When my father bought his first Mercedes Benz from Ken Garff he was so proud. It was like he had finally "made it." He would have been proud of me for leasing my third Volvo from Garff this month, but I was glad to find out before my current lease ends (like, now!) that principle is more important than money when it comes to the Garff family, which gave $100,000 to support California's Prop 8 ("Gay group boycotts Ken Garff dealerships," Tribune , Feb. 12).

My spouse and I were married on Aug. 18, in Santa Cruz, Calif., and are now among the 18,000 gay couples whose marriages are being threatened by people who are afraid that we threaten their marriages. What are they afraid of?

Here's what I'm afraid of: I'm afraid that money from my past two cars helped support the very principled anti-gay marriage stance of the Garff family. I'm afraid I'll have to get my next car somewhere else.

My late father would be proud that he taught me that principle is more important than money -- after all, it's only money. Anyway, our little queer family will look great in a BMW.

Alan Hebertson

Salt Lake City