This coming Saturday night is the Alano Club’s annual gala dinner at The Center…. Please support our recovery community and this great event….

Now I agree with people who say Steve Yuhas is a self-loathing, hating homosexual, as this past Monday I heard him state that he “knew being gay was a sin.” Recently, Yuhas has attacked Big Mike, our Center, feminine men, leather men, the Pride parade, etc., etc.

As for his attacks on me, I’m used to it, but thank you for all your calls of support…. And while I do not own or have a partnership with any adult business in town, I will always be grateful and appreciate the hundreds of thousands of dollars that F St. Corp., Club San Diego, All Worlds Video, Vulcan and many others gave to our AIDS agencies in those dark, early AIDS years when we were all alone.

Many of these business people, yes, are my friends, Steve Yuhas, and will continue to be so, and I will continue to be appreciative and thank them for their continued support. Attack me all you want, Steve, as I’m not going anywhere and all my positions in this city are firm as a rock, and I will remain with them… period.

I actually feel sorry for you at times, because you are truly a sad, sick and lonely man who obviously hates his homosexual skin and enjoys attacking our community with lies…. Keep on ranting and raving, as every community has a “madman”….

I attended the official inauguration ceremony of our new City Councilmember Tony Young, and a great crowd showed up at the Balboa Park Club…. It’s a new day in District 4, as a new generation and bold, positive leadership firmly takes possession of this council seat.

It was nice seeing some of our city leaders in attendance, such as Councilmember Toni Atkins, Congressmember Bob Filner, Councilmember Brian Maienschein, State Assemblymember Juan Vargas and Police Chief Bill Lansdowne, but where were all the other elected officials?

It’s also good to hear that Louie Natividad will continue to work for the District 4 office.

Among GLBT leaders in attendance were Jess Durfee, Stan Lewis, Dr. Pat Washington, Jeffery Tom, Brian Polejes, Gloria Johnson, Fentress Ott and Linda Childers.

By the way, North Park’s gay-owned Jackie O’s Flower Shop donated the flowers for the popular council member’s inauguration. It was also good to see District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and City Attorney Mike Aguirre in attendance.

Not long ago, we had to suffer the outrageous attack on the popular children’s TV character Tinky Winky – that he was gay because he was purple, carried a red purse and had a triangle on his head (obviously the mark of the devil). Now those insane Christian right people have attacked SpongeBob SquarePants and his buddies for holding hands and singing “We Are Family”.

Who’s next – Mickey Mouse? (Because he’s never married.) The Three Little Pigs? (They all sleep together and are brothers.) Obviously Peter Pan (his best friend is a fairy)…. Stay tuned, folks.

Some good money was raised at the recent “Soulplates: Celebrity Art Extravaganza” held at the Balboa Park Club. I unfortunately could not attend because I was ill, but everyone who went said they had a nice time… only suggestion is that next year a more colorful, cozy site should be chosen.

It was great seeing the TV media coverage on this event for Being Alive, one or our most important AIDS agencies. Artful plates by Elizabeth Taylor and Barbra Streisand were auctioned off…. First, we had the Christmas wreath auction and now a celebrity plate auction, two new fun and different charity events that are fabulous ideas.

Congratulations to all involved in the success of “Soulplates” and Being Alive.

One of the most fun, colorful and fabulous street events of the year is coming up soon (Feb. 8), the ever-popular Hillcrest Mardi Gras at Fourth and University avenues. There will be two stages, including entertainment by the Il Circo Performance Troupe, the All Worlds Video Go-Go Boys and super DJ Kimberly S.

All the proceeds go to our GSDBA Charitable Foundation and Hillcrest Business Association. Get your tickets today at Hamburger Mary’s, The Obelisk Bookstore, Rainbow Road or Ono Sushi. For more information, visit this column online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the Hillcrest Mardi Gras website.

The beautiful Westin Horton Plaza Hotel has been set for the 29th annual Nicky Awards, San Diego’s gay Academy Awards, on Sunday, May 15.

Jess San Roque will once again serve as president of the Nicky Board of Governors. This year’s beneficiaries are the California Equality Foundation, APICAP, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation and the Imperial Court.

Last year’s awards show was sold out, with outstanding entertainment. For more information, phone (619) 757-0197.

Last week, the staff of the Gay & Lesbian Times went out to the beautiful Old Globe Theatre to see TAKE ME OUT, the original Broadway production that won a Tony Award for best new play. It’s a play about a big professional baseball star who casually comes out as being gay…. It’s a comedy hit that includes some really outstanding dramatic scenes. And yes, the rumors are true that there are nude shower scenes (though everything shrinks, if you know what I mean).

For me, the standouts and best actors were: Harlow George, then the lead star, M.D. Walton (recent Buzz magazine cover model) and Scott Cunningham…. You must go see this great play now, playing through Feb. 15.

World famous and super diva, producer and comedian, the one and only ChiChi LaRue will be in San Diego this Saturday (Jan. 29) at Hustler Hollywood (929 Sixth Ave.), and then later at Club Montage, with her “stars”…. ChiChi recently suffered a mini heart attack, but thankfully made a full recovery, and is hotter than a pistol and outrageous and funnier than ever…. Welcome back, ChiChi, and darling, I would not mind you having a summer place here in beautiful San Diego.