Rumors about businesses “supposed” to be going bankrupt or closing are hurtful, so let’s stop them. Until you see the “permanently closed” sign, keep your mouths shut!

State Assemblywoman Mary Salas told me she intends to win a Senate seat, but now comes word that Juan Vargas may be looking at the same seat. Does he think we have forgotten? I had a nice talk with former Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla, and he told me he is doing fine and is happy. But I bet his former constituents wish he was back in office, as his replacement is a mess. Some good friends of mine who live in Detroit tell me the rumors are true; they have actually bought homes from $5 to a couple of thousand. It seems that Jess San Rogue’s resignation from The Asian and Pacific Islander Community AIDS Project and the Tijuana AIDS Fund was not voluntary and was done under a black cloud (APICAP has recently closed its doors).

State Sen. Mark Leno has a great sister who lives in San Diego named Jamie Zimron, who is a golf professional and sports psychologist and is also a strong supporter for GLBT civil rights. I got word that a recent poll finds State Sen. Christine Kehoe the most popular choice among Democrats to be our next mayor. Some Republican Party officials tell me that they hope Kehoe does run, as they would love to put a microscope over her eight-year city council record. Now wouldn’t it be a love fest for the gay community if the Democratic candidate was Kehoe and the Republican top choice was District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis or District 5 City Councilman DeMaio? The beautiful Lorena Gonzales, secretary-treasurer and CEO of The San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council is a former beauty queen (those student scholarships helped this very smart lady). She recently showed me a picture of her beautiful and intelligent daughter who just won a major beauty pageant.

Put the following GLBT San Diegans on your possible candidates for public office list: Jennifer LaSar, George Biagi, Andrew Poat, Lisa Sanders, Stephen Whitburn, Dwayne Crenshaw, Nick Norvell, Jonathan Goetz, Todd Steven, Allan Acevedo and Carlos Marquez. Keep your eyes on these political rising stars who are both Republicans and Democrats. I was recently invited to meet Elton John and attend a concert in Wyoming set for April 3 by officials of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Businessman Sherman Mendoza and I will soon be heading to Burbank for a taping of the “Ellen Degeneres Show” and getting the “VIP treatment” with a special VIP gift bag and seating. I just love MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddows Show.” Maddows is one sexy, gorgeous butch-dyke, and I am her number one fan. If I wasn’t an old queen living in “Shaddy Pines,” I would become her number-one stalker.

In the tradition of the Martin Luther King All People’s Breakfast and the Cesar Chavez Commemorative Breakfast, we proudly announce the premiere of the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on May 22 at the Embarcadero Holiday Inn. The first organizing meeting for the breakfast was a huge success, with representation and leaders and activists with Labor, Latinos, Democrats, Republicans, straight, gay, Asian Pacific Islanders, the business community, African Americans, elected officials, seniors, the arts and youth. Tickets will be $35 general admission with sponsorships available. For more information, call 619-692-2077 ext. 204 or 619-692-1967.

About 400 people turned out for a visit by the great American heroine Gloria Steinem at the San Diego LGBT Community Center last week for International Women’s Day. Steinem and San Diego icon Garcia Molina de Pick were the guests of honor, and their speeches were inspiring and moving. Gloria touched on how she remembered when our community was “G” and not yet “LBT.” (I remember when we were just “homosexuals”) and how we have emerged into a major community. Gloria also gave a blistering attack on the passage of Proposition 8. In person, Ms. Steinem was as beautiful as she ever was, with the same beautiful heart and soul. It was my honor to be on the working host committee, which included such activists as Carolina Ramos, Larry Baza, Bruce Abrams, Quynh Nguyen, Kate Lyons and other wonderful people. A big “thank you” to pianist Vicky Estrada, Stonewall Citizens Patrol, Urban Mo’s, Bamboo Lounge, Saigon on Fifth, Baja Betty’s and The Center.

City Councilwoman Donna Frye proclaimed a week in honor of Steinem in her district and popular Assemblywomen Mary Salas and Lori Saldana paid their respects. Future Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, Jess Durfee (chair of Democratic Party of San Diego County), National City Vice Mayor Alexandra Sotelo-Solis and future Chula Vista councilman Humberto Peraza were also in attendance. A sincere apology from me for picking up the wrong reading glasses and messing up my part as master of ceremonies, and much love to Gloria and Garcia for an evening we will never forget.

CW6’s Ruben Galvan has become a super-popular personality all over San Diego County (Tijuana too). He is fun, informative, outrageous, smart, campy and always interesting. Females tell me he is so lovable that they just want to hug him, and men, well everyone just cracks up over his antics. Ruben puts a smile on your face as you get ready to start a long day and during these difficult times (a recent poll found that 86 percent of Americans say they are struggling) Ruben Galvan is just what the doctor ordered. It’s time Galvan had his own talk show or time slot.

The Ben F. Dillingham III Community Grant is funded by The Center and the Imperial Court de San Diego and gives grants for many concerns including assisting those who need burial assistance. Last year, more than a dozen GLBT and friends and family members received burial assistance (we cover full cremation costs) and included AIDS patients, transgender, children, and gays and lesbians who had no money or were rejected by their families. A few weeks ago, the grant assisted another family to bury its son. Please support this fund and contact The Center for more information at 619-692-2077.