The San Diego Union Tribune has had a mostly negative relationship with the LGBT community, especially in the 1960s, ’70s and early ’80s, referring to us for a long time as the “homosexual community” and refusing to use the word “gay.” They ran negative articles and editorials, including ugly cartoons. (“Being gay” was not even legal in California until 1976.) When gay men were arrested for “lewd conduct” by the vice squad (mostly by police entrapment) the Union Tribune at times would print the addresses and employers of those homosexuals arrested. Forty one years ago the late Jess Jessop and I organized a picket of the Union Tribune and May Company in Fashion Valley. It was one of the first gay demonstrations covered by the TV media in San Diego. What made this all even more insane is that the son of the Union Tribune publisher was gay closet case David Copley, who led a double life; during the day pushing his paper’s anti-gay agenda and at night having dates with young call boys and Marines.
It was during the ’80s and the early AIDS crisis that the Union Tribune’s editorials and cartoons, at times crossed the line; one showing gay men as skeletons in a sauna.
At a cocktail party I threw a drink in David Copley’s face as he was giving millions of dollars to the “arts” but refused to give a penny to any AIDS agency because he was so afraid to be associated with his own LGBT community.
As the LGBT community and our civil rights movement grew, the Union Tribune started covering our community with a little more balance and finally the Copley family sold the paper to another conservative Republican, Doug Manchester.
Actually things got better when it came to our community and LGBT coverage but Manchester gave money to the anti-marriage campaign, and everyone got very angry. Mr. Manchester regretted what he did and we need to move on. The paper established a “community advisory board” and included every community except our LGBT community. Although I spoke to the paper’s “powers that be” and they said they would form an LGBT committee, they never did.
But the truth is our community received better coverage under Manchester and now recently the Los Angeles Times purchased the Union Tribune. Thank God!
I am happy they kept columnist Diane Bell and Editor Jeff Light. I look forward to this new era with the Union Tribune, and as a gay man and Latino I will continue to keep my eyes on them, but I do believe the relationship with the Union Tribune and the San Diego LGBT community is the best ever!
Mayor Faulconer to be honored at The Nicky Awards Aug. 23
Mayor Kevin Faulconer will be receiving the Mayor George Moscone Civil Rights Award at the 40th annual Nicky Awards Sunday Aug. 23 at the Marriot Hotel. The Board of Governors of the “gay academy awards of San Diego” voted unanimously to present the prestigious honor to Faulconer who was the national co-chair of the “Mayors for Marriage Equality”. This past Tuesday he became the first mayor in San Diego history to display the rainbow flag in City Hall. For decades the LGBT community has been an ally and a friend.
From appointing more LGBT Democrats and Republicans to City boards and commissions to serving as a “waiter” during Dining Out for Life, Mayor Faulconer and his wife, the first lady of San Diego Katherine Faulconer (the co-chair of the AIDS Memorial Task Force) have attended more LGBT events than anyone. His approval rating is so high that no major challenger has come forward for 2016.
About LGBT active San Diego military
Our city is home of the largest military complex in the western hemisphere and that means hundreds of thousands of men and women in mostly Marine and Navy uniforms. Thousands of these active military personnel are members of the LGBT community from ages 18 to? Since the lifting of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell it isn’t a big deal to see guys and gals in their uniforms at bars, restaurants and events. San Diego is also the home of hundreds of thousands of proud veterans.
San Diego is proud to be the home of the first LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor named after Ben F. Dillingham and Bridget Wilson. Our Pride parade also had the first active duty military contingent in an LGBT Pride event.
Our community recently hosted a reception for Army General Tammy Smith – the first openly LGBT general in the Armed Forces. And last week was another historic first – the authorized celebration of a Pride event on a military base. Yes indeed, we are very proud of our active duty military personnel and our veterans.
Tijuana: A great getaway!
I have been going to Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, etc. since I was a little boy; for the beaches, the bull fights and fabulous getaways. Now as a man I still go there to get away and have a good time. Although many times I am there for their LGBT organizations and AIDS agencies.
A few weeks ago Terry Sidie, owner of Faces Nightclub in Sacramento and I spent a weekend there. We stayed at the historic Cesar Hotel on Avenida Revolución and had a wild time doing a lot of gay nightclubbing! Check out the new “Premier Club” with over 30 hot male dancers at 645 Avenida Revolución. But now there are about a dozen gay clubs all with male dancers (yes some totally nude). How safe is it you ask? It is completely safe. You will even see LGBT Mexicans holding hands. Their recent Pride parade (I had the honor of being their first Grand Marshall 20 years ago) drew thousands! Congratulations to this year’s Grand Marshall Franko Guillen!
And the cost of everything? They have the best bargains, and your money will go a long way! Check it out, and viva Mexico!
