When it comes to the 36th mayor of San Diego, Kevin Faulconer will go down in history as one of the most supportive of LGBT equality. Within days of being elected, Mayor Faulconer accepted the national chairmanship of Mayors for Marriage Equality. He was at The LGBT Center to celebrate with our community when the…
When asked at the San Diego Republican Party Central Committee if she supported the GOP state party platform that states that marriage is between a man and a woman Republican Congressional candidate Jacquie Atkinson stated that as a state delegate she did support the party platform. Other times she has been asked about marriage equality…
It did not surprise many of us when the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of gay activist Will Walters’ lawsuit against the city and San Diego Police Department, and was granted a jury trial. Judge Harry Pregerson even stated, “Why don’t we just say that this was a bad call by…
This past Monday night, I attended a fundraiser along with Commissioner Bruce Abrams at Martini’s Above Fourth (fabulous food as usual) for popular County Supervisor Dave Roberts. It was one of the biggest crowds I have seen at a political event this campaign season, with both Democrats and Republicans in attendance. Dave Roberts is, along…
I just came back from spending five days in New York, full of meetings, events, speeches, etc. As many of you know, I was a national co-chair of “Stonewall 25” which drew almost 800,000 people to Central Park and a lineup that included Liza Minelli and an LGBT March on the United Nations. This past…
Last year during the 50th Anniversary Gala and “State Dinner’ of the International Imperial Courts of the United States, Canada and Mexico held in Portland, Ore., gay rights advocate and Academy Award winner (best screenwriter for the movie Milk) Dustin Lance Black announced that his ABC TV eight-hour miniseries When We Rise about the LGBT…
Over a decade ago, I started writing and talking about how I as a Latino could feel proud in postage stamps, schools, parks and streets being named after outstanding Latino American citizens; not so as a gay American. Since then I have led various successful campaigns. A campaign to get the first street in San…
It is well known in political circles that I was a longtime supporter and friend of Bob Filner – from School Board, to City Council, to Congress and to the Mayor’s Office. “Team First Lady” was indeed my idea and civic leader Nancy Chase was my co-chair. In past columns of mine, I have stated…
Iran made international headlines when it seized two Navy boats and 10 American sailors after the ships supposedly drifted into Iranian waters. As you know, the ships and their crew were released days later. Well, the sailors were based in San Diego and during the ordeal I was contacted by one of the sailor’s partner…
For the last year national media attention has focused on cities around the country and the shootings and killings of American citizens, mostly African Americans, by police. Some of these shootings have rightfully resulted in police officers being charged with murder, but most importantly it has shined a bright spotlight on many police departments’ racism…
