Correcting the facts
In the current edition of your publication (Issue #25, May 5, 2011), you ran an opinion column attacking the LGBT Redistricting Task Force as a “mostly all white so-called LGBT Redistricting Committee … [proposing a District] that would be about 70 percent all white and would kick out our first gay person of color elected …” This analysis is completely wrong in a number of ways.
First, the 2010 U.S. Census showed that approximately one-third of San Diego’s population is Latino. The Voting Rights Act requires that, if requested, a second or even third Latino empowerment district has to be created. Latino community leaders have requested a second district and using census information, the largest concentration of Latinos outside of the current empowerment district is City Heights.
The city also cannot consider current or potential councilmember’s interests in creating a district. While we understand that Todd Gloria, who we are proud to count as a member of SDDC (San Diego Democratic Club), might want to continue to represent both City Heights and the LGBT community, given the realities stated, that is not possible. Either district should be proud to have such an able and effective representative.
The San Diego Democratic Club is extremely proud of its leading role in creating the LGBT 3rd District. We are also proud of the SDDC members who testified before the Redistricting Commission. Had your columnist stayed at last Monday’s meeting, he would have heard testimony from Larry Baza and I, both gay and Latino men, as well as testimony from Pat Washington, an African American lesbian. The three of us were not the only people of color included in that “mostly all white” task force.
The charge that the task force was motivated to create a district that was whiter or more affluent is not only erroneous, it’s offensive. Not being able to use census data, the task force used other indicators to determine the 3rd District. They mapped communities where votes against Proposition 8 were high, and areas with high registrations of domestic partnerships to indicate where the LGBT community lives. All maps pointed to the same communities – and those were the communities included for the district. No other reason or agenda was involved in the proposal.
Your publication also contains an excellent news article about the work of the LGBT Task Force. We recommend your readers consult this news article rather than the opinion piece which is factually inaccurate and inflammatory.
The San Diego Democratic Club feels an apology is due the LGBT Redistricting Task Force and its leader, Linda Perine. The task force spent long hours crunching the numbers and doing the community ground work that led to a proposed district map that maximizes LGBT influence in the 3rd District while building bridges to other groups. To subject them to brickbats from people who have not proposed a viable alternative is a disservice to the task force and the community.
MATT CORRALES
Vice President and Board Member
San Diego Democratic Club
Response to column
This in response to Nicole Murray Ramirez’s column: at the age where we have bullying, self-hate and the gay community is trying to combat hate crimes, this column only promotes all of it. This name-calling, catty responses to other members of the community are unacceptable in my eyes. It is inner hate within the gay community. He is supposed to be a leader of this community and as a half Latino I am very disappointed. I believe we as a community can do better!
JEFF DOUGLASS
San Diego LGBT Weekly welcomes letters from our readers. All submissions for publication must be accompanied by full name and daytime phone number (phone number is used to verify the letter’s authenticity and will not be published). Please limit letters to no more than 500 words. Send letters to editor@lgbtweekly.jeffjungblut.com.
