Hopefully America is finally waking up and taking its country and its leadership more seriously. Hopefully Americans are putting their priorities in the right order. More people watched Sen. Barack Obama’s keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention than tuned in to view record breaking episodes of “American Idol,” the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and the Academy Awards. Hopefully this is a good sign of voter turnout in November.

For a week, all I heard was comments about how wonderful and fabulous the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics were. The Olympics even topped all TV viewing charts.

A survey of Americans showed 56 percent of Americans had a better impression of Communist China after the Olympics. Are people crazy?! Communist China is a cruel dictatorship which has killed millions of its people. There are no freedoms in China and all religions are persecuted and no protests are allowed. GLBT Chinese people are arrested and imprisoned. So, all this dictatorship had to do was put on a fabulous show and succeed in getting people to forget about what China is really about.

Once again, in just four months, the Ner Tamid Synagogue in Poway was graffitied with Nazi hate messages. White supremacists targeted this Temple with words and symbols of hate, including the phrase “Heil Hitler.”

Crime Stoppers and the Hate Crimes Fund, established by the GLBT community after the 2006 Pride attacks, are offering a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of these neo-Nazis. I have contacted the Temple to see if there is anything we, as a community and the Human Relations Community, can do. These continuing attacks on this synagogue are unacceptable to all San Diegans, and this crime should be a top priority for the police.

The growing campaign and boycott against the Manchester Grand Hyatt is getting more support and creating more action every week. Many events and conferences have been cancelled at the hotel, people are refusing to stay there, and they’re choosing not to dine at Sally’s Restaurant.

After owner Doug Manchester gave $125,000 to fight same-sex marriage, local unions and labor members took a leadership role with GLBT activists, and they have formed a very powerful coalition. I must salute labor and union leadership for their hard work; it is because of their support and leadership this boycott is making a big difference.

Every Sunday The San Diego Union-Tribune prints a “Passages” section in Currents, which covers weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. I always read it because many of the stories are beautiful and loving. We should salute the Union-Tribune for printing and covering same-sex wedding announcements, which I have seen in the paper many times. This past Sunday, Jimmy Long and Ivan Garcia’s wedding was on the front page of this section, which included three pictures of the happy couple, along with Rev. Dan Koeshall, pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church in San Diego. It was another wonderful story about love and commitment, alongside other such wonderful stories.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, Nov. 23, when Councilmember Toni Atkins will be honored for eight outstanding years as a public servant, including her service as mayor of San Diego. Toni is this year’s honoree for the Annual Community Tribute Banquet. A full house is expected at this fun and proud evening where Toni will receive the well-deserved honor. The event will show our appreciation to the outstanding and dedicated public servant. For more information, call 619-692-1967.

One of San Diego’s biggest and most popular outdoor events is the San Diego Rodeo, Sept. 12-14 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, with the Handlery Hotel and Resort in Mission Valley hosting some of the weekend’s parties and events. The entire community is invited to this fun event, which attracts cowboys and cowgirls from all over the good ol’ U.S.A. For more information, contact the rodeo hotline at 619-298-4708.

If you haven’t, you’re missing out on Hillcrest’s newest fun place to have lunch or dinner, or just hang out with friends! Hula’s staff is unbelievably friendly and the food is incredible. There’s always something new on the menu to enjoy with your favorite cocktail from the full service bar. And you truly feel like you’re kicking back in Honolulu! Hats off to the extremely handsome Lee Bergeron and his team for making Hula’s a place you’re going to love!