Gay Today: Letters to the Editor

Pen Points
Letters to
Gay Today

Tom Ammiano's Campaign

Even though Tom Ammiano lost his bid to be mayor of San Francisco, he succeeded in consolidating many of the city's progressive forces. Gays, lesbians, renters, working people, feminists, and neighborhood activists joined together behind Tom's banner. Quite an accomplishment!

Still, errors were made that we should frankly acknowledge and learn from. Sometimes Tom takes brittle rhetorical poses, denigrating the concerns of the city's middle-of-the-road voters. That sort of stridency will work in firing up the already-converted to take part in demonstrations. But it will not win uncommitted voters in a general election. And without winning the uncommitted middle, no one can be elected mayor of San Francisco. Tom's opponent, Willie Brown, understands this fact very well, which is why he outmaneuvered Tom.

Not all compromise is bad. In fact, compromise that respects basic principles, but is also willing to hear the life experiences of people who hold different views, is a positive thing that can enrich the common good.

Let's give Tom credit for consolidating the progressive base in San Francisco. Let's also hope he will now reach out to others who don't always follow the party line.

Sincerely,
Arthur Evans
San Francisco

To Thanks the Cast of Will & Grace

To thank the cast of Will & Grace for going public with their opposition to the Knight Initiative, e-mail willandgrace@nbc.com

Rex Wockner

Carbon Copy: A Roman Catholic's Resignation

From: Braddoc Anthony Kanani DeCaires

To: Catholic Diocese of Hawaii
1184 Bishop Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

CC: Pope John Paul II, Most Rev. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo, DD, Most Rev. Joseph A. Ferrario, DD, Rev. Marc R. Alexander, STD, Rev. Msgr. Terrence A.M. Watanabe, Rev. Msgr. Alan Nagai and Rev. Nathan Mamo

Re: Formal request that the Catholic Diocese permanently eliminates my name from church records

Name: Braddoc Anthony Kanani DeCaires
Baptism Year: 1971
Baptism Place: Star of the Sea Church
Parents: Clarence & Violet DeCaires Jr.
Godparents: Joseph & Anna Crivello

This is to formally request that my name be removed from the membership records of the Roman Catholic Church effective immediately. I wish no further contact with the church other than a letter of confirmation that I am no longer a member of the church. I do not want to receive any other letters, or phone calls, or requests for interviews from anyone in the church. I urge you to take care of this matter quickly and without attempting to contact me.

Your records should indicate that this action was taken at MY request.

My anger with the Catholic Church stems from many areas:

1. The Vatican's recent decision to ban Father Robert Nugent and Sister Jeannine Gramick from their peaceful ministry to gay and lesbian individuals is unjustified. They are leaders who should be held in high respect by the Catholic Church, because they are trying to mend the tattered relationship between Catholics and gays. Why would the Vatican stop their loving outreach to others? It goes to prove that the Vatican teaches love under certain conditions only; that is not what the teachings of Christ are all about.

2. The involvement of the Catholic Church in anti-gay efforts in Hawaii, Alaska and California sends a clear statement that the church believes same-sex relationships are NOT acceptable and same-sex couples should not enjoy the same civil rights and benefits heterosexual couples automatically obtain when they marry.

3. The Catholic Church insists that homosexuality is not only wrong and sinful, but that it is "curable". This clearly shows just how ignorant and misinformed church leaders are.

4. Last year, Fr. Marc Alexander's pretentioulsy pious involvement with the Save Traditional Marriage campaign was a clear demonstration that efforts of members of the Catholic Church stem not only from hate but discrimination against something that is biological. You can choose to be Catholic or not to be Catholic, being gay is NOT changeable. Alexander's alliance with Mike Gabbard, Head of the Stop Promoting Homosexuality Campaign, is an unprofessional precedent. It seems the Catholic Diocese will stop at nothing to get their agenda achieved at any cost. Even if it means working side by side with someone who is involved in a religious cult.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
San Francisco Re-Elects Mayor Willie Brown

Will & Grace: No Nominations for the Emmys

Vatican Condemns Homosexuality as Intrinsically Evil

Related Sites:
Tom Ammiano for Mayor

No on Knight
GayToday does not endorse related sites.

5. Hypocrisy is just as bad as ignorance. A majority of the priests serving in the Catholic Diocese of Hawaii, that I know personally, are "practicing" homosexuals. The irony baffles me. Why would I want to be judged by a group of closeted priests who aren't comfortable with whom they are? To any of those hypocritical priests who are reading this, and you know who you are, come out of the closet, love yourself, you'll thank me later.

From this day forward, I will no longer be favorably endorsing the Catholic Church here in Hawaii and elsewhere. I cannot, in good conscience, support the Catholic Church or any religion that is anti-gay. I will be sharing this letter with my family, friends and acquaintances urging them to take the same course of action against affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church.

The judgment of Braddoc Anthony Kanani DeCaires comes from God alone. The services and opinions of the Catholic Church are no longer needed in regard to me and my life as a gay man.

Mahalo,
Braddoc DeCaires