Thank you for the many calls and communications of concern about the absence of my column last week…. As I’ve stated before, sometimes my health conditions prevent me from submitting one. You know it’s tough getting old! Thanks for understanding…

With the attendance of Mayor Toni Atkins, Congressmember Bob Filner, state Senator Christine Kehoe, County Treasurer Dan McAllister, Police Chief William Lansdowne and other VIPs, the second annual San Diego GLBT Community Wall of Honor unveiling ceremony was a stellar, prideful and very moving event. For one night, everyone in attendance at The Center was one community, one family…. It was a wonderful feeling for all of us.

For the first time, four community leaders who are living were inducted, along with three deceased heroes. I knew Jim Cua, Albert Bell and Doug Scott, and they so richly deserved this high honor and recognition.

I also feel it is so right that we do not wait until someone who is most worthy to be put on this wall dies before they are recognized. Among the living 2005 inductees were Jeri Dilno, Darl Edwards, the Rev. David Farrell and Cynthia Lawrence Wallace. We are talking about, combined, well over 100 years of leadership and community service. It was good to see the Rev. David Farrell there with his life partner of 30 years, Gil. Cynthia Lawrence Wallace continues to inspire me as one of our community’s grand ladies of class and commitment. Businessman Darl Edwards, who for over three decades has so generously given back to our community and made a difference in the beginnings of so many of our GLBT organizations and AIDS agencies, was also an outstanding choice. One of our community’s longtime lesbian activists, Jeri Dilno, received one of the largest standing ovations of the evening. Jeri’s brother and sister flew in from back East to be at this special event, and it was an honor for us to have them here. I know they were very proud of their sister.

When I envisioned this wall, I never thought it would be this moving and beautiful, and I want to most sincerely thank everyone at The Center (especially Shawn Ingram and Dr. Delores Jacobs), the Imperial Court co-founders, Ben F. Dillingham, George Murphy, Judi Schaim, Sharon Parker, Judy Foreman and everyone who helped… bless you all.

So said Bill Beck about the upcoming statewide anti-domestic partnership and anti-marriage equality propositions that GLBT Californians will be facing in the near future. Beck said “a line in the sand” has been drawn, and now we must get prepared for the fight our lives.

I attended a local San Diego briefing on the upcoming ballot propositions, organized by our statewide political and campaign consultants, who are some of the very best on the West Coast. Equality for All is our community’s campaign, and in attendance at this past week’s special event were Mayor Toni Atkins, state Senator Christine Kehoe, Coronado City Councilmember Frank Tierney and Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla. This political briefing was held at the beautiful Britt Scripps Inn, and about 30 invited business people and fund-raisers were in attendance. Over $100,000 was raised to start a campaign in which millions will be needed. For such a successful beginning, my hat is off to Delores Jacobs, Kevin Tilden, Bill Beck, Christopher Mills and everyone involved. I urge our entire community’s support of the Equality for All campaign.

Kevin Faulconer is considered the front-runner in the upcoming City Council District 2 primary race. Faulconer barely lost to Zucchet in the last election. Lorena Gonzalez, former aide to the lieutenant governor and wife of a California Highway Patrol officer, has strong support from labor, and is mounting an impressive and strong campaign. Rich Grosch, a member of the Community College Board of Trustees who won his last election with nearly 70 percent of the vote, is also a strong candidate. But retired Lt. Colonel (Navy/Air Force) Phil Meinhardt should also be considered a strong candidate as people get to know this honorable and decent gentleman.

District 2 probably has the second highest amount of GLBT voters, as well as many wealthy GLBT residents. Openly gay candidate Ian Trowbridge couldn’t even get an “acceptable” rating from the local gay Democratic club (only four votes out of 41!). Trowbridge is considered by many to be a letter-writing nut who couldn’t get elected “dog catcher,” even if he was the only candidate on the ballot!

Recently, crazy candidate for City Council District 2, openly gay Ian Trowbridge, got very upset that the distinguished chair of the San Diego County Democratic Club called him a “pain in the ass.” But you are, Ian, you are! You should drop out of the race now before you embarrass yourself any more. When you’re a gay candidate and the local GLBT political organization refuses to even rate you as “acceptable” (and you only get four votes), it’s time to throw in your make-up towel, as it’s obvious you couldn’t even get elected “empress” in your very own community!

Ian Trowbridge, you are a “wannabe,” “will never be,” “look at me,” pain in the ass. And thank you for saying that if lightning strikes all other candidates and you got elected, you would never appoint me to any positions…. That’s OK, as my official past and present appointments by the governor, members of Congress, the mayor, the City Council, the chief of police, the County Board of Supervisors, etc., etc., will do this old queen just fine.

Coming up on Monday, Oct. 10, is the 50th birthday celebration in honor of one of our community’s most respected and loved leaders, Alberto Cortes, the executive director of Mama’s Kitchen. So mark your calendar for Oct. 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Martinis Above Fourth. For more information, phone (619) 284-0522.

Also, congratulations to Alberto for having been named one of only five honorees as a “local hero,” by KPBS and Union Bank of California, for Hispanic Heritage Month…. Bravo, Alberto!