This year marks the 44th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream…” speech. It is also the 50th anniversary of integration at Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. Let us never forget that the GLBT community’s progress in seeking quality, and every minority group’s progress, comes from the courage and dignity of the black civil rights movement of America.

Every media survey of San Diego residents shows a vast majority opposed to the statue honoring former Mayor Pete Wilson (the above figure comes from an NBC 7/39 poll dated Aug. 23). The unveiling of the statue last Saturday brought close to 400 demonstrators, who protested the Wilson statue. The demonstration, organized by local Latino organizations, rallied representation from the GLBT community, labor unions, veterans, students, Native Americans, ministers, seniors, parents and children – all of whom Pete Wilson referred to as “thugs” for exercising their constitutional rights. Radio host Roger Hedgecock gave demonstrators the finger when he walked by them (there are even pictures). Long-shot presidential candidate Duncan Hunter was also booed. What was very noticeable was that the nearly 500 people who attended the unveiling were 99 percent white, while the crowd of demonstrators represented the true diversity of America’s Finest City.

What upset me was some of the posters with Wilson wearing a Nazi uniform with a swastika arm band. When asked by the media my thoughts on the displays, I said I found it offensive and upsetting. Call Pete Wilson what you’d like, but he is no Nazi. Period.

At first the supporters of Wilson tried to drown us out by turning their speakers up and playing show tunes very loudly. But, we returned the favor, according to all police and media accounts, by drowning out most of the event with our continuous, loud chants. The media coverage I found was fair and balanced, even The San Diego Union-Tribune’s coverage. It quoted one of our most respected gay leaders, Ben Dillingham, the former chief of staff to former Mayor Maureen O’Connor, and a Republican. Ben, as we all know, is somewhat the compass for morals and integrity in our community. The fact is that the Latino community, as well as the Asian and GLBT communities are the future of San Diego and California. And Pete Wilson is the past.

The day of the protest I had about an hour-long talk with District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, after getting a call from the Los Angeles media saying Pete Wilson was using her name, and saying she would be attending and standing on the main stage at the unveiling. I will not go into the details of our entire conversation, but I did tell Bonnie that I and many others felt her attendance of the unveiling was a betrayal to her community. This was not an official, civic event, but there sat Bonnie Dumanis on the same stage with emcee Roger Hedgecock, who attacked her during her campaign with a vicious hatefulness.

Bonnie, before your duties as District Attorney are your duties as a human being, a woman, a member of the Jewish faith, and a lesbian. In the July 18 issue of CityBEAT, a reporter wrote, “At the time of Kehoe’s election, another lesbian, this one from Brockton, Mass., had spent the previous three years striving to become the first openly gay state judge. Bonnie Dumanis already had a sort-of sub-judge position known as referee, and as a result, she had attended the judge’s training program. She tried to get appointed to the bench in the traditional manner, earning the approval of the state bar association. But in her 1992 interview with then-Gov. Pete Wilson’s staff, they asked her if she was gay, and in a burst of self-destructive honesty, she said yes. Though she does not regret the honesty, Dumanis remains convinced that being a lesbian held her back.

So, yes to the countless number of people who have asked me. I was saddened and very, very disappointed in Bonnie Dumanis’ choice to attend the unveiling of the Pete Wilson statue, and in the fact that Pete Wilson called her a supporter.

Openly gay businessperson Tom Hebrank was recently elected president of the city’s pension board, and word is that he is doing an outstanding job in this most difficult position. Dr. Linda Barufaldi was honored as the Small Business Owner of the Year in our state’s capital by Sen. Christine Kehoe. The City Council also honored Linda with her own official day in San Diego.

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice not long ago swore in openly gay Mark Dybul as the U.S. AIDS Coordinator. Holding the Bible was his lover Jason Claire, whom Ms. Rice recognized with warm words, while a smiling First Lady Laura Bush looked on.

District 5 City Council candidate Carl DeMaio raised more money (more than $150,000) than all of the confirmed candidates running for the four council districts combined. Carl DeMaio, who admitted he is gay, has made it clear to me and others who have met with him that he will have no gay agenda whatsoever, and he has taken anti-needle exchange and anti-compassionate marijuana-use stands. District 5 is a conservative, Republican district, and it fits Carl DeMaio like a glove.

Recently, the official City Boxes at Petco Park have come under attack as luxury items. Well I have been mayors’ and city officials’ guests in these boxes and let me tell you, while they are nice enough, they are not in any way luxurious, and the food, in my opinion, is very average.

The city’s Filipino community is organizing a major fund-raiser for City Council candidate Todd Gloria, who would be the first Filipino American ever elected (not to mention the first Native American elected).

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is working on getting sports legend Billy Jean King in San Diego for a special reception. I will be one of the official hosts of the San Diego event with former President Bill Clinton.

The new Universal Hillcrest restaurant and lounge’s general manager will be Billy Nordmeier, a very nice guy who is already out in the community supporting benefits and events.

Popular County Supervisor Ron Roberts personally delivered Mama’s Kitchen’s 4 millionth meal. Yes, 4 millionth!

You know, any of us could get hit by a bus or car, or be in an airplane crash (my biggest fear), so we should all have our wills, memorials and funerals in order ahead of time. So, last week, I put the final touches on my will and memorial. (I know that some of you would like to see this happen sooner rather than later!) Yes, it was a little hard to do and a bit emotional, but with the help of a very close friend, I did it, and I feel peace when it comes to this very important issue.

Who do I recommend? Well, my attorney for more than 20 years, that’s who. Attorney Rick Kerman can be reached at (619) 865-3924. I’ve known a lot of individuals who died unexpectedly and had no will, and it became a mess with families, lovers, etc.

Yes, now fabulous Baja Bettys has a lunch guarantee for you to be in and out in just one hour. Its lunch express is available for just $5.99 (selected items). Don’t forget that every Tuesday night is “The Rock Lobster Tacos” special (some of the best in town), as well as all-you-can-eat Mexican-style brunch every Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.). That’s all at the ever fun and colorful Baja Bettys!