My phone rang off the hook recently over the back cover ad in the October issue of San Diego Pix magazine. It featured two hunky guys sharing what is known in the drug world as a “shotgun.” I have always admitted my own personal drug problem since the 1960s (mostly quaaludes and coke) and trust me I know what a shotgun is and looks like. The ad by Rufskin men’s clothing store sent shockwaves to many parts of our community, especially upsetting our huge recovery community. I fully understand and agree with this and it should not have been published, period.
I did have a good conversation with the publisher of San Diego Pix magazine who did not really take a look at the ad until it came out. He agreed that it should not have run. He and his company have a solid record of giving back to the community especially to Stepping Stone and after our conversation I truly believe he understands and is sensitive about how those two guys come across. It certainly could be a trigger for someone in recovery. Rufskin also has a good community service record and I call upon them to please be a lot more sensitive to these issues and messages. I appreciate that they get it. Thanks for listening.
U.S. Milk stamp campaign started in San Diego
Yes, we in San Diego have a lot of bragging rights when it comes to Harvey Milk who was stationed in our city in the 1950s when he was in the Navy! San Diego is the first city in the world to name a street after Harvey and hold an annual event (Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast) honoring his official state-recognized birthday. And yes San Diego, more than five years ago the national campaign to get the U.S. Post Office to issue a stamp in honor of Harvey was launched in our city.
And now, it’s going to happen. A Harvey Milk postage stamp will be issued around June 2014. Yes, I may be the originator and brainchild of these events and chair their committees but, trust me, it was a team effort with lots of wonderful dedicated and hardworking people. The first letters from public officials to support the Milk stamp campaign came from both Republican and Democratic office holders, then it went national with U.S. senators, mayors etc. This national campaign was organized by the International Imperial Court Council which has chapters in more than 68 cities! Our major partners were the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (N.G.L.T.F.) and the Harvey Milk Foundation.
My sincere appreciation to those people who believed in me and became an important part of this national campaign: Michael Gaffney, Allan Spyere, Rob Surreal, Scott Seibert, A.J. Turner, Russell Roybal, Rea Carey, Stuart Milk and all the Imperial Court chapters across the country. Also to my “honorary national chairs,” Cleve Jones, Rev. Troy Perry, Sen. Mark Leno, Dustin Lance Black, Speaker John Perez, Mike Ruiz, Robin Tyler, Lori Jean, Rea Carey, Stuart Milk … hey, we did it!
Now on to the ongoing U.S.S. Harvey Milk Naval Vessel National Campaign (also based in San Diego); for more info on our Milk ship campaign check out glbthistorictaskforcesd.com
Next, a national holiday; by the way, our next national U.S. stamp campaign is for Bayard Rustin!
Portland, Ore.
I’ve been coming to this city since the 1970s and just love this “city of the roses,” which is one of the most progressive on the West Coast – its last mayor was openly gay Sam Adams (a great guy by the way).
The GLBT community is a large and powerful one and their Imperial Court Chapter just crowned their 55th empress! They even have an all nude go go boy bar which I was too busy to go to – I didn’t get to see even one gay bar!
I am humbled to have a “key to the city of Portland” and to be named an “honorary citizen” but it does not come with free food at Taco Bell … hum.
I saw my longtime friend, gay rights pioneer Terry Bean of the Human Rights Campaign and close friend and adviser to Gov. Barbara Roberts. Terry is a national co-chair of the Harvey Milk Navy ship campaign.
Get over it. Marijuana is nothing compared to alcohol to one’s body. Stop being a f*cking alarmist.
Huh, first thing that came to my mind was meth.
What is the story with these older full figure gay men wearing crowns at sporting events? Is it some club? They look ridiculous. So embarrassing to the gay professional community. Thankfully the younger generation is more mainstream and being gay is just part of their personality. Many are educated, athletic and are not stereotypical followers. My opinion
What is it with obnoxious twinks and their straight acting holier than thou pretentious obnoxious self-righteousness. Just because suddenly you are allowed out into the world doesn’t mean you are inventing it, you are merely discovering what has been around for centuries. Learn a little respect, tolerance and humility and you won’t sound quite so much the ignorant infant.