Identifying Gays in Jail
I was highly offended by Patricia Klein Lerner’s article regarding Deputy Ernest Cobarrubias and his job of “weeding out fake” gays (“Jailer Learns Gay Culture to Foil Straight Inmates,” Metro, Dec. 27).
Although I live in West Hollywood and have been actively gay for most of my life, I couldn’t name two bars nor even find a bathhouse; I do not know what dress size I would wear; I do not read gay magazines, and I don’t lisp, walk “funny” or wear makeup.
On the other hand, I have straight friends who do lisp, I work out at a gym where there are a lot of bodybuilders who are gay and I have several friends with rather “butch” tattoos.
I hope that I am never arrested, because I would never meet with Deputy Cobarrubias’ stereotyped behaviors or “norms.”
RICHARD ARNOLD, West Hollywood
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
