It’s a great day for our nation and city as both our president and mayor are the most progressive and pro-equality ever elected.
LGBT Veterans’ Wall ceremony
A great crowd showed up to The Center to honor the 2012 inductees to the Ben F. Dillingham and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans’ Wall of Honor.
Chair Joseph Rocha and his hard-working fellow councilmembers did an outstanding job. Among the VIP’s in attendance were Congresswoman Susan Davis, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors Ron Roberts, former state Assemblymember Lori Saldana and City Councilmember Todd Gloria.
Also, the award-winning San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus sang the national anthem and the California State San Marcos ROTC Color Guard presented the flags.
Many LGBT veterans were in attendance including two Pearl Harbor survivors of World War II.
Among the 2012 inductees were gay pioneer Robert Lynn, Luke Terpstra (who moved us all when he repeated his military oath); also gay icon Jeri Dilno who courageously fought her discharge. And, of course, the tireless civil rights advocate Lisa Kove.
Other LGBT veterans honored were George Haverstick, Donald Kambic, Ben Fowler, Harvey Milk, Stan Berry, Jim Woodward and August Provost.
Though I had the honor to speak at this ceremony, as the founder of this LGBT Veterans’ Wall, all credit for this great event and the hard work must go to our LGBT Center and the LGBT Veterans Council.
Thank you all for giving my vision life … and a special thank you to Col. Stewart Bornhoft.
Alano Club gets $15,000 from Ron Roberts
Great news for our recovery community … Ron Roberts, chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, made sure that $15,067 was allocated from the Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant for the Alano Club, so it can replace old carpeting with vinyl tile, replace ceiling tiles and purchase 318 chairs and three chair dollies to better serve and help our GLBT community members recovering from alcoholism and addiction.
Our community has always been able to count on Ron Roberts since his City Council days and as a county supervisor he made the first GLBT appointments to the County’s Veterans Board, Alcohol and Drug Advisory Commission and the County Social Service Commission.
Dear Ben Cartwright …
After reading yours and Ken Williams’ posting on SDGLN, it’s sad that you are not following the lead of your candidate Carl DeMaio who has called for San Diego to unite and heal after the most negative and ugly mayoral race in our city’s history.
DeMaio’s concession speech was one of a man who loves San Diego and wants our city and new mayor to succeed. Ben Cartwright, your attacks on the labor unions, LGBT Weekly and accusing Congressman Bob Filner of “gay baiting” just continues this negativity and division.
There were nasty TV ads and attacks by both sides during the campaign, but now it’s over … the fat lady has sung … so get over it.
As for the Balboa Park lily pond incident and Johnathan Hale, I not only defended him in my column, but also informed our police chief that I knew Johnathan had nothing to do with this shameless event.
Sad to say, politics and campaigns can be pretty dirty and ugly and Carl and Bob’s supporters got down, at times, to some really low levels; but now both of them have reached out to each other. You, both, are the only ones to continue with the negativity.
People, politics and opinions
Rumors all over town are that Tony Young may be stepping down from the City Council to go into the private business sector, as he has children to send to college.
When Tony Young steps down, word is that Dwayne Crenshaw is looking to become a candidate to replace him in the 4th District.
San Diego pays its councilmembers some of the lowest salaries in the nation.
I’ve heard that people are urging Lori Saldaña to run for the City Council … great idea!
Supervisor Ron Roberts’ gay appointee to the County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Commission, Frank Lechner, has been nominated to be vice-chair by his fellow commissioners.
San Diego’s first openly gay candidate to run for City Council, 75-year-old Al Best went through some major surgery this week; please keep him in your prayers.
Hooray, Donna Frye is coming back to City Hall to work for our new mayor!
The day after the election I spoke with our police chief, Bill Lansdowne and he was very happy that Bob Filner was elected and, thank goodness, will stay for a while.
More good news is that Filner’s campaign manager, Ed Clancy, who moved here from back East will now stay in San Diego to join Mayor Filner’s new administration.
As to who will be the first mayor from the GLBT community, all bets are either Toni Atkins or Todd Gloria. They both have a bright future ahead of them.
8 tickets selling like hot cakes!
The whole city is talking about the play 8 and who is coming to town to perform.
Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, former *NSYNC boyband singer Lance Bass, TV star Annette O’Toole, Emmy winner and one of the most popular comedians Bruce Vilanch, Mayor Jerry Sanders, Councilmember Todd Gloria and, of course, writer and Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black.
It’s all a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights and tickets are going like hot cakes for the Nov. 19 event (7:30 p.m.) at the Birch North Park Theatre. It’s going to be a sell-out!
There will be a panel and Q&A with the stars after the play. For more info: 619-239-8836. See you all there next Monday night!
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
