The GSDBA has been one of our community’s most outstanding organizations and I have been, and will continue to be, a strong supporter since its establishment, having been close friends with your late founders.
It was I, who through then President Clinton’s administration arranged that the GSDBA became the first gay business association to sign an accord with the U.S. Small Business Administration, thanks to my close friendship with then Deputy Director Irma Munoz. For almost five years Tom Luhnow has served the GSDBA with distinction and become a valuable and respected leader in the GLBT community. Instead of thanking and acknowledging Tom’s work the GSDBA and your chair, Eric Brown, chose to describe Tom’s departure because of “different alignments” and it seems after five years your board woke up and said “No” and were now supposedly “empowered to say what their voice was.” There was no need to go this negative route without anything positive to say about Tom Luhnow. Your public comments, Mr. Brown, made the GSDBA look bad and are unbecoming of such a respectable business organization.
And to Tom Luhnow, “thank you” for your years of outstanding service to the GSDBA and making it more visible to our community and city and especially for your leadership/activism in our fight for full equality!
The GLBT library brunch
County Commissioner Bruce Abram’s historic home was the site this past Sunday for a $500 a plate brunch benefiting the San Diego Library Foundation and honoring Mayor Jerry Sanders. Bruce, City Commissioner Susan Atkins and I were the hosts and among V.I.P.s were Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins, State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales, City Council President Todd Gloria, City Councilwoman Lorie Zapf and School Board Vice President Kevin Beiser. The food was fabulous with catering by Ms. Shonee Henry. Lots of political gossip going around the tables and when Mayor Sanders stated that Todd Gloria was looking very “mayoral” everyone applauded loudly. It was good to see longtime friends Chris Shaw, Gene Burkard and Larry Baza!
A very special “thank you” to Susan Atkins for her leadership in our community and raising almost $100,000 for a special beautiful window in the new library donated by the GLBT community. Also, a true unsung hero in the long journey toward our new wonder library, Mr. Jay Hill … you’re the best!
The Union Tribune’s 919 GANG
Well it seems the former writers of the Union Tribune are really bored and have a lot of time on their hands because they have a daily newsletter called 919 GANG and last week I became one of the topics of conversation. So, let me set the record straight. First of all, Cheryl Clark deserves a “Pulitzer Prize” for her dedication in educating San Diego about HIV-AIDS. You were a one-woman show that made a huge difference and God bless you for that.
And as for “writer” Preston Turegano, who now says we were not friends, just acquaintances! Oh please girlfriend, we spent a lot of time on the phone, gossiping and as for you ignorantly calling me a “transvestite” you, sweetheart, are just an old tired queen (welcome to the club).
Now, to straighten out Preston’s usual false information. My birth name is not “Jamie Sanchez” and I did not work for School Superintendent Max Rafferty but for then Congressman Robert Barry’s campaign.
As for David Copley, he and I were just “acquaintances” and being the “Dolly Levi” that I was, I introduced him and other closeted high-profile Republicans to many Marines. It was David Copley himself who showed me a copy of Mike McIntyre’s article and David told me not to worry because his mother would kill the story. I never “blackmailed” anyone but just told the Copleys and others that I was now writing an article for Update newspaper about the rich, closeted, conservative and politically powerful “La Jolla Gay Mafia” and their parties with pictures. I never wrote the article because it would have destroyed lives and many families. (This is where I should be “sainted” by the Pope).
We all know that Police Chief Ray Hoobler was a racist, sexist, homophobe and the Police Dept. was very corrupt in the 1960s to the 1970s. I met Chief Bill Kolender in the late 1970s and will not comment on the street accusations only to say Bill opened the door to better relationships with all minority communities and I only have respect for him.
Now as for me being the founder of the first HIV-AIDS patient’s organization, the AIDS Assistance Fund and where the money came from … Cheryl, we were a non-profit and Attorney Tom Homann was my treasurer. It is all public record. During the early years of the “gay cancer” or GRID no one would help us but the bars, drag queen shows, leather community and adult industry did … more than $250,000 alone from F Street Corp.; Chris Shaw (W.C.P.C.); Lou and Carol Arko (Brass Rail); Frank Stritti (Vulcan); Darl Edwards, Paul Krug, Clint Johnson (Bee Jays), Rick Ford (Top Deck and All Worlds) and the Imperial Court all raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. God bless them all.
HRC Dinner at the Grant Hotel
The historic Grant Hotel is truly one of our city’s most elegant hotels and this past weekend’s annual HRC Dinner drew a well-dressed crowd of almost 300 people. The food was good, but the silent auction bidding by phone was confusing and too much work. The 2013 dinner co-chairs Lisa Mata (looking smashing) and Victor Ravago (looking very dapper) did a great job. City Commissioner Stampp Corbin was honored with HRC’s “Leader for Equality Award” and everyone agreed he gave the best speech of the evening. There is a problem though, the HRC Dinners now travel the country and are beginning to look and feel very canned and sterile … hum … but as a past HRC national board member I am proud and thank the San Diego HRC committee.
Nicole Murray Ramirez has been an award-winning columnist since 1973, and a Latino and gay activist for more than 40 years. He is currently a city commissioner and has served the last six mayors of San Diego. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com
Ramirez was much more interesting and relevant back when he was covering the gay bar scene. He should return to doing what he does best.
Not one word about Filner this week. I think maybe you should own up to what you did – promoting this man for office and gloating about his win – and use your supposed influence to encourage him to step down. A recall election will cost us MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Do the right thing, Nicole. —Hildy