Let’s remember what the true meaning of Easter is, Jesus Christ – and a blessed Passover to all my Jewish friends.
About city council redistricting
You should all be keeping an eye on the current redistricting commission meetings and hearings as there are some interesting campaigns going on. One, rightfully so, is to create a new Asian Pacific Islander council district and another is to create another Latino district. One campaign could change our 3rd Council District boundaries and could force popular Councilman Todd Gloria to move. If a new Latino council district is made with some of our old 3rd District in it, then I say we run Larry Baza for city council! But if Todd stays in this district and we get a new looking “gay council district,” then Robert Gleason is ready and our best candidate to keep this seat.
Our community, as well as our redistricting GLBT leaders, should take into consideration the impact on our hard-working Councilman Todd Gloria. He has represented the GLBT community well and potential new boundaries may force him to move. It’s also about respecting our first elected person of color from the GLBT community … period.
Four days in our state capitol
I’ve been coming to Sacramento now for more than four decades, first in the early 1970s lobbying for the passage of the Brown Act, which legalized homosexual sex between consenting adults. I’ve come there for state GLBT meetings, rallies, lobbying, Democratic Party state conventions, legislative bill signings and countless other events. For us political junkies, the city can be very exciting and for everyone else it can be very boring.
This past week in our state capitol was very exciting as Senator Mark Leno’s bill passed the state Senate which would make California the first state in the nation to require the teaching of GLBT history in our schools. This comes just after State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano’s bill, AB9, also known as Seth’s Law, the anti-bullying protection law.
Needless to say, I brought up these legislative bills in my remarks to more than 400 GLBT activists/fundraisers attending this event. I was the guest of my long-time friend, Sacramento businessman Terry Sidie, who put me up in the hotel’s Presidential Suite. This suite’s bathroom was bigger than my apartment at Shady Pines with a huge executive suite.
I had to laugh at my situation as I had about only $20 in my pocket. Thank goodness many of my friends took me out to eat, including a great dinner at the Waterboy Restaurant. Guess who was having dinner there just a few tables away? Senator Chris Kehoe and her life-long partner, artist Julie Warren.
Faces nightclub continues to reign over the night club scene with a huge pool smack in the middle of their outdoor patio!
Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento is a bright, young African American and former professional basketball player who I think has a bright future ahead of him. I think he has a great down-to-earth personality.
My next speaking engagement will be in Buena Park, California for a women’s conference.
The Center took lead in anti-bullying campaign
On Oct. 17, 2010, I had the honor to organize a Safe Schools Anti-Bullying Rally with the city’s Human Relations Commission and The Center. It was a very successful call for action to protect out GLBT children – to protect all children.
After all the great speeches and everyone went home, someone had to step up and do the work. All of us – all of you – should be proud and thank Dr. Delores Jacobs and The Center for taking the lead, doing all the hard work and establishing the San Diego Safe Schools Task Force.
Working with the San Diego School Board and the superintendent of schools, their months of hard work paid off last week when the school board unanimously passed an anti-bullying policy. I sat there so very proud of all the teen speakers, GLSEN, the Gay Straight Alliance, school board member Kevin Beiser and especially for our Center and Dr. Jacobs.
We and all parents and GLBT youth, now and in the future, will have safer schools to go to because of The Center’s leadership and hard work.
Children’s Easter egg hunt this Sunday!
The 8th annual Children’s Easter egg hunt at Trolley Park is coming up this Sunday with more than 500 children and parents expected to attend. This year’s event is being sponsored by the 3rd Council District office of City Councilman Todd Gloria, the Imperial Court and the LGBT Center/Family Matters.
A special thank you to the Redwing, Bourbon Street, Numbers, Flicks, Pecs, Rich’s, San Diego Flag Football League, Adam Latham, Ma Ma Cass, Kurt (Mr. Leather 2011), San Diego Firefighters, State Assemblyman Marty Block, Pride Card, F Street Bookstores. I’ll give you the complete list next week. Thank you all so very much!
Celebrity waiters at Bangkok Bistro, April 28
Next Thursday, April 28, head to Bangkok Thai Restaurant (540 University Ave.) in Hillcrest (across from the City Deli) for lunch or dinner when 50 percent of all receipts will go to The Center’s Dining Out for Life to fight HIV/AIDS.
Among your celebrity waiters will be Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, Councilman Todd Gloria, School Board Member Kevin Beiser, City Commissioner Bob Nelson, as well as City Commissioner Stampp Corbin, Emperor Allan and Empress Erika, Big Mike Philips and Nicole (yes, me).
I will be waiting tables both for lunch and dinner (all tips also go to Dining Out.)
Make your lunch and dinner reservations today for Thursday April 28: 629-269-9209 or bangkokthaibistro.com Nicolemrsd@aol.com.
RuPaul’s Drag Race/Dreamgirls Revue
Logo’s mega TV ratings hit RuPaul’s Drag Race is changing the face of female impersonation and the world of drag queens. Soon to be going into its fourth season, it has made major fans all over America and Canada! The third season has been the best. I just love the very dishy Untucked half-hour show following the drag race.
The San Diego based Dreamgirls Revue, which is one of the longest running female celebrity impersonator look-a-likes show on the west coast, has had two cast members make the coveted cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race: Morgan in season two and now Delta Work currently in season three. Both have done California proud, especially the fabulous Delta Work.
You can catch the two superstars at any Dreamgirls Revue every Wednesday night at Urban Mo’s and every Saturday night at Bourbon Street.
The main spotlight continues to shine on the “world’s No. 1 Cher impersonator.” Yes, the one and only Chad Michaels. And yes, I am the proud founder of the Dream-girls Revue more than two decades ago. I hung up my diva heels a long time ago.
Nicole’s quickie movie reviews!
The Conspirator: About the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln – every American should see this movie and learn about what you were not taught in school!
Source Code: More boring than a Scientology reading room. You’ll snore during the entire movie!
Jane Eyre: A fabulous romantic movie with beautiful locations and outstanding acting.
Soul Surfer: It was so bad I wanted to chop off her other arm!
Win-Win: A must-see movie. You’ll love it!
Arthur: Yet another movie about a drunk. I could stop by the Chee Chee Club and see the same thing.
The Lincoln Lawyer: Run out and see this movie. It’s great! 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.
