I hope you all had a great holiday and I pray for a healthy and happy community for all of you in 2009. Forgive me for not attending too many events, as I’ve had a bad case of the flu! Happy New Year!

Every day – and I mean every day – I get calls from social service organizations that are hurting and must make cut backs. Every day I get calls from businesses that are also hurting, and calls from people who have lost their jobs. We are all going through and are facing some difficult financial times – and things don’t look good for 2009. So now is the time more than ever to support your community. I strongly urge you to patronize and support gay-owned and GLBT-friendly businesses that give back to your community.

Now is the time to ask questions, like what kind of donations businesses make to community organizations and causes. Support the bars and restaurants and businesses that support your community. We must show our support for one another. Displaying a rainbow flag in a business window is a nice gesture, but now is the time we ask what some businesses give back to the community.

Now comes word that some local GLBT activists and fund raisers are getting together to create a special donor display sign so businesses and bars can be singled out for past and present financial contributions to our community. The display signs will include five-star, four-star, three-star ratings, etc. Ratings will be based on how big the business is and its record of financial giving. Stay tuned to my column for more info.

Yes, you read that correctly. If same-sex marriage was still legal, it would have resulted in $683.6 million spent on same-sex weddings for the California economy in the first three years. This is according to a study by LPI Media. The study also revealed that about 67,000 out-of-state couples would have traveled to California to get married. Yes, in these bad economic times in California, this would certainly have been most helpful. It is interesting that Massachusetts changed its state law to now allow same-sex couples from out of state to marry in Massachusetts, thus reaping a huge financial bonus for the state. Good for them – it was smart!

A few weeks ago I wrote about getting a call from the Family Matters program at The San Diego LGBT Community Center. The call was about GLBT families who are going through hard times, some who have even lost their jobs and homes. Because of your response and generosity, the Imperial Court and The Center were able to provide holiday meals, grocery vouchers, toys, movie passes, etc. to these families. Some of your responses were overwhelming for all of us involved. As I’ve said, the Imperial Court’s annual community toy drive has been going on since the 1970s, but this was the first time we received urgent calls from members of our very own community. And, because you responded to my column and my calls, almost 40 GLBT families were provided for. Not only were we able to donate to our usual children’s agency, we were also able to take care of our own. I’d like to say a special thank you to the Gay Tennis Foundation, Ben F. Dillingham III, Baja Betty’s, Dr. Dennis Mayer, the Rob Benzon Foundation, Sherman Mendoza and The Caliph, Charlie Gaffey, San Diego LGBT Pride, Bob Lehman and his Birthday Bash, and all the businesses and bars that had toy boxes. You truly are all angels. May God bless each and every one of you who donated, whether it was one item or 100 items. We appreciate every one of you!

Recently, “Big” Mike Phillips was chosen for the very coveted annual honor of being named a Principal for a Day in the San Diego Unified School District. He was the principal for a day at an elementary school in Logan Heights. He started early in the morning and even got to park in the principal’s special parking space! He got to go into the teachers’ lounge and meet many of the teachers. The children asked “Big” Mike all kinds of questions, and he had the whole day to interact with them. The real principal, Claudia Jordan, nominated “Big” Mike and he was selected for the honor – and what a great choice he was. What a wonderful experience for everyone – way to go “Big” Mike!

Recently, two very close friends of mine (one a gay man and the other a straight woman) suffered the loss of their pet dogs. Some people do not realize that the death of a longtime pet is, indeed, close to the magnitude of losing a member of your family – and in some cases, it’s about the same. Some friends of these people did not understand their deep grief. The truth is, in so many cases pets are in fact “man’s best friend,” and one of the most loyal, longtime companions some have their whole lives. Please try to be more understanding of any other friends who suffer through the loss of a pet. Take their loss seriously and be there for them!

San Diego County’s premier adult stores, F Street Bookstores, will be celebrating their 35th anniversary throughout 2009 – with lots of surprises, changes, special launch parties, etc. in store for you. It’s already the talk of the adult industry on the West Coast. F Street Bookstores have earned a reputation as the most cutting edge of all adult businesses with changes always happening, and items in stock that cater to all different generations and people from all backgrounds – from ages 18-80, from men to women, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender; you name them, and everyone is welcome and made to feel comfortable at F Street. Known to have the best prices in town, F Street also has earned an outstanding reputation for giving back to different communities and causes to the tune of millions of dollars (including well over a quarter of a million dollars to AIDS agencies and programs). In reality, F Street Bookstores is in the top 5 businesses in San Diego County that have made outstanding financial contributions to GLBT and AIDS causes! Keep your eyes on F Street in 2009 and all of its special 35th anniversary celebrations!

Be sure to nominate for the 92103 Awards now! It’s simple and anyone can nominate an individual or business who lives or does business in the 92103 zip code. To nominate, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1075, and you’ll find links to The Center’s Web site and Mo’s Universe.

Bamboo Lounge invites everyone to its 2-for-1 Sangria Special for the holidays and its $8 Bottomless Mimosas brunch. The brunch menu consists of homemade chillaquilles or butter pound cake French toast. Don’t miss out on these holiday treats! See Alex at Bamboo Lounge – he’s the best!