Happy Pride to everyone! There is a unique significance in our celebration this year. Our fight for marriage equality has been long and sometimes disheartening.

Granted, more and more cities and states are offering domestic partnership to same-sex couples, but it is not the same as having the right to choose to marry someone we love. I realize that marriage is not for everyone, but the idea that we are not even allowed to enjoy the rights and responsibilities of marriage is plain un-American. So, when the California State Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage a few weeks ago, I headed over to West Hollywood Park for a celebration rally. It was a very emotional experience for me to stand among my community and celebrate this milestone. It was particularly moving for me to hear my friends Robin Tyler and her partner Diane Olson speak of their experience. Robin and Diane are one of the 14 couples who sued the state. My chest was bursting with excitement and pride to hear the attorneys from Lambda Legal Defense and the National Center for Lesbian Rights speaks so eloquently on our behalf. Robin wisely suggested that in lieu of gifts, we should all donate generously to organizations, such as Equality California, that are working to mobilize the community against those who are working to take our rights away. There were probably 700 to 1,000 people gathered in celebration, mostly people over 30, representing the diverse spectrum of our queer family. My only lament was that there were just as many people in the bars on Santa Monica Blvd. drinking. I hope they, too, were celebrating this historic milestone in our lives and that they cared. This coming Tuesday, I hope many of you will apply for your marriage license – because we might not have the freedom for long.

If you didn’t know that there will be a ballot initiative that could limit marriage as between one man and one woman in the Nov. 4 election, you seriously need to crawl out from under your rock. If you think the Democrats and Barack Obama are a shoe-in this coming election, think again. This amendment will draw out in great numbers those who hate the GLBT community – much like the marriage initiative in 2000 did. If you aren’t a registered voter, I hope this is reason enough for you to register. We all must all show up at the polls as if our lives depend on it … because, in many way, they do.

The last time I felt this way was back in 1993 when New York passed its Gay Rights Bill, I remembered running over to Sheridan Square to join thousands of gay New Yorkers to celebrate the momentous victory. I was young then and was interviewed by CNN. I can’t remember what I said, but I remember my life was forever changed. Unfortunately, it was years later that we realized sacrificing the “transgender” language in the bill was a mistake. Fifteen years later, transgender people still lacks basic protections in all aspects of human rights. Even backers of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), who sold us out by taking protections for transgender people out of the bill, are unable to muster enough votes to pass the bill in Congress this year. Do not let anyone fool you by allowing them to tell you domestic partnership is the same as marriage. It is not. Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. I am happy to report that just this week, the N.Y. State Assembly voted overwhelmingly to include “transgender” language in the Gay Rights Bill. Let us hope it passes the Senate as well.

So this particular Los Angeles Pride celebration was even more meaningful for me. Robin and Diane, along with Rev. Troy Perry and his partner Phillip, were among the Grand Marshalls. My favorite talk radio host, Stephanie Miller, was also a celebrity Grand Marshall. I volunteered at Long Beach Pride a few weeks ago and, with the temperature outside at 96 degrees, was happy to be inside the tent for 10 hours. This past weekend was different: the weather was a perfect 74, the mood was right and there was no stopping us. The characters we have come to expect during Pride, from the sublime to the ridiculous, were out in full force. The ones I do not get were those in full body latex suits and “pig” full masks. But c’est la vie! The main stage featured many talents including Joss Stone and three “American Idol” favorites, Frenchie Davis, Kimberly Caldwell and Kimberly Locke. And, saving the best for last, Olivia Newton-John performed, in her first ever Pride festival performance. She looked just as beautiful as I remembered her in Grease. She had a sound check at noon, while everyone was at the parade, so I got to steal a shot of her. And, boy, she is still a great performer and she did not disappoint her loyal gay following. She performed hits such as “Xanadu,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Sordid Lives” and “You’re the One That I Want.” What an amazing way to end the weekend!

Now it’s a few days after Pride in Los Angeles and every fiber of my whole body aches. But the senses of joy and pride linger. What is wonderful for me is that I get to do it all over again in a few weeks in San Diego. I urge you all this year to come out and celebrate, especially if you have not done so recently or in the past. There are many reasons to celebrate and an urgency to come together as a community. We need to energize everyone in our community with the pride that will sustain us through this coming election. All you jaded queens: let’s remind the younger folks that we really know how to party. But leave the rainbow spandex behind.

Fresh is back: Fresh kicks off on Saturday, June 14 at Bacchus House, and will run every second Saturday night of the month, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. with the phenomenal circuit DJ Lydia Prim (Ft. Lauderdale) spinning serious non-stop music. With hot go-go boys and drink specials, there’s no reason hopping from bar to bar looking for a crowd. This is where they will be! Come early and dance all night.

Mark your calendar and start shopping for your ball gowns. Coronation is set for Saturday, Aug. 2 at the Westin Horton Plaza. This year is particularly important as the San Diego court welcomes members to the first meeting of the Parliament of the International Courts System. More information will be available soon.

Word about town is that Hooters is invading Hillcrest, at the corner of Third Avenue and University. If it’s true, I’m not sure how the clientele will mix with Mo’s across the street. Maybe the straight boys will cross the street when they get horny and frustrated. So, maybe, everybody wins.

Congratulations to Todd Gloria for coming out ahead in the District 3 primaries. Let’s make sure we put this all-around great guy in office this November. I know he will work hard for all of us.