I often think about the Scripture Luke 6:31 – a statement of the golden rule. That Biblical verse states, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” I often think too about the statement made by Martin Luther King Jr. when he said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are…
BY NICOLE MURRAY RAMIREZ If there is any silver lining in this ongoing City Hall mess, it’s the ongoing discussion and spotlight on sexual harassment. We men badly need to educate ourselves more and start talking to women and asking them questions to educate ourselves. In this past week I’ve talked to Dr. Delores Jacobs,…
How do any of us know what our gender is? If one is assigned male at birth and loses one’s genitalia in an IED explosion, is one still male? If one is assigned female at birth and lose one’s external genitalia, breasts or uterus to disease, is one still female? Obviously the answers to those…
COMMENTARY: Conversations with Nicole BY NICOLE MURRAY RAMIREZ First, I most sincerely urge all of you to get tested for cancer, diabetes etc. All my life I’ve been one who has avoided doctors checkups and tests and so it should be no surprise that this is the third time that I have come within minutes…
Recently at a GLBT event, one of the producers actually went out of his way to hide the American flag because of personal views! For decades, I’ve dealt with this with many left-wing GLBT activists refusing my requests that we sing our nation’s national anthem and display our country’s flag. Most refuse to do so…
When President Obama delayed the implementation of the employer mandate for one year, Tea Party conservatives heard what they thought was the death knell of the Affordable Care Act. Had they listened more closely, they might have realized it was their own 2014 funeral march that had begun. House Speaker John Boehner and his caucus…
I was enamored during my first San Diego Pride in 2003. I’d began transitioning in early February of that year, then went to my first trans peer support group in late May, and then agreed to staff the trans booth in July. Frankly, I can’t remember whether or not I marched in the trans contingent…
BY CITY COMMISSIONER NICOLE MURRAY RAMIREZ Bronwyn Ingram has informed close friends that she has broken off her engagement to San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. As far as I am concerned this is a private matter between Bronwyn and Bob. Bronwyn is disbanding Team First Lady, of which Nancy Chase and I are advisory board co-chairs….
San Diego citizen Jeff Olson (who is gay) made national news headlines when he was arrested for just writing his protest message against American banks in chalk on the streets. (I call this political art.) Of course, it was arch right-wing (check out his state legislative record) City Attorney Jan Goldsmith who made the decision…
With the Supreme Court having made its decisions on DOMA and marriage equality, the spotlight is again on what President Obama can still do for the LGBT community. Dead center in the beam is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prevent employers from firing workers for their sexual orientation or gender identity. While there…
