Don’t forget the upcoming special election for mayor, City Council and state propositions on Nov. 8. Let’s get out a big GLBT vote!

We have now hit the 2,000 mark in deaths of Americans in Iraq. It’s time to bring our troops home, period. Thousands more have been wounded and maimed, and many are young male and female soldiers. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat its horrors and mistakes. If we would have pulled out of Vietnam when we reached the 2,000 mark, tens of thousands of American soldiers wouldn’t have died. It’s good to see the anti-war rallies and demonstrations getting larger, and I pray all of us wake up and let our voices be heard. Personally, I know two Marines who have been killed in Iraq.

On Nov. 8, we will not only be electing a mayor but also two City Council members. It is most important that we elect progressive, qualified candidates who believe in the equality of all San Diegans. We of the GLBT community live in all eight council districts, and for District 2 the choice is clear: Lorena Gonzalez. As for District 8, as a Latino I am embarrassed that three out of four Latino councilmen who have been elected to this seat have been forced to resign in disgrace. I say it’s long overdue for a Latina to do the job, and her name is Remy Bermúdez.

The Center’s annual gala always draws the movers and shakers of our community and a diverse crowd, including two top elected officials. Rarely does one receive a full and complete standing ovation from this crowd, but this past Saturday I witnessed three well-deserved standing ovations for three outstanding San Diego citizens. First, mayor Toni Atkins received one of the longest and loudest ovations ever – a strong testimony to the respect and, yes, love she has earned from her community and from countless citizens throughout San Diego. One of our community’s most respected and effective leaders, The Center’s hard-working Dr. Delores Jacobs, also received a standing ovation, and gave an outstanding speech that was like an official “State of Our GLBT Community” address. It was also great to see The Center’s most effective development director in its 33-year history, Shawn Ingram (who is leaving in December), receive a well-deserved standing ovation. His plea to support our homeless GLBT youth and our new youth housing project brought in $150,000 on the spot that night – almost every one of the over 500 people in attendance put a donation into their table’s envelope. In addition to that money, San Diego LGBT Pride presented a $50,000 check to The Center!

It was good to see the 2005 community award honorees get their deserved recognition at the event itself, especially Alberto Cortès, Dr. Jennifer Tuteur, Miguel Criado, Rafael Colonna and Sid Voorakkara, among others.

The leading candidate for mayor, former police chief Jerry Sanders, and his beautiful daughter were in attendance, as well as his opponent, popular City Councilmember Donna Frye.

The food was fabulous, the official program short and the band great – hundreds stayed to dance the night away. It was good to hear the national anthem sung so magnificently at the beginning of the event. It was the best gala ever, in my book. As for me not being in a tux, at the last moment I discovered I couldn’t fit into it!

In the last few decades, I have seen Stepping Stone turn from a little old run-down house into one of the most modern and beautiful GLBT recovery centers in the nation; one that is respected nationally as a role model for other alcohol and drug recovery agencies and that has changed hundreds of lives. Much of Stepping Stone’s success has to do with its executive director, Cheryl Houk.

I am very disappointed to see the recent attacks on this outstanding and dedicated organization and its long-time leader, especially by one of the most unpopular and controversial ex-board presidents, Steven Johnson, who has been known to criticize Stepping Stone’s board leadership and Houk at every opportunity.

I know their donors and the GLBT community will continue to stand behind Stepping Stone, its board and leadership, and its hard-working director, staff and volunteers… period.

For well over a decade, the Scott Carlson Thanksgiving Dinner has been a tradition in San Diego for people living with HIV/AIDS. It’s a warm, wonderful meal with other people on this holiday (Thursday, Nov. 24, this year). This is an all-volunteer effort, and will be hosted for the second time by the Imperial Court de San Diego in collaboration with APICAP. For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, phone City Commissioner Julia Legaspi at (619) 993-8315 or Jess San Roque at (619) 229-2822. As always, any and all support is most welcome and appreciated.

Check out all of our nightclubs and bars’ Halloween parties and contests, beginning on Friday and carrying on through Halloween night, Monday, Oct. 31. On Saturday I will be emceeing Nightmare on Normal Street, which features $1,000 to costume contest winners. The event has turned out to be one of San Diego’s biggest outdoor Halloween block parties. After that I will be heading up to Bourbon Street to host their annual big event. On Monday night you’ll find me emceeing Flicks’ Halloween contest, with $500 in cash for first place and $100 for second place. Wherever you go to celebrate Halloween, be safe, drive safe, play safe and take care of each other!

One of Mexico’s most popular gay nightclubs, the award-winning Club Extasis, is drawing a crowd of Americans. This super, two-floor club has some of the best lights and sound, and one of the best party atmospheres on the West Coast. Everyone 18 and over is welcome, and the “for men only” areas are the hot talk everywhere.

I’ll visit Club Extasis and its popular, handsome owner, Oswaldo, soon, and will give you a full report. Club Extasis is located just a few steps from the border in the Viva Tijuana outdoor mall, and is very safe. For more information, phone 011-52-66-828-339.

Gay.com ’s Come Together Across America party tour is hosting over 40 events across the United States. The pit stop in San Diego will be on Thursday, Oct. 27, at Bacchus House. Co-sponsored by Club Channel 1, the party coincides with the weekly It’s Raining Men wet underwear contest, which features a special guest appearance by All Worlds Video exclusive Stetson Gable. There will be gift bags for the first 100 attendees, drink specials and hot men. Don’t miss this fun event.

DJ Hex Hector spins at Bacchus House this Saturday, Oct. 29. There will also be a Halloween costume contest with cash and prizes that night, and more cash and prizes to win at costume contests on Sunday, Oct. 30, and Monday, Oct. 31!