San Diego’s District Attorney, Bonnie Dumanis, is one of our region’s most respected public officials. Being the County’s top law enforcer is not an easy job, but she does it with an iron hand covered with a velvet glove of understanding and compassion. Recently, the Log Cabin Republican Club of San Diego honored Bonnie with its “Woman of the Year” award, at Diversionary Theatre, and it was a great turn out. Think about it, Bonnie Dumanis is the first elected woman and Jewish person to achieve this position and is also the very first openly GLBT citizen in America to be elected to the office of district attorney.
Among those in attendance was mayoral candidate, Kevin Faulconer, Councilmember, Lorie Zapf, School Board Vice President Kevin Beiser and a historic first at a gay republican event in San Diego, the state chairman of the Republican Party! Yes, former State Assembly powerhouse, Jim Brulte, who spoke and had a great time with everyone. He is a really down to earth guy, and I liked him as he truly believes in changing his party to be a “big tent” where everyone is welcomed. This event was a most impressive one and the few democrats of us there were there felt very welcomed. The Log Cabin’s new president, Susan Jester, (founder of San Diego Aids Walk) and her new youthful and very diverse board are truly rebuilding the club and its membership. Good for them as we need solid and organized political clubs of both parties.
Congratulations to Bonnie Dumanis and thank you for your dedication, leadership and honesty in one of the most difficult offices in all of San Diego County.
It will be Faulconer vs. Fletcher
After all the primary debates, mayoral fundraisers, etc. our next mayor will either be Kevin Faulconer or Nathan Fletcher. That’s my prediction and I’ve been usually right on the mark these last seven mayoral elections. My advice is to pick one of these as in this election primary of only three months this is how it’s going to end up … period. Both are gentlemen, fathers and just really nice guys and San Diego badly needs a mayor they can like and even have a cold beer with; and that’s what we will get … and both of their wives are super women.
LGBT Pride’s Townhouse
Well, the good news is that the new board of San Diego Pride is the youngest, most ethnically diverse “new blood” ever, and I do mean ever, in its history. The bad news is … well, there isn’t any! Last week’s Townhouse was a success with a good community turn out and they listened to hours of input, suggestions, and yes, criticism. Steve Whitburn, Pride’s executive director did an outstanding job of moderating. I sit on Pride’s “Community Advisory Board” and can tell you that LGBT Pride has fulfilled all of its commitments that it made to our community after that big Pride controversy some years back, when the then executive director and the entire board had to resign. These are good people on the board who carry no baggage from the past, and they truly are a new generation of Pride leaders that I feel we badly need.
One of my major points to them was to please bring back our “Community Grand Marshals.” San Diegans and not just celebrity grand marshals like La Toya Jackson. Please, a nice lady, but a hot mess … clueless.
Thank you, Pride for continuing to seek community input and for listening. Our 40th anniversary of Pride is next year!
Six days in San Francisco
Well, it’s a city I don’t mind visiting, but would not want to live there! It seems their homeless problem is growing. And, trust me, there is more infighting in their community than ours. You’d better stay out of it and don’t take sides. But I’ve always loved San Francisco. I have friends there that I’ve known since the 1960s and it’s where I first met Harvey Milk, Jose Julio Sarria and Cesar Chavez. I was able to spend some time with my favorite senator, Mark Leno as we were both being interviewed for a historic documentary coming out in 2015. Leno will most certainly be San Francisco’s first gay mayor or congressman. Last time I was in his city he introduced me as “The Mayor of Hillcrest.” Yes, he keeps up with everything.
While I was in San Francisco, the 30th anniversary of the infamous Folsom Street Fair was going on and they even had the leather flag officially on city street signs! Well, never having gone, I went and only lasted exactly 8 minutes! This old queen almost had a heart attack! I’m just too “vanilla” I guess, and let me just say, this event is a street fair where anything and everything goes! There were thousands and thousands of men and women and their wild fetishes … only in San Francisco!
Yes, I’m travelling again
Sorry, I know I’ve missed events, weddings, fundraisers, meetings, etc. But I’ve been traveling a lot again in the last month. I’ve been home one weekend and now I am off to Ohio, Canada, Washington, D.C. and Portland. But I’ll be back to be your usual outrageous emcee at Nightmare on Normal Street’s Halloween street party blow out! Yes, I know, I need to slow down, but then being an activist is my life and you meet so many great and interesting people.
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. 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. Nicolemrsandiego@aol.com
Bonnie Dumanis is a great woman. She is the first District Attorney in San Diego to get a felony conviction on a nurse who eye gouged a vulnerable autistic person. She is what we need in San Diego. She is a person who will seek justice for those who can’t speak for themselves. I urge you to support Bonnie on all levels. She is not a corrupt or compromised person. She is a person who takes what she sees before her and acts on it. Keep Bonnie in a high position in our county, we NEED her. She’s tough, beautiful, and intelligent.