I wish God’s blessings on all of you for a very happy and healthy New Year. Remember: 2008 is a very important election year, so please remember to vote.

Longtime businessperson Bob Clark recently passed away, as did Shawn Leap, Queen Eddie’s partner of more than four decades. The Dreamgirls Revue lost the talented and dynamic impersonator Hunter, and we all miss Marilyn so much. The loss of Dr. David McWhirter and Dr. Drew Mattison was a great loss, as these two were truly pioneers. Dr. Michael Clark will be missed by many. Former bar owner Warren Phillips also passed away.

On the national level, closet-case and all-time homo Merv Griffin died. We will all miss Tammy Faye Baker. However, we will not so much miss the “Queen of Mean” Leona Helmsley, who lost a discrimination case against one of her gay employees and left all of her millions to her cats. I loved Lady Bird Johnson, who is now with LBJ. National GLBT activist Barbara Gittings also died this year. I loved Anna Nicole Smith, and the loss of her son made her life very tragic indeed. Luciano Pavorotti had a voice from God … and I wonder where God sent Jerry Falwell?

San Diego will be among countless cities across the country that will be getting ready for the upcoming 2008 elections. The Center’s LGBT San Diego Delivers the Vote is in full operation. The San Diego Democratic Club is also in full campaign mode, and the Log Cabin Republican Club has a new and effective president. GLBT Vote 2008 is gearing up with a full campaign that is ready to go and the Stonewall Young Democrats are getting stronger every month with growing membership.

For more information on how to register to vote or to vote by mail, call 858-565-5800 or visit www.sdvote.com.

City Commissioner, past president of The Center’s board of directors, and the leading candidate for District 3 City Council, Todd Gloria, has been named one of “50 San Diego citizens to watch” by the prestigious San Diego Magazine. The magazine also included a leading openly gay candidate in another city council district and stated that if they both win that the city council will be 25 percent gay. The truth is that they are sadly mistaken if they think that this other candidate will be a sure vote on any GLBT issue, as he is a conservative Republican and has no gay agenda, period.

The San Diego Pride board elected two outstanding co-chairs for 2008. First, longtime respected (and beautiful) lesbian leader/activist January Riddle. She is a former Peace Corp leader and past president of San Diego County National Organization of Women. Not only is she smart, but she is one hell of a good dresser.

Also, congratulations to Dr. Philip Princetta, who deserved to be re-elected as co-chair. Philip is a very honorable man and has been a great spokesperson and leader for San Diego Pride. But we can’t and shouldn’t forget Pride’s executive director Ron deHarte, who is responsible for a lot of outstanding changes at the organization.

The National Conference on LGBT Equality is coming to Detroit, Mich. from Feb. 6-10. This annual conference is sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and is attended by thousands of GLBT leaders and activists. The keynote speakers for this year are NAACP national chair Julian Bond and Bishop Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Church. This will be the conference’s 20th anniversary (San Diego hosted the 10th conference). I will be attending the conference along with many San Diegans. Bob Lehman of the Stonewall Citizens Patrol has been invited to speak at a session for neighborhood safety and anti-gay bashing patrols.

As you can see, there are a lot of things going on at the corner of University and Vermont avenues, as Universal is being built and will open in a few months. This will be a club like you have never seen before. It will include a restaurant, nightclub and patio, along with a late-night pizza joint, all in one location. Millions is being spent on the construction and design and Universal is bound to be the talk of the West Coast.

A few years ago, I came up with the idea of giving out awards to businesses and bars for their Christmas decorations, as they all do such a great job to make their customers feel in a festive mood. The contest is now sponsored by the Gay & Lesbian Times. Congratulations to the grand prize winner Urban Mo’s. Congratulations to all the winners, including Ace Hardware, Bourbon Street, Rich’s, Park Manor Hotel, #1 Fifth Ave. and the Caliph

Best Window Display

1. Ace Hardware

2. Pomegranate

3. Martin and Wall

Best Dance Bar Decorations

1. Rich’s

2. Club Montage

3. Numbers

Best Bar Decorations

1. Bourbon Street

2. #1 Fifth Ave.

3. The Caliph

Best Business Decorations

1. Park Manor

2. Flowers by Sean

3. Pleasures & Treasures

Best Restaurant Decorations

1. Cafe 11

2. Brian’s American Eatery

3. Martinis Above Fourth

Grand Sweepstakes Winner

Urban Mo’s

We should thank all the businesses and bars for all their hard work.

Thank you for all your cards, e-mails, calls, invitations, etc. during the holidays, but I was in bed all day Christmas and New Year’s Eve… .This has not been a good year for me, as far as my health is concerned. So please understand when my column isn’t in that I’m not doing well. Still, there are plenty of people worse off than me. And with so many good friends, who are like family to me, I count my blessings. A big thank you to Carolina, Sherman and Big Mike for coming over to make sure that this old queen was fed. I pray that this year will be better for me and all of you.