Please register to vote today! For voter registration, absentee/mail ballots or further information, phone (858) 565-5800. The special election for mayor is set for July 26….

Last week was the Police Chief’s GLBT Advisory Board meeting with Police Chief William Lansdowne, and it was an outstanding and very informative one, covering the recent transsexual case, cold cases on past murders of gays, and our bars…. There were well over a dozen top police officials in attendance, including the heads of vice, homicide, communication and dispatch operators.

In 40 years, there has never been better communication and a better relationship between the GLBT community and the San Diego Police Department…. I am proud to serve as chair of the Police Chief’s GLBT Advisory Board.

Police Chief Lansdowne will be attending the next GLBT Tavern Guild meeting July 11.

In last week’s column, some people have misinterpreted some of my comments and observations concerning our popular City Councilmember Toni Atkins and the current mayor’s race.

First of all, Atkins has not withdrawn any endorsement from Donna Frye, as this is an entirely new race. Toni has the utmost respect for her colleague, Councilmember Frye, as they have both worked very closely on many issues.

At this time, Councilmember Atkins has decided to stay out of the mayor’s race and not endorse, and as for after the primary… contrary to rumors, she has made no decision.

This column at times has my personal political observations (right or wrong), and they should never be considered anyone else’s… thank you.

The eighth annual GLBT Community Tribute Banquet, held this year in honor of City Commissioner Julia Legaspi, was truly an evening of love and honor, with over 250 people in attendance. Among the attendees were public officials, family members and leaders of both the GLBT community and the mainstream people of color communities, including His Excellency the Philippine Consul General Edwin Bael and Mrs. Bael, and the father of the black civil rights movement, the Rev. George Walker Smith. There were also major leaders and presidents from the Asian Pacific Islander communities…. There was a 25-member Philippine Youth Orchestra that was unbelievable.

Commissioner Legaspi was honored by the U.S. Senate, Congress, the California state Senate, the city of San Diego, etc., and received a commendation from the president of the Philippines! Legaspi looked radiant in a beautiful native Philippine gown. Bravo on an outstanding job to 2005 Tribute Chair Jess San Roque… I was honored to be the master of ceremonies, and the dinner and staff from the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel were excellent.

At the end of the event, the 2006 tribute banquet honoree was officially announced: philanthropist Bruce M. Abrams!

This year I was very disappointed with both the San Francisco and Los Angeles Pride committees…. First, San Francisco Pride presented our U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein with an anti-gay award just because of her candid comments concerning the presidential campaign (which I agree with), forgetting her decades of support for GLBT equality and AIDS health issues.

Then the Los Angeles Pride committee named TV reality show egomaniacs Kathy and Paris Hilton as grand marshals (Morris Knight must be turning over in his grave!). I was at Los Angeles’ first Pride parade 35 years ago and am honored to be a past honoree of L.A. Pride’s Harvey Milk Award…. Thank God the Rev. Troy Perry, Dr. Betty Berzon, John Perez and others were also honored… the Hiltons were a very bad selection indeed.

First of all, it was never my intention to disrespect you personally or offend you…. If I did, I sincerely apologize. But I’m afraid you did not understand my comments, which I continue to stand firmly behind. I felt on the weekend of Memorial Day, when we honor those soldiers who have died for our country, to have such a Gay & Lesbian Times cover was inappropriate and disrespectful.

As a former Marine, you know how all Marines hold their “dress blues” in high honor… and in all due respect, any individual, be they gay or straight, knows the rules on haircuts, being out of uniform and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (a policy that I am against and have officially fought against) well before they volunteer and sign up for the military.

You state you wanted to be a “queer leather kinky person and a Marine”… that is your right, but the reality is that, gay or straight, your private fetishes are to be on your own private time.

I have the highest respect for all our military service members, and I hope and know that in time, things will change for GLBT military service members. But my personal feeling is that cover continued the stereotype of what some people feel our gay soldiers are all about – sex – when they are really about serving their country. I do thank you for your time serving and defending our country.

The super-popular HillQuest Urban Guide is now out, and this edition is even more outstanding and interesting, with community events, trivia, Uptown history, local architecture, local parks and maps, and where to shop and eat, as well as being full of great pictures.

My favorites are: “The Year in Review”; “Who’s Who” (including Mike Aguirre, Carla Coshow and Cindy Lehman); the history of the Organ Pavilion; a story on Neil Good; a profile on M.E. Stephens; a profile on Hillcrest Farmer’s Market; a fabulous story on Sue Palmer; Q&As with Chris Shaw and Doug Snyder; and also a mention of Warren Simon.

Pick up your free copy of the HillQuest Urban Guide, as it’s one of the best directories on the West Coast. Congratulations to Ann and Nancy on another hit!

Contestants are being sought for the annual Mr., Miss and Ms. Gay Pride San Diego 2006 contest, set for Sunday, July 10, at 8:00 p.m. at Numbers.

Contestants are judged solely on the question, “What does Pride mean to you?” Winners will ride in the parade courtesy of Bud Light, who always gives back to our community. For further information, call (619) 692-1967.