A very big welcome to “America’s Finest City” to our tens of thousands of out-of-town guests here for San Diego Pride.… We appreciate your attendance and support, and all that money you are pouring into our economy. San Diego’s Pride Parade is the biggest parade in our city (beating out St. Patrick’s Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, etc.). Please enjoy yourself, but play safe, party safe and watch over each other.…

Finally, the hit TV show, MTV’s “Real World” will be coming to San Diego and filming their next season here.… Rumor has it that “the house” will be near the border, but we don’t know who the “roommates” will be. MTV and “Real World” have done much for our struggle for full equality.… Their educational spots and stories on hate crimes and our community have been outstanding. By having GLBT members on their shows, MTV reaches out to youth, teenagers and young adults throughout America. By portraying GLBT people just like any other Americans, by always including us, MTV is reaching out, educating and opening the eyes of a whole new generation of Americans.… You rock in more ways than you know, MTV!

Well, my trip this past weekend was pure hell.… In weather over 100 degrees and humid, with my national board meeting (the most stressful and tense meeting I’ve attended in decades), the only saving grace was the GLBT community members themselves, as I’ve always found Texans to be the most hospitable, polite and friendly in this country (I find this in most southern states I visit). I just hate flying into and leaving from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which is now the fourth busiest airport in the nation.… “Gay power” is still going strong in Texas, with gays and lesbians being elected to city councils and other offices throughout the state. I will be working on getting the plaintiffs of the recent Supreme Court decision to visit San Diego for a special event.

I continue to be shocked by how many GLBT Californians have told me they signed those petitions to recall Governor Gray Davis.… The leadership and money for this campaign comes from anti-abortion, anti-affirmative action and anti-gay radical right wing groups, including the religious right. Under Gov. Davis, GLBT equality and our civil rights struggle have made major advancements … more than under any other governor in our history. Governor Davis is being blamed for an economy and budget that has gone out of whack since 9/11, but then every state is facing the same problem. Are you looking for and wanting the return of the right wing, anti-gay governors we suffered under for almost two decades? We in the GLBT community owe this governor our support.… Fight this recall and talk to your friends and neighbors, because if Governor Davis is defeated our GLBT community will take some giant steps backwards … and so will health issues. As a gay man, as a Latino, my community’s future, our future, depends on keeping Governor Gray Davis in office.… Thank you.

A recent report revealed that as many as 450,000 children, teenagers, women, seniors and families face hunger every year. Who goes to bed hungry in San Diego? Approximately 48 percent are under age 18, 16 percent are age five and under, and 22 percent are senior citizens.… This is an outrage. While we send billions of dollars in foreign aid to other countries, did you know that 338,399 San Diegans are living well below the federal poverty level? I urge your support of the San Diego Food Bank and America’s Second Harvest.… Please, now more than ever with budget cutbacks, support the Something Special AIDS Food Bank, Mama’s Kitchen and Special Delivery. Almost every city in America is facing the growing hunger problem.… I truly feel even more for the children and our seniors. In a few months I will look into a “huge,” “giant,” GLBT community-wide drive for our San Diego Food Bank.… I hope you will join me in this endeavor.

Now almost 30,000 of our San Diego based troops have arrived back from the war, with ships coming in almost every other week. Over 50,000 military personnel went overseas to fight in Iraq.… I urge our bars, restaurants and businesses to give our military a discount, no door charge, a free drink, dessert or something to show our gratitude. Recently, Bourbon Street threw a huge party with over 100 military in attendance with owners Bob Lehman and Tom Felkner paying for the drinks and food.… Let’s show our military that we care and are proud of them, be they gay or straight!

After months of thinking about who should replace outgoing City Attorney Casey Gwinn, I have decided to endorse the candidate who has been with our community and supporting it for over two decades.… Mike Aguirre was the only candidate to come before the city council and speak against the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory lease … the only candidate to say that the GLBT community and its concerns should be considered in the ongoing school board redistricting battle.… Mike Aguirre has been with us during the Anti-Anita Bryant-John Briggs-Lyndon LaRoche, etc. campaigns.… He was one of the late Cesar Chavez’s legal counsels (pro bono).… While I respect the other three candidates, I feel strongly that our GLBT community owes Mike Aguirre our support and votes.… He has been there and stood up for us these past decades, now it’s our turn.… By the way, our community’s first openly gay candidate for city council in the late 1970s, Dr. Al Best, has also endorsed Mike Aguirre.

San Diego is about the only city in the state that has an annual XXX-rated Mr. Nude San Diego Contest, set for next Thursday night, July 31, at Mustang Spa (2200 University Ave.) at 10:00 p.m. Contestants are wanted, 18 years to 80, straight, gay or bi, with winners getting cash and prizes. For more information, call (619) 692-1967.

Hey there, if you’re looking for a big dance-party scene this weekend, don’t forget to stop by Rich’s — they’ve got something going on all weekend long, starting with DJ Alex Lauterstein from New York, who will be spinning Friday night (please do attend the Stonewall Rally in Balboa Park at 7:00 p.m. beforehand). Rich’s gives you two options on Saturday night, DJ David Harness at Rich’s (1051 University Ave.) or their special PURE PAPI PRIDE party, at Pure Nightclub (8125 Balboa Ave., off Hwy. 163). Then, on Sunday, don’t miss DJ Mark Tarbox and a special appearance by dance diva Becky Baeling, who will be performing her hits “If You Love Me” and “Getaway.” Thank you.