I was thrilled to see Michael Sam become the first openly gay player drafted into the National Football League (NFL). The coverage of his emotional response, including kissing his boyfriend, was tremendous. I remain skeptical, though, of the idea that his sexual orientation didn’t hurt him in the draft. You’ve probably heard the current narrative….
When Brendan Eich resigned from Mozilla last month, a group of marriage equality supporters penned a public statement “Freedom to Marry, Freedom to Dissent: Why we must have both.” They argued that “diversity is the natural consequence of liberty” and that “disagreement should not be punished.” Then LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling was caught on…
I doubt there is any real danger that a Fox News item would convince most San Diegans that former Councilmember Carl DeMaio is our dream congressional candidate. Still, Dana Perino’s article (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/04/28/california-house-race-no-one-puts-gay-republican-carl-demaio-in-corner/) Straight talk about gay Republican congressional candidate Carl DeMaio warrants some discussion. Perino’s column begins by suggesting that DeMaio’s biography and Council record…
As the 2014 elections approach, you’ll hear about Rep. Scott Peters’ (CA-52) strong record on LGBT equality, for two reasons. First, it’s true. Second, the race is made-for-TV drama, with openly gay former San Diego City Councilmember and mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio challenging Peters, a one-term straight incumbent with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) endorsement,…
I know that in 33 states, workers can still be fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity. I remember the days after the Prop. 8 vote, misting up at random times when I remembered that a majority of my neighbors took away my right to marry. So I hope you’ll forgive the twinge of…
As a physician, I make life and death decisions. When I lead a team of trainees, I am at the top of the chain of command. Medical students gather information to make decisions with the interns, who can seek the advice of senior residents, who in turn come to me. They try to limit it…
One of my favorite TV moments is the West Wing episode in which President Jed Bartlet meets Dr. Jenna Jacobs, the Dr. Laura proxy, at a reception for talk radio hosts. In response to Jacobs’ claim that “I don’t say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President, the Bible does,” Bartlet unleashes a tirade of questions…
Stampp Corbin is my publisher, and has been a guiding force in my involvement in politics. Hilllcrest Mayor Nicole Murray Ramirez saw something that made him suggest me as a City commissioner. As I consider both to be my mentors, I have followed their recent dueling columns with all the joy of a child watching…
The string of victories for marriage equality since the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decisions on the Defense of Marriage Act and Prop. 8 have the LGBT community understandably excited, and some pundits surprisingly unhinged. David Cohen and Dahlia Lithwick of Slate have declared “It’s over” of the court debate. Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post’s blog…
Wednesday, we learned that Kevin Faulconer would be the next mayor of San Diego. While the final vote count will continue to trickle in, he appears to have defeated fellow Councilman David Alvarez by a comfortable margin, taking an early lead with absentee ballots and holding it well into the night. Alvarez needed a surge…
