In response to the cover story “Orlando’s Partner Registry” in the Florida Agenda, December 29, 2011.

DEAR EDITOR,
The story in your December 29 issue about Orlando’s same-sex partner registry (Dec. 29, 2011: “Orlando Partner Registry has no Shortage of Applicants, Floridians or Otherwise”) put me in mind of those supermarkets that ask you to swipe a “fob” at the cash register in order to receive a discount, or earn extra coupons, or green stamps, etc.

My boyfriend loves to ask the cashier why we have to belong to their “stupid club” (his words) and clutter up our key chains just to pay the same price for eggs or laundry detergent that everyone else is paying.

I think you can see my point here. Although I’m perfectly happy to pay nine cents less for a five-pound tub of margarine, shouldn’t everyone have to/get to pay the same price, regardless of one’s preference to key-chain fobs? The fact that Orlando’s leaders are both gay-friendly and long-viewed doesn’t minimize the huge disappointment and dismay I experience to know that this is just another in a long list of feel-good “booby prizes” like civil unions, domestic partner lists, and half the programming on Bravo-TV to keep “The Gays” happy, mollified, content, and, oh yes, voting Democratic. (No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus here for the Republicans: I keep a picture of Dick Armey in my garage to remind me of his ‘big-tented’ “Barney Fag” comment from the 1990s.)

I don’t want to sound ungrateful. Any strides made in this direction are naturally “good” strides. But I still feel kind of ‘icky’ in a Step-and-Fetch-It way when I think of how well-meaning “The Straights” are to grant us the same benefits (access to hospital visits, medical care, etc.) that I already enjoy at the animal clinic with respect to my Pekinese.

One day at a time, though, right?

NAME WITHHELD
Wilton Manors

DEAR EDITOR:
I just received a mail piece (or was it an email) reminding me that PrideFest 2012 is just around the corner, with an appearance by musical headliner Taylor Dayne! Spoiler Alert: I am a gay man, proud and happy to report that all of the people in my life who matter to me the most (parents, employer, minister, mailman, etc.) know about my lifestyle and consider me with the same love and affection (and on occasion, the lack of same) that they reserve for my hetero siblings. My partner and I hold hands (when appropriate) not just in the “gayborhood,” but at the mall, going into restaurants or movies, etc.

It “ain’t no thing” to the vast majority of people we encounter, and I know in my heart and mind that I owe many of the trappings of tolerance to those pioneering LGBTs like Harvey Milk, and Harry Hay, and others who came before me. I also put my money where my mouth is when it comes to HIV/AIDS service organizations and helping those members of my community less advantaged than me. This is a long way of saying that, while I am “proud” to be a gay man, at this stage in my life, and the life of our community, are events like Pridefest and Stonewall Pride still relevant?

At a time when Disney and the rest of Central Florida unofficially “hosts” Gay Days for God’s sake (sorry , Fred Phelps), and young gays parade thong-side next to Mickey and Minnie at the Grand Resort pool, isn’t there a better way to spend our time, efforts, and resources than on events that are ‘quaint’ and ‘’ at best. I love my boyfriend, my family, and my life. Isn’t that in and of itself a “Pridefest?”

George

Margate

Please send all your comments and letters to Editor@FloridaAgenda.com