Well, when this issue comes out, I’ll be off to the state of Iowa and then on to Washington, D.C.… all within four days. First a speaking engagement, then a national board meeting.

Recently, Jess Durfee, the chair of the San Diego Democratic Party, sent out an e-mail criticizing District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis for attending an event for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in San Diego (no, it wasn’t a political fund-raiser). Durfee thought Dumanis shouldn’t have gone because of the governor’s plan to veto the gay marriage bill.

First of all, Bonnie Dumanis was the first woman, lesbian and person of Jewish faith to be elected district attorney in the history of San Diego. Yes, she is also a Republican. She is the district attorney for all the citizens of San Diego County, and is the county’s top law enforcer…. What I’m saying is that there is a lot more to our district attorney than her being a lesbian, and she has every right as a high-ranking official to attend an event for the highest elected official in the state.

Yes, we are disappointed with the governor over his announcement that he will veto our gay marriage bill, but Gov. Arnold did come out against a national referendum that would change our Constitution to add a ban against gay marriage. Gov. Arnold has also signed some pro-gay bills, including one authored by state Senator Christine Kehoe. I was a strong supporter of both President Clinton and Governor Davis – both made stands against gay marriages.

Should I, as a gay man, not have attended some private events for both Clinton and Davis because they were against gay marriage? District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has been doing an outstanding job…. It was wrong for the chair of the Democratic Party to single her out because she is a lesbian. Will Durfee next join Democratic Congressmember Barney Frank in calling all gay Republicans Nazis?

In the last primary election, mayoral candidate Jerry Sanders received more GLBT campaign contributions than his opponent. Now another big GLBT fund-raiser will be held on Friday, Oct. 14, at Baja Betty’s, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (yes, a fabulous lunch). Contributions levels are $100, $200 and $300, and everyone is invited to attend. Call (858) 481-0300 to RSVP.

By the way, Jerry Sanders announced the appointment of openly gay Ben Dillingham to his official City Hall Reorganization and Recovery Group. Polls show Sanders leading Donna Frye for mayor.

We all have to remember that the three states that Hurricane Katrina hit are very Southern, very anti-gay states: Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Now reports are coming in that GLBT citizens and people living with AIDS are having a more difficult time getting assistance. Remember, these states do not recognize domestic partnerships and have anti-gay laws in their books.

The good people of the Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego, with great help from The Center, thus organized the Caravan of Hope, which left San Diego this past Monday and is headed to the South with trucks loaded with items to help those GLBT people that are affected by the hurricane.

Our community’s response was great, with many people bringing badly-needed items like bars of soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, blankets, etc, and dropping the items off at The Center. A lot of businesses have been helping as well, holding events to assist people affected by the hurricane. My hat is off to The Caliph, Bourbon Street, the Eagle and everyone who is holding fund-raisers.

Mark your calendar for the sixth annual Scouting for All rally set for Sunday, Oct. 9, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1207 Upas St. in Balboa Park. This event always draws a large, diverse crowd with outstanding speakers, and continues to be a peaceful, educational and very uplifting rally to end the discriminatory membership policy of the Boy Scouts. I urge your support. For more info, visit www.sdscoutingforall.org.

Recently I realized why my doctors kept telling me to slow down and pace myself, as last Tuesday evening I attended four events within hours of each other!

I started my evening off attending a local political fund-raiser, then Caliph owner Sherman Mendoza picked me up to go to KPBS at San Diego State University to attend the 2005 Hispanic Heritage Month Local Hero Awards, co-sponsored by Union Bank of California. Among the five honorees were Alberto Cortès of Mama’s Kitchen and Guadalupe Corona of the Latina, Latino and Indigenous Peoples Unity Coalition. It was a very prideful and wonderful event.

Then it was off to Adams Avenue Studio of the Arts for an event honoring veteran San Diego journalist Preston Turegano. I was honored to have been asked to speak at the tribute. Also, congratulations to Korbett Kompany Productions on their second anniversary!

Afterward, I went to The Center for a benefit for Hurricane Katrina relief (Sherman Mendoza and The Caliph donated $500). After all this we were pretty hungry, so we went for a late dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, where we had an outstanding and fun waitress named Amber Regan. After that, I got a good night’s sleep.

One of our most popular publications, the Lavender Lens, just celebrated its fourth anniversary…. Sad to say it seems to be a struggle to keep a magazine for lesbians and friends going in any city across this country.

Thus a big congratulations to the hard-working Bixi Craig, Anne Issaks and all the staff of Lavender Lens. It’s a great publication, and I always read every issue.

Lavender Lens will be celebrating its fourth anniversary this Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7:00 p.m. at Six Degrees. Stop by and say hello. Congratulations, once again, and here’s to 40 more years!

This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of Stepping Stone, which has been changing and saving lives for decades. This weekend is their annual Living Out Loud gala, which features “Will & Grace” TV star Leslie Jordan. It’s looking like it’ll be one of the most fabulous events of the year. For tickets or more information, visit www.livingoutloud.info.