Since 1988, Dec. 1 has been a day bringing messages of compassion, hope, solidarity and understanding about AIDS to every country in the world. It has been 22 years since the first AIDS case was diagnosed and we still do not have a cure, much less a vaccine. While people with HIV/AIDS are living longer, more productive lives, more and more new cases are being reported in the gay community due to more risky behaviors. AIDS medication is still not within the reach of many who are infected, and the funding for service organizations continues to decline. And while President Bush should be commended for providing $14 billion to the Worlds AIDS Project, I can only hope that he would consider spending an equal amount of money here in his home country.

Mama’s Kitchen held their 12th annual Tree of Life and candle light vigil at the Village Hillcrest to commemorate World AIDS Day, and it was an inspiring evening. Over 100 people came to pay tribute to loved ones by hanging an ornament or lighting a candle. The ceremony was hosted by KUSI New Anchor Kimberly Hunt, and the Gay Men’s Chorus sang a few holiday songs. Over the past 14 years, Mama’s Kitchen has delivered over 2.8 million nutritious meals to homebound people living with HIV/AIDS — three meals a day, five days a week. “The tree lighting ceremony and candlelight vigil are an important reminder that there are still major battles to be waged. We are simply providing an opportunity for the community to come together to grieve and celebrate the lives of those we have lost to AIDS, and at the same time focusing on the need to create awareness and collective consciousness,” commented Alberto Cortes, executive director of Mama’s Kitchen.

As this year draws to a close, let us dig deep into our pockets and make the most generous donations we can to local AIDS service organizations. No matter which organization you pick, you will feel so much better after. And you can include it in your next tax deductions. Remember your friends living with, and those we have lost to AIDS every day of the year.

Thanks to Michael Jackson, the spotlight on the MA Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage is not on center stage. This is a good thing. But do not expect the controversy to go away. Before you can say “I DO,” we will be barraged with many homophobic epitaphs that will threaten to take away many of the gains we have made over the years. 2004 is a major election year; be ready to fight back.

And speaking of Michael Jackson, this story is about pedophilia, not necessarily a gay issue. Pedophilia is a sickness, being gay is not. Many will attempt to associate Jacko’s actions with his being gay, as they have on Court TV. If Michael is indeed guilty of child molestation, then he should go to jail. Many are questioning the soundness of the parents who allow their children to visit Neverland. There are many who will say that this is all about extortion. It should be easy to understand a less privileged family, or anyone for that matter, being dazzled or blinded by an invitation from an international superstar to visit his home and be showered with gifts. How many of us have ever been invited to a Hollywood mansion? So maybe the parents may have exercised poor judgment, and we should deal with that separately. But that does not excuse a celebrity or prominent figure from using their wealth or status to lure an underage child and abusing them sexually. We must not forget that the child is the victim here. It is wrong and it is a crime.

Besides, it is a crime by itself for a celebrity or millionaire to look that bad for a mug shot!

While in NYC a week ago, I managed to take in another Broadway show. Currently on a limited run is the revival of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, starring Ashley Judd, Jason Patric and Ned Beatty as Big Daddy. Having a vague recollection of the 1958 B&W movie starring Liz Taylor and Paul Newman, I was blown over by this stage version, with its more open inference of a possible homosexual relationship between Brick and his best friend Skipper.

Apparently, in 1974 Williams attended rehearsals of a revival and made several revisions — franker language and little additions to clarify the gay confessional call from Skipper, which was so shocking in the ’50s — from the 1955 original stage version directed by Elia Kazan. Ashley Judd was amazing as Maggie, almost as electrifying as Taylor, at times coy and seductive, and at the same time desperate for love and terrified of her future. It took me a few minutes to get used to her southern accent, and how she could remember so many lines in the first act is beyond me. Jason, as Brick, was in cool control of his rage, emotions, and loneliness as he sinks deeper in denial with the help of his alcohol. He undergoes extreme emotional upheavals in dealing with, or not dealing with, his relations with his wife Maggie, his best friend Skipper and with Big Daddy. Jason also gave new meaning to looking absolutely hot in white pajamas.

Next to A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is one of my most favorite Tennessee Williams masterpieces. Catch this show if you can.

If you’ve never been to The Center’s BINGO night before, you are missing out on a fun evening. Every Tuesday beginning at 7:00 p.m., you can win $50 per game, a special $100 game, and a final progressive jackpot game. Scheduled callers include porn stud Rod Barry on the 9th, and the Imperial Court callers on the 16th. O-69 anyone?

As I walked into this new boutique at 3827 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest, I thought that I was in a fancy candy store or a dessert shop. But don’t be fooled by the delicious and fragrant smell because none of their products are edible. You see Shwoomp is a unique shop specializing in “adventures in bathing.” Yes, bathing!

Co-owners Jennifer & Allison, along with Brent, spent the last two years perfecting their recipes, concocting fragrances and testing samples in their tiny little kitchen in North Park. Their neighbors thought the girls were cooking something illegal. The boutique offers an array of handcrafted soaps, shower gels, lotions, body scrubs, bath oils and salt, and more, in such delicious scents as cucumber/watermelon, honey/ylang-ylang, rosemary/lavender; confetti of mango, pineapple and tangerine. Every item is beautifully packaged and named, such as Sacred Sage Soap, Dream a Little Dream Bath Oil and Steel Magnolia Bath Bombs.

Another unique creation is their Hyperfresh products; with fresh fruits and vegetables in a deli case you’d think they were offering smoothies and protein shakes. The concoctions are actually facial masks and foot scrubs that are made fresh daily (you must use them within 24 hours), such as Apricot/Oat or Cucumber/Avocado Face Mask, or Tomato Mint Foot scrubs. They have even created a special “Center Soap,” and all profits benefit our Center. How swell!

What is even more interesting is that you can watch them make their product through a glass kitchen/lab at the back of the store. You can even create your own gift packages with a wide selection of bags, baskets and containers, and mix and match your own favorite items. So if you are looking for unique and interesting holiday gifts, Shwoomp is the place for you. C’mon, indulge someone you love or pamper yourself a bit! Now you know my secret of looking so soft and young all the time. And tell them Coco sent you.

Empress Cristina Monet and her bevy of lovely elves will be dropping by various bars and clubs this Saturday, Dec. 6, bringing holiday cheer and soliciting donations for the annual Toy Drive. They will be giving out candy canes (for a small donation, of course) and checking to see if you’ve been naughty or nice. So if you are out and about, bring a new, unwrapped toy and drop it off at the toy boxes that you see in many community establishments. Just make sure those toys are not the vibrating kind.