My elected position as a national co-chair of the National Equality March on Washington, D.C. on Oct. 11 has become my priority. The event is receiving almost 100 percent of my time and commitment. So please understand that I have to pull back. My out of town calendar is full, and I will be staying in Washington, D.C. for about two weeks in October.

City Hall has been all abuzz since City Councilmember Carl DeMaio returned from his week-long vacation wearing a new band on his wedding finger. I started receiving calls about rumors that he had gotten married, which are false. The real story is about Carl and his beau Jonathan Hale. The two went on one of those infamous gay boat cruises. When they were on the Greek islands, they exchanged “promise rings.” This is a huge step in Carl’s life. When I first met the conservative Republican government reformer, he was in the closet and supported same-sex unions but not same-sex marriage. Since then, Carl has come out in support of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and full marriage equality and walked in his first Pride parade! I predict a full fledge marriage ceremony is in Carl and Jonathan’s future. I offer my congratulations on their first step. I do have a “mother of the bride” dress in my closet!

This past Tuesday evening, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and I had dinner at Lei Lounge. Of course, I asked about the recent 14 marijuana dispensary closures, as well as the “Busby party” decision. First of all, there are about 60 marijuana dispensaries in the County, and this case is not about “compassionate marijuana use.” No one is suppose to profit by this, and yet one of the dispensaries netted $700,000 in a few months, and guns and bundles of cash were found in some of the dispensaries. The five-month investigation did not start with the D.A’s office but with local residents and neighbors complaints of rising crime around some of the dispensaries. I have been a long time strong advocate of compassionate marijuana use. Dumanis also has gone on record in support of it. But I must agree with Bonnie that true patients or their designated caregivers who are lawfully recommended by a physician can always cultivate marijuana plants on their own property for use. Let’s be real; there have been incidents where someone’s dog was given a prescription! Dumanis told me this is an on going investigation, and I predict there will be more pot dispensary closures. The growing debate about whether marijuana should be legal in California will probably make the ballot soon. So let the voters decide. But these are two separate issues.

As for the “Busby incident,” Dumanis personally spent a week looking into this case that had 77 witnesses. She even went to the neighborhood itself. Dumanis stated to me that, and I quote, “there is no indication that sexual orientation had anything to do with the incident that happened in the residence.” I disagree with Busby, who within 24 hours of the incident sent out a campaign solicitation for money, implying that this was a right-wing Republican conspiracy. I believe that the Sheriff Deputy Marshall Abbott was a little rough but that there was “no criminal act” and not enough evidence on either side that Dumanis could take to a jury. I don’t always agree with our District Attorney – death penalty, Pete Wilson etc. – but I believe she had no choice in this case and made the right decision.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center has issued a strong statement about major changes being put into immediate affect at the Sunburst Youth Housing Project and have now in fact implemented many, if not all, of my recommendations. I chair their Youth Housing Advisory Board. I believe that The Center is now making this issue a top priority, and while I am disappointed on how some of their board members handled this situation – I have never called for nonsupport of The Center – I am taken aback by some of the attacks on The Center. We must all continue to support the Center. Did you know that every month, 2,000 people walk in or call in for help or assistance at the front desk alone? They have a 24/7 crisis hot line and more than 40 programs for seniors, family’s, youth, people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer survivors, women, men, transgender people and people of color. More than 3,000 people a month receive Center services. The Center staff has gone through a 15 percent cut in salary and the senior staff made a voluntary 25 percent cut. The Center has more than 300 volunteers and, yes, that includes their Board of Directors. Yes I will always give my personal opinions, disagreements and constructive criticism when it comes to our Center and issues, but let us never lose sight of the decades of success, empowerment and visibility of our community. Indeed, our Center changes and saves lives everyday. Let us agree to disagree on Center issues, but let us never stop supporting it, since so many people count on its doors remaining open. Thank you for listening.

The National Gay Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) is the oldest GLBT civil rights organization in the United States. For more than three decades the NGLTF has been at the forefront of our community’s fight for equality. I just returned from Denver, Colo. and four days of board meetings, receptions and fundraisers. We were briefed on GLBT legislation in Congress from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the Defense of Marriage Act, and on anti-gay ballot initiates in Maine, Washington etc. I urge you to continue supporting NGLTF, the Human Rights Campaign, the Victory Fund, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. They need your support more than ever!

Popular businessperson Chris Shaw has bought Café Eleven and will reopen it at the end of October as the new Gossip Grill, featuring a café dinning style menu. I’ve known Chris Shaw since he was just 17-years-old, and we all know that everything he touches and businesses he opens become a huge success (West Coast Production Company, Hamburger Mary’s, Urban Mo’s, Baja Betty’s). He promises a fun “happy hours” happening and fabulous food by a well known chef. Gossip Grill sounds like it will be another great and fun place to eat and drink in the Chris Shaw Tradition!