This Sunday is our annual AIDS Walk in Balboa Park. I’m sorry I’ll be out of town for a national board meeting of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), but I urge you to support the walk. My next trips are to Portland, Washington, D.C., and Colorado Springs.

As I’ve written before in this column, I am really tired of the attacks from our community on Susan Kennedy, the chief of staff to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kennedy happens to be a lesbian and a Democrat. Some GLBT activists are calling on Susan to resign because of the governor’s upcoming veto of the marriage equality bill. Some of the attacks on Kennedy are getting very personal.

Of course we are disappointed with the governor on this issue, but Susan Kennedy as chief of staff is intelligent and outstanding, just as she’s been in all of the positions she’s held. I am sure she does not agree with the governor on all issues, but Schwarzenegger has signed GLBT equality bills including one by our own Sen. Christine Kehoe.

Former Gov. Gray Davis also stated that he was opposed to same-sex marriage and would veto the bill, and the three front-runners for the Democratic presidential nomination are also opposed to same-sex marriage. Many of our community leaders seem to hold Republicans and Democrats to a double standard. I had a nice conversation with Ms. Kennedy at a private reception at the governor’s home in Bel Air, and to many others and myself, she continues to be a role model and someone who deserves our community’s respect, as well as the respect of all Californians.

I don’t blame some Christian churches for placing a full-page ad titled “Enough is Enough” in USA Today. Recently, when comedienne Kathy Griffin won an Emmy Award, she slandered Jesus Christ and made the most ugly comments about him. While she is one of my favorite comediennes, I feel she really crossed the line. Not all Christians and their churches are radical homophobes. In fact, many are supportive of us. Recently, many talk show hosts have attacked and mocked Christians for our beliefs. I believe that all faiths (Jewish, Muslim, etc.) should be respected. Let us judge each church, temple and religious leader separately, and let us not become as hateful and ugly as some of our opponents and enemies are.

My phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from local and national straight and gay media trying to get me to give out the contact information for Lisa Sanders, Mayor Jerry Sanders’ daughter. Yes, we are friends, and she is a wonderful, bright and beautiful young woman, who along with her partner, deserves her privacy.

Let’s give the mayor’s daughter some breathing room and respect her privacy. Let’s let her make the decision when, or if, she wants to talk to the media or accept GLBT organizations’ invitations. So, stop asking me for her phone number, where she lives, where she works, etc., because you ain’t getting it. Period.

This coming Monday, the Stonewall Citizen’s Patrol will celebrate its one-year anniversary of making our streets, bars and neighborhood businesses safer. The event will be on Monday from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the beautiful Bamboo Lounge (1475 University Ave.) There is no charge for admission. There will be hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and special recognitions. Let’s all show up and thank our patrol volunteers. While I am proud to be one of the founders, and to have named the patrol, 100 percent of the recognition for leadership goes to co-founders, former Marine Sgt. Bob Lehman, and City Commissioner Tom Felkner. I especially urge our bars and business owners and management staff to attend and show your respect and appreciation. Thank you, Stonewall! For more information call 858-342-6272.

Every four years, the national spotlight turns to Iowa, where all the presidential candidates and big media personalities flock for the first of the national caucuses. The economic impact for the state is about $110 million dollars. My four days in Iowa were very busy, and there seems to be a presidential headquarters on every corner. This time around, it’s Sen. John Edwards and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who are ahead in every poll.

While in Iowa, Sen. Barack Obama was in town (I found him to be especially charismatic), as well as Edwards (smart and very handsome in person). I stopped by the state capitol, which is one of the most beautiful. It’s topped by a dome covered in 23-karat gold leaf, and is constructed of limestone, granite, sandstone and brick. The current Democratic governor has signed a gay anti-discrimination bill, and the GLBT community is becoming well organized (there are about four gay bars in Des Moines).

I had two speaking engagements, and I talked about coalition building and the lynching/rope incident in Louisiana. I singled out District Court Judge Robert Hanson who just a few weeks ago struck down Iowa’s 1998 Defense of Marriage Act. I met gay businessperson Robert Elkleberry, who is a Vietnam veteran, labor leader and founder of an AIDS organization. He is seriously considering a run for City Council.

I love corn on the cob and I stuffed myself all four days. The GLBT community, as I said, is growing and made me feel welcome and like a true “queen.”

This week’s 20th anniversary celebration of Bourbon Street is in full swing, and tonight at 9 p.m. is a special Wet and Wild contest with many of the hot Bourbon Street and Lei Lounge employees participating.

This Friday night (4-7 p.m. happy hour) is the Flawless Ladies Night, with sexy go-go girls. The bar turns into the usual Boys! Boys! Boys! Around 9:30 p.m. Saturday is the big blow out and private party from 4-7 p.m., and you can get your invitation by logging on to www.bourbonstreetsd.com. All night there will be go-go boys, bead tossing, a free CD giveaway and more.

Sunday is the Chargers party starting at 1 p.m. with $2 drafts and $3 pitchers all day. At 8 p.m. is the Lavender Lens party with pudding wrestling. So, just follow the crowds to Bourbon Street this week, and let’s not to forget to thank the bar for its continuing financial community support.

One of America’s true “Iron Chefs,” yes Deborah Scott’s Island Prime and C-Level Restaurant (880 Harbor Island Dr.) is an unbelievable dining experience that everyone should try. Recently, Sherman Mendoza of The Caliph and I dropped by for dinner and I have not had such a completely perfect meal, from appetizers to desserts, in years. On the menu, I highly recommend: A Study in Lobster, the Big Wedge, the prime rib, the shaved white corn – heck, I recommend everything on the menu. You can’t miss out on a single item. Eating at the C-Level is heavenly, the service is outstanding and the place is beautiful. Congratulations Deborah on another huge hit! For more info contact 619-298-6802 or visit www.cohnrestaurants.com.