ARTICLES

Not That Nice

Should Catholics Trust This Man?

Local Catholic community icon Bob Baker -- whose auto dealership ads in the Southern Cross have touted his affiliations with the Diocesan Finance Council, USD, Catholic Charities, the Knights of Columbus and Our Lady of Peace Academy -- and whose slogan "Where it's so nice to be nice" is a frequent refrain on radio and television stations -- continues to practice charity toward another local community: San Diego's homosexuals.

Since at least February, 1996, Baker has run full-color ads for several of his dealerships on the back cover of the Gay & Lesbian Times, a weekly homosexual news magazine that also features ads depicting homosexual acts.

In a telephone conversation August 1, Lamar Stone, an advertising representative for the Gay & Lesbian Times, said that the cost of a full-color back cover ad in the Gay & Lesbian Times is $1,168 each week. However, the space is not available to other advertisers because "It's taken every week by Bob Baker."

In July, 2000, Pastor Gary Cass of West Hills Christian Fellowship called the Bob Baker Auto Group to question the company's advertising policies. His call was returned by Dave Ezratty, who said the reason the company advertises in the Gay & Lesbian Times is "because it is one of the communities that we serve, and that publication serves that community."

Ezratty added, "We serve a number of communities throughout San Diego regardless of their sexual preference or religious beliefs. That's why I guess we plan on continuing to advertise in it, and I'm sorry if it offends you, but we're kind of, we kind of respect all people's ways of life and don't just take one path."

Cass subsequently sent a certified letter to Baker asking about the advertising policy. On October 5, 2000, Baker responded to Cass, saying: "I am in receipt of your recent letter regarding my organization's advertising policies. I understand your position; however, as a businessman and a Christian, I will not discriminate against others based on their race, religious beliefs, creed, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member status, pregnancy, medical condition, handicap, disability, color, ethic origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or age."

On August 1, 2002, News Notes placed a phone call to Baker at his headquarters in Mission Valley. When asked why a prominent Catholic businessman would advertise in a "gay" newspaper, the receptionist, who refused to identify herself, said, "Bob Baker auto group does not discriminate."

This year, Baker has been even nicer to the homosexuals: His Subaru dealerships in Carlsbad and El Cajon were listed as official sponsors of San Diego Pride, held July 26-28, in that organization's official souvenir program. The Subaru dealerships are also listed in the Gay & Lesbian Times ads as members of the Greater San Diego Business Association, San Diego's homosexual equivalent of the Chamber of Commerce.

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