At times I have to use a cane because I’m becoming an old queen on a rollercoaster ride with my ongoing health problems. There are times I have good days then … well, you get the picture. I’ve lost about seven canes now. I forget them in bars, restaurants and several other places. So, if I left a cane at your place (yes, that includes you military men) please call me so I can come pick it up!

This weekend you may bump into some Canadians, Mexicans and people from all across the United States. They are all here for the International Court System’s major international conference, also known as Parliament. Judy Shepard, the executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation will be the keynote speaker.

Officials from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington, D.C. will also attend to promote GLBT Vote 2008 and get out the vote.

This Saturday, Aug. 2, is also the Imperial Court de San Diego’s “37th annual Coronation Ball: A Military Affair,” and the entire community is invited to attend. All the dinner tickets are sold out, but general admission tickets are still available for $40 in advance or $50 at the door. The Coronation will take place at the Westin Horton Plaza in Downtown San Diego at 7 p.m.

For more information or for tickets, call 619-254-6372 or 619-692-1967.

I hope to see you all there (especially people from the countless organizations the Imperial Court has supported through the years).

The recent shooting of the 37-year-old go-go boy from Los Angeles by the San Diego Harbor Police is a very sad situation. Indeed, most of my thoughts are with his family and friends, as I’ve heard nothing but good and positive things about Steven Paul Hirschfield; we in San Diego mourn his death, which occurred during the Pride harbor cruise. That being said, it seems that his body wasn’t even cold before Los Angeles attorney Brian Claypool was making accusations and attacks on the harbor police, accusing them and the San Diego Police Department of known “gay-bias.” His words made it sound like San Diegans are known to be homophobes. Yes, they were in the 1960s and 1970s; they were also racist and sexist. I even got beaten up by police back then, but the relationship between the police department and the GLBT community has improved 150 percent. Claypool’s comments are way out of line and, in fact, insulting to San Diego’s GLBT community, and most of all to Police Chief William Lansdowne and Harbor Police Chief Kirk Sanfilippo (both whom have outstanding reputations in our city and in the GLBT community). After Claypool’s media attacks, he then announced a $20 million lawsuit.

Here are the facts, from my understanding: Steven Paul Hirschfield jumped off the boat; he not only fought off attempts to help him, he fought off and attacked a police officer with a taser, and then reached for officer’s gun. Some have pointed to Hirschfield’s lifestyle as a go-go boy and performer, as well as his prior arrest for a controlled substance and a court ordered 18-month drug rehabilitation program. To me this is beside the point. What everyone should have done is wait until the autopsy report, which will tell us everything, comes back.

I’ve received phone calls from people on the boat who say Hirschfield was “loaded” and all I have to say is: that’s hearsay. Again, until the results from the autopsy come back, let’s not pass judgment on anything. As for Claypool, he’s just another money-hungry attorney. I’ve recently been interviewed by the Los Angeles media to rebut many of the attorney’s inflammatory statements and accusations against the San Diego Police Department and the Harbor Police. Let’s all wait until the facts come, and let his family rightfully mourn their loss and deal with their grief.

The negative and ugly attacks on San Diego LGBT Pride and, in particular, its executive director Ron deHarte saddens me. There is no reason for this situation to become so vicious. As one of the co-founders of San Diego Pride in 1974 (along with Tom Homann and Jess Jessop) I know all about the traditions and changes that have occurred with Pride over the last three decades. As our diverse community has changed so has Pride. For some lesbians to attack Pride and Ron deHarte and call him a “sexist,” or a “dictator,” etc., is uncalled for. In the last two decades, Ron is the first gay man to hold the position of executive director of Pride. In the last two decades there have been more lesbian performers on Pride stages than gay men. Nobody should come before our country’s flag and the veterans honor guard. As for some of the lesbians who feel they should have gone before these contingents in a show of solidarity for those brothers and sisters who are killed in foreign countries, is very disturbing to many of us. My dear sisters of Dykes on Bikes, in all due respect, most of the questions I’ve been asked is whether the Dykes on Bikes is really a women’s bike club, a nonprofit organization who does charities and fund-raisers, or just a get-together once a year at Pride? Times change and so do traditions. I believe many of my sisters did overreact and there are countless contingents who would have been honored and would have loved to have been fourth in the parade.

After my doctors grounded me from flying for a month, I was given the green light to go to Omaha. Oh my, has the city changed! In fact, it was recently voted the third best American city in which to live, work and play. A national publication even called Omaha “paradise on the plains.” Hey, even their Republican U.S. Senator is on the list of possible running mates for Obama! When I gave my speech in Omaha I saluted the Midwestern GLBT communities, which I feel are truly living in “ground zero” of the national movement for equality. They are living in the most conservative red states. Unlike us in California, and places like New York, they are even braver to be living out and proud. These Midwestern sisters and brothers are true heroes and role models.

I have great news! After a few years absence, Hillcrest’s 92103 Awards are returning with many great new changes. Plans are also being made for the 92104 Awards for North Park. Both will be charity events, with the 92103 Awards benefiting organizations in Hillcrest and the 92104 Awards benefiting those in North Park. While they will be somewhat different from the Nicky Awards, there will be a few of the categories that are similar, yet others that are more campy and fun. The huge success of the Nicky Awards will bring the 92103 and 92104 awards back either later this year or in early 2009. For more information, call 619-692-1967.

Starting Sunday Aug. 3 and continuing every Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Bite California Bistro and Wine Bar will offer a Sunday Afternoon Lemonade Stand to benefit local charities. The fund-raiser will take place on Bite’s sidewalk patio, located at 1417 University Ave. and will offer 16 ounce regular, pomegranate or strawberry lemon-aid for $4 each. The benefiting organization will change weekly. The benefiting organization for this Sunday, Aug. 3 will be No on Prop 8, CAP- Center Advocacy Project and next week Sunday, Aug. 10, the event will benefit HIV prevention and education for men ages 25-45 at the Gay Men’s Health Center. Be sure to stop by and show your support!