San Diego’s finest family, the Sanders, will be honored with Equality California’s Equality Leadership Award this Friday at the Museum of Contemporary Art. As a member of the board of Equality California, I am proud of the growth and success of this very important organization. Unfortunately, I cannot attend the event because as I’ll be out of state. Still I congratulate Jerry, Rana and Lisa for being the pride of San Diego!

Lock your doors and hide your children because your biggest fears have come true. Nicole’s blog and Web site is being launched today on Mo’s Universe. Trust me it will be one blog and Web site you will not want to miss. There will be daily changes including Pop! Pop! Pop! People! Opinion! Politics! For an exclusive first look and a link to my blog, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1086.

Yes, from now on at every major event and gala, I will be presenting a best and worst dressed list on my blog. Check out this year’s winners and losers by visiting the link at www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1086. Remember this is all in fun, but it still is very truthful darlings!

The Lambda Archives has announced this year’s 2008 honorees for the “Heroes, Trailblaizers and Pioneers” gala to be held Saturday, Dec. 13. This year’s honorees are Superior Court Judge Ted Weathers, Matt Stephens, Hon. Steve Padilla, Bridget Wilson, Bob Lynn, Sen. Chris Kehoe, Ben. F. Dillingham, Regina Reinhardt, Kevin Tilden, Teresa Oyos, Stan Lewis and Delores Jacobs. Just like last year’s event, it will be a night of Pride, tears, laughter, community and family. The first Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Cleve Jones, founder of The AIDS Quilt.

The Pride and power of the San Diego GLBT community was in full force at The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s 35th Anniversary Gala held this past Saturday. There were more than 800 people in attendance and all the $5,000 VIP tables were sold out. The GLBT community’s political clout and growing strength in numbers has made us a consistency that cannot be ignored. The community has taken its proper place in America’s Finest City, right beside its other communities.

The Center’s Gala annually showcases the pride and power of the community and this year’s event was first class. Many years ago, after attending the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s gala, I talked then-executive director of The Center locally, Karen Marshal, into letting a group of us organize the first gala. Delores Jacobs and the outstanding staff and volunteers at our Center have now taken the gala to a whole new level. It rates on par with the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s event.

Bravo to everyone at The Center San Diego, you make us proud!

At my table were Councilmember Kevin Faulconer, City Attorney Mike Aguirre and his fiancée Ana, Councilmember-elect Carl DeMaio, Chair of the San Diego County Labor Council Lorena Gonzales, former Port Commissioner Peter Janopaul and owner of the Caliph Sherman Mendoza. Let me say there were some very interesting conversations taking place. Sen. Kehoe and I would like to sincerely thank Center Chair Bob Nelson for granting our request to publicly acknowledge the service members present at the event who just returned from Iraq. The house came down with applause for them. On that subject, the 800 people there also made their choice for City Council clear with one of the most thunderous applauses for Todd Gloria. Delores Jacobs was also given a standing ovation for her continuing strong and effective leadership at The Center and statewide for the “No on 8” campaign.

Before the gala I went up to give my support to our brothers and sisters in North County at the inaugural Coming Out Day Pride at the Beach in Oceanside. Close to 1,000 people showed up and I had a great time. It was great to see in attendance Oceanside City Councilmember Esther Sanchez and San Diego Councilmember-elect DeMaio, whose district borders North County. Congratulations to chair Max Disposti and the North County LGBT Coalition. I cant’t wait for next year!

San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood annually holds the largest single day Italian-American festival outside of New York. About 150,000 people showed up to this year’s festival. Big Mike and I had a great time participating in the traditions of Italian art, music and food. The exhibition of chalk painting on the pavement is always breathtaking. I stopped by Our Lady of Rosary Parish to say my prayers for my friends and family. It was a beautiful fiesta and reminded me why I never miss it.

Yes, there are many people across the state urging Mayor Jerry Sanders to run for Lieutenant Governor, as our current Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi is running for governor. Sanders would enter into this discussion but he is totally focused on his current job. Still the bandwagon is getting bigger for Sanders in 2012!

Sen. Chris Kehoe, Mayor Jerry Sanders, City Attorney Mike Aguirre and Councilmember-elect Carl DeMaio attended the second anniversary celebration of the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol at Hawthorn’s Restaurant. A great number of volunteers and community members also turned out to show their support. Congratulations to Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, who received the prestigious Founders Award. Councilmember Toni Atkins honored every volunteer individually with a certificate of honor from the city. The Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol continues to be one of the best volunteers patrols of the neighborhoods of Ditrsict 3. They are a role model for all San Diego neighborhoods. Congratulations to Bob Lehman, Ben Gomez and all the outstanding volunteers of the organization!

Councilmember-elect Carl DeMaio has always been concerned about more affordable housing, as well as housing for the homeless and veterans in San Diego. Last week he visited Townspeople, which provides housing for women and men living with HIV/AIDS and their families. DeMaio toured one of the apartment complexes and was very impressed with the professionalism of the staff and directors at Townspeople. He said he supports the organization’s mission and would be happy to be a part of its 25th anniversary gala to be held next year.