Recently at a GLBT event, one of the producers actually went out of his way to hide the American flag because of personal views! For decades, I’ve dealt with this with many left-wing GLBT activists refusing my requests that we sing our nation’s national anthem and display our country’s flag.
Most refuse to do so at main GLBT events or rallies. In fact, I can tell you as either a national co-chair or organizer of all five national GLBT marches on Washington (the first in 1979 and last one in 2009) about 95 percent of the time I was voted down for both the national anthem or a non-denominational religious prayer be said by my fellow national board members. Every poll and survey shows that a vast majority of GLBT Americans are both patriotic and spiritual. It’s our American flag too. Let’s display it! Thank you to the Hillcrest Business Association who put American flags all over the neighborhood for the Fourth of July. Happy Birthday to former City commissioner and attorney for numerous non-profits, a really nice guy and good friend who gave me my cat, Nixon, Rick Kerman, who turns 60 years young this weekend! Aug. 11, many of us GLBT activists will be holding a brunch honoring former mayor, Jerry Sanders, which will be a fundraiser for one of his legacies – our city’s new super library!
Remembering our first Prides
In 1974, after participating in Los Angeles Pride Parades (held in Hollywood) Jess Jessop and I talked to L.A. Pride co-founder Morris Knight to give us advice on San Diego holding a Pride march. My personal attorney, Tom Homann, Jess Jessop and I went to the police department, (then located on Market Street) to get a permit and they refused. But we marched anyway with about 200 long time activists. Bridgette Wilson has written a great piece on our first Pride marches. In 1975, Attorney Homann succeeded in getting a police permit after he and the ACLU threatened to sue the City. Jeri Dilno joined us in putting on or first parade (downtown Broadway, and up Fifth Avenue to Balboa Park) and rally and she is still involved 39 years later. Everyone who participated in our 1974 and 1975 parades were all brave because it was not until 1976 that homosexual sex was made legal in the state of California.
Recently, Jeff Wergeles of the ACLU sent me a historic letter written by Attorney Tom Homann in 1990 before he died of AIDS. And Tom wrote: “For several years when we seemed to always have problems, I helped get permits and police approval for the annual Gay Pride Parade and Festival. The police used to send a letter to me each year granting me permission ‘to hold your parade.’ Since the letter was addressed to me, I always considered the parade mine!”
About Team First Lady
In the last years in my travels to numerous cities across the country, I noticed that some of the first ladies of mayors were very visible and involved in social justice and charities.
During the mayoral primary, I first talked with Bonnie Dumanis and her married spouse, Denise about my idea, and she thought about “seniors” being her focus if Bonnie won. Then I talked to Bronwyn Ingram about my idea and her priority was the “homeless issue.” After the general election Bronwyn Ingram, Mindy Fletcher and I sat down at the Indigo Café to discuss my idea for Team First Lady of San Diego: an all-volunteer group to help our new first lady bring visibility and a spotlight on social issues. The very down to earth Bronwyn, already a homeless advocate, turned out to be the perfect person to forever change the position of our mayor’s partner. Bronwyn Ingram didn’t care about fancy clothes or status and everyone who met Bronwyn fell in love with her compassion and how she lifted people up and helped nourish so many who felt marginalized. Many of you know I’ve been a close friend and supporter of Mayor Bob Filner for decades and Bronwyn soon became like a daughter to me and we even went looking for future wedding sites: The Weiss family estate and City Commissioner Bruce Abrams’ home.
San Diego owes Bronwyn much for what she has accomplished in just seven months. What a remarkable woman. Prominent San Diegan, Nancy Chase and I served as co-chairs of Team First Lady’s advisory board and will meet to discuss the future of some of Bronwyn’s many ongoing projects. Nancy and I would like to thank the many Team First Lady volunteers, especially executive director, Allan Spyere, and Jimmy Long.
Also, all of our sincere condolences to Bronwyn on the recent death of her very best friend, Georgia Cave, who was another beloved lady.
People, politics and opinions
My longtime pal, Cleve Jones (founder Names AIDS Quilt, movie consultant for Milk) told me he is busy writing a new book. Sheriff Bill Gore will be announcing the first GLBT Advisory Board to the Sheriff of San Diego County next week in honor of Pride month. Some political movers and shakers are urging popular state Sen. Mark Leno to run for lieutenant governor in the future. Others see him as a future San Francisco mayor or congressman. Russell Roybal is in town this weekend for Pride as the deputy director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington, D.C.
Yes, there are “Re-call Mayor Bob Filner” stickers popping up, but as for the “Todd Gloria for Mayor” stickers, trust me, he has nothing to do with them. And if he ever ran for mayor, it would be after Filner. Let me make this perfectly clear about Carl DeMaio, who now may be facing two other Republican opponents. I urge Republicans to vote for DeMaio and Democrats to vote for Scott Peters in the open primary. Then let the general election select the winner between these two qualified candidates. My friend, Washington state Sen. Ed Murray, is a front runner to become the first gay mayor of Seattle! Hillary Clinton for president in 2016! Gay pioneering icon, Jose Julio Sarria, 91 years old, is not doing well. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Our popular Police Chief Bill Lansdowne, told me he looks forward every year to marching in our parade. Let’s give our sheriff and police chief a big cheer this Saturday. I am hearing great things about lifeguard and neighborhood activist, Ed Harris, who is running for the second City Council seat and has been endorsed by Sen. Marty Block.
Mr. Printer … are you blind and stupid?
So called arts columnist Andrew Printer, last week dished super popular Babette and I, while praising another drag performer. Mr. Printer wrote, and I quote: “Tired of Babette and Nicole sashaying the same old frocks and slinging the same old shtick. Well, sniff out some fresh drag.” No, he didn’t! Babette’s shows are always sold out and her outfits and hairdo’s are flawless, fun, colorful and always different and her “shtick” changes all the time. As for me, I now only do drag these last years in San Diego about twice a year for charity fundraisers. And, yes, I’ve gotten fat and now have to wear moo moos and, at times, look like the Bride of Chuckie. But who do you, Mr. Printer, think you are? I think you’re either blind or stupid, or both!
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
Snooze… Who cares if your fat. Rude to joke about someone having special needs. And u talk about other people needing sensitivity training? Go scratch.