Harvey Milk stamp, BearQuake and the repeal of DADT

Tom Dickerson, Mr. San Diego Leather 2002 and longtime supporter of the San Diego LGBT community contacted me so that I might share with you, the leather community, news that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee will vote on and select 25 commemorative stamps this coming quarter.

His goal is for the leather community to support the selection of a stamp in honor of Harvey Milk.

Harvey was part of a ground breaking election in 1978. He became one of the world’s first openly gay elected officials. Unfortunately, he only served less than a year in public office before he was brutally assassinated.

Recently, the Human Rights Commission of San Diego sent a proposal (sponsored by 51st District Rep. Bob Filner, City Council President Kevin Faulconer and Nicole Murray-Ramirez) to the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee recommending the creation and issuance of a “Harvey Milk commemorative” U.S. postage stamp.

Dickerson is asking for our community as a whole to inundate the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory office with thousands of requests to approve the Harvey Milk commemorative stamp. The board is comprised of 12 members appointed by the postmaster general. The committee meets quarterly in Washington, D.C. to review these proposals. So now is the time to start writing those letters. Be a part of your history as a member of the LGBT community. This is where that pride comes in that we celebrated a few months back.

Please help! For more information, join the Facebook group, “Honor Harvey Milk with a U.S. postage stamp.” And for additional information call the National Campaign Director at 602-469-6310, or email harveymilkstampdir@cox.net.

Now on to what’s happening in San Diego! Bears San Diego proudly presents “BearQuake 2011 – Bearlesque” Oct. 13-16, 2011 in beautiful sunny San Diego. The event will be hosted at the historical Lafayette Hotel and Swim Club in North Park. It’ll be a fun weekend that will kick off with a dinner and bar night with drink specials at the Redwing Thursday evening Oct. 13. If you can’t make it Thursday, come out and meet the contestants at the Meet and Greet at Pecs Bar on Friday, Oct. 14. On Saturday there will be a lot happening starting with a private barbecue and pool party at the hotel from noon to 4 p.m. Afterwards, stop in at Rich’s for the VIP reception and then the Mr. Southern California Bear/cub contest and show with Aerial Revolution, followed by the ever so popular “LLBear/BearQuake” dance. On Sunday there will be a brunch and bingo with the Sisters at Mo’s. To polish off the weekend, join the bears for the Victory Celebration at the Hole from 4 to 8 p.m., followed by a farewell dinner at Brian’s. This event promises to be frisky, friendly and fun! There will also be shuttle transportation to off-site events. If you register for the weekend you will also receive a BearQuake 2011 commemorative T-shirt. Go to bearquake.com for more information.

At this time, I would like to commend boy Bryan, American Leather boy 2011 on a job well done during his title year. Bryan was Mr. San Diego Leather 2010, and like so many San Diego titleholders went on to represent an international title. If you are in the mood to travel, go to Chicago and show your support for Bryan at the American Brotherhood weekend being held Oct. 7-9, 2011. I’m sure there will be a few San Diegans in the audience because we travel well.

On a more personal note, I would like to thank all of you for your emails regarding my journey into the leather community. I received some very nice comments, emails and texts from members of the entire LGBT community. I would also like to thank a very special couple for sharing with me their encounter on how, “It Started at the Gym!” I am sure there are a lot more real life stories out there. Thank you for your stories! They were very heartfelt and warm.

Come out, come out wherever you are, because by the time you read this, as of Sept. 20, 2011, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be final. Now your stories are the ones we want to hear. Go ahead email me, I dare you! Intlleathersir2003@cox.net.