This month is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month in the U.S.A. As I often say the Golden State is turning brown with the Latino and Asian communities the fastest growing in California. In San Diego we have a very big Asian Pacific Islander community; in fact, San Diego is home to the largest Filipino population outside of Manila!
Did you know in the last presidential election almost 70 percent of all Asian Americans voted! While the Asian Pacific Islander community has a proud beautiful culture America has not always treated them well. California treated Chinese people like slaves during the “gold rush” and we interned Japanese American citizens during World War II, taking their property and putting entire Japanese American families in special barbwired camps. A very shameful part of our nation’s history.
In San Diego we have a very visible and large LGBT Asian American community. Happy Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month to all!
People, politics and opinions
Popular State Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez is fast becoming the Elizabeth Warren of California. A statewide progressive and liberal leader; a voice for the voiceless that many are predicting will be a future statewide office holder.
At a recent meeting of the San Diego County Central Committee both Ninth Council District candidates Ricardo Flores and Caridad Sanchez were introduced and Sanchez by far got the biggest response from these political leaders. But look for a very tight primary race with popular Georgette Gomez (a member of the LGBT community) and Mark Arabo also probably running for the Ninth.
Carl DeMaio and Johnathan Hale had a wedding reception for friends this past Saturday and a very diverse crowd of gays and straights, Republicans and Democrats showed up to wish them the very best. They recently celebrated their sixth anniversary.
Big Mike Phillips is once again taking on the office of president of the board of directors for the Imperial Court de San Diego.
The mayor and City of Long Beach will be honoring local businessman Rick Ford with a prestigious “Harvey Milk Award” at a special ceremony next Wednesday. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor Rick!
San Diego’s seventh annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast (Thurs. May 21) is about sold out once again and world-renowned gay icon the Rev. Troy Perry will be one of the honorees. A global gay leader for over half a century!
Our very own Toni Atkins (speaker of the Assembly) will be the subject of a political roast dinner Tuesday, May 26 in our state capitol.
Word is that a marijuana store will be opening up on top of the Alano Club!
I will be gone the next four weekends; Canada, Salt Lake City, New Mexico and Kentucky.
I had dinner with Steve Whitburn (executive director of San Diego Pride) and this year’s festival will have a lot of new exciting changes. And even better news, Pride will not ever again be paying a guest speaker at the annual Pride Rally $10,000.
Former County Supervisor and Mayor Susan Golding went through chiefs of staff and staff members like water.
It’s very interesting that the only Democrat on the Board of Supervisors has been made a target recently: Dave Roberts is a hard-working and dedicated public servant and a father of five children. Let’s not rush to judgement before all the facts are in.
