Pride is both a communal celebration of visibility and personal celebration of self-worth

The uprising at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969 sparked a liberation movement — a call to action that continues to inspire us to live up to our nation’s promise of a more perfect union. The yearly Pride event is a time to recall the trials that the gay community has endured and to rejoice in the triumphs of individuals who have bravely fought — and continue to fight — for justice, liberty and full equality. Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) people are extraordinary and we need to recognize the resilience and determination of the many individuals who fought and are still fighting to live freely and authentically. We may have been bullied in our childhood, erased in our classrooms, shunned by our government, stigmatized by religion, visited by a plague and still, we rise. Today, we joyfully say, “This is me; this is us.” We need to celebrate our incredible journey.

Together, we are opening hearts and minds, and laying the foundation for a more just and equitable city and country. Let us continue to dedicate ourselves to protecting the most vulnerable among us.

Ken Richard, Rancho Mirage

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your courage

If my former boss, Senator John F. Kennedy, were writing “Profiles in Courage” today rather than in 1954, I would nominate Speaker Kevin McCarthy regardless of what happened in the Senate this week.

As the leader of a fractured House of Representatives, McCarthy stepped into history and pulled our nation back from the abyss of a catastrophic default.

Yes, there will be a political price to pay, which he knows well especially since more Democrats voted for the bill than Republicans. But the price was less than the harm to our country because of a default. He courageously put our nation first at his own peril.

It is sad to see too many members of the House and Senate playing politics with the full faith and credit of the United States. I am sure that in the coming days, they will brag about this and that in the bill, which may be unpopular and say “I voted against it.” Unfortunately, they will not also say “I also played a role in nearly causing the collapse of our economy and the United States as the No. 1 world economy.”

Legislators who play politics rather than working for the common good irks me and as Americans, we deserve better. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your courage.

Francis A. Wong, Indian Wells

Our polarized nation is only becoming more divided

Although lacking the clear geographical boundaries of the American Civil War, it surely seems that we have entered another period of intractable political division. I’m not sure what began this descent but the ongoing efforts of left and right to demonize states, companies and other entities for purported political or cultural sins is deeply dividing this country.

From California banning state-sponsored travel to a host of more conservative states to the Anheuser-Busch Bud Light fiasco to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People issuing travel warnings for Florida, politics has become a stark dividing line with each side viewing the other with disdain bordering on hatred. When emotions prevail and self-righteousness dictates behavior, we have entered a dark period of American history as our civic commonalities disappear and only our differences are celebrated.

Paul Seideman, Rancho Mirage

Cutting spending on the most vulnerable to preserve tax cuts is cruel

In response to Patrice Onwuka’s May 31 article, “Reckless spending, inflation is forcing many to ‘unretire'” – The article continues to purport false and misleading information. The inflation the world feels was not caused by spending in the U.S. The major cause was the breakdown in the supply chain from China and other Asian countries, causing prices to go up as supply went down after the U.S. recovered from COVID. The U.S. has fared far better than most other G-7 countries.

The second big issue was shortages of workers, causing wages to spike up. It has been reported that there were 11 million open jobs and only about 4-5 million workers to take those jobs. As boomers retire out, there are no skilled folks behind them to take their places.

The third issue is ignoring the impact of climate change. Onwuka would have us think continue as we have been since any savings are in the future, ignoring how the world around us is changing with more severe weather, droughts, storms, etc.

We have seen the impact of cutting taxes and not spending. But cutting spending on the most vulnerable to preserve tax cuts for the wealthiest is cruel.

Mark Ernst, Palm Desert

I see many perspectives when it comes to short-term rentals

In response to Pamela Knudsen’s Valley Voice article on the unforeseen consequences of rental restrictions on short-term rentals, mainly a 20% cap limitation on total dwelling units: There is more than one perspective on the consequences of rental restrictions. There are many positive consequences for restrictions that were absent in her opinion piece.

I am a former resident of Palm Springs who chose to move in part because of the loss of community and neighborhood when our street changed from a predominantly resident-based street into a majority short-term rental ownership of homes. The bonds of community that were shared changed dramatically and cannot only be measured in dollars but can be measured in ways that are far more valuable such as love and care for one’s neighbors that is only possible when you have the time and opportunity to know one another.

In California, we spend an enormous number of resources to try and counter the engines of residential displacement of our communities. Without a balanced approach to the industry, we are doing just that, displacing our core residents. I am proof of one, who felt the loss of the community in my neighborhood to the transient nature of my surrounding new neighbors who replaced our long-term valued community.

Scott DeVecht, Rancho Mirage

Ken Calvert is only now taking issue with our debt?

Rep. Ken Calvert’s justification (Desert Sun letters to the editor, May 28) for holding our debt ceiling hostage to enact Republican cuts to social programs is hypocritical at best. If House Republicans were really serious about reducing the budget deficit, they would not advocate for the elimination of $10 billion in funding for Internal Revenue Service agents to pursue revenue recovery from wealthy tax cheats, who are violating tax laws that are already on the books.

Why does Representative Calvert feel that the top 1% and huge corporations should be able to avoid paying taxes, but someone living on the edge of poverty, who exists on social welfare, should be penalized if they can’t find employment for at least 20 hours a week?

I also find it incredulous that a seasoned Congressional Representative such as Ken Calvert should only awaken to the serious nature of national debt when a Democrat is president. During the four years of Donald Trump’s presidency, Rep. Calvert apparently did not take issue with the debt Trump added to our national deficit, which is estimated at 25% of our current national debt. In fact, Rep. Calvert voted to raise the debt limit three times under Trump’s presidency without any insistence on budget cuts.

Franc Martarella, Rancho Mirage

Turning the default into a political win is preposterous

Either party thinking they can turn a default into a political win is like a pilot or co-pilot thinking they can prove they’re best at flying the plane by turning the flight into a kamikaze mission.

Nick LaTerza, Palm Desert

Volunteering is everything to me – try it out

Are you retired? Sitting around? Reading, eating, sleeping? Bored? Put some of that spare time to use. Volunteer.

You have talents that are going to waste and you might enjoy working in an environment where your effort would be greatly appreciated. I left work in 1988 and have volunteered ever since. I tried a church-sponsored food distribution system for those in need. That was one day a week. At the same time, I became a volunteer at the hospital one day a week. But then I found my true calling.

I stopped in a thrift store one day and got to talking to the manager. They had electronic items that they were discarding because no one knew what to do to determine if they worked. That sounded like something I could do, so I volunteered at that thrift store. I was there for 33 years. I worked on anything with a cord — electric or electronic, testing, cleaning and pricing. It something I enjoyed doing, my contribution was appreciated and I worked with great people.

Then we moved to the desert. I quickly found a thrift store and my skills were put to use. Now not only with electronics, but furniture repair, housewares and talking to customers. My store is the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop on Bob Hope Drive near Highway 111. They are always seeking volunteers and household donations and clothing. If you are interested in giving volunteering a try, stop by and talk to us, see what we do, what you might enjoy doing, and look around the store.

If there is a thrift store in your neighborhood, they might be interested in you as well. No need to sit around and be bored. As a volunteer, you don’t have to worry about a salary or vacation time off. You are a valuable asset. Give it a try.

Bernie Kotkin, Rancho Mirage

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Pride marks a moment to remember the journey the gay community has endured