This weekend is the infamous White Party in Palm Springs, which draws thousands of gay men from all over the country, including many from San Diego. Please, please play safe, party safe and watch over each other.

Last Sunday’s march for immigrant rights was the largest known demonstration in the history of San Diego. California’s leading GLBT organizations have officially come out in support of a “fair and humane immigration policy.” Among them: Equality California, PFLAG, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Log Cabin Republicans, and both the Los Angeles and San Diego GLBT centers.

This is an important issue that affects all Americans, including our GLBT community, as it is an issue that includes your GLBT brothers and sisters. San Diego County’s population is 30 percent Latino, and that number is growing. There are 12 million undocumented workers in the U.S. It is long overdue that we as a nation and government face this issue… but most of all, I like the final message of my Latino leaders: “Today we march, tomorrow we vote.”

Those of us who have known and supported Congressmember Susan Davis since her school board days always knew she would decide to become a co-author of HR 1059 to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We were patient and respected her process; we understood that this being a military region meant that she had to listen to all sides. Yet many in our GLBT community viciously attacked her, tried to get candidates to run against her and wrote negative and ugly letters. Many in our community owe Congressmember Davis an apology. Constructive dialogue is always understood, but attacks on our friends and allies isn’t. Trust me, it wasn’t so-called “GLBT pressure” that got Congressmember Davis on board. It was her decades of support for equality.

Well, it will be Francine Busby versus Brian Bilbray for the 50th Congressional District seat. Our community’s state Senator Christine Kehoe has endorsed Busby, while District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has endorsed Bilbray (so has our city’s popular Mayor Jerry Sanders). Both Busby and Bilbray do not support gay marriage, but Busby does support civil unions.

Though I have received a call from Busby, I’ve never met her. I did work with Bilbray, when I served on his congressional AIDS advisory board. This is a solid Republican district, and look for them to unite behind Bilbray.

Calling all children (ages 1-12) of GLBT parents, friends and neighborhoods for the fourth annual GLBT Community Children’s Easter Egg Hunt at Trolley Barn Park on Adams Avenue starting at 2:00 p.m. this Easter Sunday – and it’s all free! There will be popcorn, drinks and candy, as well as bike giveaways and a surprise visit by the Easter bunny. The event is sponsored by the Imperial Court, The Center, Family Matters and the Gay & Lesbian Times. For further information, phone (619) 794-2777 or (619) 692-1967. Donations of Easter baskets and stuffed bunnies can be dropped off at our GLBT community Center.

All of our GLBT bartenders should be aware that they need to be very cautious when they get off work early in the morning. Once again, at 3:00 a.m., a young bartender got off of work and three young black men got out of their car and chased him, demanding his wallet. The bartender barely escaped in his car. There have been many more of these early morning incidents, with robbers waiting by gay bars. I urge all bartenders to carry pepper spray (available at Ace Hardware, etc.) and to never walk to their cars alone.

Our very own popular City Councilmember Toni Atkins will be given the prestigious Legislator of the Year Award for her leadership as San Diego’s acting mayor by the San Diego County Democratic Party at an April 22 dinner. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack will be the keynote speaker. For more information, phone (858) 496-3312. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Toni!

Very popular entertainer and comedian Marilyn died recently of heart problems. Marilyn lived in San Diego for almost 30 years, and was one of our community’s most popular impersonators ever. She had a heart of gold and gave back to her community, AIDS agencies and the homeless. The City Council adjourned in her memory on April 4, and I had the honor of presenting a special proclamation to Marilyn’s mother, who had flown in from Florida (Marilyn was born in Cuba).

I want to sincerely thank Franceska, Chad Michaels, Peter, Rafa, Tootie, Reyes, LaDonna and so many others who stood by her during these last, difficult years of her life. God bless you all. Personally, I never met a more loving and beautiful soul than Marilyn.

A “celebration show” will take place in her honor this coming Saturday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. at The Brass Rail. For more information, call Franceska at (619) 294-8430. And, yes, after a decade, I will be a part of the Dreamgirls’ opening number.

Watch out, San Diego, as one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in Southern California will be happening in just two weeks – LEI! I’ve had a peek at this new, fabulous location next to Bourbon Street, and it’s like you’ve stepped off an RSVP cruise and walked into a beautiful restaurant in Tahiti, Hawaii or the Bahamas. The restaurant will include seven cabanas, each with seating for up to 10 people. When dining at LEI, you will be surrounded by bamboo, ivy and beautiful flowers, which will make you feel like you’re in paradise – and wait until you taste the food! Your taste buds will be taken on an exciting adventure and will be asking for more and more, as their menu is outstanding. The menu will feature some items with a red ribbon next to them, which means a donation will be made to Mama’s Kitchen’s Grocery Hearts.

The Weiss brothers of Bourbon Street and Michael Mack are co-owners of LEI restaurant, and the Weiss brothers own award-winning restaurants back East. So get ready, San Diego, to catch the wave to LEI. For further information, visit www.leilounge.com.

Rosie and Kelli O’Donnell’s new documentary, All Aboard! Rosie’s Family Cruise, is now playing on HBO, and it is outstanding. With its simple message, “GLBT families = Love,” I urge you all to check out this very moving documentary. When the cruise ship stopped in the Bahamas, those aboard were greeted with anti-gay Christian radicals shouting and condemning them. The entire documentary is very interesting, with different GLBT families telling their personal stories.