in some gay communities. Recently, I attended a meeting of the men’s Fellowship at the Universal Unitarian Church in Hillcrest. Coincidentally, the subject was mentoring, and we were addressed by two men in a national organization. The Fellowship is open to all men, regardless of sexual orientation. I thought how wonderful it would have been to be able to participate in such an embrace of fellowship when I was coming out, some 50 years ago.

Mike Varady is one of L.A.’s most enduring gay activists and writers, whom I have known for some 25 years. His vision is always cutting edge; always he is pushing the envelope. I am cheered by his continuing insight of the continuing forms of discrimination against a people who do no harm to anyone. He has a well-established place of honor in the history of the gay movement in L.A.

Dale Driscoll

Dear Editor:

I read with some amusement your feature on gay Republicans. The Republican Party has more than earned the hostility of most of the gay community. Let’s count the ways.

In California where the Republican Party is supposedly dominated by “social moderates” not one Republican in either the Assembly or the Senate voted for the Marriage Equality Bill. The “social moderate” governor vetoed the bill in an effort to shore up the base, in other words the vast majority of Republicans opposed to equal rights for gay people.

It gets worse from there.

One of the points made was that Republicans should get credit for the Texas court striking down their sodomy laws. One of the foundations of the conservative movement to replace “activist judges” with ones that won’t find that the constitution has pesky things in it like the right to privacy. It is the right to privacy that is the basis for repealing state sodomy laws, a woman’s right to control her own body and even the right to birth control. Courts advancing rights is abhorrent to conservatives.

Mostly, I find it sad that a gay man has so little empathy that he could support health care savings accounts. If you can’t afford AIDS drugs you should do what? I suppose it’s a lack of character to not have planned for 15,000 dollars worth of medical bills before you made the decision to become infected. Personal responsibility indeed!

As for the argument that they can somehow influence the party well, good luck with that. Maybe they should ask David Dryer how it felt to almost be in the leadership. I agree that there are true gay conservatives but even Andrew Sullivan has abandoned the current Republican Party.

Next year there will be two anti-gay measures placed on the California ballot. We will soon find out who are friends are.

Calvin Radford

Dear Editor:

We found your choice of cover art for your TDOR article was not appropriate and not acceptable.

We are aware that the San Diego’s Transgender Community Coalition (TCC) board will be meeting with you on Wednesday and wish to voice our support for the TCC.

Using the imagery of a naked transwoman to sensationalize a story about TDOR is equivalent to using the imagery of a naked gay male to sensationalize an article about Matthew Sheppard’s murder, something we have far more respect than to do.

I find it unfortunate, because the article was actually very good; it was difficult to be objective after seeing the cover.

In the current political times of an extreme right wing environment, we need to unite, not segregate. There are many organizations that have taken the T into GLBT and made them welcome and there are many that have taken them in strictly because it can be seen as politically correct and financially rewarding.

I ask you to look yourselves in the mirror and ask, which are we?

A public apology in your publication would go a long way in the healing process.

Donna Riley

Director of Transgender Services

Long Island Gay And Lesbian Youth (LIGALY)