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Dear Editor,

While I appreciate your interest in the reintroduction of the marriage equality bill and all matters related to ending discrimination toward all people, I would like to set the record straight on a couple of issues reported in Karen Ocamb's story (“Marriage Equality Bill Reintroduced” issue 9.22).

First, the story references a situation that took place in 2005 when Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally left the capitol during a time when all Assemblymembers were required to stay on the Assembly Floor to complete legislative business before an important legislative deadline. All remaining legislation was to be put up for a vote, and the marriage equality bill was explicitly listed in the Assembly File. There was no reason for me to personally alert members about the upcoming vote because no one was supposedly allowed to leave the Capitol building during that time period.

Second, the story quotes Mr. Dymally as being surprised about the re-introduction of the marriage equality bill this year. However, he had been formally asked by my staff to co-author the bill well in advance of the bill's reintroduction, both through visits to his Capitol office and via e-mail.

Finally, I have since had a personal conversation with Mr. Dymally in which he indicated that he would not like to co-author this year's marriage bill just yet. I plan to work with him so that he may do so later in the year. Most importantly, I appreciate Mr. Dymally's support of this important bill and civil rights struggle.

Sincerely,

Mark Leno
Assemblyman, 13th District

Thank you, Michael Liberatore, and thank you IN, for exposing a shockingly persistent problem in the gay community (“The Amazing Racists?” issue 9.22). Speaking for myself as a white gay man, I feel I can comfortably state that all human beings are racist to varying degrees and that is inescapable. Unfortunately, instead of confronting our own racism in the gay community and the limitations it inflicts on ourselves and others, it recently seems to have become a new guilty pleasure, along with sexism and classism.

As we have grown more comfortable, more visible and more powerful, it would appear that many of us, rather than trying to right the inherent wrongs of a social system which has oppression built into it, have decided that as long as it's not our ox being gored, it doesn't matter.

It's important to remember that no matter how many TV shows we get, how many independent films and how many gay-themed cruises, we are still and always will be a minority. As such, we will always be subject to the vagaries of history. It behooves us to remember that before the rise of the Nazis, Germany was one of the most socially progressive countries in Europe. Progress can always be beaten back. We will always need all the friends we can get. White gays need to build ties not only with minority queer people, but with minorities of all stripes, not only as insurance, but because we share common goals and interests.

Respectfully yours,

Peter McQuaid
Los Angeles