Please don’t forget to support the annual toy drive and blanket drive now going on in our community…. Fill up those boxes!

I join the millions of Americans who are outraged at those who are trying – and, many times, succeeding – in changing “merry Christmas” to “merry holidays.” It has gotten so insulting that even in the city of Boston, what had been the official Christmas tree for decades got changed to the “holiday tree”! It is all just too much, and is going too damn far. This assault on Christmas is even being waged in San Diego. Every year it seems the word Christmas is being wiped away little by little. Thank god a nationwide organization to save Christmas has started: www.savemerrychristmas.org, and I support them 100 percent! Christmas has always been deeply entrenched in our American culture, and must stay there!

Recently, our city’s most infamous “ex-gay,” James Hartline, tried to hold a rally and news conference in North Park to show all of San Diego and the police department how many adult-themed businesses there are in San Diego, and that many are supposedly violating city laws. Well, a few members of the media showed up, and the police department has made it clear that, once again, Hartline does not have his facts straight. In fact, Lt. Lawrence McKinney stated, “The San Diego Police Department, and particularly the vice unit in this case, can’t be used by one group to impose its morality on another group.” Are you listening, James Hartline?

Congratulations are now in order for the two newest GLBT citizens made San Diego city commissioners. Jess San Roque and Maureen Steiner are now on the city’s Salary Commission and took their oath of office last week. Jess San Roque has lived in San Diego for 26 years, and is a major leader in the Asian Pacific Islander community (he is even a past chair of the Philippine Independence Day Parade). He has been the executive director of APICAP for nine years, and is a member of the Imperial Court board of directors as well as the Chief of Police Advisory Board. Jess is a past Pride parade grand marshal. Attorney Maureen Steiner is a longtime political and GLBT activist, is a past chair of the San Diego Democratic Party and was endorsed by the San Diego Union-Tribune when she was a candidate for Coronado City Council. She and her beautiful lover, Aida Mancillas, were married at San Francisco City Hall and were featured in an extensive Union-Tribune article on same-sex marriages. A tireless activist, Maureen very much deserves the city commissioner position, as does Jess. Both are qualified for this commission, and it was my honor to support them.

For about a year now, popular San Francisco County Supervisor Bevan Dufty and I have been working on a project to get a city street named after civil rights pioneer Jose Sarria (the first openly gay candidate to run for office in the world and the founder of the International Imperial Court System of Canada, the U.S.A. and Mexico). Well, this past weekend, Supervisor Dufty and I announced the street (Jose Sarria Place) at the Imperial Court’s 40th anniversary gala dinner at the world famous Riviera Resort in Palm Springs. The street will be where the Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Branch Library is. I will be flying soon to San Francisco to address their city council at the final hearing on this proposal.

Yes, the party of the year – Hillcrest’s block party, Resolution, featuring superstars Sheena Easton, En Vogue, and June and Bonnie Pointer – is set for Friday, Dec. 30, under the stars on Fifth Avenue. Tickets are already selling like hot cakes, including big out-of-town sales, so get your tickets today as there will be limited tickets available. For all the wild and exciting details on this event or for ticket info, phone (619) 501-7094 or visit www.stephergroup.com.

The great people of the Gay Men’s Spiritual Retreat (GMSR) will be holding their 14th annual spaghetti dinner and show this Saturday, Dec. 17, at 6:00 p.m. at The Center, and everyone is welcome. This year’s theme is “Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Sunlight of the Spirit.” The GMSR is an outstanding part of our community’s alcohol/drug recovery community and deserves all of our support. Food and entertainment – all for only $10. I’ll be first in line for the buffet! For more info, phone (619) 347-7624.

Look out, San Diego, an outrageous and fun weekly show is coming to a club near you (in Hillcrest). It will be the talk of the town, and it’s premiering early next year. Every Tuesday night, this show will be called “What would you do for $206?” and promises to be the hit new show for 2006… with contestants being of any color, lifestyle or weight, and ages 21 to 100, GLBT or straight, sexy or ugly, etc. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re the last one standing! Watch this column for more information. The hit TV show “Fear Factor” will be nothing compared to this show!

One of America’s most outrageous all-live comedians/impersonators, who is also a singer, is coming back to San Diego. Yes, it’s the one and only Jackie Beat with her fabulously fun show, “Holiday Ho!” at Bourbon Street on Friday, Dec. 23. There is no cover charge, so get there early and get ready to laugh your ass off. The show starts at 9:00 p.m. For more information, phone (619) 291-4043 or visit www.bourbonstreetsd.com.

The annual Miss Gay California At-Large contest is coming up this Saturday, Dec. 18, at 6:00 p.m. at Bacchus House. This is a great contest for big, bold, beautiful drag queens and lesbians 200 lbs. or more. Much more is beautiful! (Trust me, I could enter this contest and easily pass the weight limit.) Contestants are judged in swimsuit, talent and evening gown categories. It’s all a benefit for The Center. Contestants are wanted. For more information, phone (619) 293-0089 or e-mail xfactora8@aol.com.

There’s a slew of other events coming up at Bacchus House, too. Come check out their hot new Saturday night, Pump, featuring hot, sweaty, glistening men dancing the night away. DJ Bruce Trites will be spinning this Saturday, Dec. 17, and DJ Bruce Allen on Dec. 24. On New Year’s Eve, Bacchus House will have a balloon drop with $1,500 in cash and prizes, and a hosted bar from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Stop by the bar prior to the event and pick up your invitation. And don’t miss Bacchus House’s fourth anniversary party on Sunday, Jan. 1. A fun-filled New Year’s weekend!

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, come down to Hamburger Mary’s for “Mary’s Christmas Movie Night.” The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a screening of Elf, followed by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at 8:00 p.m. A holiday dinner special featuring pork roast with gravy, apple sage stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans and holiday cupcakes will be available for $10.95. Continue the merriment with Liquid Lounge afterward!