People, politics and opinions

Carl DeMaio to wed in 2015?

Recently, I had dinner with Carl DeMaio and his life partner Johnathan Hale who have been together about seven years. They had returned from a week’s vacation aboard a cruise liner and looked tanned, rested and ready for a new chapter in their life together.

While many Republican Party leaders are already urging DeMaio to keep his options open for another run for public office, he is focusing on other projects and plans to put all his energies on his new national political PAC and continue to be a leader in changing the Republican Party to be more inclusive and reaching out more to the people of color and GLBT communities as well to youth and students. Indeed, Carl DeMaio is a “new generation Republican” and isn’t going anywhere. As for Johnathan Hale, he was unanimously re-elected to a second term as president of the influential Hillcrest Business Association and plans on more business expansion of his own.

My prediction is that Carl and Johnathan will get married in 2015 and, no, they have not asked me to be the flower girl!

About Toni and Todd

All eyes are on Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and Councilman Todd Gloria who are both termed out of office in 2016. Both are interested and looking at the 53rd congressional seat and the mayor’s office but, and that’s a big but, it all depends if the super popular and beloved Congresswoman Susan Davis decides not to run for re-election (many rumors are that she will not) and if our popular Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s poll numbers remain as high as they are.

In my opinion, both would love to be mayor as both have already served as interim mayors but aren’t about to go on a suicide mission.

Todd Gloria was recently named City Beat’s “Person of the Year” and was also named by Voice of San Diego as one of our city’s most influential voices. A “Draft Gloria for Mayor” campaign has already popped up and everywhere he goes people are urging him to run.

Yes, I have met with both Toni and Todd and had some off the record discussions about their futures and can only say that they have, and will meet together as the year goes on to make sure they are on the same page but different political races!

Pete Chacon 1925-2014

Peter R. Chacon recently passed away. He was the first elected Latino state office-holder from San Diego and a strong supporter of GLBT equality and AIDS awareness and education when it was very unpopular to take these positions.

He was elected to the State Assembly in 1970 and is a Latino pioneer and icon in my community.

Assemblyman Chacon and Irma Munoz, then chair of the Democratic Party helped me establish and serve as director of the People of Color AIDS Survival Effort (POCASE), the very first AIDS organization founded to reach out and educate the black and brown communities.

When the bishop of San Diego refused my request for a Catholic Mass for those who had died of AIDS it was Chacon who assisted me and prevailed the bishop to finally do so after we threatened to picket the bishop’s Christmas Eve Mass.

Assemblyman Chacon and I became good friends and allies. When he became chair of the state’s Latino Caucus he appointed me to the California State Central Committee of the Democratic Party and was a strong supporter of the then Harvey Milk Democratic Club of San Diego.

Pete even came to one of my Imperial Court Coronations and said that I looked like I was a real “Queen of the Cinco de Mayo” when I actually looked like a pig in a wig!

The Latino, GLBT and HIV/AIDS community owes a lot to Pete Chacon as he spoke out for us when others would not dare even to mention us or associate with the “homosexual” community.

Rest in peace, my friend … you were a true public servant and Christian in every sense of the word.

Shirley Weber to be honored Feb. 27

The GLBT community will salute “Black History Month” with the annual Bayard Rustin Honors to be held this year Friday, Feb. 27 at The LGBT Center. Long time civil rights leader and GLBT friend and ally, State Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (chair of the powerful State Assembly Budget Committee) will be receiving the Bayard Rustin Lifetime Achievement Award. Other GLBT African American activists in San Diego will also be honored. For more information: 619-692-1967.

The Bayard Rustin Honors are presented by The LGBT Center, Imperial Court and the GLBT Historic Task Force.

Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 45 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last seven 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. In 2013 Murray Ramirez was named “Mayor of Hillcrest” by a City proclamation. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com