Redistricting realities
The tenor and tone of William Rodriguez-Kennedy’s editorial on redistricting comes off as condescending and aloof, when you consider that he mentions his recent move into District 3. As if he has an oracle-like opinion on the matter, despite not fully grasping the major functions of redistricting: demographics and geography.
With the addition of a new council district, most other districts will need to shed a few thousand people, communities and neighborhoods from their current boundaries. It should be noted that Hillcrest, North Park and University Heights are Caucasian – demographically – by population. If you don’t believe me, then blame the 2010 Census workers for getting their data wrong. There is no way to draw a new District 3 that empowers both LGBT interests and minorities, without sacrificing the empowerment of one over the other. However, that’s not to say that a candidate of diverse color and faith can’t put together a solid, LGBT coalition to win a council seat in the newly drawn district.
Unlike other community members-of-interest who actively participated at the LGBT Redistricting Task Force meetings, William was nowhere to be seen. According to the minutes of previous San Diego Redistricting Commission meetings, he has even failed to provide simple testimony, which makes it seem like he’s showing up 20 minutes late to the party. In all fairness, perhaps he couldn’t bum a ride from a friend to a meeting or two.
I will note and whole-heartedly thank the incredible work the Task Force put in to ensure a fair and equally represented District 3, although I disagree with their involvement in the “Community and Unity” map, which, citywide, is anything but unified communities. That led me to propose my own citywide plan, “Empowerment Through Equality,” which did utilize the efforts the Task Force presented in their proposed map.
When communities have their empowerment at stake, instead of showing up late to a game and coaching from the sidelines, perhaps Mr. Rodriguez-Kennedy should engage himself on these issues in a more timely and appropriate manner. After all, redistricting comes but once every ten years!
RYAN TRABUCO, Vice President
Clairemont Town Council
Ending ‘silly sniping’
When will all the silly sniping at Carl DeMaio end? His critics really have nothing concrete to complain about, other than he didn’t campaign hard enough for marriage equality. Speaking of under-performing, those TV ads telling voters to vote No on 8 showed actors, politicians, parents of gays, etc, all but real gay people themselves making their case to the TV audience about why marriage is important and needed. Millions spent on an abstract idea, rather than showing who we are, to a mass audience.
Since most of DeMaio’s critics, like Jess Durfee and Doug Case, are gay Democrats affiliated with the gay Democratic Club, let them explain why so few leaders of this bunch are African American? Why this country elected an African American leader while their club boasts not a single African American leader in all its 36 years? Let’s hear an explanation from these elites.
The plain and simple truth about DeMaio’s rise is that: unlike others who are gay or lesbian in city politics, he doesn’t owe his rise to old-fashioned bossism. He speaks with a wider voice than those anointed few tethered to clubhouse politics. Carl has an independent streak that is both refreshing and I find quite admirable. Such a quality San Diego needs if we are to move in a new direction.
JOHN PRIMAVERA
San Diego
Is the Bible your friend?
I enjoy reading the LGBT Weekly, weekly and am glad that you picked up the ball from where it was dropped.
It seems that the five groups who have suffered most at the hands of the Judao-Christian faith, women, Jews, Latinos, Afro Americans and gays, are some of the most fervent backers of the religion. If only they would read the Bible with an open mind, they couldn’t help but notice that the Bible is not their friend and is full of errors. And if they studied real history, they would find that most, if not all, of the moral teachings in the New Testament were borrowed from other religions. Despite what some claim, there is no proof that Jesus was even a real man.
But evolution has given the human race religion because we need it to be controlled so we could live in groups without killing each other. Of course, that doesn’t apply to other groups. If you have to have a religion, why not at least pick a religion that doesn’t go against logic and science.
Most of our founding fathers, including Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, were Deists.
However, I am not against religion. Most of the world hasn’t evolved to the point they can do without it. My own father could never have kicked alcoholism without it. So go to your church and pray to your god (although that won’t change his mind) if that makes you feel good. Just don’t use the Bible as an excuse to put down others.
SAM WARREN, Author
The Bible Naked: The Greatest Fraud Ever Told
Detrimental to our cause
Your willingness to provide unconditional support (“Message from Our Publisher: The choice is clear,” June 30) more than a year before the 2012 elections for President Obama, who does not support LGBT marriage, is detrimental to our cause and self-serving.
1. You’re conceding our negotiating position with Obama when you suggest at this early stage that he deserves, “our financial support, as well as our volunteer hours and of course, our vote.”
2. President Obama’s support of our issues directly correlates to the pressure put upon him by the LGBT community.
3. We need to withhold our support, dollars and votes until Obama changes his position on Marriage Equality before the Democratic Convention and election.
4. President Obama’s position is the same as opponents of Marriage Equality in suggesting it’s a state vs. federal issue, and it needs to change.
Our own “elite, mainstream LGBT media and organizations” are pretending to act in the best interest of the LGBT community in endorsing Obama so early and without condition. It appears that an edict has come down from on high at all those White House cocktail parties and high dollar fundraising dinners that the LGBT community owes Obama. I hope the cocktails were strong, the dinners delicious and your sense of presidential access sufficient to sell out your community so quickly.
On the defining issue of whether one truly supports equal treatment of the LGBT community, Obama comes up short. Too many of our “elite” LGBT leaders are ready to give Obama a pass on his lack of support for Marriage Equality based on perceived previous accomplishments and an uncertain commitment to meet us at the altar for Marriage Equality, someday.
I can only imagine what civil rights, women’s rights and other rights movements seeking equality would look like today if those wanting to effect change had willingly accepted the position of those who opposed their efforts. Signaling a candidate that he has our “unconditional” support over a year in advance while he cannot return the favor with his “unconditional” support of our issues makes no sense.
Did you see the House of Mirrors at this year’s County Fair? I’d worry less about circus clowns and start paying attention to the mirrors.
You think you see President Obama standing right next to you? It’s just his reflection in a mirror. The President is very far away and nowhere near you. I see a group of elite, mainstream LGBT media and organizations next to me promising to lead me to the next amusement ride called, “Equality Land.” Quickly, I see that you’re not helping me, are lost and have no more idea of how to reach Obama and Equality Land than me.
I am not willing to spend the next four years looking at mirrors filled with illusions of commitment or use well intentioned guides who claim to know how to find Obama and Marriage Equality. By endorsing Obama today, you’re ensuring your standing within the president’s inner circle more than representing the LGBT community in our quest for equality.
JOE REID
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.
