Sorry I have not been able to show up at recent events, benefits, parties etc, but I’ve been pretty sick these last weeks and hopefully things will turn around for me.
Milk Foundation goes global
Last week, I got my sick butt up and went to Palm Springs for a meeting of the Harvey Milk Foundation. This organization is growing in leaps and bounds, especially under the leadership of Stuart Milk who now travels all over the world meeting foreign presidents, heads of state and of course international GLBT leaders and activists.
Since the movie Milk it seems the GLBT world has discovered him and claimed him as their own. In Italy alone, there are two GLBT centers named after him and Stuart Milk gets countless invitations to speak at rallies, events and conferences worldwide.
In one Eastern country more than 5,000 neo-Nazis showed up to protest about Stuart Milk and the gay community and held posters with a hangman’s noose holding a star of David, a pink triangle and a picture of Harvey Milk.
The great news for all of us was meeting our newest Harvey Milk Foundation board member Erick Milk, the 25-year-old grand nephew of Harvey who is straight but, of course, very supportive and loving of our GLBT community. There is a lot of exciting news that will be coming from the Harvey Milk Foundation and I will keep you posted.
Sports organizations donate hundreds of toys for children
In the 1970s the gay community raised hundreds of toys for the “Toys for Tots” drive sponsored by the Marine Corps. Sadly, the toys were refused because they came from the “homosexual community.” So, in 1974 the GLBT community established the “Toys for Kids” annual drive which goes on to this day. Toys for children’s abuse centers, homeless centers, etc. Every year the need gets greater and now even our own community’s families and their children are in need, losing homes and jobs.
This year our outstanding sports organizations came together this past Sunday at Eden and brought hundreds of toys. A big heartfelt thank you to the San Diego American Flag Football Team, San Diego Tennis Federation, San Diego Hoops Basketball, San Diego Armada Rugby, San Diego SAGA, San Diego High Roller Bowling League and Scooterheads. God bless you all.
$5, $10 goes a long way
Usually people think that they have to give big checks for donations. The truth is if everyone gave $5, $10 or $15 it would all help. Anything helps during these difficult times for our non-profit agencies. So why not drop by $5 or $10 to The Center, Being Alive, Christie’s Place etc. Thank you.
RuPaul’s Drag Race No. 4
Rumors are going all over the place about the upcoming 4th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race show on Logo TV. Many are also wondering why such a superstar in her own right, the world renowned Chad Michaels, would enter this show of many queens well below her talents and star status. Well, a good source has told me that Chad makes it to the top four and then a big twist happens. Also, this year’s winner will be voted on by the TV viewing audience. Could this all be true? Stay tuned. All we know is that we all love Chad and she is and always will be our superstar, now and forever.
Milk ‘Stamp,’ ‘Street’ or ‘Diner?’
Yes, it looks like within a few years the U.S. Postal Service will issue a Harvey Milk stamp. California already has a special Harvey Milk holiday (May 22) and now San Diego may next year dedicate a Harvey Milk street in Hillcrest. Well, now comes word that the first of many Harvey Milk American Diners may be opening its restaurant doors right here in San Diego.
Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for well over 40 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last five mayors of San Diego. He is also a national board member of the Harvey Milk Foundation and chairman of the International Court Council of the USA, Canada and Mexico. Nicolemrsd@aol.com.
