I hope you all have a great and safe 4th of July holiday and happy 1st anniversary to Uptown News, happy 3rd anniversary to The Rage and welcome to Gay San Diego.

This coming 4th of July weekend will be the 38th Annual Oceanside Freedom Parade and for the first time there will be a GLBT contingent headed by the North County LGBT Coalition. This annual parade honors our troops and veterans in this military town. I will be proudly marching with my GLBT brothers, sisters, families, allies and GLBT veterans. Jim Cua and I organized the first GLBT contingent in the annual Martin Luther King Parade and I worked on and marched in the first Cesar Chavez Parade. We are all proud of our troops who deserve all of our support. See you in Oceanside!

Recently, I was made privy to a polling of San Diego likely voters that included their preference on 12 possible candidates being mentioned to be our next Mayor in 2012. The most interesting results had District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and State Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher in a tie for first and State Senator Chris Kehoe and Councilman Carl DeMaio close behind. The rest were rather far behind. While this is indeed an early poll, it really doesn’t come as a surprise at all, four of the top tier names are well-known and currently holding elected office. What is interesting is that three are Republicans and one is a Democrat in a city that has more registered Democrats than Republicans. Proving that San Diegans see the Mayor’s office as the non-partisan position it should be.

Last week I was at a Democratic Club meeting where 6th District Council candidate Howard Wayne all but called his opponent, Lorie Zapf, a homophobe! Lots of us San Diegans are getting real confused, while Ms. Zapf has said she takes back her anti-gay statements of years ago a recent Union-Tribune article reported that she said they were still some of her personal religious views. So in all due respect Ms. Zapf, just what are your current views when it comes to the GLBT community and the GLBT lifestyle? We are getting some really confusing and mixed views about them so please clear up this issue once and for all, thank you.

Every GLBT activist/leader should attend a small town/city pride event in a “red district.” The town of Joshua Tree is about a half hour away from Palm Springs and 2,500 feet in elevation but their GLBT Pride is as big as any of a city and was just a joy to witness. About 600 straights, youth families, and gays gathered for the 2nd Annual Joshua tree Pride Festival and I was honored to be their “keynote speaker.” These wonderful people are on the “front lines” of changing our state, even their straight “red-neck” bar, the Joshua Tree Saloon flew a Rainbow flag for the day. A big “thank you” to the Courage Campaign Committee for naming me the “Equalitarian of the Year” and congratulations to Pride organizers Mike Lipsitz and Andy Woods as well as 16 year old lesbian student, Krista Blevins, straight business owner Gary Daigneault and Lynda Herrington on your well deserved Congressional and State Senate Recognitions. I love Joshua Tree!

Finally, a reason to pick up the San Diego Union-Tribune on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Our city’s most popular columnist for decades is back, Tom Blair! While ongoing columnist Diane Bell is great, Tom is a legend and an institution when it comes to the San Diego news science and the Union-Tribune is lucky indeed to have him back and so are all of us.

Former City Attorney, Democratic Party and GLBT community activist Alex Sachs is moving to another city and this is a great loss for all of us. Alex is one of the smartest and most legally knowledgeable attorneys I’ve ever met, and he did great things for our community and city. While I’ve not always agreed with him, Alex Sachs leaves with my sincere respect, deep appreciation and friendship. The very best to you Alex.

Grown Ups – The best comedy for the summer, a great story about friendship and family with super comedians Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider. Trust me, you’ll laugh your ass off!

Karate Kid – I hated the first ones but this is wonderful and the scenery filmed all over China is breathtaking. A star is born in young Jaden Smith and this remake is a winner.

Joan Rivers: “A Piece of Work” – What an outstanding documentary about the behind the scenes when it come to showbiz. If you loved Joan after this film, you will love her more and respect her totally. Joan Rivers is a living legend that is a survivor at 75 years old. She has had to fight for everything she has and being a woman in the early 1950s, 60s and now wasn’t/isn’t easy. You’ll laugh, cry and be so proud of our Joan.

You all have until July 10 to turn in your Nicky Awards nominations for the upcoming 35th annual presentation of “the gay academy awards of San Diego.” Anyone can nominate people, businesses, organizations, events, bars, restaurants, etc at: www.nickyawards.com or www.facebook.com/nickyawards