The recent Supreme Court ruling against compassionate marijuana use is a total outrage and a disgrace…. I know people with cancer and AIDS for whom marijuana improves their quality of life and makes it more bearable…. Once again, a bad decision by this court.

I have now had conversations with the major front-runners for mayor…. Last week, I had lunch at Ortega’s Mexican Bistro with the popular former chief of police Jerry Sanders. He is in support of gay unions, the needle-exchange program and compassionate marijuana usage with strict doctor’s supervision…. He will continue the mayor’s GLBT advisory board and appoint GLBT citizens to boards and commissions.

Sanders has a long record in our community, and has marched several times in our Pride parade. He has endorsed and supported Chris Kehoe, Toni Atkins and Bonnie Dumanis. Let’s not forget that when he was chief of police he appointed the first gay/lesbian outreach officer (Natalie Stone), and I have always found him to be honest, decent, and a man of his word.

Sanders has served as chair of the National Conference for Community and Justice, and as head of the United Way, he turned it around and put it in the black. He is currently picking up many GLBT leaders’ and business people’s endorsements. Sanders, Donna Frye and Steve Francis are considered the front-runners for mayor.

Openly lesbian District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and openly gay Coronado City Councilmember Frank Tierney have officially endorsed Jerry Sanders for mayor…. I attended an event for the re-election of District Attorney Dumanis at the beautiful home of top plastic surgeon Lester Machado and his partner, Craig Wagner, which was very well attended…. Bonnie Dumanis introduced Jerry Sanders as her candidate to the crowd of top GLBT leaders and business people.

Yes, I still have not officially endorsed any candidate…. By the way, congratulations to Steve Francis for getting the local Republican Party’s official endorsement after an ugly, bigoted and anti-gay campaign launched against not only Francis, but also his lovely wife, Gayle.

Last week’s Victory Fund lunch at the beautiful Bahia Resort Hotel (which underwrote the event) was the best Victory Fund luncheon I’ve ever attended. The food was great (no rubber chicken), the program fast-paced, and the speakers outstanding. National board member Robert Gleason did an outstanding job, and all hats are off to him and his committee.

I had the pleasure of having my lunch mate be a fellow gay Latino, the very handsome state Senator Jarrett Barrios of Massachusetts, who I predict will some day be a state attorney general. His speech was very moving at times….

Mayor Mike Gin of Redondo Beach was also a special guest and another excellent speaker.

The Victory Fund has helped all of our openly gay GLBT candidates in San Diego…. It deserves our continued support.

At the Victory Fund lunch, its national president, Chuck Wolfe, made a comment implying that three gay candidates would be running against each other in the future. It has always been the hope of GLBT community leaders that only one openly gay candidate run for City Council (District 3)…. Toni Atkins will make no endorsement for her successor until after the community decides which one is the strongest and has the most popular district-wide community support (not only GLBT support). This could be done at a town-hall debate at The Center, straw vote, etc.

Let me make this clear, as I am the one who called for the first openly gay male council member… Todd, Robert and Stephen, we do not want the three of you running against each other… period. When the time comes, each of you and all of us will know who that candidate is, and until then I wish you all the best.

Do not think that since 9/11 American Muslims are not still subjected to racist treatment and ugly comments…. Yes, even in our community, I have been told by GLBT Muslims of numerous incidents and comments made mostly by gay men.

Just the other day, a handsome gay Muslim told me how he was waiting in line to get into a popular dance club when a white gay male went up to the security guard, pointed him out and asked the security guard not to let the Muslim in because “he might have a bomb”…. The security guard then had a lengthy talk with the gay Muslim and let him in. Thank goodness a female security guard who overheard the conversation reported it to the bar manager, who then had the female security guard seek out the gay Muslim and apologize on behalf of the dance bar and offer him a drink…. Gay Muslims hear comments like “towel heads,” and are subjected to anti-patriotic comments. Racism has always been alive and well in the GLBT community… now some gay Muslims are feeling it more than ever.

Since I was out of state for the Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego’s official 35th anniversary service, I attended this past Sunday’s 11:00 a.m. service. What a joy… what a wonderful, loving service…. The choir was outstanding, and singer Cynthia Montez should go on “American Idol.”

As usual, Pastor Tony Freeman gave a most beautiful sermon (Freeman is one of our community’s best speakers). I had a very nice time, and even as a Catholic I can say a visit to the MCC is good for anyone’s soul.

It was great to see such a wide array of people in attendance, from the young to seniors, both GLBT and heterosexual.

I thank the clergy for introducing me and letting me say a few words of congratulations, and I was happy to present (along with Empress Lala Too) $2,000 of the Imperial Court’s $15,000 pledge for the MCC’s building fund…. They truly welcome everybody, and make you all feel like family.

Martinis Above Fourth has one of the best steaks in the city…. How good are they? Well, in this past week I’ve had dinner there four times (I hope my doctor isn’t reading this!).

On the menu, it’s called Blue Cheese Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon, and I want it for my last meal on Earth! It is so fabulous it melts in your mouth…. I’ve eaten steaks at Morton’s and Ruth’s Chris, which both are outstanding places, but this one will take first prize in anyone’s book…. When you see me dining at Martinis, you’ll know what I’m eating!

Flicks customer Matt Dailey won $1,000 cash and assorted prizes last Saturday when he picked the correct key to open the Treasure Chest! Everyone has a chance to open the Treasure Chest, sponsored by Robert Nadel of Mercedes Benz of San Diego, every Saturday when the drawing begins at 10:00 p.m. The new jackpot starts at $100.