A big welcome goes out to our visiting GLBT royalty from Canada, Mexico and cities across the USA that are here in town for the 38 annual Imperial Court de San Diego Coronation Ball this Saturday night at the Birch North Park Theatre!

The anger in the GLBT community against the three infamous San Diego LGBT Pride board members and their refusal to step down is growing day by day. Community leaders, business people and former Pride volunteers, staffers and board members are coming together to take back San Diego Pride. Business people are organizing boycotts of Pride and pulling sponsorships and financial support. Activists are planning to demonstrate and educate the attendees at this week’s Consolidated Association of Pride Inc Annual Conference. Pride organizers from all over the region are meeting in San Diego for their annual meeting. Discussions are being held with elected officials to educate them about how the current San Diego Pride board does not represent their community. Activists have made it clear that they will organize an alternative Pride event and will contest any parade or festival permits if the three board members do not step down. The current pride board members are hoping this “Pride-gate” will go away, but it will not until they resign. The GLBT community finds it unacceptable that current Pride board members have recently stated that they will step down after this years Pride in July. The arrogance and the dictatorship attitude of the current Pride board is truly unbelievable and, yes, disgusting as they turn their noses up their own community. If the Pride board thinks that they can survive this scandal like they did their last one, they are truly misjudging their very own community and its growing anger.

The election and crowning of the emperor and empress de San Diego will take place at the Birch North Park Theatre this coming Saturday, Jan. 23. The community is invited to attend this traditional and colorful pageantry of one of San Diego’s oldest GLBT organizations, the Imperial Court. The best way to describe the Imperial Court system of the United States and Canada is to say that they are the gay Shriners and Elks Club of our community. There are chapters in more than 68 cities in these three nations. Royalty visiting from Canada and Mexico will be joining dignitaries from across the United States to celebrate the noble deeds of Emperor Chris and Empress Selena. They will be crowning of their successors whom will be San Diego’s 38 monarchs. Actually 2010 marks the 45 anniversary of the founding of the now International Court System with new chapters being started in some southern cities and Washington, D.C. Last year, the International Court System raised more than $95,000 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The local San Diego court has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for countless causes and concerns and actually has given the seed money for our first Pride parades, AIDS Walks and the San Diego LGBT Community Center. The Imperial Court also raised money for the anti-Anita Bryant and John Briggs campaigns. Let’s not forget that the Imperial Courts were around before Stonewall! I hope to see you all for this annual event that will include outstanding entertainment. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 619-254-6372 or visit 619-540-9015.

The third annual presentation of our community’s pioneers, trailblazers and heroes is coming up next month. Yes it’s the annual Lambda Archives Gala and this year honorees are: former deputy mayor Toni Atkins, GLBT pioneer and lesbian icon Jeri Dilno, FBI trailblazers Frank Buttino, Stepping Stone and recovery community trailblazer/Latina hero Sandra Ramirez, long time GBLT ally and friend Judy Forman, political activist and leader Mel Merrill and community fundraiser activist Big Mike Phillips and long time community donor Frank Stirriti. Congratulations to all these very worthy honorees. You all have and continue to make our community a better place for all. I am proud to have founded this event three years ago, and I salute the Lambda Archives for continuing to honor true heroes among us. The gala event is set for Feb. 26 at The Center.

These days it’s a thankless job indeed to be president, a governor or mayor. These bad economic times have forced budget cuts and test the true strength and leadership of anyone holding these positions. Mayor Jerry Sanders recently gave his annual State of the City address and told it like it is to all of us San Diegans. While we will not agree with all of our mayor’s decisions and stands, let us remember that he is doing what he feels is the right thing to do. Mayor Sanders does not care to run for another office. This former police chief and past director of the United Way has always been a public servant, not a politician. He deserves our continued support during our city’s difficult times.

For more exciting, breaking news, gossip, politics and all the gay news that’s fit to print including Editor at Large Nicole Murray-Ramirez’s People Opinions & Politics, Associate Editor Aaron Heier’s Two Cents, Stephen Whitburn’s Politics Tracker, Stampp Corbin’s The Oracle and much more daily news and happenings, visit www.GLTNewsNow.com. Mark us in your favorites and stay informed daily!