As we approach Pride weekend, I am reminded of what Pride is all about: togetherness. No matter what your sexual orientation, Pride gives you the opportunity to celebrate with those who have experienced the oppression of the majority because of their sexual orientation. The togetherness that we experience is constantly being diluted by the way…
Nepotism, a word that is associated with so much that happens in America. The concept is that as a son, daughter, brother, sister or relative of an accomplished person, their abilities are then associated to you based upon favoritism. Your father was a great detective, then you are going to be one too. A good…
Happy Pride Month. As the LGBT community celebrates across the nation, politicians including governors, mayors, city council members, aldermen, county supervisors and dog catchers are acknowledging the vibrancy of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender society. There is one exception, President Donald Trump. For eight years, the Obama administration held an event at the White…
Everyone in the San Diego area knows the history of Carl DeMaio and me; I have never been a supporter because of his political views. I successfully helped derail his campaign for mayor and Congress simply by stating facts or highlighting inappropriate behavior by people in his campaigns. I completely disagree with DeMaio’s decision to…
Well Obamacare got the first six nails in its coffin with the passing of the American Health Care Act by the House of Representatives. Republican congressmen and women decided that their party affiliation was more important than the health care of over 20 million Americans. LGBT Republicans you made the decision last November, as did…
If only I had the perfect vision to see what will become of two of our most important LGBT institutions in San Diego: San Diego Pride and The San Diego LGBT Center. Both organizations are in the process of leadership transition but from different perspectives. San Diego Pride fired Executive Director Stephen Whitburn for…
Over the last year, I have had the pleasure of travelling to Sacramento to represent the Addiction Treatment Advocacy Coalition (ATAC), a group that advocates for those who suffer from Substance Use Disorder and those facilities that provide treatment. As the president of ATAC, I have met with regulators and legislators throughout the California capitol…
LGBT Republicans got what they wanted last November. I hope they are happy. I was perplexed last November, as I am always with the concept of an LGBT Republican, because their party proves time and time again they do not support LGBT people. Twenty percent of LGBT people voted for Donald Trump and helped him…
When We Rise, the recent mini-series covering the LGBT civil rights movement should have been entitled The Cleve Jones Story but then even fewer people would have watched. Jones has been a figure in several events during the struggle for LGBT rights, but as with any autobiographical work, the author has an inability to really…
It is with great displeasure that I must inform you that I cannot get your brand at many finer restaurants. I have never forgotten your leadership in supporting the LGBT community by taking out ads in gay publications in 1981. I was an out gay man attending Stanford University and partying in San Francisco at…
