Well the health care bill has finally passed and been signed. I believe once Americans get to know what it’s really about, they will embrace it. Well I’m now off to New York. See you when I get back!

What is going on in our country? African American, gay and Latino congressmembers have recently been called these hateful words, spat on and have had to have a police escort to enter the halls of Congress. Our first lady has been compared to a monkey and our president to Hitler. Almost all of these attacks are by those of the almost-all-white Tea Party movement. It seems like a modern day klan has returned without the hoods and has joined the Tea Party movement. In San Diego, there have been and will continue to be Tea rallies and events. And in all due respects to City Councilmember Carl DeMaio, who has attended Tea Party rallies (though not participated), please stop going to them. Their outbursts of hate is not only growing but hurting many people and communities.

How many of us have had family members or known people who were homophobic and thought we homosexuals were sinners and were going to burn in hell. Then as time went on and they got to know us more, they changed their views and, in fact, became dear friends and supporters. Years ago, I do believe San Diego City Council District 6 candidate Lorie Zapf was somewhat of a homophobe, and she, like so many other Americans, changed her views. We should welcome and embrace those who have gone through this journey and not attack them. Ms. Zapf has apologized for her past hurtful statements and has gotten the wrath of psycho nutcase James Hartline.

Lorie Zapf is friends with and has supported the campaigns of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Carl DeMaio, and Zapf has changed. Let’s move on and everyone including, yes, Councilmember Todd Gloria, should stop exploiting Ms. Zapf’s past statements for political purposes on behalf of Howard Wayne (another District 6 candidate), whom I also support. Thank you.

As I’ve always said, ‘our fight for full equality will be achieved by being in the streets and in the suites of power.’ The black civil rights movement learned this quickly. This is why I can be a supporter of both GetEQUAL and the Human Rights Campaign. Our movement needs both. Recently, there has been some criticism aimed at the non-violent demonstrations being done by members of GetEQUAL. This new organization is made up of a lot of young GLBT activists, and they have come together to form a political/civil rights ACT UP-like organization. I know these young organizers and leaders. One is a former parent-teacher association member and a mother of two. The other comes from Tennessee. Both are bight and dedicated. When I spoke at last years National Equality March in Washington, D.C., I said in my speech that ‘the torch of GLBT activism has been passed on to a new generation’ and it has. I, for one, welcome the activism and leadership of GetEQUAL. All I ask is that you remember whose shoulders you stand on and respect those who are also fighting for our equality in the suits of power. For more information, visit http://getequal.org/.

Those of us who lived during the very dark early years of AIDS will never forget or forgive former President Ronald Reagan for refusing to respond to the AIDS health crisis and for refusing to give any government funds to help fight the epidemic. Regan and his administration are responsible for the thousands of deaths of our brothers and sisters while he stood by in silence and did nothing. Reagan didn’t even mention the word ‘AIDS’ until six years after the epidemic began. And now some congressmembers want to put his face on the $50 bill? Hell no!

The GLBT community is represented in almost every level of government except one very important one, the San Diego Unified School Board. We need voices on this board to speak louder against bullying, homophobia, racism, harassment, teen suicide, especially against our GLBT youth and students whose suicide rate is higher than any other. The school board races of candidates Kevin Beiser and Patrick MacFarland should be our top priority in this upcoming election, and I urge your support of these two very qualified candidates.

Out of hundreds of plays across the country, only 10, yes only 10, were selected to have the honor to be performed at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Dear Harvey is one of them! All of San Diego should be proud of this great honor and accomplishment for a homegrown play that was created in San Diego and had its world premier here. Word is that the Washington, D.C. cast will be both professional actors and celebrities. Among the characters in the play are Cleve Jones, Stuart Milk, Anne Kronenberg, Toni Atkins, Sen. Christine Kehoe and little ol’ me. Although, I think they could have butched up my character! Brava to award winning playwright Patricia Loughrey. We’re all proud of you.

Yes, plans are being made and dates are being secured for: the Nicky Awards, Tattoo Fest II, Mr. Gay San Diego 2010 Contest, Gala Dog Show in the Park, Mr. Miss. Ms. San Diego Pride 2010 Contest and the Mr. Miss. Ms. Latino San Diego Contest. I’ll be giving you the dates and places of these events in my upcoming column.

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