Thanks for your concern as usual when my column doesn’t appear. I’m not doing well, but I’m feeling better. I had to cancel some out-of-state commitments, but I will be heading to Denver next week.

Hey stop using your cell phones in your cars. They will fine you. A good friend of mine was stopped by the police for talking on his cell phone. He got a $142 fine. Being on your cell phone, Facebook or Twitter while in your car can cause accidents. Be careful and safe while you drive. This message is to all of you who drive Miss Daisy!

In just a little over a month, Washington, D.C. will host the fifth GLBT national march on Washington. The first one was in 1979 and the last one was in 2000. The National Equality March is shaping up, and now it has received the endorsement of almost every one of our major national GLBT organizations. The Sunday, Oct. 11 march is really different from the other four marches. It is more of a down-to-basics “civil rights march” with a lot of younger organizers. As usual, there are those who support the march and those who don’t. As an elected member of the national executive committee for the march, I will be in Washington, D.C. in October for a week. San Diego’s own Sally Hall is one of the major official travel agents for the march. American Airlines is giving a discount. You can contact Sally at sally@sandiegoconvierge.com.

The San Diego Ambassadors Council of The Trevor Project held its first event in Little Italy, and it was packed with a mixed crowd of mostly young, successful people (there were lots of handsome men). The Trevor Project is one of the most important and respected GLBT organizations in the USA. It’s a 24/7 national hot line for GLBT youth in crisis, who are suicidal or just needing someone to talk to. September is the start of school. For many GLBT students, it’s about bullying and getting beat up. Yes, The Trevor Project saves and changes lives every day. At the event, City Councilmember Carl DeMaio addressed the crowd and made a commitment to call a summit of school officials and educators to discuss important issues including The Trevor Project programs. Any and all bullying or hate should not be tolerated in our schools, period. A nice amount of money was raised, and a major fun benefit is being planned for November in San Diego. Thank you, and bravo to the recent benefit organizers, including Tony Phipps, Glen Wellbrock, Danny Gomez, Matt Flinders, Margaret Linville, Dede Madsen, Diane Wade and Forrest Wright. Your activism on behalf of this most important issue is very much appreciated by many.

Last week, Jeff Kors, the state executive director of Equality California was in town. We met to discuss civil rights and politics in our state. Jeff is greatly responsible for building Equality California into the effective civil rights organization it is today. When he was appointed executive director, Equality California had a staff of about five. Now it has more than 50 staff! I worked with Jeff during my two terms. I was elected state co-chair of the organization. While I do not agree with all of its decisions, I believe Equality California has served our community well. I also strongly support its stand to put marriage equality on the 2012 ballot.

Director Ang Lee of Brokeback Mountain has made another good (but not great) movie. This year is not only the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, it is the anniversary of the first man to land on the moon and of the Woodstock music festival. If you were alive in the 1960s, as I was, you will enjoy this movie. It will bring back many memories. Taking Woodstock is a movie about the festival and its organizers and the little town in New York that hosted the three-day concert. Interestingly, we find out that the major character in this movie is a young Jewish gay guy who “comes out” during the concert. There is also a transgender character. There is some nudity, but, trust me, most of the guys need to get a tan, and they are mostly hung like ants! This is a good movie, but don’t smoke anything before you see it. It could give you an LSD flash back.