It’s interesting that 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the California Supreme Court’s historic 1948 ruling that found it unconstitutional for the state to restrict access to marriage based on the race of the spouses … history is indeed on the side of the GLBT community!

I have found the recent letters to the editor very disturbing when it comes to the respect, tolerance and acceptance of some members of the GLBT community.

The face of the GLBT community in California and San Diego is changing, and more Latinos and Asians are coming out of the closet. More importantly most GLBT youth and teens are coming out in middle school and must be protected from bullying and violence. GLBT parents are also growing in numbers every month and raising beautiful children. I must note how interesting it is that while child abuse is very high in heterosexual parents, it is almost nonexistent amongst GLBT parents and households. The transgender community is also growing and becoming more visible, while sadly becoming the target of violence. The face of the GLBT community of the 1970s and 1980s has changed greatly and we should celebrate our growing diversity, color and lifestyles. I believe a majority of the GLBT community accepts all of our brothers and sisters and their changing GLBT families. But, sadly, there are some people who just dislike children and the transgender community’s growing visibility. We’lI must say to those people that they need to get used to it because they’re not going anywhere. I believe that we are a better community because of this aspect of our community. Personally I love and respect GLBT parents, their children and the transgender community.

While in San Francisco recently I had brunch with City Treasurer Jose Cisneros and Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who also brought his beautiful two-year-old daughter. Of course we talked about local and statewide politics and let’s just say that I got a top-notch San Francisco briefing. By the way Dufty is already considered a frontrunner to become the next mayor of San Francisco. Additionally, Cisneros is a rising Latino star who is being talked about as the future state treasurer!

As many of you know I’ve become a strong advocate for State Assemblymember Mark Leno’s legislation to make Harvey Milk’s birthday a state holiday. While in San Francisco Leno and I spoke at the same event urging Californians to support this effort. In his speech Leno acknowledged the San Diego Human Relations Commission as the first to officially endorse the Harvey Milk holiday.

My airplane flights to and from San Francisco were delayed for many hours, but while at the airport I had conversations with Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and candidate for District 5 City Council Carl DeMaio, who was on his way to the Republican State Convention. Now as for all the interest in the California State Senate battle between Leno and incumbent Sen. Carol Midgen, it’s too close to call. A former state assemblymember has also entered the race and we could possibly lose this GLBT seat.

Successful businessperson Stampp Corbin, who is originally from Chicago, Ill., and now has is a San Diego resident with homes in La Jolla and Mission Hills, is the national co-chair of Senator Barack Obama’s LGBT Leadership Team. Corbin is becoming more active in San Diego with the San Diego Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Committee, 20 Years-20 Heroes, Todd Gloria’s campaign and is on the 2008 Nicky Awards board of governors. Corbin has been passionate and active in GLBT equality since his college days back in 1978, when he attended Stanford University and the Harvard Business School. He has become a highly successful businessperson whose companies have millions of dollars in annual revenue. He went to high school with Sen. Obama’s wife “Michelle Obama” and recently represented the Obama campaign on the Michelangelo Signorile show debating Hilary Rosen for the Clinton campaign. Stampp won the three hours of Internet voting as the best debater, receiving 59 percent of the votes to Rosen’s 39 percent. He served on the transition team for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and also served as a national advisor to the Small Business Administration during the Clinton presidency. Corbin is also a past HRC national board member.

I’ve had the opportunity to get to know and become good friends with Corbin and his lover, who are both a great addition to San Diego and the GLBT community.

I recently attended the VIP media reception for the upcoming 15th Annual Latino Film Festival, which was a very exciting and great event that was full of many young film makers and artists. The upcoming festival, which takes place March 6-16, will be featuring 165 international films, all with English subtitles. The films will be screened at the Ultra Star Cinemas in Hazard Center. Latino movie stars will be appearing almost every night. This event will also feature the Third Annual Cine Gay Showcase and all the talk is about a gay film from Spain called Spinning. It’s one of the first films to be produced in the world about gay men who are considering having a child. For more information, call 619-230-1938, or visit www.sdlatinofilm.com.

The Gay & Lesbian Times, the GSDBA and the Imperial Court de San Diego have teamed to gather donations for GLBT families and individuals who were affected by October’s wildfires. We are raising money and collecting gift cards to Target, Home Depot and Ikea to assist families who have lost everything in the recent wildfires. The fund-raiser will also benefit the Center for Social Advocacy, which continues to help GLBT families get back on their feet and find temporary or permanent housing after losing their homes.

You may send financial contributions or gift cards to the GLT, attention Todd Klein, 1730 Monroe Avenue, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92116. Gift cards are also immensely helpful.