San Diego Pride is coming up next week, and we will be hosting thousands of visitors. Let’s show them our famous San Diego hospitality. Let’s smile and be friendly and let them know why we truly are “America’s Finest City.” Yes, San Diego is America’s City of Life.

I have supported and admired Congressmember Bob Filner since his days on the San Diego School Board and City Council, and now in the U.S. Congress. He has always been a fighter for the equality of all Americans (while in college, he was arrested in the 1960s in Alabama for trying to register blacks to vote). But I’ve never been as proud of Filner as I am now that he is chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. In just a short time, he fought and succeeded in obtaining more funding and benefits for our veterans. Congressmember Filner is leading the fight to repair and improve our broken veterans’ care system. All Americans should be proud of Bob Filner!

San Diego’s progressive and popular weekly, the San Diego CityBeat, will be featuring a cover story in its next issue on the strength and political power of the GLBT community in San Diego and our GLBT elected officials. All of the GLBT government officials were elected because they are qualified, not because of their private lifestyle. They are all doing an outstanding job and are always being recommended for higher office. Did you know that there will be four openly gay men running for City Council in the upcoming primary? Pick up a free copy of San Diego CityBeat, which comes out on Wednesday.

I like stopping by the Gay & Lesbian Times offices, above the Alano Club, on the corner of Monroe Avenue and Park Boulevard. Not long ago, the most beautiful, colorful and loving mural appeared on the building of Park Boulevard Foods (they make a great deli sandwich, by the way). It was a mural of the baby Jesus and Mary painted by the fabulous artist Saratoga Sake. Many residents in the University Heights area loved and commented on this absolutely beautiful and very peaceful work of art. But it didn’t last long and has now been painted over. Word has it that the owners, Al and Chuck Hanna, had it removed after a few objections. How very, very sad.

The Corporation for National and Community Service released its annual report on the 50 metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of residents ages 16 and older who volunteer. San Diego ranked No. 25. The only other California city to beat us was San Francisco, which came in No. 23. The five cities with the most volunteers were: Minneapolis/St.Paul, Salt Lake City, Austin, Omaha and Seattle. Over all, it seems that more people volunteer in Middle America than in other places. I think San Diegans volunteer a lot, and I want to say that we appreciate you, the hundreds of volunteers in our community.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the annual dedication of honorees into our community’s Wall of Honor at The Center on Friday, August 10. The Wall of Honor is one of our nation’s only GLBT community memorials honoring and remembering those members of our community who have made a difference. Every year, we honor those who are no longer with us and those who are still making a difference. This year’s 2007 inductees are Lou and Carol Arko, Dr. Al Best, Dr. David McWhirten, Dr. Drew Mattson, Bernie Michaels, Fred Scholl, Jim Woodward and Gloria Johnson. I am very proud to have come up with the idea for this wall and want to sincerely thank Delores Jacobs, The Center, Ron deHarte and the San Diego Pride Board of Directors for keeping it alive.

With the constant budget cuts, it is not easy being the executive director of any non-profit social services organization. I admire and appreciate the hard work many of our executive directors are doing. I want to publicly thank David M. Pierce, who recently announced he is leaving the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation to pursue other goals. I appreciate him for his years of service and always being a gentleman with such a positive attitude.

The recent passing of Joan Wilcox affected many people in the GLBT community. Joan was a straight woman, who was a mother figure that you could find at the old Club Montage every weekend. She would always be sitting on that famous corner bar stool, welcoming everyone with a smile and helping people by giving love, acceptance and motherly advice. Joan, who was loved by all who met her, even received a Nicky Award for “Friend of the Year.” We are very lucky to have so many straight people involved in the GLBT community. Rest in peace, Joan, and watch over us from heaven.

The annual Mr., Miss and Ms. San Diego Pride 2007 contest, a benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, will be held at Flicks on Monday, July 16, at 8 p.m. Bud Light is the official sponsor of the contest, and anyone can enter. Contestants are still wanted and will be judged by their response to the question: “What does Pride mean to you?” The winners will ride in a special car during the Pride parade. Introductions to the emperor and empress candidates for the next reign of Imperial Court de San Diego will also take place at the event.

For more information, call 619-692-1967.

I’ve just returned from a five-day visit to Texas and will be leaving once again this week to go to Omaha, Neb. Along with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, I am setting up GLBT Vote 2008 voter registration drives, not political endorsements, across the country. I am proud to have founded GLBT Vote in 2000, with campaigns now in many cities. The late John McCusker was the first chair of San Diego GLBT Vote, and Bob Lehman is the current chair.

In my travels, especially in the Southwest, I have noticed the increase of the Latino population. Latinos make up 60 percent of the population in San Antonio. I met with activists from seven Texas cities and will tell you all about Texas and Nebraska in my next column.

The Gay & Lesbian Times is looking for couples to participate in its Pride parade float. Our theme is marriage equality, and we are looking for couples join us. Please feel free to wear wedding-like attire: veils, bow ties, or anything fun and festive. Drag queens in bridesmaid and wedding gowns are encouraged to participate! Anyone who wants to put together a wedding party is also welcome. Contact Todd Klein at 619-331-7111 for more information.