Over a decade ago, I started writing and talking about how I as a Latino could feel proud in postage stamps, schools, parks and streets being named after outstanding Latino American citizens; not so as a gay American.
Since then I have led various successful campaigns. A campaign to get the first street in San Francisco named after a gay man – Jose Julio Sarria, a War World II veteran, the first openly gay candidate in North America (1961) and Empress I. A campaign to get the first U.S. postage stamp issued in honor of a gay citizen (Harvey Milk) and a campaign to get the first San Diego street named after a gay citizen, also Harvey Milk.
Last week I stood before City Council members asking for a park to be named after gay veteran, civic leader and AIDS activist Dr. Brad Truax and for an AIDS memorial to be built as San Diego is one of the only major cities without one.
Over 18,000 men, women and children have died from AIDS in San Diego. Let me make it very clear, though I may come up with these ideas/campaigns it becomes a complete team effort with other leadership involvement.
In San Francisco it was my good friend, former Supervisor Bevan Dufty; in San Diego when it comes to Milk Street and a proposed Truax park it is Councilman Todd Gloria. I have established the GLBT Historic Task Force and when I first approached Mayor Kevin Faulconer with my longtime dream for an AIDS memorial he immediately gave us his full support and the first lady of San Diego Katherine Faulconer became the co-chair of the AIDS Memorial Task Force.
Last week Terry Cunningham, past HIV/AIDS County director, and Susan Jester, founder of AIDS Walk and GLBT Historic Task Force member also spoke for any proceeds from the sale of Truax House to partly go to an AIDS memorial.
Last week, the Smart Growth and Land Use Committee voted unanimously to sell the land the vacant dilapidated Truax House now stands on. Both Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Councilman Gloria support that one of the new proposed parks in the area be named after Dr. Brad Truax and finally an AIDS memorial be built in this park. I hope all San Diego citizens will support this proposal. Thank you!
School board does the right thing!
As I have said before, Kevin Beiser’s election to the school board was the most important election for our community since Kehoe won a council seat.
Last week, School Superintendent Cindy Marten gave me a call asking me to attend the next school board meeting which I did. We now have two LGBT staff members doing outreach and advocacy to our schools (first in the nation), an online Bullying Report Campaign for all students, mandatory LGBT sensitivity training for all school staff and a recently launched LGBT student survey. This all has to do with the leadership of Kevin Beiser, Dr. Delores Jacobs, P.F.L.A.G.(Terrie Vorono), G.L.S.E.N.(Colin Pearce), Fernando Lopez and many others. Thank you and God bless you all.
San Diego LGBT Latino Coalition: March 31
The first meeting of The San Diego County LGBT Coalition will be held Thursday, March 31 (Cesar Chavez Day) and all Latinos are invited to attend and join. The San Diego LGBT Black Coalition is up and going strong. So now my brown brothers and sisters need to come together and organize!
For further information contact Carolina Ramos, Fernando Lopez or Nicole Murray Ramirez 619-692-1967.
Bayard Rustin Civil Rights Honors: Friday Feb. 19
The entire community is invited to attend the third annual Bayard Rustin Civil Rights Honors saluting Black History Month Friday, Feb. 19 at The San Diego LGBT Community Center at 6 p.m. This year’s honorees are Tony Young, Vernita Gutierrez, Dwayne Crenshaw, Camille Davidson and Dion Brown! $15 at the door.
This Sunday: Tantrums and Tiaras!
Yes the most fun and outrageous event of the year is this Sunday Feb. 21, and it is always a sell out so get your tickets today! The first year I had the honor of crowning the winner and this year I am a judge. tantrumstiaras.org
