This Thanksgiving has not been easy for me as I lost one of my best and most loyal friends, Ben Dillingham, who I loved like my brother. He was family to me and loved me unconditionally, “warts and all.” This was a friendship of over 30 years and when Ben gave you his friendship he…
Over a year ago I moved into a five floor senior housing project (residents must be 65+) and being the busy bee that I am, I’m gone a lot and therefore in and out. I have gotten to know some of my neighbors who are mostly elderly women living by themselves. Last week there was…
San Diego was the first city to have a Harvey Milk Street, then Salt Lake City followed. Now Portland may be the third city as political trailblazer Terry Bean is heading up this city’s campaign and he tells me that already 75 percent of the current street businesses have agreed to the name change. Ric…
After watching Toni Atkins get attacked for endorsing the re-election of Sheriff Bill Gore I knew that I would also, and really don’t care and absolutely stand by my endorsement. And let me say that just because I am Latino and gay does not mean I am obligated to support and vote for a Latino…
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore is one of the best sheriffs in the nation and has been a longtime friend and supporter of the LGBT community. He has changed the jail protocol for the arrest and detention of transgender people making sure they get the respect and equal treatment they deserve. He established an…
This Friday begins the annual National Hispanic Heritage Month. As I have often said, “The Golden State is turning brown” and San Diego is also, with Latinos soon becoming the majority. Monday, Sept. 25 there will be the first organizing meeting of the San Diego County Latino LGBTQ Coalition. The meeting will be held at…
After almost three decades, many discussions, meetings, two mayors giving their support (Golding and Filner), proposals, controversies and two task forces I can say that San Diego will finally join other major cities across the United States and will have an AIDS Memorial to remember the over 8,000 men, women and children who have died…
When President Trump attacked our transgender brothers and sisters in the military Mayor Faulconer immediately issued a statement in support of transgender Americans serving in the military. Mayor Faulconer’s stand received countless responses from San Diegans almost all of them attacking him and full of hate. Here are some examples that I can print in…
Did you know that … Major General Matthew Beevers marched in our parade with the military contingent? That the Walmart contingent had over 400 employees and families marching? That Ms. California 2017 waved throughout the parade at everyone? That the “Burning Man Festival” had a space at the festival? That our popular Sheriff Bill Gore…
As a Latino and gay activist for over 45 years who has organized, led and participated in demonstrations, sit-ins, marches etc., and one who has been beaten and arrested by police in the 1960s and 70s, it is indeed upsetting to see my last column so misrepresented. As I stated, as the 2017 Grand Marshal…
