Next Tuesday, Nov. 7, is more than just an election for our GLBT community… it is our community’s future.… Are we going back to the right-wing anti-gay administrations or continuing moving forward to full equality for us and future generations?… Please take the time and vote, and please vote no on Prop. 53 and also vote no on Prop 54.

Governor Gray Davis has signed more gay rights bills than any governor in the nation… in the history of America. Governor Davis has been there for us and fought for GLBT equality all his life.… Now he needs us… our support… our votes. Please, let us not let him down. I urge you to vote no on the recall.… This election is a very expensive and truly undemocratic major abuse of this state’s recall process…. Please go to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 7…. Thank you.

Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante grew up in a two-bedroom house with eight children, grandparents and his parents…. All his life has been a struggle, but he has overcome adversity to become what the American dream is all about… that anyone can become all that they want to be. Bustamante understands discrimination and hardship…. That’s why as a State Legislator, Speaker of the Assembly and Lt. Governor he has supported GLBT civil rights…. Let’s not forget he appointed our own Chris Kehoe to the powerful California Coastal Commission.… Bustamante is our “safety net” if the Governor is recalled. Vote for Cruz Bustamante.

This past weekend there were eight events that attracted many members of our community… seven too many! Yes, we are a growing GLBT community and our calendars are getting full, but organizers are not stopping and calling The Center and looking at dates taken by other organizations. The eight events that were held this past weekend were: San Diego Rodeo, Latin Pride San Diego, Outfest Film Festival, 7th Anniversary Club Montage, Dyke March, Adams Street Fair, 1st Year Anniversary Club Papi! Home and Garden Show at Del Mar.… All of these events drew our community… and some events did not do as well financially because of so many conflicting events…. Let’s all start calling The Center and using the community calendar.

It’s AIDS Walk time again, this Sunday, Oct. 4 in Balboa Park.… Because of Ben Dillingham and our Center we now have an AIDS Walk we can be proud of and that is being run professionally and with checks and balances. We almost lost this, our city’s biggest AIDS fundraiser, so please continue, now more than ever, to support and attend AIDS Walk 2003.… And a big thank you to The Center, Dr. Delores Jacobs, Summer Morse, Megan Blanek, Terry Bishop, Carole Norman and everyone at AIDS Walk, especially all of the wonderful volunteers and walkers!!! For more info., call (619) 291-WALK.

All you had to do is attend the annual Adams Ave. Street Fair and you’ll know that the Third District Council Seat is changing. We have more languages spoken here than in any other district…. The fastest growing constituency is the Latino and Asian community.… If our GLBT community is going to hold onto the third district seat, we better start looking at grooming a GLBT Latino or GLBT Asian candidate in the years to come.

It’s that time again when San Diego shows our support for the men and women of our Armed Forces, with the annual Fleet Week celebration…. A reminder, also, of the thousands of GLBTs at our local military bases, making San Diego their home. This year is a special celebration as we continue to welcome our service personnel home from deployment, and pay tribute to their dedication both on the battlefield and in our community.

For more information on this week’s Fleet Week events, call (619) 858-1545, or visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com and click on this column for a link to Fleet Week information.

The GLBT community in North County is growing by leaps and bounds, and the fourth annual North County Pride in the Park continues to become a bigger event every year.… This Saturday, Oct. 4, this fun event will be held from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. at Brengle Terrace Park in the city of Vista.… So why not support and join our brothers and sisters in North County this Saturday? For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com and click on this column.

Hey, next Thursday, Oct. 9, join handsome KSWB anchor Dave Carlin and Big Mike at Bourbon Street for the fourth annual Harvest Fest, a benefit for Home Start, an outstanding organization helping children in need. It will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with live entertainment, beer tasting, food, desserts, etc.… Hope to see you all there!!!