Hope to see you all at the official unveiling of our San Diego GLBT community’s Wall of Honor this coming Friday at The Center…

The talk of Hollywood is the recent decapitating of a well-known 91 year-old former screenwriter and the murder of his neighbor. Well, the young man being charged has a strong connection with San Diego, where he lived between 1998 and 2002… He is former Marine, handsome, 27 year-old Keven Graff, who also was a go-go dancer who worked at Club Montage, Flicks and Numbers. He is also the ex-boyfriend of a well-known local gay producer and a wealthy La Jolla businessman.

I knew Keven and he was a really nice guy but seemed confused about his true sexual orientation (boyfriends and girlfriends). Keven also worked for Anthony Cortez and his Foreplay Production Company… It seems the hunky stripper cut off the head of the screenwriter, then carried the head to his next-door neighbor’s house, where he stabbed to death another man who was a physician…. I’ll be providing a picture of Keven next issue... In the meantime, Anthony Cortez has been swamped by the media and tabloids.

As many of you know, I served and was elected to the national executive boards of all four of our GLBT community’s national marches on Washington (starting with the first in 1979). Recently, I have been getting some calls and communication from some of our national GLBT leaders and organizations concerning the possibilities of organizing another March on Washington focusing on the anti-gay marriage amendment to our U.S. Constitution. I do not believe that we need to organize another March on Washington… We need to focus on our state and local levels when it comes to the upcoming election and possible amendment fight. These marches on Washington drain finances from our organizations and communities… The national GLBT community needs to focus on building stronger and more effective statewide civil rights organizations.

Congratulations to Alternative Strategies, which received two awards at the Annual American Marketers Association. Alternative Strategies received an Award of Excellence (First Place) for the Special Events Category for their work on the 2004 Mama’s Kitchen- Mama’s Day. This was the first year that Alternative Strategies managed the PR efforts and it was the most successful Mama’s day ever. Alternative Strategies also received an Award of Excellence (First Place) in the extreme makeover category for their design of the ASID- San Diego newsletter.

Recently I’ve also been receiving calls from national GLBT leaders and organizations concerning another boycott of Coors Beer… Why? Because U.S. Senate candidate Pete Coors has taken some anti-gay positions. First of all, Pete Coors is an individual, and this is a free country and he can say whatever he wants. … (We all have relatives we disagree with).

Coors Beer and company has an inclusive nondiscrimination policy that recognizes the rights of its GLBT employees. (One of the few, if only, beer companies that does.) Also, Coors Beer has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to GLBT civil rights organizations and AIDS agencies. Coors Beer even has a GLBT employee research council! Yes, we may disagree with Pete Coors, but we agree with openly gay Scott Coors of the same company… and Coors Beer has also invested in our local community, our Center and our people of color organizations and causes.

It’s all going on quietly… below the radar screen, but the campaign to succeed Toni Atkins and become our city’s first openly gay councilman has already begun with lunches and meetings. The three unofficial candidates are Jeff Gattas (chief of staff to Deputy Mayor Atkins), Robert Gleason (a city commissioner) and Todd Gloria (chief of staff to Congressmember Susan Davis). Even the president of the San Diego Democratic Club wrote about the three men in his newsletter, also agreeing that our community must start getting prepared now to keep this seat and to keep your eyes on these three possible candidates. But trust me, all three are meeting and discussing their possible candidacies with not only GLBT leaders but city leaders.

The big news is that current Deputy Mayor Atkins has stated that she will not be endorsing any of these candidates and will let the community decide. … Bravo to Atkins, because our community has proven we do not want or accept “anointed” candidates shoved down our throats.

The crowning of Emperor and Empress XXXIII of the Imperial Court will take place on Saturday, Aug. 7, at the beautiful Wyndham Emerald Plaza Hotel in downtown San Diego (yes, the location has changed). Co-chairs of this annual event are Linda Childers and Jess San Roque. Tickets are now on sale: $40 general, $60 VIP and $45 at the door. This is the community’s chance to thank the court for all their hard work and fundraising and to salute outgoing monarchs Emperor Robi and Empress Cristina. For table reservations, call (619) 303-2384.

On Friday, June 25, come on into Numbers for Bad Kitties Best Booty Contest.Got what it takes to shake and make $100?

And Tuesdays at Rich’s are POPplanet, a video pop club featuring DJ Ray Rhoades. Hot dancers and videos all night long. Wednesdays are DJ Idol. Three DJs compete each week in hopes of winning their own spotlight on Wednesday nights. Call (619) 295-0750 for more info.

We all know that the Latino community is the fastest growing population in the state and our city... also, more GLBT Latinos are “coming out”. Now, we have special Latino nights at our bars six days a week:

Monday: Kickers

Tuesday: Flicks

Wednesday: Bacchus House

Thursday: Brass Rail

Saturday: Brass Rail

Sunday: Bacchus House