About the ‘B’ in GLBT

Recently, when a high-profile civic leader came out more openly as bi-sexual many of you ask me questions about their bi-sexuality and how this could be.

The truth is I’ve always found that many gay people do not understand or believe that a person could actually be bi-sexual!

Most of my longtime partners were bi-sexual. Yes, they had girlfriends and me and I had no problem with it.

There are people who love both sexes and often are in a male relationship, then female one and continue to go back and forth. Among our younger generation bi-sexuality is indeed growing and very common.

The cold hard facts are that we do have a “B” in GLBT and should all be more accepting and supportive of our bi-sexual brothers and sisters instead of being so uncomfortable or doubting as many gays are.

Three of my ex-partners went on to marry women who accepted their bi-sexuality.

It seems that bi-sexuality in our GLBT community is never talked about or spotlighted. It’s kinda ignored.

Colorado and marijuana

Recently, I visited Denver, Colo. Let me say since the voters of this state voted to legalize marijuana this indeed has become the “mile high state.” More than 50,000 people were in town for a “pot festival” and honestly you could smell marijuana everywhere, including in the halls of my hotel. Yes, one could get a “contact high” very easily.

Now I do believe that marijuana should be made legal, but I must honestly say that there has to be better ways to control how and where it is smoked because it was a little crazy and loose in Colorado.

Arizona and Cleve Jones

This weekend I am heading to Phoenix, Ariz. where I will meet up with my old friend Cleve Jones who will be a guest of honor at the home of Rev. Brad Wishow and Andy Hollingsworth for a fundraiser for the Human Equal Rights Organizers of Arizona (HERO).

As many of you know, Cleve Jones is the founder of the “AIDS Quilt” and was the historic consultant for the movie Milk. Word is that Dustin Lance Black will also be in Phoenix for the opening of his highly acclaimed play 8.

Women’s HIV-AIDS Retreat fundraiser: May 8

Coming up next Wednesday, May 8, is a fundraiser for the annual “Women’s Empowerment Retreat.” This important fundraiser will be held at Jake’s Wine Bar, 3755 Sixth Ave. from 6-11 p.m. with 100 percent of all food and drinks being donated to Christie’s Place which is sponsoring this fifth annual retreat which offers educational and motivational workshops to HIV-AIDS women.

I’ll be stopping by and I hope you will too. Thanks!

Get your Milk Breakfast tickets today!

Yes, there are now just a few tables and tickets left for the sixth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast set for Friday, May 24 at the Hilton Hotel on the bay.

With more than 900 tickets being sold this event is always a sell-out and this year is no different with stirring remarks set to be made by the first woman governor of Oregon and an Academy award winner along with Harvey Milk’s nephew! For more info: 619-692-2077 ext. 246.

Happy Birthday Candi Samples!

This week is our reigning Empress XLI Candi Samples’ birthday and she has been doing a great job along with her Imperial Court members.

Candi has been a wonderful fresh and new face of leadership within the Imperial Court de San Diego and has become a hard-working empress for the community. A special thank-you to her Prince James!

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 six 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