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Stop with all this plane crash guessing!

LGBT Weekly11 years ago11 years ago110 mins

Sheriff’s LGBT Advisory Council co-chair and possible 2016 state Assembly candidate Jacque Atkinson and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

For almost two weeks since that now infamous international missing plane crash, we have been subjected every day to false reports and stories guessing theories on what happened … stop already! For many of us who monthly travel, it’s been nerve wracking … I will be heading to New York City next week and, trust me, I am not looking forward to the flight and wonder why the media had to obsess on this story to the point that in two weeks nothing has changed. So tell us when you know and get some cold hard facts, damn it. Thanks for listening.

Toni Atkins … the pride of California

It wasn’t until 1976 that homosexual acts between consenting adults in California were made legal. Soon Harvey Milk ran and lost not only a San Francisco supervisor race, but a state Assembly race as well. The thought and talk of electing a gay man or lesbian to local or state office … well, let’s just say people would have thought you were smoking a lot of pot or were on LSD. But this past Monday, our very own Toni Atkins was elected speaker of the California state Assembly by a unanimous vote of both Democrats and Republicans. But Toni’s election is not just historic and important to GLBT Californians but is a true testimony of the American dream.

You see, Toni was born dirt poor in the Appalachian coal mountains of Virginia, the daughter of a miner and seamstress whose childhood house did not even have running water or indoor plumbing. Toni Atkins has never forgotten where she came from and has always been an advocate for the less fortunate and marginalized. I first met Toni some decades ago when she was advocating for women’s health issues and funding and she educated me and the Imperial Court about the health needs of women. As I’ve always said, “The Pink Ribbon should be just as important as the Red Ribbon in the GLBT Community.”

We soon started having more women/lesbian health fundraisers and she let me establish the now “Toni Atkins Women’s Health Fund” at The LGBT Center and, trust me, the very modest Atkins fought me about the name. But, my words proved to be true in that more people gave financially to the fund because it was named after her.

At the recent Lincoln Club reception I attended, every Republican Party political activist I spoke to had nothing but respect and admiration for Toni as she is a true role model of a public servant. And now, as she has become the second most powerful public official after Governor Brown, it will not change a thing about her but give her a bigger platform as a champion of those without a voice and for equality for all. Congratulations madam speaker, you are indeed the pride of California in so many, many ways.

The California Republican Party is changing

At this past weekend state convention of the California Republican Party, the rise of more moderates and libertarians was very noticeable. Yes, the conservative right wing still is present, but they are losing their solid hold of the state party year by year. Our very own Mayor Kevin Faulconer was a major star of the convention and when he spoke he mentioned the LBGT community and the diversity of our state. I personally have met and talked to the Republican state chair and he is on the side of GLBT equality. The Log Cabin State Republican Clubs are more visible and active than ever and their event at the state convention drew hundreds of state delegates. As a Latino and gay man, I can tell you this, it’s always good when both political parties are after your vote and community. It may take some time but in California I believe it will happen.