In 1974, homosexuals could be, and were, sent to state mental hospitals, and were subjected to electroshock therapy and lobotomies. The police were frequently raiding gay bars (that only heterosexuals owned because gays could not be issued liquor licenses) and beating us up and arresting us for “lewd conduct” (that being dancing with someone of the same sex) then taken to jail only in time to have the charges dropped, but still you had an arrest record.
The mayor refused to even meet with gay activists because he said there weren’t really that many gays living in San Diego, and the police “were just doing their jobs.” All three of our gay bars were “strictly off limits” to all military personnel, and there were constant “witch hunts” to drive out homosexuals in the Navy, Marines and Army, etc.
Almost everyone in the 1970s were deep in their closet as “homosexual acts” were illegal until 1976. Our gay center was a phone “answering machine” in Vietnam veteran Jess Jessop’s apartment. Eddie and Toby were reigning as Emperor II and Empress II, and I was a “Baroness” in the Imperial Court and writing a column in the San Diego Son a bi-weekly gay paper. Landlords could refuse to rent an apartment to you because of your homosexual lifestyle and many of them did. Many of us drag queens and transsexuals could be and were arrested for “cross dressing,” wearing the attire of the opposite sex.
Being Latino and gay I was in the 1970s, just as in my school kid days, many times called a “wetback, spick, beaner, queer, faggot, etc.” Yes, racism, homophobia and hate were very much alive and well. It was in this atmosphere that Jess Jessop, Tom Homann and I went to the police department to get a permit for a Pride march. It was refused and we were told and I quote: “There will never be a homosexual march in San Diego. (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles already had their Pride marches/ parades.) We marched anyway, about 150 of us, many college/university students. (Both Jess and Tom died of AIDS and I miss them dearly.)
In 2016, over 125,000 LGBT people, their friends, families and allies marched. That number included our Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman along with a transgender policewoman and a gay policeman, Sheriff Bill Gore, our Mayor Kevin Faulconer and our first lady Katherine (co-chair of the San Diego AIDS Memorial Task Force). They walked as they have done every year and received thunderous applause from the huge crowd. Both Republican and Democratic elected officials marched and I had a great talk with Steve Quinn (president, Lincoln Club) who enjoyed marching in this his third Pride parade. City Council candidate Ricardo Flores brought his parents and City Attorney candidate Mara Elliott brought her children (both have been endorsed by GLBT Vote 2016.) The Padres chief executive, Mike Dee organized and led the first Padres contingent in the parade, and gave one of the best speeches at the Stonewall Rally. The crowds really went wild as usual for their favorites: Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsome, Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins, and of course Todd Gloria. Rich’s once again had one of the best entries. When will awards be given out for best contingents again? A big “thank you” to Fernando Lopez of San Diego Pride whose idea it was, and who organized the tribute to Orlando to lead our parade. Also job well done to Stephen Whitburn and Sarafina Scapicchio.
I had a nice talk with the new Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning (honorary grand marshal) about the national campaign to get a naval vessel named after Harvey Milk.
As for me, I am getting too old and thank goodness Susan Jester (Founder of AIDS Walk) and I were provided with scooters and rode all the parade with the mayor’s contingent.
One San Diego, and on this day we all were!
WE DO NOT NEED A SHIP NAMED AFTER HARVEY MILK! There has been great Navy heroes that should have their name on a ship before Harvey. However, I highly recommend a brand of toilet paper be named after Nicole Murray Ramirez! He has been living off Harvey’s name for far too long!