Money bail has created a two-tiered system of justice in California, one for the rich and one for the poor. Currently, more than 60 percent of the California jail population is unsentenced, most are awaiting trial and many do not pose risk of flight or re-arrest. Nationally, bail amounts are set 30 percent higher for…
Two years ago we came together to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision that finally made marriage equality the law of the land. It was a historical achievement for equality, but only a year later we again faced the horror of devastating hate, coming together to mourn the 49 lives that were lost in Pulse, the…
For decades, San Diego’s vibrant and eclectic LGBTQ community has come together each summer to celebrate its uniqueness, diversity and achievements while acknowledging the struggles it still faces. From the historic Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage across the country and the growing visibility of the transgender rights movement, to the emergence of medication…
The San Diego Police Department and San Diego LGBT Pride have gotten word that a group of LGBT radicals along with Black Lives Matter activists are thinking about attempting to shut down this year’s Pride parade. This, after last month’s Washington, D.C. Pride parade was stopped for over an hour, and re-routed by about a…
This week the U. S. Supreme Court announced that in the fall it will hear the case “Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.” The case – which will have many of us LGBTQ Americans on pins and needles – will argue the parameters of one’s right to practice their religion and their right to…
During my eight year assignment in Silicon Valley, I had the opportunity to meet former San Francisco City Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver. Silver served in San Francisco City Hall from 1978 to 1989 and served with Supervisor Harvey Milk. Silver was a fearless political ally of Milk and she has a role in the Milk…
While I am not associated with the No Justice, No Pride group I support its efforts against certain corporate involvement and financial support of Pride activities. Most recently No Justice, No Pride activists blocked Washington’ DC’s Capitol Pride Parade not once but three times. According to Dcist.com, Jen Deerinwater, a No Justice, No Pride participant…
A number of weekends ago this Pride month, a group calling themselves No Justice, No Pride (NJNP) protested the Capitol Pride March in Washington, D.C. It was reported in several sources that they began by opposing the participation of Wells Fargo as a corporate sponsor of the city’s Pride parade, citing Wells Fargo’s involvement in…
Being silent is the furthest impulse from my nature. When I came out, I didn’t open the closet door; I blew it off the hinges. I threw my own personal Pride parade, painting the town red, then orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Validating my identity by speaking it out loud was the first step;…
San Diego County races have recently dominated local election chatter. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors selected Deputy District Attorney (DA) Summer Stephan to succeed current DA Bonnie Dumanis when she steps down in July. Before Stephan was selected, her 2018 campaign was up and going and speculation about her potential opponents was a political…
