San Diego’s second annual Youth Pride is this coming Friday and Saturday (April 30-May 1) at our Center. Phone (619) 297-7683 for more information. Congratulations to Ren Petty and her hard working committee.

When lesbian Bonnie Dumanis was elected our country’s first district attorney, she made history also as the first elected district attorney in the nation to be a member of the GLBT community… It was a historic election for us and she has brought a lot of pride to our community. Last week the popular Bonnie Dumanis endorsed nurse and former Assembly member Tricia Hunter for the State Assembly to succeed our Chris Kehoe… our next state senator. Tricia Hunter is involved in a program called “Thousand Smiles” where she goes about six times a year (at her own expense) with other nurses and doctors to Latin America to provide badly-needed free medical care for thousands of children with facial deformities… many of these children would be branded as outcasts if this surgery was not done. As a nurse, Tricia Hunter became involved with the issue of AIDS during those dark early years.

Tricia Hunter supports domestic partnerships and gay unions… she understands the important issue of health care. Governor Arnold has committed to come down to campaign for Tricia Hunter… with us losing Chris Kehoe in this seat, Tricia has made the commitment to include a GLBT advisory board among her other citizen advisory boards… for these and many other reasons… Bonnie Dumanis has proudly endorsed Tricia Hunter.

Ralphs grocery store in Hillcrest has a very, very large GLBT customer base… (and it is nice to see some GLBT employees) but what caught our attention was the big sign posted that states over 14 million dollars has been donated to “community programs” by Ralphs including countless Christian churches (well over half of contributions) and also the Boy Scouts… there was one AIDS concern: UCSD AIDS Research Institute, but no GLBT organizations. I understand that many of us Ralphs cardholders can request and recommend nonprofit organizations. So I urge all GLBT Ralphs shoppers to recommend and urge contributions to The Center, the Hillcrest Youth Center, Mama’s Kitchen, the Toni Atkins Lesbian Health Fund, etc. Call Ralphs customer relations at (888) 437-3496.

The board of governors of the 2004 Nicky Awards have announced the official four top honorees of the May 9 event: Mayor Jason West from New Paltz, N.Y., who made national headlines for marrying gay couples in his city, was then charged with breaking the law and now has to go to court; The San Diego Fire Department, for their courageous battle against our city’s biggest fire; Dr. Joyce Mareib, executive director of the GSDBA and past longtime member of the board of Stepping Stone; and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award will be Congressmember Bob Filner for his decades of fighting for equality for all citizens. The Nicky Awards will be sold out, so get what few tickets remain today. Call (619) 229-2822 or (619) 692-1967.

Recently it was announced that for the first time our annual Pride parade would be billed $20,000 for police manpower…. Well, the facts are these: Our LGBT Pride parade is the biggest parade in San Diego, drawing over 150,000 people, countless out-of-towners and millions of dollars in city tourist revenue. Our Pride parade is also the most peaceful parade and event in our city… thus we don’t need all these police officers, as we have the least incidents of any. A third of all of our profits go to nonprofit organizations… The facts are, we don’t need all these police officers and we also have an outstanding Pride security force… I call upon Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins to take the lead on this issue and to look into this and hopefully come up with a compromise or less officers… thank you.

I have been honored to have served now on all three GLBT advisory boards to the mayor of San Diego: O’Connor (chair), Golding (vice-chair) and now Murphy. Our mayors usually serve eight years (hardly anyone has not been reelected). Mayor Dick Murphy is looking into reorganizing his advisory boards to possible two-year terms (with reappointments possible). Having served on many elected officials’ advisory boards, I know that many times there are some members whose attendance is poor, and some just sit on their hands offering no input. I hope Mayor Murphy reorganizes and puts more structure into all of his citizen advisory boards (sometimes eight years is too long)… thus giving a chance to new people, new voices and more diversity. Congratulations to new advisory board members just appointed to Mayor Murphy’s board: Dr. Pat Washington (president of the San Diego chapter of NOW), Bob Nelson (marriage equality) and Robert Gleason (president of our Center’s board).

With rave reviews from The New York Times, Billboard Magazine, Variety, etc., it’s no wonder that this outrageously fun “Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet” has become a big hit across the nation, attracting big crowds, and now they will be in San Diego this Sunday, May 2, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church (4190 Front St.) at 8:00 p.m.… If you’re into great and fun entertainment that at times will keep you rolling in the aisles with laughter, be sure to get your ticket: cost is $25… for more information, tickets, etc., phone (619) 584-3593…. By the way, this event is a benefit for a great youth program and is being produced by the Korbett Kompany.

They have sung at the White House, Super Bowl, etc. and once again another San Diego Men’s Chorus has been sold out… (May 1 and 2) so this will teach you to get your tickets early as they are always selling out…. By the way, I hear one of my favorites, handsome Marc Matys, may be singing a solo… sure hope so, as he has a great voice!

Coming up this Sunday, May 2, at Numbers (8:00 p.m.) is the top female impersonator contest of the year, the 29th annual Miss Gay San Diego contest. Contestants are still being sought, with contestants appearing in casual wear, showcasing their talent and appearing in evening gowns… everyone is invited for this fun event. Event information: (619) 397-7603 or (619) 692-1967.