Letters to the Editor
Gays

Posted on Sunday, November 30, 2008
Locals, be more vocal

My partner of 20 years and I moved from San Franciscoto Miami this year. We have adjusted well to the great weather, beautiful beaches, MIMO design and Cuban food. We purchased a MIMO-style home in Miami Shores and are good neighbors to all around us.

The biggest surprise has been the lack of an infrastructure for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender/transsexual (LGBT) community as compared to San Francisco. Simply put, I don't get the sense of community here even though there is a substantial gay presence. We currently don't have an LGBT center, and there are no parades or festivals for the community.

This feeling of a lack of community hit home with the passing of Amendment 2. In San Francisco and Los Angeles, thousands went to the streets in outrage when Proposition 8, California's gay-marriage ban, passed. Here, there was little outcry, even though Amendment 2, defining marriage as between a man and woman that could negate domestic partnerships is far more detrimental than Proposition 8.

Has our LGBT community been lulled into believing that we are second-class citizens who don't deserve the same consideration and respect as others? We pay our taxes, are good neighbors and law-abiding citizens and we give back to the community. We are not second-class citizens and deserve better.

We can achieve this if the LGBT community becomes more visible. Gay-owned businesses need to join the LGBT Chamber and put rainbow flags in their storefronts. We need to be more open about ourselves to neighbors and work colleagues. Finally, whether gay or straight, anyone who believes in equality should get involved -- www.savedade.org is a great place to start. Do something today that will help make a better day of tomorrow.

JOHN D'ALESSANDRO, Miami Shores