The very popular 2008 HillQuest Directory hits the streets today! This is the fun, informative and colorful urban guide to Hillcrest and beyond, which is published by Ann Garwood and Nancy Moors, who won the 2008 Nicky Award for Businesswomen of the Year. Be sure to pick up your free copy of the HillQuest Directory at any of your favorite Hillcrest business locations in the 92103 zip code and beyond!

Former Marine Sgt. Bob Lehman and City Commissioner Tom Felkner made history as the very first same-sex couple to get married in San Diego this past Tuesday. An Iraq War veteran, Bob met Tom in Chicago 15 years ago when Bob was still in the Marines. Both, who are from small towns in Indiana, fell in love with each other the very first night they met. The two moved to San Diego and became successful business owners years ago. Bob is the co-founder of the local chapter of AVER and is the first openly gay veteran to be appointed by the County Board of Supervisors to serve on the County’s Veterans Council. City Commissioner Tom Felkner is a past board member of Equality California, past co-chair of the “No on Prop. 22” committee and is now the co-chair of the San Diego Equality Marriage Campaign for the upcoming November ballot initiative. Both Bob and Tom are co-founders of the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol. These two men are not only known for their community leadership roles, but also for donating financially to countless civil rights causes, social service organizations and charities benefiting cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Bob’s brother, former Marine Petty Officer Scott Lehman flew into town from Indiana to be Bob’s official witness, and his other brother former Marine Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Lehman married the beautiful couple. Jeff’s daughter Erin was present, and Bob’s older sister Linda Lyniger flew in from Kentucky to be there.

I was honored to be Tom’s witness and to sign the marriage certificate of these two young men who are like sons to me and call me “mommy dearest.” They were the perfect first historic same-sex couple to be married in San Diego. Congratulations boys!

June 17, 2008 will be a day that will go down in history, not only for our community and state, but also history for the nation … I was up by 5 a.m. Yes, you read that correctly. I was up at 5a.m. to be an official witness at Bob and Tom’s marriage.

The second couple to get married was former Emperor XI of the Imperial Court de San Diego and charity auctioneer extraordinaire Craig Morgan and Jon Van Sciver, who have been together for 25 years. Both were handsome, as they were in kilts and wore their family tartan from Scotland. Among their guests were former Congressmember Lynn Sanchez, who is the past chief of staff of Gov. Davis and top advisor to numerous presidential campaigns including the former campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Among the first lesbian couples to get married in San Diego were Megan Sliekfield and Patricia Stennert. My close friend of almost 40 years Robin Tyler and Diana Olson were the first couple to get married in Los Angeles, and had a beautiful Jewish ceremony. Robin called me to tell me all about it and also sent me many great pictures.

Back in San Diego, Lyman Hallowell, 93, and John Daper, 83, made history with their marriage after 63 years together.

It was great to see respected civil rights attorney Eric Alan Isaacson and his wife in the crowd. Isaacson has been a leader in the battle for marriage equality. Bravo, thank you and big hugs to Delores Jacobs and Dale Kelly Bankhead, the state campaign managers against the ballot initiative, who along with Amber Cyphers of The Center spent from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the County Administration Building.

Also thank you to Ben Gomez and the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol, Caroline Dessert and other volunteers from The Center, along with those from MCC and the First Unitarian Universalist Church.

I had the honor be the master of ceremonies for the community wedding reception hosted by Bob and Tom held at Universal Hillcrest later that evening. I had the pleasure of introducing more than a dozen newlywed couples to a wildly cheering crowd.

What a historic and beautiful day it was. It was a day all about a simple four-letter word – LOVE. God bless all the newlyweds!

Jennifer LeSar, the past chair of the San Diego Centre City Development Corporation earned such an outstanding reputation that the mayor of Los Angeles brought her to his city to lead the new development changes in Downtown Los Angeles.

I recently had a great conversation with the former Port Commissioner and the CEO of the El Cortez Hotel, Peter Janopaul, at Universal’s Dish restaurant. Peter spends most of his time these days being father to his two beautiful sons Andy, 6, and Dutch, 2.

Did you know that County Supervisor Ron Roberts was responsible for all those bicycle helmets given out at the annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt?

Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and the founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, will be the keynote speaker during the opening session of the International Court Parliament.

Shepard will also be the special guest of honor at the Imperial Court de San Diego’s 37th annual Coronation Ball: “A Military Affair” to be held later the evening of Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Westin Hotel Horton Plaza.

Todd Gloria’s first major fund-raiser will be next month at the estate of the infamous Betty Broderick. This beautiful piece of real estate is now owned by State Commissioner Michael Weiss.

An openly gay man, Carl DeMaio, now holds the District 5 City Council seat and with Gloria and Stephen Whitburn as the District 3 candidates, the District 3 seat will also go to an openly gay man. Word is in the future there will also be an openly gay man running for the District 2 seat.

Bravo to Pat Washington, Chair of the San Diego Democratic Women’s Club for bringing our town a new great speaker of the assembly.

Yes, Councilmember Toni Atkins will be a candidate for State Assembly in 2010!

Congratulations to 23-year-old Jonathan Goetz a young intelligent activist who was elected to the Democratic Central Committee and who is probably a future member of the assembly himself!

Also, congratulations to businessmember Frank Stiriti of Vulcan who will be inducted in the community’s hall of fame next month, for more than three decades of always giving back to the GLBT community.

If you haven’t been to a cooking with tequila class at Baja Betty’s, then you don’t know what you are missing. These cooking classes are always sold out!

I’ve been to a class and its fun, fabulous and delicious. Popular chef Rebecca demonstrates and serves a five-course meal using tequila and your outrageously festive hosts are Miss Cherry Blossom and Shalita Buffet.

The next class at Baja Betty’s is on Tuesday, July 1 at 6:30 pm. Like I mentioned, these classes are always sold out, so make you reservations today!

Tickets for this class are $75 and the proceeds benefit local HIV/AIDS organizations. Olé!