Next Friday is our unofficial gay national holiday… Halloween!! Don’t forget our community’s biggie outdoor event, “Nightmare on Normal St.” in front of our Center with cash prizes to costume winners.… This fun event attracts thousands and will happen again on Oct. 31. See you there.

First of all we should all commend and thank the hard working Gala Committee and all the wonderful volunteers.… This event raised some great money, especially with Councilmember Ralph Inzuna’s $20,000 check presentation and the sale of all the 30th anniversary tiles (bravo!). Outstanding speech by board President Robert Gleason (whose parents were in attendance). The dance floor at times was packed, with everyone having a good time and our community being dressed to the “nines.”

The dessert buffet was fabulous…. It was great to see a lot of young people… and straight friends, supporters, and families in attendance. Everyone being given commemorative pins and cards was also a nice touch.… But… in all due respects this was our 30th anniversary, indeed a historic celebration, and it just did not have that “feeling” and left many of us disappointed. Please never hold this at the Convention Center again.… The food was really bad and the long lines did not help. The fish served as the main course was just awful and they didn’t even provide any lemons for it.

The entertainment for a 30th anniversary should have been more than a female impersonator coming out and lip-synching three times in the dark (no spotlight). I was at a $5000 sponsorship table as others were, and tickets also went for $250 and $125…. The Center’s hard working executive director, Dr. Delores Jacobs, the board, the honorary chairs (pioneers George Murphy and Bridget Wilson) and the Gala chairs (even the one who didn’t attend 95 percent of the meetings) should have been properly introduced on stage (including the 2003 award honorees) instead of just being pointed out in the crowd.

As all of you know, I love our Center and appreciate its staff and volunteers, and raise money for it and will continue to do so, as I hope everyone else will. This is given as “constructive criticism” and though this black tie event raised good money and many had a good time, I am raising some points that have been brought up to me and that I agree with…. The bottom line is that the Center is our community’s “City Hall” and we will always be there for it.

My hat is off to the board and staff of our GLBT San Diego Pride, who continue to hold townhouse meetings for our entire community to get your ideas, suggestions, etc. for next year’s 30th anniversary of our Pride parade, rally and festival. My hat is NOT off to our community, whose attendance is almost nonexistent at times. Sooooo… don’t complain, bitch, etc. if you don’t attend and take part in the process.… San Diego Pride continues to reach out to all of you to make next year’s 30th anniversary your anniversary, so become a part of it and attend these meetings! Thank you.

Equality California is our GLBT voice in our state capital, fighting for our civil rights… and doing a damn good job. Next Wednesday, Oct. 29, will be San Diego’s turn at bat as our community holds its annual 2003 San Diego Equality Awards celebration (such events are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, etc.). So let’s do our part to say thank you and especially honor the California LGBT Legislative Caucus (hooray for Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Chris Kehoe!) and the hardworking and dedicated AJ Davis-DeFeo of The Center (a great woman, activist and leader).… The theme is Olé!, and everyone is invited. Event co-chairs are Councilmember Toni Atkins and Attorney Todd Stevens, chair of the Mayor’s GLBT Advisory Board. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. and is cosponsored by our local GLBT veterans’ rights chapter, AVER. Tickets are only $75. For more info, phone (858) 777-3664.

A big “Thank you!” to San Diego’s outstanding representative on the state executive board for all these years, the hardworking and well-respected Attorney Paula Rosenstein!

Scott James, the store at 914 West Washington, will be having its 10th anniversary celebration this coming Saturday, Oct. 25 from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.… This fabulous gift/card store is one of my all-time favorites and always gives back to our community.… Congratulations boys!

On the subject of fabulous, the award-winning Pet Palace (3829 Ray St.) will be hosting their annual Halloween Costume Party for our pets this coming Sunday, Oct. 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (judging promptly at noon). Handsome owner Cesar Medina, Pet Palace and Nutro will donate five pounds of premium dog food to PAWS for every dog attending wearing a costume. For more information, call (619) 291-6565.

Starting Nov. 7, Club Montage brings Friday nights back to our community. No cover before 11:00 p.m., go-go boys, drink specials and DJs spinning requests from the past 30 years!