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IN magazine is great, but I am very sad that you allow the LAPD to use ad space to promote and recruit people. The LAPD has done nothing for anybody. The LAPD has a long list of human rights violations. A lot of people are abused by cops. Gay police are only present during Pride parades or recruitment drives.

Sincerely,
Edgar Herns

IN responds: While we are judicial in our advertisement policy—we would never accept an ad from an ex-gay ministry, for instance—we do not otherwise discriminate. In this case, it appears the LAPD's recruitment ad is an effort to make the LGBT community a part of the solution to historic problems—and that we welcome.

As anyone can imagine, this experience [“Two Gays Detained on Unsubstantiated Charges” issue 9.24] has been quite an eye opener for me and my partner [Jose Jorba] on many levels. Being detained on unsubstantiated charges was a traumatic ordeal of humiliation, injustice and overwhelming feelings of violation. Since being released, I have come to appreciate those common comforts that we all take for granted and have empathy for those entrenched in the world of incarceration. But I have also been left with an unfortunate and discomforting sense of apprehension towards law enforcement. Coming from a family of law enforcement agents, including a grandfather who is a celebrated homicide detective and who retired from a full career of service with the Los Angeles Police Department, I understand the delicate and difficult responsibilities that officers must uphold on a daily basis. I respect the courage and determination of the men and women who risk their lives daily to preserve order and protect my safety. Given that substantial responsibility, I must also hold them to the highest of standards. In my opinion, misjudgments and questionable actions occurred in every step of our detainment and have raised questions of protocol and procedure for many in the community. For decades the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department has built a bond of trust and cooperation with the local community which is why routine procedures and conduct must be handled with the utmost prudence and professionalism for this dynamic partnership to continue to flourish. A shining example are Lt. Donnie Mauldin and Detective Marc Jackson of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department, who have been gracious and helpful in assisting us through this situation; Lt. Mauldin is even guiding us in the process of expunging our records so that the dropped charges will not come back to haunt us down the road. I hope that others in the department follow his example. [Jose] and I also give our sincerest gratitude to Karen Ocamb and the staff of IN magazine for all of your support and dedication and your determination to bring this unfortunate event to the attention of the community. Thank you all so much.

Sincerely,
Jesse Ryan

Gilda Radner's Emily Litella made famous the line, "Never mind," not her Roseanne Rosannadanna character [“Two Gays Detained on Unsubstantiated Charges” issue 9.24]. Easy mistake.

Eric Luling
via Internet

I just wanted to let you know the article "Into the Groove" [issue 9.24] was one of the most hysterical pieces I have seen in print (and I usually don't think most things are funny). I have shared it with others and everyone who reads it, laughs out loud. Congratulations to Paul V. for turning an overdone topic such as these "music celebrities" and putting a fresh yet honest spin on them.

Jeff Becket
via Internet

The first thing Christopher Street West [“New CSW Report Promises Creativity” issue 9.25] should do is change its name.

What about a little Los Angeles pride? Los Angeles was way ahead of everywhere, in terms of gay rights, when those drag queens rioted in 1969. Let’s have an organization that celebrates our own history.

[Last] year, I attended the New York Pride parade. I had always heard that it was great. Frankly, it was longer and more poorly staged than ours. You had to wait to the very end, four hours, until the floats with the go-go boys came by. But the crowd was passionate and stayed, cheering, for the whole long parade—in the rain!

The one plus to the New York parade was that it went down Fifth Avenue. I believe that if our parade was held on Wilshire or Hollywood boulevards it would be a stronger statement of pride. Keeping it on Santa Monica in West Hollywood has its conveniences, like going to bars along the route or after the festival, but is frankly a bit ghetto-ized.

There are many things the Pride organization could do to make it more contemporary and accessible. However, after being at both New York's and Los Angeles', I think the big difference is in our attitude toward the parade and festival. Perhaps because we have so many gay organizations and businesses, we do not experience Pride as being as special, as if we lived in places, even New York, that just didn't have the level of gay community.

I think lowering the price of general admission to the festival would bring in younger people. Perhaps having a concert with bigger names, at a higher price, would offset the lower tickets to the festival, and create more buzz.

Do not get the Halloween people involved, please. West Hollywood took that holiday away from the gay community years ago—we cannot afford to lose another gay holiday. I can just see it: Gay Pride overrun with straight people and booths that have nothing to do with the gay and lesbian community.

I think the biggest issue is in people's perception of Pride. There are plenty of people and organizations that can help with that. There are ways to make it a desired place to be.

Harlan Levinson
Los Angeles