I will organize opposition to renaming the Coronado Bridge to Ronald Reagan Bridge
Now comes word that there is a campaign going on to rename our beautiful Coronado Bridge to the Ronald Reagan Bridge. Let me make it very clear that while I admire Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy achievements, his silence and non-support during the early dark years of the AIDS crisis cost thousands of lives.
I urge you all to read or see the book/movie And the Band Played On and you will know Reagan and his administration refused to do anything to stop the AIDS crisis and help people who had AIDS. One must look at a President’s complete record, and when it came to AIDS Reagan refused to do anything. For more than 30 years I’ve been involved with the issue of AIDS/HIV (founder AIDS Assistance Fund, co-founder People of Color AIDS Survival Effort, vice-chair of the AIDS Project and appointed by the board of supervisors to the San Diego County Regional Task Force on AIDS.)
I call upon all those who lived during the 1980s, when going to funerals and memorials became a way of life for us, to speak out against renaming this bridge in honor of Ronald Reagan.
Let the organizers of this re-naming effort know how you oppose these efforts. Ronaldreaganbridge.com. To protest the renaming, visit change.org, search Coronado Bridge and add your name to the petition against the name change.
People, politics and opinions
What popular and very influential former Democratic congressmember has joined the growing list of endorsers for Bonnie Dumanis for mayor in 2012? And what two local Tea Party leaders told a reporter that they’re for Carl DeMaio for mayor?
Big congratulations to Jess Durfee on being elected to an unprecedented fourth term as chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party!
For those of us who have believed and stood by former councilman Michael Zucchet, we always knew he would finally be cleared of all those false federal charges. It’s disgusting that it took seven years. Word is that Pat Sherman, the editor of Gay San Diego will be leaving. He did an outstanding job building this popular paper.
Lori Saldana is already gathering endorsements for her State Senate run in 2012. Among them are Howard Dean, Karen Bass and Juan Vargas. This will be a most hard fought race, especially with Toni Atkins entering the race against Saldana.
The “Harvey Milk Tequila” Mexican businessmen have leased a San Diego office, right next to our San Diego LGBT Weekly office.
Ben F. Dillingham, who already sits on the San Diego County Veterans Board, has now been appointed to the San Diego County Treasury Oversight Commission. An outstanding appointment due to County Treasurer Dan McAllister. While there are many community members eyeing Todd Gloria’s city council seat when he moves on, the name still being mentioned is Robert Gleason. Don’t forget Todd is starting to stake out his bid years before election!
I do hereby endorse Lorena Gonzales for the State Assembly in 2012!
Word is that Chris Kehoe and Donna Frye will not be candidates for mayor in 2012, so that leaves Bonnie Dumanis as the only woman in this upcoming race.
Rancho Santa Fe business tycoon, Gene Haytow recently died. He did many great things for many people and causes. May he rest in peace.
Boycott Chick-fil-A!
First of all, who really eats these soaky, hand-breaded, under-cooked chicken breasts, stuffed into a greasy over-buttered bun with sour pickles anyway? I’ve had better sandwiches at Father Joe’s homeless shelter. Well, now comes word that the owners of Chick-fil-A sandwiches (1,530 restaurants in 39 states) strongly support anti-gay organizations.
In fact, this southern-based business is even nicknamed “Jesus chicken” and is closed on Sundays. In San Diego there is a Chick-fil-A drive thru in front of the Sports Arena and one in Mira Mesa. So, tell all your friends to boycott this right-wing business. Anyways, seems the only people who really like this food are hillbillies and rednecks.
Jennifer LeSar and Toni Atkins, true public servants
Jennifer LeSar will be one of the honorees at the upcoming Lambda Archives’ Heroes, Pioneers and Trailblazers gala, and rightfully so, as she played a major part in getting us our LGBT youth housing complex, among many other things.
I often introduce Toni Atkins as “The pride of San Diego” at events because she brought our city together when she became acting mayor, after the resignation of Mayor Murphy.
This past Saturday on the front cover of the Union-Tribune’s B Local Section was a story about the homeless, and Toni and Jennifer’s work among them. The article was about 550 volunteers who were out all over San Diego County until 5 a.m., and at times 33 degrees temperature. They were out helping count the homeless in our region and helping them, Jennifer and Toni among them.
These two women, these two public servants, are indeed role models for all of us. Thank you both.
Nikolai Alekseev:
Gay Russian hero coming to USA
The national LGBT gay movement and activists are very excited with the announcement that world-known Russian gay leader/activist Nikolai Alekseev will be making his first visit to the USA.
For years, world headlines have come out of Moscow’s gay community’s attempts to hold gay pride events and the attacks and beatings of gay organizers like Alekseev by wild, anti-gay Russian mobs.
I’ve had the honor to be asked to speak at events for him in Los Angeles, Palm Springs and San Francisco. I’ll give you a full report in my next column.
Big announcements coming at Lambda Archives’ gala!
Mark your calendar for Feb. 11 and the Lambda Archives’ fourth annual gala Heroes, Pioneers and Trailblazers at The Center.
There will be two great major announcements being made that are both very exciting for San Diego’s LGBT community. But I have promised to keep my mouth shut until that evening, so get your tickets today! Info: 619-260-1522.
Why do they call these the ‘Golden Years?’
Who was the idiot who termed people’s senior years as the “Golden Years” of ones life? Hell no, they aren’t. I believe they should have called them the “Bronze” or “Copper” years.
Since I’ve become a senior, some … hum … years ago, I’ve gotten more ill, more tired, with money tighter and I fall asleep earlier!
I look like a “pig in a wig” in drag and like an old fat Mexican man out of drag!
I forget people’s names more often. Hell, I forget everything more often. My long time friends are dying all around me. Sound like “Golden Years” to you?
