Let us roll out the red carpet next week and welcome over 1,500 men and women from throughout the U.S. to San Diego for the Gay Softball World Series… they will be here for a week!

It’s time for our community to raise our voices and let the current board of directors of San Diego LGBT Pride know how we feel about their cover-ups, lies and lost community confidence. The Pride board continues to act like our parade, festival, etc., is their own personal property. It’s time for a change and new board members. It’s time for the current Pride board to go.

This week a “compromise” was proposed, where a lot of new GLBT community activists and eight business people would join an old board of eight, and the Pride board did not respond and did not act… yet they could quickly act four times and vote “unanimously” to keep their positions. The Pride board continues to ignore our community, and now you must come to the community meeting this coming Monday, Aug. 15, at The Center at 7:00 p.m.

For further information, contact Ray Drew, past executive director of Family Pride Coalition, at (619) 890-0333.

The beautiful Westin Horton Plaza Hotel was the site for the Imperial Court’s Coronation XXXIV “A Military Ball,” which drew over 500 people. Mayor Toni Atkins was given special recognition and a proclamation as “Czarina de San Diego.”

This was the first GLBT event since the election at which both mayoral candidates were in attendance. Donna Frye and Jerry Sanders walked the “runway,” and were enthusiastically received by the audience, who were mostly dressed in tuxes, uniforms and gowns.

The Imperial Court, now on its 34th year of community service, is our gay Shriners- or Elks Club-like service organization, with chapters in over 68 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Many were in attendance at the San Diego event to pay their respects to Emperor Chris and Empress Lala, as their 33rd reign (along with the board of directors) raised over $85,000 for charities and causes within and outside the GLBT community.

The classic Jaguar went for good money, and the set design was fabulous…. Bravo to Rick Ford and Coco LaChine, and congratulations to our newly elected Emperor XXXIV Nathan Garcia and Empress XXXIV Ophelia.

For more information on joining their court, attend their first meeting next Wednesday, Aug. 17, at The Center at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (619) 602-7525 or (619) 284-8983.

I have been meeting with candidates running for the two vacant City Council seats. In District 2 we have a large GLBT community. As a Latino, I am very concerned about who will be elected to lead District 8, which is comprised mostly of people of color.

Let us not forget that the two former councilmen of District 2 and 8 were strong allies and supporters of our GLBT community and AIDS health issues. In District 2 there is a lot of GLBT support already organizing for Lorena Gonzalez, former top aide to our state’s lieutenant governor…. Former District 2 candidate Kevin Faukoner is also someone to keep you eyes on. Carolyn Chase and Don Mullen also have strong support.

Let me say this concerning District 8: Our city has had four elected Latino councilmen… three have been forced to resign. I think it’s time for a Latina woman to step forward and run, as I’ve kind of given up on the men holding onto this. One of the top Latina women looking at a run for this office is Ana Molina Rodriguez. Ben Hueso is also running. Conservative Luis Acle is also running, and maybe Christian Ramirez and Moises Aguirre. I will continue meeting with possible candidates and then make my endorsement.

This week I visited a friend in the hospital in his last stages of AIDS. He recognized me and called me what he has for years, “Mama.” It broke my heart and I kissed him on his forehead. He is blessed to have a loving roommate and friends… many have no one and are alone. My friend is now under “hospice” care and our vigil has begun.

Why I bring this up is that this is not my first visit to a hospital or hospice this year for someone in their last stages of AIDS… yet it seems this health issue is no longer a priority or focus. People – yes, even in our community – have swept it under the rug, yet AIDS continues to take lives every day.

Vince and JoJo Busalacchi have worked in Hillcrest for almost two decades (new owners of Gemelli’s Restaurant at Fifth and Laurel). Their reputation for being good, decent and wonderful people is well known…. They not only have countless GLBT friends but GLBT neighbors in Mission Hills as well. Many tell me they love this couple and have nothing but the highest respect for them.

Along comes a bitter queen named Gary Poirier who attacks them and slanders them. The truth is that Gary works for Vince’s brother, who is upset Gemelli’s has opened to great reviews and is an outstanding success. Gary, you should have stayed out of this “family feud,” because, rightfully so, Vince and JoJo are seeking legal counsel concerning your ugly lies and slander.

Vince and JoJo Busalacchi have supported GLBT and AIDS causes. I stand by these good people and their beautiful little girls 150 percent. They did not deserve this attack and were crushed and hurt to be portrayed in such a false light. Gemelli’s is one of the best new Italian restaurants on the West Coast and you, Gary Poirier, are one of the biggest assholes on the West Coast.

City Commissioner Julia Legaspi and I stopped by super-popular Dan McAllister’s recent 54th birthday party. As many of you know, Dan is our elected county treasurer and tax collector, and deserves all of our support for re-election. His birthday party was held high atop the Gaslamp at the Marriott’s Attitude/Sky Bar and Garden Lounge overlooking Petco Park. The special emcee was our County Assessor Gregory Smith, and lots of VIPs were in attendance.

Two Sundays ago, I rushed to the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Beverly Hills for a fund-raiser for the Nicole M. Ramirez Student Scholarship Fund of Los Angeles (not to be confused with the one in San Diego). It was a great event, and it was good to see Councilmember Jeffrey Prang (former mayor of West Hollywood), Rodney Scott (president of Los Angeles Pride: CSW), Karina Samala (of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Advisory Council) and many others, including some soap opera stars.

The NMR Scholarship Fund of Los Angeles was established for the greater Los Angeles area about a decade ago, and annually gives out scholarships to worthy students. I continue to be very honored and humbled at the naming of this scholarship by Los Angeles GLBT activists.

There have been a lot of rumors going around that The Hole doesn’t really want the leather community around. Well, I had a talk with co-owner Jon Neimann, and he says it’s all completely false. The Hole continues to welcome everyone, and, yes, there’s some changes coming, but this is to make this popular bar look better and better!

This Friday, Aug. 12, ReBar is hosting a fund-raiser for Home Start, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing and alleviating the damages of child abuse. Bigmuscle.com has donated loads of stuff to give away, and Gun Oil will be giving out samples to the first 50 customers starting at 10:00 p.m. Titan Videos exclusive Tober will hand out giveaways from Titan. A donation will be asked for at the door.