Well I’m off to Colorado, which will be hosting next year’s National Democratic Convention that is looking like it will nominate its first woman candidate for president.

During the recent San Diego firestorm, countless San Diegans turned out to volunteer at Qualcomm Stadium to help thousands of fire victims. Carl DeMaio, candidate for City Council District 5, spent days organizing volunteers and got tons of food, clothing, blankets, mattresses and other needed items. DeMaio was one of the first volunteers at the main gate directing fire victims where to go and helping out any way he could. By the way, although he didn’t tell too many people, he too was a fire victim forced to evacuate from his own newly bought home, after which he immediately drove to the stadium. DeMaio received a lot of media coverage, from national TV news to The New York Times. All the time, he never mentioned that he was a candidate for City Council, and it’s selfless actions like this that continue to make him the front-runner in his race. Kudos to DeMaio.

It’s not too often that we as a community get a chance to honor our GLBT veterans. (Most local party promotions use military themes for circuit-like parties without giving too much back to any vet organizations.) Now, coming up this Veterans Day weekend will be four events that I urge everyone to support. I also urge our veterans to show up. First, on Nov. 9, will be a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Rally at the downtown Federal Building at 5 p.m. Later that evening at The Caliph will be the official kick-off reception starting at 8 p.m. The next day, Saturday Nov. 10, will be the Veterans Day Parade (11 a.m.) at the San Diego County Building, with an official GLBT veterans contingent from our local chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (A.V.E.R.). Then, that night, starting at 6 p.m. at the San Diego LGBT Center, will be the Military Ball Cocktail Reception, with lots of men in uniform (and women too). Everyone is invited, and there will be food, and it’s all only $20. The honorary chairs of the event will be Congressmembers Bob Filner and Susan Davis. The after-party will be at Bourbon Street starting at 10 p.m. ’til 2 a.m. Then, on Sunday, the Stand Down Draft Party will start at The Hole (2 p.m.) ending with the Take No Prisoners Final Assault at Pecs (7 p.m.). Next weekend, events are entitled Honor Every Veteran to remember all those serving overseas and especially those from our community who are serving in silence. The entire community is urged to come out and show its support. All proceeds benefit A.V.E.R. and The Center’s Public Policy Institute. So do your part and show your pride for our veterans and active military personnel. For more information, go to www.honoreveryveteran.com.

“Ex-gay” homophobic activist James Hartline has attacked City Council for its stand for marriage equality. (He has even stated that the recent San Diego fires were due to God’s anger at our city’s equality stand.) Hartline even included me in his attacks, calling for my removal as chair of the City’s Human Relations Commission because I am “anti-Christian.” Letters have come in to the editor questioning my refusal to always mention James Hartline’s past as a felon, prisoner, drug and sex addict, person living with AIDS, etc. etc. Well folks, as I’ve said, this is his past life and although now he has found, in my opinion, the wrong God, his personal life has completely changed. There are many in our community who have changed their lives or are in recovery, and I will not hold this over them. As for my coverage of Hartline’s city council candidacy, as long as he sticks to basic city issues, as he did in his first debate, that’s what I will report. And, although it is well known that he is a self-hating homophobe who gets a little crazy at times calling himself “Saint James,” I leave it to God to judge him. As for me, I refuse to hate poor souls like Hartline.

Yes, the place to be seen every Sunday afternoon now will be Lei Lounge (starting Nov. 4, at 2 p.m.). Jetset party promoters and Lei Lounge will present Remedy, which is a very mixed (this means gays, straights, bi’s…everything goes) Sunday daytime drinking/lounge event with a live DJ. For more information, phone 619-813-2272 or visit Leilounge.com.