Joyce was saying, “It would be easy for me to hide and not say anything but I cannot sit idly by and see a person I respect hurt.  I would like to call her a good friend but I did things that made it impossible for me to call her a friend.  She could have every reason to hate me.  But conscience dictates that I must at this time make this statement.  I must “come out of the closet” as they say to make things right if that is in any way possible.  I am a lesbian as has been alleged.  I’m sure you are all interested in what relationship existed between Sandra Lewis-Marks and me.  Speculation and conjecture about that relationship have run wild during the last few days and I am sure it has been hard for her.  I am chagrined that my imprudent actions long ago have come to haunt her now.  I cannot let her bear the brunt of this injustice without speaking out.  Let me set the record straight.  She and I are the only two who know what happened during the eleven days we lived together and that is the length of our time together.  I know what the press is reporting is not the truth and I know that neither she nor I gave anyone that information.  I hope she knows I was not the person who misinformed the press.  Allow me to repeat, nothing sexual happened in the eleven days we lived together.  We shared an apartment to split the rent and when she left she paid far more than she needed to avoid hurting me.  She is the one who elected to keep it private.  She could have exposed me and my actions and made my life difficult, she did not.”  Sandra took a deep breath, “What would she say now?”  Joyce continued, “She lived with me after her husband and son were killed in a terrible bank robbery gone bad.”  Sandra hung her head, this was only getting worse.  Joyce cleared her throat and continued, “She lived with me for eleven days until I made a pass at her.  She was offended, went to her room, locked the door and moved out the next morning.  I am not sure why this is even an issue but it is a non-issue because this woman is not a lesbian.  I will give the reporter the letters that were exchanged by us after that night.  They should have forever been private but to clear her name I will make them public.  I hope this puts to rest what has been an awful injustice.  She could have charged me with sexual assault and she declined to do so.  She felt that she may have inadvertently led me on.  I do not believe for one minute that is not the case.  She did nothing wrong.  I misread the actions of a very kind and caring person as a come-on.  She was a true friend but she was never a lover to me and I am not aware of her being a lover to any other lesbian.  I was attracted to her and would have made her my lover had she agreed.  She considered it repulsive.  If there is anyone in this world that is in a position to say if she is gay or straight it is me.  I assure you, she is straight.  I fail to see how this matters to me or to anyone except for the current media hype.  What is being reported is nothing but a bunch of lies.  Someone released this information to the press to harm her, me or both.  That person and the press that so eagerly feasted on this falsehood are the co-villains in this.  But let me conclude.  Sandra is a person of integrity and honor, a person that can be trusted and that you can see if you read these two letters.  I would trust her with my money, my life, my future.  I will provide copies.”  She looked directly at the camera,  “Sandra, if you hear this I only hope you realize I had nothing to do with this.  I would not have released this but for one reason, to clear your name.  For me it needs no support, I know your integrity and it is flawless.  I will add that I do know and can prove who released the information and my lawyer will be contacting Sandra with that information.  There is a possibility of a defamation of character lawsuit.  If she wishes to pursue it I will aid her in that action.  The press reported two items that only one person was privy to.”