Well, San Diego is not the only city going through mayor problems in California. Take the city of Isleton, which is now on its sixth mayor in a little over a year…. Two mayors resigned, and others were recalled, among other things. Hey, San Diego is looking pretty good compared to Isleton!

As a former state co-chair of Equality California and current state board member of the EQCA Institute, I try to make all their events. So Tom Felkner (past state EQCA board member), Bob Lehman and I took off in their new 2005 Hummer and headed to L.A. for the weekend (making a stop in Oceanside for lunch in Marine town). We checked into the beautiful Le Montrose Suite Hotel, which is awesome…. My suite had a great fireplace and a private patio, and was big enough to bowl in! At night, they bring to your room strawberries to dip in chocolate and warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

The EQCA dinner at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel drew over 750 people, and among the few San Diegans there were Ron Ferrero (and his handsome Duke Pham) and the beautiful Cindy Pond (and her sexy Siri), both state board members. It was great seeing so many of L.A.’s political activists and friends, including Mayor Anthony Portantino (yes, the Gay & Lesbian Times publisher’s brother), a future state Assembly member.

Bob and Tom ended up buying signed Picasso and Dali prints from the silent auction. When we left the hotel, a tall man became very chatty with us; then I realized it was OJ Simpson! I quickly declined a photo offer….

The EQCA dinner was a huge success, and the Reverend Amos of the NAACP gave a stirring speech.

The next day, we headed to the L.A. Convention Center for the all gay videos convention, and boy, was that an eyeful – but that’s another story.

The recent Pride board controversy continues to divide our community and make headlines across the country. It was very embarrassing to be at the GLBT civil rights dinner in L.A. and have state GLBT leaders thinking that we in San Diego are nuts, and that the Pride board acts like a dictatorship.

But some Pride officials have done the right thing. Respected longtime gay/Latino activist Larry Baza, who had been elected for a two-year term as co-chair, resigned. Co-chair Debra Self resigned, and in her statement said of the current Pride board, “I have watched as a deaf ear has been turned on community leaders offering advice, support and good counsel. I have seen people attacked and vilified by fellow Pride board members. My resignation signifies my loss of confidence in the Pride board to make decisions that are in the best interest of the organization and the community.” To know Debra Self is to know a gentle but strong woman who loves Pride, so this had to be a difficult decision to make and difficult words to say about her Pride board.

Judi Schaim, a very respected former Pride co-chair, offered her services on the board and was rejected. The new board members of Pride should be selected by the current LGBT Community Leadership Council, not from this board, who refuses to listen to the community. A letter campaign to Pride sponsors is already being launched by individuals and business people in our community…. This controversy is, sad to say, far from over.

In over 40 years, I have never seen a city attorney who is truly on our side… “our” being the citizens of San Diego. City Attorney Mike Aguirre has definitely shaken up City Hall and our city, but he is doing so for all the right reasons.

Is he perfect? No. Does he have some rough edges? Yes… but he is our city attorney – the people’s city attorney – fighting for us.

Now, there are those who are talking about recalls, etc., and he is subject to attacks weekly. A “reformer,” a fighter of the people against the establishment, is always the subject of attacks, and Mike is no exception. Now more than ever, we San Diegans must stand by our friend and the people’s city attorney, Michael Aguirre.

A big welcome to the Stonewall Democrats, who are in town for their national convention.

Our San Diego Democratic Club (of which I am a member) needs some major changes, and new leadership and blood. Its people-of-color membership has always been below 5 percent…. It makes no sense when an elected official, who has a 95-percent pro-gay voting record (Congressmember Filner and Councilmember Peters) doesn’t vote for a gay issue and the Democratic Club takes back their endorsement. While it is good to see some new faces on the club’s executive board, some members have been on it for decades. When the club had a chance in the primary to endorse Mike Aguirre, who had an over 30-year pro-gay record that includes going in front of the City Council to talk against the Boy Scouts lease, the club endorsed another candidate who didn’t have such an outstanding record as that of Aguirre, who is also Latino.

Let me make it clear that I do respect the hard work and volunteerism of this club, and the big difference it has made, but I am hoping that during this national convention they can learn from other clubs from around the country.

The fact that there is a GLBT Vote San Diego and talks of another new GLBT Democratic club forming – or reorganizing a GLBT non-partisan political action committee (the USDEC, United San Diego Election Committee) – is because many feel that the San Diego Democratic Club leans way to the radical left, is not politically pragmatic and has a very low people-of-color membership, and it’s troublesome.

Open for just about two months, iCandy (located at 7929 Santa Monica Blvd.) in West Hollywood has become the talk of the country because it is already the major focus of a reality show! Yes, it’s on MTV’s Logo Network, and it’s called “Open Bar.” The first series, which started this past Monday, documents the building and opening of this exciting and beautifully designed nightclub (designed by well-known artist Preston Lee).

But the main talk and instant success of iCandy is all about the owner, manager and host, the very handsome Tyler Robuck, who has become West Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor – not only because he is a successful entrepreneur and drop-dead gorgeous, but because he is a really down-to-earth, all-around nice guy.

iCandy has two patios, and is a mini complex of happening rooms. They serve tapas almost all night long, and the food at iCandy is like you would taste at a five-star restaurant.

I stopped by and was given the VIP treatment, along with a private table. And let me tell you, there was enough iCandy to fill a candy store… hot, hot, hot. Among many celebrities stopping by iCandy are Justin Timberlake, Queen Latifah and Jessica Alba. I also met its general manager, Yawar Charlie, who rolls out the carpet for all guests.

So the next time you’re in L.A., check out iCandy. You may have to wait awhile behind the velvet rope, but it will be well worth it! Visit this column online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to iCandy’s Web site.

Four years ago, Linda Childers and I founded the annual GLBT Community Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, which drew over 300 children to Trolley Barn Park last year. Since the San Diego Pride/Megan’s Law situation, a lot of parents have asked me questions about next year’s event.

The reality is that those of us who host children’s/youth events must face the reality that it’s an issue that we must face head-on, now more than ever. Therefore, next year The Center and their Hillcrest Youth Center will now become the lead organization to host this annual children’s Easter egg hunt, with the Imperial Court and Family Matters remaining as official co-sponsors.

Rocket magazine, San Diego’s premier source for local hot spots, is looking for a cover boy! Look for Rocket’s cover model contest coming soon to a bar near you!