Well I’m off to Fresno, Calif., then San Antonio, Texas, followed by Omaha, Nebraska. Please understand that I can’t attend various community events because I am often out of town, but I hope they all are a success.

When my friend Harvey Milk was assassinated, it was a very low point in my activist life. Within a year, I founded the Harvey Milk Scholarship Fund and established the Nicky Award’s Harvey Milk Leadership Award. In time I dedicated a Balboa Park bench in his memory and co-founded the Harvey Milk Democratic Club. You see, I truly loved Harvey and his outgoing and humorous personality, but, more so, I loved that he was a street fighter who the then “GLBT establishment” didn’t like or support. Harvey was a true visionary. He believed our fight for equality could not succeed without reaching out to people of color, labor/unions, seniors and others.

It has been a personal joy to be working with the courageous State Sen. Mark Leno and his campaign to create a state holiday in honor of Harvey and to renew an old friendship with my “ older sister” Cleve Jones. Only months ago I approached local philanthropist Robert Gleason, The San Diego LGBT Community Center Executive Director Delores Jacobs and The Center staff about putting together an annual community breakfast for Milk, like the King and Chavez community breakfasts. They were understandably concerned about the down economy, Center layoffs and if there would be enough support. But Robert, Delores and The Center took a chance. Now this breakfast will join the King and Chavez events as an annual civil rights breakfast honoring another American hero. The Milk breakfast has sold out with more than 900 people including Harvey’s nephew Stuart Milk. From the bottom of this old queen’s heart, I am happy to say that San Diego will have the premiere and biggest Milk celebration in the state. Thank you to Robert, Delores, and The Center staff and board and all the sponsors and table captains. Happy Birthday Harvey!

Word is that San Diego Men’s Chorus (SDMC) and Gay Men’s Chorus (GMC) are negotiating to merge as one great and fabulous chorus of men! Personally, I love and have attended both choruses’ concerts. Whatever the name, please boys, put the word “gay” in it. I know our community would welcome the merger. If only Mama’s Kitchen and Special Delivery would merge. We are the only American city with two HIV/AIDS meals-on-wheels organizations!

Stand up and take a well-deserved bow North County LGBT Coalition. The organization made its voice heard at last week’s Vista Unified School Board meeting. Someone was trying to recognize Miss California Carrie Prejean (Anita Bryant Jr.) with a day in her honor but it didn’t even get a second for the motion. I give a special bravo to Max Desposti, Jennifer Schumaker, Evelyn Thomas and Linda Sanders who all spoke out at the meeting. The group had to wait until midnight to be called upon.

You read it here. Rich’s Nick Moede and friends will be presenting San Diego’s first annual Red Dress Party – just like Las Vegas and Portland – and Urban Mo’s Matt Ramon and friends will be producing The Fight for the Tiara at the Birch North Park Theatre. Both events are sure to put the fun back in charity fundraising. Stay tuned for more information.

I know all of us have experienced relationship breakups and they are indeed sad and hard but can you imagine if you’re a public figure? You would hope that people would be kind and sensitive enough not to ask questions about it. Let’s all respect Todd and Jason during this time. Here, in his own words, is Todd Gloria:

“It is with great sadness that I share with you that my partner and I have separated after eight years together. Although this decision comes as a great disappointment, Jason will always be my best friend and greatest supporter. We ask that you respect our privacy as we go through this difficult time. Thank you, Todd Gloria.”

We’re looking for local San Diegans who know local San Diego American Idol Adam Lambert. Contact Randy Hope, Editor, at 619-331-7108 or editor@uptownpub.com.