As many of you know, October is national breast cancer awareness month and our lesbian sisters are affected almost twice as much as their straight counterparts. Please support the Toni Atkins Health Fund at The Center. Thank you.
Gay Marine gets threats
In 1948, when President Truman issued his executive order (No. 9981) marking the beginning of the end of racial segregation in the military it took several years for full integration to occur. Though the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was repealed, our gay and lesbian soldiers are still going through some very rough times, especially in the Marines. You will recall the Marines were the No. 1 military branch against lifting the ban. Recently, a gay Marine from Camp Pendleton, now in the frontlines in Afghanistan, has been subjected to some ongoing resistance. This young gay Marine has had his life threatened by some of his platoon members and most aren’t even talking to him. His commander told other Marines that this young soldier had assigned his gay partner to receive his life insurance. Some of his fellow Marines have told him that they would not cover for him if he were attacked by the enemy. His partner and I have informed the offices of Congresswoman Davis and Assembly Majority Whip Toni Atkins and this situation is now being monitored. Our gay and lesbian soldiers need our continued support and, yes, our prayers.
Portland, Ore.
Openly gay mayor, Sam Adams has announced that he will not run for re-election. Not long ago, a campaign to recall Adams failed to make the ballot and he has proven to be a very hardworking and successful mayor. A future run for Congress may be in Sam Adams’ future. I had the pleasure of presenting an award to another rising GLBT star, Kendall Clawson, a top aide to the governor of Oregon, Dr. John Kitzhaber. When I left San Diego it was 85 degrees and when I arrived in Portland it was cold and rainy. Five days of that weather was more than enough for me.
Dumanis and the marijuana issue
When popular district attorney, Bonnie Dumanis announced her candidacy for mayor a small, but loud, group of pro-marijuana advocates picketed her kickoff. She has continued to be the number one target of this organized group of people. Bonnie Dumanis has always been a supporter of cancer and AIDS patients being able to have compassionate marijuana use. But, a lot has changed for those of us in this fight. Now, there are almost as many marijuana stores as there are McDonald’s, and the cold, hard reality is that this has become a very messy issue.
As for me, I agree with our state’s largest physician organization, the California Medical Association, which has called for the legalization of marijuana and for it to be regulated in the same way as alcohol and tobacco is regulated. But in the meantime, our local law enforcement officials are caught between a rock and a hard place, including mayoral candidate and current D.A., Bonnie Dumanis.
About airports, hotels and dollars
I’m off to the airport again. In the last few years I’ve been doing a lot of travelling. And, these last two months I’ve been gone almost every weekend. Many of you have asked me who pays for all of this? I want to set the record straight.
First of all, the host conference or organization pays for all of my travel and accommodation. No non-profit San Diego organization pays for my travels. And yes, sometimes local and outside businesspeople assist in my travels, especially when I serve on the national executive boards of the HRC, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Latino GLBT Association and Marches on Washington, D.C. None of my travels this past year have been vacations (in fact, I’ve never had one). They have all been for meetings, speeches, etc. These past five years, I’ve lived in senior housing and, like many, I struggle to meet my rent and growing medical bills. All of my life, I have been blessed to have many wealthy friends who believe in me and my activism. They stand by me, and have done for more than four decades. I continue to be a very successful charity, non-profit, civil rights and political fundraiser, and probably would be a millionaire if I would have started doing so professionally rather than on a volunteer basis decades ago. I’ve devoted my life to my community through volunteering and activism. Am I rich? Absolutely – rich with experience, friendships, accomplishments and memories. I feel blessed.
GSDBA membership reaches 900
Our city’s “gay chamber of commerce,” the Greater San Diego Business Association recently reached its 900 member mark. This very influential GLBT organization was awarded a Nicky Award as the “2011 Outstanding Community Organization” and a lot has to do with its dedicated board of directors and its hardworking executive director, Tom Luhnow. Congratulations GSDBA, on achieving this great milestone.
Omar I and Toby II = 40 years
Next year, Feb. 11, the Imperial Court de San Diego will celebrate its 40th anniversary of community service. Recently, a meeting was called for everyone with “court titles” to come together to talk about the upcoming celebration. Around 1972, gay San Diegans started organizing for the first Coronation Ball at the now downtown Holiday Inn by the Bay Hotel (the first gay event held in an hotel). Attending this recent meeting was Emperor I Omar (now the popular owner of #1 Fifth Ave.) and Empress II Toby (now retired in Palm Springs.) These two are truly pioneers and trailblazers, who started raising badly needed funds for our emerging Center, Pride and MCC. To this day, there virtually isn’t any GLBT organization, cause or AIDS agency that the Imperial Court has not raised money for and supported. There are now almost 70 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico that have Imperial Court chapters, and many of them will be attending the San Diego 40th anniversary coronation in February 2012.
For further info: imperialcourtsandiego.com or phone: 619-300-1232.
Outrageous Bingo: Oct. 26, Bourbon St.
You’re all invited to a “one night only” return of Outrageous Bingo, Wednesday Oct. 26 at the award-winning Bourbon St. This will be a fun benefit for the Trevor Project and aNoteToMyKid.com with more than $2,500 in prizes ready to be given away.Allan Spyere and my crazy self will be your hosts, 8-11 p.m. I hope to see you all at Bourbon St. next Wednesday night.
Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for well over 40 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last five 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. Nicolemrsd@aol.com.
