Dear Editor:

The Gay and Lesbian Times sells the GLBT community short in its endorsement of Republican Ron Roberts instead of Democrat Richard Barrera. Roberts does not recognize full GLBT equality and does not support equal marriage rights. Richard Barrera fully supports equal marriage rights and has pledged to introduce a measure calling for it.

Roberts may have supported our community more than some other Republicans over the years, but as long as he views people who are gay or lesbian as undeserving of full equality, he hardly deserves to be called a “trusted ally” by the GLT.

Democrat Barrera will be a true trusted ally. Barrera’s support for full equality, increased HIV/AIDS funding, and stronger GLBT organizations coupled with his background of advocating for working people mean that he will support our community as enthusiastically as we support him.

Stephen Whitburn

Dear Editor:

Stepping Stone saves lives.

As a premiere drug and alcohol prevention and recovery program serving the LGBT community in San Diego and beyond for over 30 years, the agency is organized as a private, non-profit 50©(3) public benefit corporation. I have the honor to serve as its current Board President. Our Board is made up of a wide range of individuals who come together to volunteer their time and talents to help make the agency effective. We are all personally affected by the ravages of addiction—each of us is committed to the success of Stepping Stone and its many programs of outreach and recovery—many of us are in recovery and some of us are proud Stepping Stone program alumni.

Our Board meets regularly to set policies and review agency finances. The Board recently completed a new three year strategic plan (thanks to a generous grant from Alliance Healthcare Foundation) and we have kept our relatively complicated budget(s) in balance. As you may know, the Board recently selected and hired a new Executive Director, and we are in the process of establishing a broad-based Community Advisory Board to assist us with business and fundraising matters. We have recently added five new and very committed Board members.

We would like to hear from the LGBT community on issues pertaining to addiction, recovery, the current meth epidemic, HIV and AIDS, low cost community housing and any other matters related to our mission. We invite and encourage any interested thoughts or comments. You may e-mail me at President@steppingstonesd.org. If anyone in the community would like to attend a regular Board meeting to address the Board, please let us know so that we can make arrangements. If we find there is interest, I will ask the Board to consider establishing a “community forum” as part of its regular meeting agenda. Stepping Stone saves lives, and we seek your continued support to make it happen.

Gil Eastham, president

Stepping Stone of San Diego, Inc.

Dear Editor:

In the latest column, Nicole would like us to believe that Larry Stirling is a “well-known homophobe” and calls for Ralph Denney, Republican 76th State Assembly candidate, to reject this endorsement. What I find sad is someone as respected as Nicole to so freely and so easily label anyone as homophobic, much less someone who is endorsing an openly gay man for a political office. How ironic that I find more homophobic tendencies from gay Democrats towards those Republicans who are gay. I found this to be sadly true, and I’m not even a Republican.

Furthermore, whatever mistakes Mr. Stirling did while in office was a long time ago. People can learn from their mistakes. I know a wonderful and highly respected local gay activist who started out as a prostitute, yet I do not hold his past against him.

Before anyone, especially a well-read editor, should label someone as “homophobic” from a carelessness act and fear that happened decades ago while he is obviously now trying to make amends, think about the homophobia you yourself may carry, especially if you are gay.

Nicole, before you take Mr. Denney to task, I suggest you contact Mr. Stirling and verify your accusations yourself. No doubt, you will find them totally unfounded.

Paul Furth

Dear Editor:

Frank Sabatini’s review in last week’s G< resonates with my experience at Hawthorn. The ambience, service and food deserve the ratings he gave. The only ‘flaw in the ointment’ was the Alpha-male Chef barking orders as they came up ready to be picked up, even mentioning what tables they were for. It’s one thing for a short order cook to bark orders when they’re ready like the one at Rick’s in Palm Springs, even calling out the Waitron’s name. But the cooking area at Hawthorn is part of the public space so the ‘shouting chef’ actually disrupted conversation between my companion and me.

One can go to Fiddler’s Green to see how chefs comport themselves in a similar space where they comingle with the customers; no shouting there.

Tom Giles