Atlanta police still need to apologize for Eagle raid
Re: “Atlanta police want to sweeten relationship with LGBT community” (News, May 28)

Of course they want to sweeten the relationship. They are tired of being sued.

Except for [GA Voice Deputy Editor Dyana Bagby’s] astute, articulate articles, and [Eagle lawsuit attorney] Dan Grossman’s comprehensive legal expertise, there has been no sense that anyone, including the APD, the City of Atlanta, or our local LGBT so-called leaders have had the slightest clue about the seriousness and legalities of what happened at the Eagle. If the police and the city had, even after the fact, realized the gravity of their actions, they wouldn’t have taken the “underwear dancing” case to trial. And the police would have apologized formally by now for their Gestapo-like actions in September.

We need to insist on the police having “sensitivity training,” and we need to insist that the police spend some time helping with Gay events and causes, so they will get to know us as “normal citizens” and not as “freaks with problems.”

Bullying bill a good first step, but more needed
Re: “Governor to sign anti-bullying bill” (thegavoice.com, May 27)

A day for everyone to celebrate. Now if we can just get it enforced. Bullying is more than “getting beat up.”

Wonderful news. Hurray for Rep. Mike Jacobs and Gov. Sonny Perdue!

One small step for the “lost” governor of Georgia, but the bill still does not say anything about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Georgia’s second most LGBT-friendly city is...
Re: “What Georgia city should get second place as the best for LGBT residents?” (Discussion at facebook.com/thegavoice, May 23)

Decatur. And no Decatur is not Atlanta.

Since Decatur is so close to Atlanta, I would have to go with Savannah.

Augusta is having its first large-scale Pride on June 19. We have a long way to go before we’re anybody’s Mecca, but hey, we’re trying!

East Point. Yes, we are a separate city.

Decatur (despite being surrounded by Atlanta). Savannah is also decent; gay people always find a niche in any city basically run by old white women who control the old white men they married… Meet any real Steel Magnolia and you know who sets the pace in any Southern city or town. And Steel Magnolias all have gay friends; they admire our class and “spunk” as my late aunt used to describe gay men.

HRC award winner is trans, but not ‘activist’

To the Editors:
Re: “HRC Dinner seeks equality ‘Every Day’” and “Out of the ballrooms and into the streets” (news and editorial by Laura Douglas-Brown, May 14)

I want to voice my disappointment that the Human Rights Campaign seemed not to be able to find a transgender person more worthy to award the “Community Service Award” to, and your Laura Douglas-Brown to apparently see this as deserved and calling Vandy Beth Glenn an “activist” of all things!

This a further spotlight on the division of the “privileged” from those who are “in the trenches” for transgender rights. Vandy Beth has not been an activist for any transgender rights but her own.

Her face has, however, become known as the “privileged” who lost it when she lost the job it allowed her when she began transition. She has eschewed participation in any activities that would strive toward advancement of other transgenders but herself, while quietly accepting public support from other transgenders.

What “community service” has she provided, besides her image as the “Poster Transgender” for job discrimination? I suppose she would/should be “humble,” Ms. Douglas-Brown!

Cheryl Courtney-Evans
Atlanta