The Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner is back for individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS… this Thursday, Nov. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the First Universalist Church, located at 4190 Front St. across from UCSD hospital, and it costs nothing for those coming. This dinner, which started in the late 1980s, has been resurrected by the Imperial Court. A big thank you to City Commissioner Julia Legaspi, Gloria Johnson, John Keasler, Ben Dillingham, Emperor Chris Horton, Empress Lala Too and the entire Imperial Court…. Information: (619) 254-6372.

First, let me tell you about the people of this fabulous city and great state… in all my travels across this great nation of ours, never have I found such warm, outgoing and hospitable people. From the moment my big toe landed on Arkansas land, it was a love fest of friendly, welcoming people. There are only about 2 million citizens in this state, but I didn’t encounter one unfriendly face my entire six-day stay. Right across the way (about 13 steps) from our hotel was a Krispy Kreme, which I soon stuffed myself with. For the best hamburgers, it’s Backyard Burgers, and for the best seafood (yes, they’re famous for their catfish), well, it’s The Flying Fish restaurant (and only in Little Rock could you find a “family restaurant” called Cock of the Walk!).

San Diego has the Gaslamp Quarter, and downtown Little Rock has the Rivermarket District, which has numerous restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries. I was so busy going to official events that I never made it to any of their gay bars, though I hear Discovery is the number-one club.

There’s a lot to see in Little Rock, including the MacArthur Museum of Military History (General Douglas MacArthur was a native); the Old State House where President Clinton announced his candidacy and where he accepted his victory; Central High School, infamous for its 1960s integration battle… and much more.

Attorney Bruce Abrams took Big Mike and I out for lunch at one of the most classy and historic hotels – the Capital Hotel, where all three of us ordered Little Rock’s famous Chicken Noodle Soup, but Bruce wanted it without the noodles! Well, the whole restaurant cracked up…. No, Bruce never got his soup. After this great visit, I will most certainly go back to Little Rock, now the home of the Clinton Presidential Library.

The theme of the week-long dedication of the Clinton Library was “An Arkansas Globecoming” and it was… from Queen Nora of Jordan, world presidents and premieres, to movie stars like Barbra Streisand, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, etc., to four presidents: George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. It was a week long with event after event, and I went to most of them (and rested a lot, too). The invitation to the Governor’s Mansion for lunch with all of the first ladies of Arkansas (yes, including Hillary) was one highlight I’ll never forget.

The Presidential Celebration with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at the Robinson Center Music Hall was a great evening with different variations of “Hail to the Chief”, but diva Aretha Franklin was the one who tore the roof off. Other highlights were conversations I had with former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Jesse Jackson, Ron Reagan Jr., etc., and the current first lady of Arkansas.

It was sunny all week, except dedication day, and then the rainy downpour came.

A great big thank you to my traveling buddy Big Mike, who took good care of me and made sure I paced myself and took my old queen’s medication.

I did get ill from the rainstorm and had to cancel my trip to Boston for a national board meeting.

Well, it may have poured cats and dogs and I got soaked, but it was all worth it (though it was like being in a pool for four hours). Presidents Carter and Bush Sr. gave remarkable speeches, and of course so did our own Bill. Al Gore and John Kerry looked a little sad and I felt for them…. President Andres Pastrana of Colombia was also outstanding. I thought Bono could have cut at least two songs…. Chelsea Clinton looked like a movie star – just beautiful. For one brief moment, two Republican and two Democratic presidents made us all feel like we were all an American family and not from blue and red states. A high-ranking Democratic official presented me with a special art piece (she and I have been friends for a long time and is in the closet, though). It’s so beautiful that I will be donating it to be on display at our Center. As for the Clinton Library itself… you must go…. It’s unbelievable and the best of all the presidential libraries I’ve seen.

It even has a section on the gay community… a picture of the March on Washington, the AIDS Quilt, and Matthew Shepard and hate crimes…. It’s the only presidential library to include all Americans… I’ll write a little more about my visit in next week’s column.

I want to sincerely congratulate all of the honorees of the 2004 Freedom Banquet, hosted by the San Diego Democratic Club, coming up on Friday, Dec. 3, at the beautiful Hyatt Islandia Hotel. I especially want to congratulate Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins, who continues to be an effective, honest and principal leader for our community, all of District 3, as well as our city… truly a role model of a true public servant.

Prominent attorney Bruce Abrams is long overdue for such recognition for his decades of giving back to his community, numerous civil rights causes, candidates and the Democratic Party on the local, state and national levels. Murray and Elaine Galinson are “Mr. and Mrs. San Diego” to many in our city for their long dedication and humanitarianism to so many in our city… they are truly outstanding citizens.

Senator Dede Alpert has for decades served our region and state, so significantly that she has been recognized as one of California’s most outstanding state officials… and most respected… her support for equal rights of all citizens has made a difference in our GLBT struggle for equality. For more information and tickets, phone (619) 405-9903. It will be an evening of pride, live music, dinner and a fabulous silent auction, including now hot collector’s items from the recent Clinton Presidential Library dedication.

This has been a very hard year for me health-wise, as most of you know, and as another Thanksgiving and another birthday comes, I’ve had a lot of time to think and reflect… and you know what? If I got hit by a bus, I would die a man who has lived a colorful, controversial, wonderful, rewarding and blessed life, because of so many friends and “family” I have made along the way. Just think: I’ve been to the White House, met President Clinton three times, introduced Cesar Chavez at the march in D.C. and gave him a GLBT award before he died, got to be friends and party with Harvey Milk, met Coretta Scott King, had dinner with the governor of California as my table partner (Gov. Davis), on the national boards on all the marches on Washington (four) and Stonewall 25 in New York, etc. What I wish to say is contrary to rumor: I am not a rich man (not even close), but I have been able to serve my community when I’ve been elected (never appointed) to numerous national, state and local board of GLBT, Latino and AIDS organizations. Because of many people who believed in me and my activism, I was able to do much in these last 35-plus years…. On this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the friendship and ask God’s blessing on some wonderful people who have supported my endeavors: Rick, Ben, Darl, Frank, Bob and Tom, Pierre, Gene, Chris and Doug, Rick, Gene, Bob, Robert, Michael, John, Bruce, Pierre you know who you are… thank you.

But friendship and family is also more than financial support and love… it’s years of always being there, like those I’ve mentioned. Also I am thankful for: Big Mike, Julia, Jess, Carolina, Delores, Richard, Rafael, Maggie and Pat, John and Aaron, Coco, Brian, Fifi, Ron, Bill and David, Chris, Toni, Bonnie, Franceska, Gloria, Todd, Kurt, Linda, Michael, Chris, Marilyn, Nathan, Stepher, Joe and do many, many more… God bless you all.

There are some (a few) people trying to lead a boycott of the annual WeHo Awards, the GLBT awards of West Hollywood, because of Coors being a sponsor. Bullshit. I’m tired of these extremists trying to live back in history when it comes to Coors… they are a good friend and supporter, not only of our community but the people of colors community. This is the new Coors of the 21st century, not the old Coors of the 1960s. The WeHo Awards will be on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at the Roosevelt Hotel. Visit this column at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the WeHo Awards website.