Public sex issue not funny

After reading last week's cover story ["SF police crackdown on Dore fair sex," April 30], I want to respond to Demetri Moshoyannis's statement, "I understand in the Internet age one disgruntled community member can create a big stink. The reality is that this person is not a member of our community, the way I see it."

Well, Mr. Moshoyannis, I complained loudly last October to Mayor Newsom's office, Supervisor Dufty's office, and Lieutenant Nicole Greely, personally, about the public sex at the Dore Alley and Folsom Street Fairs last year, and I guarantee him that I am definitely a "member of the community," considering I was a Castro merchant for nearly five years, as well as a gay man who contributes financially to the causes that both of those events support. When Lieutenant Greely referred me to Mr. Moshoyannis as the person with whom I need to file a grievance, I got absolutely no response after leaving a voice message on his answering service.

The catalyst that provoked my complaints was a posting on Craigslist by "someone in our community" that solicited requests for photos taken of him performing blowjobs in public at the Folsom Street Fair, not to mention the photos that were posted of a guy getting fisted in public. Considering how hard we were working against the passage of Proposition 8 at the time, I found that person's disregard for the rest of us very disturbing, but felt Mr. Moshoyannis and the other organizers have been doing very little over the years to discourage the public sex that the exhibitionists enjoy having filmed.

Also, when I first spoke with Lieutenant Greely, she told me that the message from the mayor's office was that the police should practice tolerance during these events, which really pissed me off because it sends a message that the ones breaking the law should be held up to a different standard than our straight friends. What bullshit! That attitude is exactly what the religious right uses against us when we attempt to secure equal rights.

Hopefully, this year, Mr. Moshoyannis will take into consideration the harm that these individuals are causing the rest of us "in the community," and he will do something about it. If not, I hope more people will complain loudly to the police, the mayor's office, and the Board of Supervisors next year, so the two events are fun for everyone, not the few who come to San Francisco to act out in ways they would not dream of doing in their own towns.

All you have to do is Google "public sex at Folsom Street Fair" to get an eyeful. Mr. Moshoyannis was right in saying, "I don't think this is funny at all." Believe me, a lot of us agree with him, wholeheartedly.

Michael Hughes

San Francisco

Police priorities misplaced

At a time when lifesaving health and human services are being cut by our absentee mayor, will the San Francisco Police Department be racking up tons of overtime making sure that no one's genitals are exposed at the Dore Alley Fair in July? Will the boys and girls in blue take time away from stopping murders and robberies to nab some guy going down on another guy or groping a bulging crotch?

If police have so little to do that they can while away the hours patrolling the libidos of gay men, perhaps the Board of Supervisors should be cutting the SFPD's budget.

Tommi Avicolli Mecca

San Francisco

We're supposed to be happy for him?

Chairing the California Democratic Party for the last 13 years and Art Torres is just now coming out?! I am not sure whether to feel exasperated, disgusted, or simply just plain sorry for him ["Former Dem chair Torres comes out," April 30].

It is the year 2009, we are fighting for our civil rights, and the leader of California's Democratic Party is living in the closet. Great. I find it sickening we have "leaders" who can't be honest with us and yet, expect us to follow along like lemmings. I don't remember Mr. Torres being front and center during any of the Prop 8 battle. Blame the Mormons or the Catholics? I'd suggest we look inside our own house first.

Likewise, for all our local LGBT leaders and press, what, no one knew this for the last 13 years?

Mr. Torres, in arguably the most powerful position within the Democratic Party in the state of California, the sixth largest country (based on economies) in the world, receives a standing ovation on his way out the door.

Politics.

We move on!

Mark J. Murphy

San Francisco

No cheers here for Torres

More than 30 years after Harvey Milk made a mantra of "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" it is unbelievable that former California Democratic Party Chair Art Torres has only now decided to do what Milk called for so long ago. It is doubly unbelievable that some people are cheering his much-too-late act.

Over those many years since Milk called for smashing our closets, innumerable members of our community risked jobs, reputations, family relationships, friendships, and in many cases their lives, because it was of paramount importance to have a sense of integrity, a sense of self-respect, and to be honest in their identity while pursuing their roles in life. However, this was not important to Art Torres. For him, his climb to the top of the political heap was the goal, and that goal was aided by staying firmly shut in the closet, and integrity was merely an inconvenience.

After discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been banned for so long, when domestic partner benefits are proudly announced by employers recruiting workers, when so many young people have needed prominent role models to help them gather up the courage to come out – it is disgraceful that, according to your article, state Senator Mark Leno had the audacity to declare "... it was the appropriate thing to do ... and everyone cheered." The appropriate thing to do? After all these years? After long past the time when a significant political leader could have been a guiding light to young people in our community? After 13 state conventions when Torres publicly thanked his family and ignored his partner? After a life in the closet assisted him in the achievement of a prominent career and now that he goes into retirement it is time to be honest? What exactly is the point? So he can live with himself? This is bravery? And what exactly is there to cheer?

Art Torres deserves no applause, no cheers, and to pretend otherwise feeds into the worst our community has to offer.

Alan Collins

San Francisco

Feinstein should co-sponsor UAFA

It is wonderful that Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is sponsoring a private bill in Congress to keep a lesbian binational couple from being torn apart because of the discriminatory aspects of our immigration system ["Lesbian immigrant gets deportation reprieve," April 30] . My partner and I, after 12 years together, are in the same situation.

However, Feinstein refuses to sponsor the same legislation (the Uniting American Families Act) proposed in Congress to cover all LGBT people in binational relationships. Further, she seems unwilling to offer any explanation beyond a vague concern about fraud.

If the same standards are applied to married couples and LGBT binational couples in a committed relationship, what is the problem? We need to demand that Senator Feinstein get on board – the same standard for one LGBT couple should apply to all. It's as simple as that.

Paul Fahey

San Francisco

Store's merchandise disappoints

I wholly believe in Under One Roof's mission ["Recession hits Castro's Under One Roof," April 23]. When it was in the small store across the street, I never failed to stop in when I was in the Castro. I always found something to buy.

However, since the move, the taste level has noticeably changed downward. I no longer go inside since I find that there is nothing to my liking. It is as if they have completely changed buyers. Items, especially those in the back, are schlocky. I am not saying that I am some denizen of good taste, but they have done a 180-degree change in my opinion.

I know the recession is having an effect on everyone, but honestly, I still have some discretionary income and would be glad to spend it to support Under One Roof if they had something worthwhile to purchase. It seems that all of their merchandise has turned into kitschy crap. I think that this might be one of their significant problems.

Greg Zompolis

San Mateo, California