More and more people I know have lost their jobs, homes and, yes, some are even living in their cars or on someone’s couch. Let’s all try to be more sensitive and caring about our friends. Some are trying to keep these things to themselves, while they are getting really depressed and scared. So reach out to those in need and let’s all try and be there for each other because it looks like times will be getting worse rather than better.

As I stated last week, there are some big changes happening here at the Gay & Lesbian Times. First was our new Associate Publisher Todd Klein, and now we have a new Editor Randy Hope. These guys are going to make a great team, as Randy is a true gentleman and is always “fair and balanced.” He’s been involved in the Southern California GLBT community for more than 10 years and has served at the GLT, as both Reporter and Associate Editor. When it comes to the news world, Randy is one of the most honest and decent journalists I’ve met, yet he has a very strong backbone and cuts through the bull.

I agree with San Diego LGBT Pride’s Executive Director Ron de Harte who said it best about the recent firefighters’ law suit against the city. They won a “mini-settlement” of only $34,300 collectively, although each of them wanted millions. This lawsuit was all about money, and these guys played it for all it was worth, saying that being in the Pride parade made them lose sleep and had them upset for months etc. etc. Oh please, these guys fit in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s description of the “girlie men.” These four guys are the true sissies. While I absolutely agree with the charges made concerning no firefighter being forced to participate in any parade like they used to be, these “girlie men” didn’t fool this jury, which ended their dreams of becoming “millionaires.” Let’s not judge our city’s outstanding fire department just on these four guys. As they say, there are rotten apples in every bunch!!!

I come from a generation of activists who are labeled as those from the Stonewall era of the 1960s and early ’70s. Well now it seems that these new generations of activists are being called Stonewall 2.0. I like this a lot, because my generation of activists came from the streets, and this new generations of activists also came from the streets post “No on 8.” I’ve looked into this new Stonewall 2.0 and, while there are different opinions about it among this generation, it is catching on. Interestingly, it seems that nationally respected journalist Rex Wockner of San Diego kind of coined the phrase, and now it’s being used more and more all over the country. This year’s San Diego Pride has even incorporated it into there 2009 theme!

Let’s see, this week “All My Children” one of the most popular soap operas on TV had a full, blow-out, razzle-dazzle lesbian wedding, a transgender contestant on MTV’s “Real World” and has been on “Americas Next Top Model.” Gays are on “Desperate Housewives” and “Brothers and Sisters,” and the list goes on. The fact is that there are more GLBT people on TV than ever before, from “Jerry Springer” to newscasters. We even have GLBT TV channels. Why I bring this up is that a recent study found that there were more GLBT Americans on our major TV channels than Latinos! I remember in the ’60s, ’70s and yes ’80s there were no gays on TV like there are now. The truth is that MTV is probably doing more to change younger generations’ attitudes toward the GLBT community than anyone by having us in almost all of their shows, making our community appear very “normal” to mainstream viewers. That’s why almost 80 percent of Americans under 21 support marriage equality.

Yes I believe so. It’s interesting, but the truth is that all my life almost every GLBT person I have known believes in God, whether the person is Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, etc. While many do not go to church or the temple frequently, they are spiritual. A recent poll showed a vast majority of Americans believe in God, but they don’t go to church/temple frequently either. I am grateful that for decades we had the Metropolitan Community Church, Dignity, etc. But now more mainstream religions are welcoming GLBT members. As a Catholic, it is sad indeed to see my church going backwards every year, but then we also see one of the oldest Christian churches, the Episcopalians, welcoming us in every way.

You don’t have to go to New Orleans for a wild and fun Fat Tuesday. Just head into Hillcrest for one of the most colorful and wild Mardi Gras blow outs on the west coast. Every year it gets better and bigger than ever, and this year promises to have the best ever food, sexy dancers, rides, thousands of people and lots of skin and eye candy. Just follow the crowds to this coming Tuesday’s Mardi Gras.

You’re all invited for some good old fashioned fun bowling, next Sat., Feb 28, at Kearny Mesa Bowl on Clairemont Avenue from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. This fun event is for everyone in our community and is sponsored by Human Rights Committee San Diego. It’s only $35, and you get an HRC membership. For more information, visit www.hrc.org/sandiego.

Bacchus House has a new hot night each Friday, called Papacito San Diego. There are two dance floors with plenty of hard and horny mango dancers. They are said to be the hottest Latin dancers in town. There are also drink specials including $6 Long Island iced teas and $3 miller beers.