This weekend are birthdays of two of my dearest friends, Rick Ford (March 18), my best friend for over 30 years, and Linda Childers, one of my closest female friends (March 19 with a celebration Saturday night at Patti’s Bar). Both are like family and I am blessed to have them in my life… Happy birthday, Rick and Linda!

This has been a very difficult week for many of us. The untimely death of 31-year-old John McCusker has shaken up our community. John called me “mom” or “mommie dearest.” I called him “son”… we talked about everything from relationships to personal problems. I even introduced John to his partner, David Trick. John’s smile and enthusiasm for life, family and community is what I will always remember… truly I loved John like a son… loved him unconditionally. John McCusker gave much to our community in leadership, volunteerism and financial contributions. John was, I felt at times, destined to do great things. He always bought me classic Barbie dolls and recently was excited to tell me about one he had just ordered.

In 2000, I appointed John as chair of GLBT Vote 2000, and he and his committee registered countless young people. John McCusker was a member of the Imperial Court and one of my Crown Princes (boy, did he look handsome that night in his black tux tails). I’ve never seen someone love his family like John did so deeply… his parents, sisters, in-laws, nephews, nieces… he worshiped this good, decent McCusker family… an example of true American family values. My heart is broken… my tears at times are endless and my love goes out to the beautiful McCusker family, David Trick and Michael Mack. Now John is dancing with the angels, and a piece of him remains in my heart forever. (The 2005 Nicky Awards will be dedicated to the memory of John McCusker.)

Yes, Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco will be the special guest at a private San Diego GLBT breakfast on Monday, April 11. The $600-a-plate breakfast has almost already been completely sold out. There will be another, larger event for Mayor Newsom on that evening. The April 11 breakfast will be a limited, sit-down, private event. I am honored to be the chair of this event and there are very few seats left. Call me at (619) 692-1967 for more information. Mayor Newsom will be in San Diego for only one day.

It was nice to hear you donated $2 million to help build our city a new library. You have been good enough to donate millions to the arts, etc. David, your GLBT community just purchased a three-story building to house our homeless youth… many rejected by their own parents. We will give them a roof over their head, put clothes on them and feed them. This building cost a lot of money and it will take everyone’s effort and support to keep it going. And David, budget cuts have affected all of our AIDS agencies, too.

In all due, serious respect David, please think about making a contribution (anonymous donations are respected)…. Thank you.

According to the latest census, 25 percent of our city’s population is Latino, 13 percent is Asian Pacific Islander and 8 percent is black (sadly, no Native American figures were given), so that means 46 percent of San Diego’s population is comprised of people of color, and that number is growing. For years I’ve tried to get our GLBT community to make stronger outreach to and support of the people of color communities and their issues. We still have a long way to go, but I salute those who I see attending and supporting people-of-color events and causes: The Center, San Diego LGBT Pride, the Imperial Court, San Diego Democratic Club, Gay & Lesbian Times… don’t forget the Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Breakfast this coming Monday morning.

Many times I am asked in media interviews who my personal heroes are. I immediately list Harvey Milk, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Senator Barry Goldwater and President Clinton among them…. In San Diego, my personal heroes are Rachael Ortiz, The Rev. David Farrell, Jess Jessop, Ben Dillingham and Gracia Molina de Pick… what a woman, what a Latina, what a humanitarian and true civil rights icon and role model for all of us. I was honored to have attended Gracia’s 75th birthday tribute last week at the Centro Cultural de la Raza. This woman humbles me with her courageous history and love of life and all God’s children. We of the GLBT community are fortunate indeed to have her as a friend and ally…. God bless you, Gracia!

Coming up on Thursday, March 31, Gay & Lesbian Times publisher Michael Portantino will host a fundraiser at his home for his brother, Anthony Portantino, a former vice mayor who is a candidate for the state Assembly and has strong backing from State Senator Christine Kehoe, Councilmember Toni Atkins, Congressmember Bob Filner, etc.

Michael Portantino does not ask much ever, always for other causes, and now we owe it to him and ourselves to support his pro-GLBT-equality brother’s candidacy. With tens of thousands of dollars every year that have benefited countless organizations, campaigns, causes, etc., every board member, organization member and our entire community should show up at this March 31 fundraiser. For more information and to RSVP, phone (619) 331-7111.

Recently on KPBS’s “Editor’s Roundtable” they predicted the start of a recall of Mayor Dick Murphy within months… this talk is all over town. I say, once again, let’s give our mayor and city council a chance. A recall could cost taxpayers even more money. Our city’s problems cannot be fixed over night. Let’s give our elected official some time as Mayor Murphy and our city council are working overtime to get us back on the right course.

The last monthly meeting of the Log Cabin Republicans of San Diego was picketed by some fellow GLBT community members. While I respect that this is America and you can picket anyone you want, why picket members of our own community who are trying to change a political party to become more moderate, to become a party that has a truly “big-tent” outreach where all are welcomed and respected. They could be picketing all the enemies our GLBT community has instead of our own brothers and sisters. Yes, there are bad Republicans, but there are also bad Democrats! I say keep up the good work, Log Cabin members.

This Saturday, our city’s oldest GLBT publication will celebrate its 26th anniversary… not too many GLBT publications in the nation can boast such longevity. Bravo, Update! Congratulations to publisher Tom Ellerbrock, editor Richard Wood, assistant editor Ren Petty and all their staff, especially Norman Bricker, Tryce Czyczynska, Bob Fox, Greg Lobkowski and Rex Wockner…. There will be a big community celebration at our Center this Saturday evening.