It was a different Carl DeMaio who announced his candidacy for the 52nd Congressional District seat recently. His life-partner Johnathan Hale was up front and by his side and he called upon the Republican Party to be “more positive and inclusive,” and that they should stay out of social issues which he said, “… are frankly none of government’s business in the first place.”
The “52nd” is considered a very moderate “swing district” with Republican registration edging out Democrats by more than 6,000 votes! The incumbent is millionaire Scott Peters who barely beat out popular Lori Saldana (who I endorsed) after outspending her 10 to 1 with ugly and negative attacks on her. Peters barely won his race over Brian Bilbray and I did not endorse either candidate. This congressional race will be one of the most watched nationally next year.
Carl DeMaio describes himself as a “new generation Republican” and I believe he has become that. If the Republican Party is going to change it badly needs members like Jerry Sanders, Ron Roberts, Bill Gore, Bonnie Dumanis, Kevin Faulconer, etc. Let’s not forget that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell needed Republican votes to be struck down and also for the gay marriage bill to pass in New York.
DeMaio was the first elected Italian-American to our City Council since the 1930s. I hope he has a good position on immigration reform. Carl DeMaio deserves another look as hopefully one learns from life and past campaigns.
Equality California Dinner: outstanding!
For more than 45 years I’ve been going to political and civil rights dinners and this past weekend’s Equality California Dinner San Diego was outstanding and rates in my top 5 out of hundreds.
All the honorees/speakers were unbelievable and moved the audience many times to tears. Vince Pompei’s speech was remarkable and one of the best. What a champion for our youth and students. His mom, by the way, is beautiful.
Supervisor Dave Roberts, his dedicated partner Wally, their five children and Jeanette and Greg with their transgender daughter and three other teens truly equal family values. It was an honor for all of us to have these 2013 awardees introduce their families to us and share with us an example of true Christian love.
The entire ballroom gave Vince, Jeanette, Greg and Dave well-deserved and prolonged standing ovations.
ABCTV10 newsman, Michael Chen was the perfect host with the most. Assembly Leader Toni Atkins received a rousing welcome; Gary Soto, not only looked great but gave a great intro. And new EQCA Executive Director John O’Connor continues to prove why he is our best voice in the state capitol.
Bravo to Joyce Rowland and Susan Guinn who made sure we reached the $50,000 of pledges and cash that night.
As a past state president of Equality California I am so proud of how far we have come and sincerely thank current San Diego state board members Randy Clark, Susan Guinn and Joyce Rowland for their years of dedication and hard work that has benefitted all of us.
GSA Awards
Did you know about 40 high schools in San Diego County have Gay Straight Alliance clubs? The good people of GLSEN held their second annual GSA Awards at The Center this past Friday night and I stopped by and it was great to see almost 200 gay, lesbian, bi, trans and straight students come together and have such a good time. A special thank you to Colin Pearce and all members of GLSEN!
Immigration reform rally
Allan Spyere and I stopped by this rally held at the County Administration building on Pacific Coast Highway this past weekend and among the fiery speakers were Congressmembers Susan Davis and Juan Vargas, Mayor Bob Filner, School Board member Richard Barrera, Laurie Coskey and Enrique Morones of the Border Angels. It was a moving event and our community should know that GLBT people are also a part of the undocumented community in this country.
Liberace’s plastic surgeon and I
The recent Behind the Candelabra HBO movie about Liberace brought back some memories for me and not all good. You see, his plastic surgeon Dr. Jack Startz of Beverly Hills was also my plastic surgeon when I lived in Hollywood in the 1960s.
And what the movie didn’t tell was that Jack Startz was a phony and didn’t have a license and Liberace sued him. (Read his autobiography.)
“Dr.” Startz did one of my nose jobs and also pumped me with illegal silicone and, yes, gave me those infamous “714” Quaalude pills! And let me tell you, actor Rob Lowe was too handsome and young to play the ugly and crazy Dr. Jack Startz!
38th Nicky Awards: Aug. 25
Mark your calendar for the “Gay Academy Awards of San Diego” set for the Marriott Mission Valley with outstanding entertainment, glamour, fun and red carpet interviews, etc. More info nickyawards.com or 619-300-1212.
Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 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
Nicole Murray Ramirez does a 180 on Carl DeMaio. http://t.co/WYIPRNH1mV
How is it that a mere 12 months ago Nicole was at war with Carl and his partner Jonathan, yet now he is apparently one of DeMaio’s biggest apologists? Let us not forget that Carl DeMaio is a tea party loyalist. He attends their events, and he believes in their twisted philosophy. What people forget when they are thinking about the portent of another gay member of Congress is that Carl will vote for a Speaker who will appoint people like Michelle Bachman to the Intelligence Committee as well as prevent ANY substantive pro-equality legislation from ever seeing the light of day in the House. While Carl would send out press release after press release about his pro equality record, he will be voting for House leadership that would seek to deny he and Jonathan any semblance of equality. Thanks about that before you vote.
I thought Nicole? was going to change the tone of the column? Comment about Dr Stark seem nasty and unprofessional to me.