All this month, I’m out of state every weekend except for the last one when I will return as your emcee at Nightmare on Normal Street in Hillcrest. Join thousands of people at Normal Street and University. I will be the “pig in a wig” on the mic.
Is the 3rd Council seat the gay seat?
Yes it is. Just like the 4th Council seat has been held only by an African American and the 8th Council seat always held by a Latino. Someone from the GLBT community has held this City Council seat for more than two decades! Now comes word that a young, bright, straight Latino, aide for popular City Councilman Todd Gloria, maybe entering the race in 2016.
I had lunch with him and urged him not to. I asked him how would the Latinos like it if a gay white man entered the 8th District race.
Of course, we all know that anyone can run for office and can be of any ethnic background or sexual orientation, but we got “district elections” to empower San Diego communities that were not represented at City Hall. What I found interesting is that this possible Latino straight candidate does not have roots or relationships with his own Latino community leaders and activists!
The new 9th District was supposedly cut up for another Latino district, (yea, which worked out just great – huh, Linda Perine) and I believe he would be a suitable candidate there.
Yes, we need to always have representation and a voice on our City Council and the 3rd District is our only hope. Right now it seems most of the GLBT leaders, activists, business people, etc. are lining up behind Stephen Whitburn.
But with this new drawn map, the 3rd District is different, with now downtown added (thanks again, Linda) and the Republican downtown establishment is looking for their own candidate.
Our community does not need another Gloria/Whitburn battle. We need to unite behind one candidate if we’re going to keep this seat.
By the way, Todd Gloria is not supporting his council aide’s campaign.
Lunch with Nathan Fletcher
Last week, I had lunch with state Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, who many hoped would have been one of the final candidates for mayor. Fletcher is still very popular in San Diego and everyone agrees he has a very bright future ahead of him.
While Nathan Fletcher may remain as an Independent for now, I believe he will become a Democrat in the near future, as I urged him to at our first meeting years ago.
One thing I know positively is that he will not be endorsing Carl DeMaio for any office … period. This handsome, young ex-Marine is super-intelligent and remains one of our city’s most popular figures and still wants to be a public servant for all citizens.
During his campaign, Nathan and his family received countless emails and letters from right-wing bigots that were very ugly and nasty over Nathan Fletcher’s support of full equality and rights for GLBT Americans.
I and many others look forward to a future run for public office by Nathan. Right now he is spending more quality time with his two little boys.
Glam Fest: Oct. 21
Mark your calendar for Sunday, Oct. 21 for fabulous Fi Fi’s Glam Fest III at Lips. It’s always a sell-out and all for the Autism Society of San Diego. Your co-hosts are Jim Christiansen and Big Mike. Show time is 8 p.m. and this includes an appetizer buffet. For more info: 619-295-7900.
Drag Queen Rummage Sale: Oct. 17
On the subject of fabulous drag, there is going to be a big rummage sale Wednesday, Oct. 17 at The Center. Just in time for Halloween, some of San Diego’s most popular drag divas will be selling their goods, and I mean some unbelievable stuff! Part of the proceeds will go to The Center. If you are an interested drag queen who wants to sell her stuff or for further info: Erika 619-808-9529. And yes, I’ll be selling some of my stuff, too!
2012 AIDS Walk rocked!
It was a bright and early Sunday morning when the founder of San Diego AIDS Walk, yes Republican and lesbian Susan Jester, picked me up to go to AIDS Walk in Balboa Park. Susan and I remembered the first years and how small it was then to what it has become now.
And all credit goes to our outstanding LGBT Center, staff and volunteers. Thank you all and you’re the best!
Yet another drug overdose
Recently, another young, popular, gay bartender overdosed and died of drugs. This problem is still a major one in our community and has been taking more young lives than ever before.
Trust me: I know about drugs and I know the lifelong struggle it is for any alcoholic or drug addict. It’s a problem that many more in our community leadership should be addressing and putting more focus on.
Thank God we have the Alano Club, The Center and Stepping Stone. But you, yes you, can do your part by talking to friends you know have this problem and get them help. You just might save a life. Thank you.
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. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com
I’m sure this comment will not be taken seriously or into any consideration at all. But since I have the opportunity, I must say that your passive-aggressive, snarky asides toward Linda Perine and others with whom you disagree is simply pathetic. Though I’m sure you disagree on many topics, both you and Ms. Perine care deeply about the LGBT community and give of your time and resources to benefit it. You have a powerful platform as a figurehead in this community – why (partially) use it to throw mud on the faces of other activists in the community? I know that in other areas of your column, you encourage readers to volunteer and contribute to their community. But your snarky asides diminish the effect of your words urging readers to do good. If you disagree with a policy or an action taken, go through a reasoned argument explaining your position. If these pathetic insults continue, at least be honest about the fact that you’d rather put others (from our own community) down than truly use this platform for good.
I have to agree Jacqueline, it is pathetic, and twisted. It is not clear, it is not funny, it is not respectful, it is sad.
It is with increasing concern that I watch LGBT Weekly columnist Nicole Murray Ramirez deteriorate as a leader of our community.
In the middle of a hugely important election cycle Nicole thinks it is useful to try and create turmoil in the community. Rather than use his column to help our efforts to elect Bob Filner Mayor, Scott Peters to Congress, LGBT candidate Dave Roberts to the Board of Supervisor and Democrat Sherri Lightner to District 1 City Council, he attacks a highly respected Lesbian community leader and a well know and liked young Latino in the name of Stephen Whitburn’s candidacy for an election that is 3-4 years away.
In so doing, he demonstrates once again that far from being a leader, he is, at best, a distraction to the real work of the LGBT and progressive communities. At worst he is an “enemy inside”. While at one time his actions may have helped this community, his irresponsible use of his column and connections show a complete lack of concern or understanding for the importance of the election that takes place in less than a month.
Nicole, you apparently don’t care what is important to this community right now. You clearly have no understanding of the issues and very real dangers we faced in the 2010 Redistricting. Between your ignorance and irresponsibility, and the incumbent’s self-absorption, we could have easily lost the “gay” district you claim to love. Far from castigating Linda Perine, you and other community “leaders” should acknowledge her immense contribution to the D3 and San Diego as a whole. If she hadn’t stood up to you and Todd and done the right thing we would be in a world of hurt right now. Maybe that is why you seem to hate her so much – she is strong and smart and she won’t kiss your fanny.
From your rigged and fraudulent NIcky Awards, to your ignorant and vicious column, you have become a liability to the LGBT and Progressive communities. Please stop your childish and disruptive behavior at least until after the election.
Note to Stephen Whitburn: You should think long and hard about accepting this kind of “help”. If you can’t take on a 20 something straight guy and a lesbian leader who isn’t even a candidate on your own, maybe you aren’t the right guy for the job. Show some backbone for once – distance yourself from Nicole’s destructive nastiness.
Spot on with this write-up, I actually feel this website needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read through much more, thanks for your info!