Dear Editor:

I thought the editorial on unsafe sex was actually fairly balanced. Although I must take issue with a few points. In the original story Terry Klein never says that the person who infected them actually knew their status, he just assumed they were negative when they fucked him and positive when he ended up infected. Perhaps if he had not been high on meth, he might have made better decisions. The CDC estimates that there are 180,000-250,000 people in the United States that are unaware of their status. Perhaps the man who he chose to have unprotected sex with was in that group.

Also, unless you are living in a Red state when you go to elementary through high school, age appropriate HIV education is taught in almost every school in the United States. I do not believe he could not know that being receptive in unprotected anal sex is a sure fire way to become infected with HIV.

One of the things missing in many sexual encounters is the conversation that takes place about risk and behavior. For the most part I choose to have sex with only other HIV+ men so I have to have conversations. If you are having anonymous sex and you are worried about becoming infected and your partner will only have unprotected sex, then move on to the next one. Each person owns 100% of the responsibility, to do otherwise is suicide.

Keith Folger

Washington, D.C.

Dear Editor:

I am appalled at what you published, the language that is in the article on BB is a bit strong for a paper that is available to any age of the public! That kind of language is not even available on those web sites unless you are 18!!! I strongly agree and acknowledge the point you are trying to make! But if a child or preteen walks up to a news stand and can read this language is wrong! If this paper was only available at a bar or club or book store than I would not have a problem... I could see this in SF but not SD. I am extremely disappointed in your publication.

Paul Benson

Dear Editor:

As LGBT folks living in an old Navy (and Marine Corps) town, there are probably few public policy issues – with the exception of the fight for marriage equality – that effect us more than the military’s ban on openly LGBT servicemembers. Anyone whose gaydar is halfway decent knows from walking through Hillcrest, Normal Heights, North Park, Bankers Hill or one of our other communities that probably hundreds of our LGBT neighbors, their friends or lovers, are serving silently in the military.

That’s why the GLT’s coverage of The Center’s recent policy breakfast on the effort to overturn the ill-conceived “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was so important to our community. (“Military Readiness Act Seeks to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” Gay and Lesbian Times, January 26, 2006)

This bill in Congress would replace the current discrimination against LGBT servicemembers with an official policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in our Armed Forces. Changing the U.S. policy would allow thousands of LGBT servicemembers who serve silently abroad and here at home to come out of the shadows and serve openly among their non-gay comrades.

Because a change in this policy is so important to LGBT San Diegans – and because we in the San Diego Democratic Club advocate for LGBT equality – it is especially troubling that our own Democratic Congressmember – Susan Davis – has declined a number of entreaties to join Representative Bob Filner and more than 100 of her other colleagues in support of this legislation.

Not only does Susan Davis represent most of San Diego’s geographically-concentrated LGBT community, she also serves on the vitally important House Armed Services Committee.

From that position, she has advocated for important housing assistance for

San Diego’s active duty servicemembers and has fought to assure that women’s roles in the military are not diminished in the face of attacks by GOP Congressmembers like El Cajon’s Duncan Hunter.

From her seat on the Armed Services Committee, Representative Davis could serve as an extremely effective advocate for LGBT equality on behalf of the hundreds of LGBT veterans and active-duty servicemembers in her district who helped elect her. Unfortunately, she has failed to take up that mantle.

We urge San Diegans – especially LGBT San Diegans – especially those who live in the 53rd Congressional District – to contact Representative Davis to encourage her to support non-discrimination and advocate for LGBT servicemembers. Contact Susan Davis at her District Office at 619/280-5353 or through her website at: http://www.house.gov/susandavis/IMA/contact.html.

Alex W. Sachs

San Diego Democratic Club

Dear Editor:

Well I do not hook up online a great deal but am often dismayed by reading the various profiles knowing full well that a lot of the guys who are posting are doing so with disclosing their status but still wanting to have bareback sex. I am very up front about my status and have been for the last 15 years of being positive. I was lied to back then and had unprotected sex with a man whom I later learned was well aware of his status. So yes I was angry with him for his betrayal but also upset with myself for not doing what I should have done to protect myself. So who is responsible? I feel we are all responsible for our own actions and the best advice I can give to anyone who is wanting to have sex with someone who they do not know is to just go with the assumption that everyone is positive that is the only way I know of to be sure you are safe. But that still leaves the guys who insist on having it bare no matter what may happen but that is yet another story for another editorial.

Ron Mosher