Dear Editor,

Could this be a testament as to how far our community has come or how much its relationship with the local press has progressed by the content in the Labor Day issue of The San Diego Union-Tribune’s sports section?

Beginning on D-1 of the U-T, and spreading across pages D-10 and D-11, there are four stories and a “History lessons” timeline about gay athletes! (Well, they’re not all gay or gay-friendly as noted by the inclusion of that dumb-ass John Rocker.)

Kevin Acee, Patrick Finley and Bill Center, and their editors Chuck Scott and Doug Williams, are to be commended for the even-handed, professional coverage of gay men and women in a fiercely, devout heterosexual segment of society that is professional sports teams — and college sports.

Whether or not you’re a fan of sports, or the U-T, this is a must-read for friends and members of San Diego’s gay and lesbian community and an opportunity to see the folks who put together our daily newspaper as pretty hip folks.

Lee A. Schoenbart

La Jolla

Dear Editor,

First, I wanted to commend you on your cover story “Understanding Bisexuality” [Gay and Lesbian Times issue # 817, 8/21/03]. In general, I thought it was well written and well researched in the sense that the author took the necessary steps to contact and interview qualified individuals who identify themselves as “bisexual.” In many articles concerning bisexuality, including the September issue of Details, no or little energy is expended in talking, interviewing or especially listening to self-identified bisexuals — whether leaders of the community or just individuals living their daily lives. I thought your article brought information about bisexuals that many never hear. I’m still continually amazed at the misunderstandings, myths and misconceptions that I hear about bisexuality. This can be explained in part by the complexity of the umbrella of individuals that the term “bisexual” encompasses. Every bisexual that I know is a different person with different motivations, desires and goals regarding interpersonal relationships, emotions, intimacy and sex. The one thread that binds bisexuals into an identifiable group is their capability and desire to experience physical intimacy (or lustful fucking) with individuals of both genders. Again, when one tries to examine the motivations involved, it is impossible to pigeonhole all bisexuals into a convenient single group. I would propose this is true with both the heterosexual and homosexual communities as well, but a person’s behavior tends to be the single litmus test regarding sexual identity.

Secondly, I wanted to express mild disappointment with the photograph used to accompany the article. I realize that there were probably political and editorial reasons to use this particular photograph. Many at the recent North American Conference on Bisexuality took offense to the photograph and its evident slant towards perpetuating negative stereotypes about bisexuality including: bisexuality is defined by two men and a woman, bisexuality requires a threesome relationship, bisexuals need to be involved with both genders simultaneously. However, the most egregious flaw is the portrayal of one of the men sitting on a fence while gazing longingly into the eyes of the male partner and the presentation of the woman as an afterthought in this man’s mind. I do not know anyone who denies that the “bisexual” label and identity has been used and will continue to be used as a stepping stone for some individuals to accept and identify with their own homosexuality. To me, this is indicative of the work that still needs to be done by every sexual orientation community to educate and accept each of the others. Why is it that some still find it necessary to use an interim identity? I hope it isn’t because they think identifying themselves as “bisexual” will make their path easier than identifying as gay or straight. With exception to our transsexual and transgender siblings, bisexuals probably are the most marginalized sexual orientation community. Yes, ideally, I still hope for a world where the prefixes of hetero, homo, bi, pan, trans, etc. are gradually swept from memory and people can just be ‘sexual.’ The cover photograph implies that all bisexuals are either confused or consciously “fence sitting” between the bi-polar worlds of exclusively gay or exclusively straight. Besides disagreeing with this statement, I think most bisexuals would say it is a complete waste of energy to attempt to quantify human sexuality in either of two diametrical and mutually exclusive groups such as homosexuality and heterosexuality.

Thanks for the article,

Sean Mulcahy

Dear Editor,

The following is an Op-Ed piece that was recently submitted to the Union-Tribune. It is absolutely clear that the U-T has a political agenda aimed at destroying the careers of the three council members recently indicted and subverting their right to a fair trial.

I was one of many community members who worked hard to elect Councilmember Zucchet — the first Democrat to be elected in District 2 and someone who sincerely believes in the value of diversity and human rights.

I would ask that no one follow the U-T’s appalling example and pass judgment on any of the councilmembers before all the facts are public, instead of being leaked piecemeal by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Ian Trowbridge

On May 14, after tipping off local press, the FBI raided the offices of three San Diego council members, Ralph Inzunza, Charles Lewis and Michael Zucchet. The agents were apparently seeking evidence that the owner of a strip club, Cheetahs, had sought to influence their votes on local ordinances regulating adult businesses by funneling campaign contributions through Cheetahs employees to them.

The same day, a newly appointed and inexperienced U.S. Attorney for Southern California, Carol Lam, held a televised press conference, at which, seemingly basking in the limelight, she breathlessly refused to comment on the specifics of what the council members were alleged to have done.

San Diegans later learned that a federal judge had approved wiretapping of council office phones and bugging of council offices. There are several disquieting aspects of this federal investigation that have already tainted the reputations of three city council members and continues to leave them under a cloud of suspicion

First, other current and former council members, including Jim Madaffer, received substantial campaign contributions from employees of Cheetahs. Mr. Madaffer received more money from Cheetahs’ employees than any of the council members whose privacy was preempted by the federal government and justice department, yet his office was not bugged nor was his phone tapped. He responds to requests for records of his meetings with Cheetahs personnel by stating that he is not required to keep records of those meetings for more than two years.

In contrast, Councilmember Zucchet received no campaign contributions from individuals associated with Cheetahs. Yet his privacy … was violated by the federal government.

Second, a particularly damaging claim by an unidentified source, presumably a member of law enforcement or the U.S. Attorney’s office, was leaked to the press that the investigation involved tens of thousands of dollars given in attempts to change city laws governing strip club operations. This unattributed quote about unnamed council members or staff has been used repeatedly by reporters to imply bribery on a grand scale. It is just plain wrong for the U.S. Attorney to allow unsubstantiated rumors like this — designed to inflame public opinion — to occur while she claims the privilege of confidential grand jury proceedings.

Third, the three council members under investigation are young men who have earned their present positions as elected officials by hard work and prior public service. They all contribute to the changing face of San Diego politics and that is important.

Fourth, the grand jury process is brutal to those who are targets of the investigation. The prosecution is allowed to ask leading questions of witnesses and there is no judge. Lawyers representing witnesses are not allowed to be present. It is not unknown for an overzealous prosecutor to misuse a judicial process with so few checks and balances. Federal prosecutors also know they can force plea bargains to lesser misdemeanor charges by ensuring that a trial on more serious felony charges will financially ruin a defendant regardless of the outcome.

Some San Diegans may believe that the regulation on lap dancing in nude bars — not something that exactly impinges on their daily lives — is more important than solving the city’s fiscal crisis and eliminating other more entrenched forms of public corruption. But even they may have doubts about the cost of federal resources that have been brought to bear on this issue and how they have been directed.