You’re all invited, GLBT families, friends and neighbors to our community’s annual gay academy awards this Sunday, June 14, at the Birch North Park Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Yes, the Nicky Awards, a San Diego tradition since 1976. Get your tickets at the theater box office or call 619-602-9453. Its going to be a fun, entertaining, exciting and prideful event!

The first gay march on Washington was in 1979, called by Harvey Milk before his assassination and Robin Tyler. More than 100,000 people attended. In 1987, our second march drew almost 500,000 people to Washington, D.C. AIDS was on everyone’s mind and a priority focus. In 1993, an estimated million of us returned to Washington and the march and rally was live on CNN for six hours. Stonewall 25 was held in New York celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and this international march on the United Nations and rally attracted over one million people from 84 countries. Our last march in Washington for equality was in 1994 and in 2000 and attracted more than half a million. All these major events in our GLBT history bring back memories for me. I was involved with all five of them on a national level. I was elected to the national executive boards to these marches and also elected national co-chair in 1994 and 2000. The “calls” and “building” of these marches in 1979, 1987, 1993, 1994 and 2000 have been different. But they have always drawn major debates within our national leadership and organizations. Now gay icon Cleve Jones, pioneer Robin Tyler and political powerhouse David Mixner have called for a fifth march on Washington on different months or years. A national debate is now on. Trust me, as the only gay activist on the planet to have been elected on a national level to help organize these five major events, my phone and e-mail in-box have been on overload from across the country. Because we now live in the era of the Internet, the building of marches has changed and can now be done quickly. But as an activist who chaired two marches and served on executive boards, these events must have major money, staff and, yes, the right amount of time. My brother Cleve Jones wants to return to our 1979 march of “basics” and “grassroots” without the frills and glam of our other marches. My sister Robin Tyler who has produced many of our marches’ rally’s feels like a two-year build up is needed, as has been with our past marches. My good friend David Mixner called a “Nov. 2009” march. Most of the attention and media focus has been on Cleve’s call for a Oct. 11, 2009, march in D.C. (last week, he made an official call for a march at Salt Lake City’s annual Pride rally). Once again, I am seeing the national debate and discussion concerning the fifth march on Washington, at times, turning personal, negative and, yes, at times, ugly. I call upon all of us to please respect each other and our different opinions and debate this issue as the ladies and gentlemen we can all be. But the one thing I do know is there will be a fifth march on Washington, be it this year, next year or in the future. In my more than 40 years of LGBT and Latino activism, I’ve learned that until we achieve full equality, we must be in the streets and in the suits of political power.

This past Sunday, I attended the morning service of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC). It was celebrating its 39th anniversary and, as usual, the service was packed with the most diverse congregations in San Diego. The MCC has been one of our GLBT community’s strongest pillars since the 1970s. I am honored to have a close friendship these last decades with its founder the Rev. Troy Perry, as MCC now has parishes around the world. I fondly remember some of our MCC’s ministers, Rev. Papa John, Rev. Howard, Rev. David, Rev. Donna, Rev. Tony, and now our wonderful Rev. Houston and Pastor Dan. The MCC and its ministers have been trusted leaders in our community, taking on the Anita Bryants and John Briggs of the world. The MCC played one of our community’s most important roles during the first dark decade of AIDS. It was good to see our next State Assemblymember Toni Atkins and Dr. Delores Jacobs of the San Diego LGBT Community Center also at the MCC service. The MCC’s Celebration Choir’s, with soloists Denyse Johnson and Tim Fitzpatrick, rendition of “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent was like being at Broadway in New York. This is one of the best choirs on the West Coast! I’ve been stopping by the MCC – I’m Catholic – since it opened its doors and, like anyone who goes to an MCC service, you know what true Christianity is all about: unconditional love, family and welcoming everyone and anyone. God bless the MCC.

Two new exciting and important annual events are coming from 2009: the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast of San Diego County and now the Equality Torch Relay. Bravo San Diego Pride on an outstanding and important event, giving voice and visibility to our brothers and sisters living in North County, South Bay and East County. We are, indeed, everywhere! I will always remember the honor of being asked to speak at this first Equality Torch Relay rally. I was also asked to speak at our very first Pride rally. The other speakers were Councilmember Todd Gloria, Rev. Albert Ogle, Ms. Tracie O’Brien, Mike Karim, Ms. Zakiya Khabir, Ms. Ebony Burrnet and City Commissioner Shonee Henry, a straight ally, mother and wife, whose speech was one of the most moving. And to San Diego Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte, who was attacked in Lemon Grove. Ron deHarte, you are a bravo guy! You have our respect.

San Diego will always be proud that after Proposition 8 passed, of all the nearly hundred cities that had marched in the nation, our city drew the biggest crowd: 25,000 people. At this Sunday’s Nicky Awards, the highest honor will go to activist Sara Beth Brooks, Dan Horan and Nick Moede, whose leadership and hard work are greatly responsible for the success of this march and rally. Most importantly, Sara, Nick and Dan have continued to be involved in our community’s fight for equality. These three activists are the new generation of activists and leaders who have brought new energy and a more positive spirit to our community. They are indeed role models for all of us. You are all invited to this Sunday’s Nicky Awards at the Birch North Park Theatre, where they will receive the Harvey Milk Leadership Awards.

Yes as usual with a super major GLBT event, I will be revealing my Worst and Best Dressed List for this Sunday’s 2009 Nicky Awards. So don’t say I didn’t give you all a fair warning, my darlings.

Now is your chance to drown him! Nicole will be in a “Dunking Tank” this Saturday, June 13, at Bourbon Street from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. It’s Bourbon Street’s Charity Carnival this Saturday night and for a price, you can buy some balls and dunk Nicole… Maybe even drown him! All proceeds will go to San Diego Pride.