One of our community’s most artistic treasures for many decades has been Gary Holt. His recent resignation as director of the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus has saddened many and resulted in numerous rumors. The popular Holt joined the Chorus as a singer in 1986, and just a year later he became its director and he held that post until this month. Under his direction, the gay chorus became the first in the nation to perform at the White House (under President Clinton), to sing at the National Conference of Mayors (invited by then Mayor O’Connor) and sing at a Super Bowl. I was proud to arrange for the Chorus to sing at Mayor Susan Golding’s inauguration at the then new convention center.
Gary Holt has always been a positive and outstanding role model and a community leader making sure every concert raised money for a local non-profit charity. Gary believed that through music and reaching out to others the Chorus could change minds, and they did, and still do. When I recently talked to Gary about the Chorus and his resignation, he had nothing but love for the members and only positive things to say and seemingly left the door open for a possible return in the future.
But some Chorus members had a much different story to tell me, blaming former Chorus Board President Sheri Curtis as the problem and main reason for Holt’s departure as she didn’t like Gary and for the last two years did not get along with him. It seems the very hard working Holt had not been given a raise since the two choruses merged and his duties doubled. Also, Holt was put on an unheard of month to month contract by Ms. Curtis and the board and many members say he had just had enough. While many had hoped Holt would hang on until the new popular and more positive incoming president, Bob Lehman, took over, word is that Holt just could not take any more of Curtis’ mean spirit.
Whatever the story, I know we all wish Gary Holt the best and thank him for his outstanding leadership. We, of course, wish our Gay Men’s Chorus the very best as they are No. 1 in the nation as far as San Diegan’s are concerned.
Dignity and GLBT Catholics
Our new Pope Francis has been so well received that many inactive Catholics have begun to return to their churches. Yes, I am a Catholic, was an altar boy in my youth, and deeply thought about becoming a priest. Well, no, really a cardinal. For much of my life my ongoing heavy “Catholic guilt” of being a homosexual greatly damaged me, and I was rejected by my very religious family. I am now at peace and know that we are all God’s children, and he did not make mistakes in a world of millions of GLBT people. Dignity, the San Diego Chapter for GLBT Catholics and their friends is one of our community’s oldest organizations, founded in 1972! In the early 1970s the Imperial Court and I held many benefits for the local Dignity Chapter.
We all should admire such an organization that has served our community for more than four decades. They are good and loving people.
Probably the darkest hour for me was fighting the local bishop. First, over his refusal to say a Christmas Mass for those who died of AIDS, then the battle with the bishop over refusal of a Mass for two gay bar owners, both named John, who died. John of Club Montage, who was like a son to me, and John of the SRO, who was a good friend.
Thank goodness this very mean spirited bishop is gone. Dignity has many programs for GLBT Catholics and has a weekly Mass led by ordained Catholic priests.
For more information please visit dignitysd.org
About this marijuana “game”
We all supported compassionate marijuana use and, yes, we all know that it isn’t working. It seems everyone and anyone can get a doctor to issue a marijuana card. I know an 18-year-old who got one and is as healthy as an ox. A pet dog was even issued a card in the past. It’s all turned into one big game and organized drug dealers have gotten involved. So, I don’t blame Interim Mayor Todd Gloria and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who both support compassionate marijuana use, for trying to control this ongoing mess.
Personally, I never really got into smoking weed as it just put me to sleep (Quaaludes and coke were the drugs of my choice) and thus I am in no position to pass judgment on any people – actually on anything! Because I most certainly have lived in a glass house all my life. But this game has to stop.
You all have until Feb. 24 to sign an initiative that would decriminalize cannabis cultivation, use and distribution, and I urge you to do so. The states of Colorado and Washington have approved the recreational use of marijuana and I believe we should also.
2014
Well, this past year was full of ups and downs – mostly downs for me. Ongoing health problems; I almost died during one hospital visit. Trust me, for many of us seniors these are not the so-called golden years.
I lost many of my friends last year including one of my major mentors, 90-year-old Jose Julio Sarria. But no matter how things got bad for me I knew that there were so many others so much worse off, and I should be grateful for a long life so far and being blessed with many good friends and being involved with such a great community.
2014 is starting off pretty good for me. I’m doing a lot of travelling the first two months: Seattle, Houston (twice), Washington, D.C., and San Francisco to speak at the annual Creating Change Conference which is expected to have more than 4,000 delegates in attendance.
After my, and the International Court System’s successful Harvey Milk postage stamp campaign of five years (to be issued in June 2014) we are now launching our national Bayard Rustin postage stamp campaign.
So, I want to take this time to wish you all a great New Year and one that will be a most positive and productive one for us all.
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 – a correction for the record: The chorus performances at the White House and Super Bowl did not happen under my direction. Those two events took place before our two legacy choruses merged at the beginning of 2010. My friend and colleague Chris Allen was leading the San Diego Men’s Chorus at the time of those two events, while I was conducting the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego.
Ramirez, you’re not all that old. You’re just obese and out of shape. Lose all your excess weight and exercise and you’ll be much better. Stop whining and take better care of yourself.
Nicole, you are a disgrace to journalistic principles to report this one-sided, rumor-based, and frankly inaccurate description of this event. I particularly object to you and/or Gary publicly ‘scapegoating’ Cheri Curtis, who was a dedicated and unpaid volunteer for the Chorus, and a gentle spirit with tremendous admiration for the group. You obviously didn’t interview her since you didn’t spell her name correctly. You are in no position to speak to this issue.
This article is a shame. To publicly malign the elected fiduciary leader of a reputable non-profit shows poor judgment, lack of journalistic ethics, and a mean-spiritedness. Gary Holt served the Chorus well, but you don’t have all of the facts.
The original chorus, San Diego Men’s Chorus, and Mr. Holt parted ways well before the Clinton White House performance. Mr. Holt started the GMCSD, which set the stage for a completely unnecessary era of rivalry and competition for resources. Some hailed him as the champion of the merger of the two choruses in 2009-2010, but he was the very reason that two groups existed in the first place. This is well documented in the public records of the two groups. Or – just ask anyone who was there.
There are always two sides to every story. The board doesn’t really need a reason to find new artistic leadership, but I trust that an elected group of responsible, upstanding singing members and community members had plenty of reason to make the decisions they did. Sometimes fresh ideas and new energy are just what an organization like SDGMC needs. If there was injustice on the scale the commentator described, Mr. Holt surely could have waited two weeks until the new leadership took office, or corralled the support of the singers who elect their board to prevent his departure. That’s how these things work.
When will the LGBT Weekly stop allowing this rumor-monger to stop perpetuating gossip? Commentary in our community should not include hurtful slander – especially when no attempt is made to get the other side of the story. Stop allowing this garbage in print. Until then, you’ve lost a bunch of us as readers.