Dear Editor:

As parents, and caring responsible adults we are always concerned with the safety of Youth, whether they be our own children or children that are at events that we attend.

We are happy to see that the Youth Leaders and the Pride Board have come to an agreement that will satisfy the needs of both parties to allow unaccompanied Youth into the festival yet still have some adult oversight. As parents, we know that we must always keep an eye on our kids and be concerned about their safety regardless of where they are, whether it be the San Diego County Fair or the San Diego Pride Festival. Family Matters will provide volunteers at The Children’s Garden where kids of all ages can come if they need any kind of assistance.

What is nice to see is a dialogue between the different organizations here in San Diego all looking out for the safety of our youth. We may all have different opionions but the important thing is to have open minds and open communication and work together for solutions for not only this issue but other issues that will arrise in the future.

We know our community makes great parents, aunts and uncles and that we are very protective of all youth and for that we commend San Diego LGBT Pride in working with the Youth Leaders to come up with this compromise that all can be satisfied with and all can enjoy the Festival.

Marci Bair, Executive Director

Family Matters

Dear Editor:

Mr. Armor states: “The Sex Offender Registration program is to keep law enforcement informed where an offender lives”, but the writer of last week’s letter fails to reason why this information has been made available to the public. While it is true that CSO registry does not ban CSOs from participating in certain events, it does allow the public to know who they are, and enables those in charge to make informed decisions about the safety of youth in attendance. How many times have we heard about convicted sex offenders who were released to perpetually indulge themselves again on an unsuspecting public? It is for this reason public disclosure was deemed necessary.

How can anyone tell which CSO is more dangerous? While this list does cast a very wide net over a great many people, the dubious distinction of being on this list does come as a consequence to an event which got them there. Knowing that CSOs are prone to repeat, how is it anyone can tell which CSO is more dangerous than another?

Any repentant CSO would not want this kind of exposure and simply walk away from it, as has been the case. Last year’s Pride Board did two of them a huge disservice by creating this public/national fiasco. I’m more concerned about those who haven’t been caught. Particularly, some of the people who had worked for Pride at the Pride community meeting last year boasting of trysts with underage youth. One ‘reverend’ immediately after reading scripture boasted of his experience with a minor claiming that he too, could have been on this list. How did this help the argument? What kind of pride is this?

I find it very odd that we continue to promote ourselves as equals when it comes to our families, and then fail to acknowledge these problems affecting other families because of this vacuous liberal mindset. I know of many gay persons whose lives are deeply affected by these perps. I understand the reluctance of these victims to come forward to tell their story in this so-called community. Imagine, being afraid of intolerance within a group that so loudly preaches tolerance.

If these radicals are going to add the CSO acronym onto their already lengthy Pride banner, we should all be prepared for the consequences! Forty more years plus of equal rights activism are guaranteed. They’re making this too easy for the religious-wrong.

Bill Lullo