Please register to vote for the upcoming June primary. If you have moved, you need to re-register.

Four years ago, when I came up with the idea of holding an annual Easter egg hunt for our increasing number of GLBT families, never did I think it would grow into such a big and beautiful event, with hundreds of children and GLBT and straight parents (everyone is welcome at the event) participating.

This past Sunday, Trolley Barn Park was packed for our fourth annual event, and a big thank you goes to our 2006 co-chairs, Emperor Chris Horton and Empress Lala Too, who worked their butts off. Also, the Imperial Court would like to thank our event’s co-sponsors: The Center, Family Matters and the Gay & Lesbian Times. This was a total community effort, with special thanks to our GLBT leather community and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Both groups raised money, bought bikes and baskets, and volunteered.

Among the many businesses and individuals who donated Easter baskets or made contributions were: Ben F. Dillingham, Wells Fargo Bank, Rick Ford and All Worlds Video, Baja Betty’s, Sherman Mendoza and the staff of The Caliph (100 baskets!), Ono Sushi, Bourbon Street, Numbers, Tazablanca Restaurant, Bacchus House, The Eagle, Omar of #1 Fifth Ave., Chee-Chee Club, Tom Felkner and Bob Lehman, Ron Hardin, Michael Portantino, Supervisor Ron Roberts, state Assemblymember Lori Saldaña, Mayor Jerry Sanders, Councilmember Toni Atkins and her staff, Buzz magazine, Linda Childers, City Commissioner Julia Legaspi, Emperor Richard Britton, the Imperial Courts of New York, Portland and Hawaii, and all the many volunteers (special thanks to Eddie and The Center’s volunteers).

Every child from 1 to 12 years old received a basket. More than 20 bikes and red wagons were raffled off. There was popcorn, juice and soda, and special face-painting by Boy Mike. God bless everyone who gave of themselves – just the smiles and laughter of those hundreds of children made all of this hard work well worth it!

The ninth annual San Diego GLBT Community Tribute Dinner has been set for Sunday, June 25, and this year’s honoree is City Commissioner Bruce Abrams, a longtime community activist and philanthropist. The June 25 tribute dinner will take place on the beautiful William D. Evans ship at the Bahia Resort Hotel.

Past community tribute honorees are: Ben F. Dillingham, Dr. Bill Beck, Chris Shaw, attorney Bridget Wilson, Rick Ford, Dr. Al Best, Mrs. Alma Rosa Vasic and City Commissioner Julia Legaspi.

So mark your calendar, as the dinner seating will be limited. This year’s tribute honoree, Commissioner Abrams, has for decades made invaluable contributions to not only the GLBT community but to the Jewish and progressive communities as well. For more info, phone (619) 692-1967.

Respected longtime political and gay activist Kevin Davis has been appointed to the newly established San Diego city Elections Task Force. Davis is well qualified for this task force, which includes such civic leaders as former City Clerk Charles Abdelnour, state Deputy Labor Commissioner Cassandra Clady, John Kern (former chief of staff to Mayor Murphy) and civic activist Mel Shapiro.

The list of the task force’s priorities will include examining the efficacy of mail-only ballots, instant run-off voting and write-in ballots.

Kevin Davis is a board member of the San Diego Democratic Club, and he deserves all of our best.

The 2008 election may be awhile off, but how some pre-campaigning is going you would think the election is this year. Now comes word that some Republicans are looking for an openly gay Republican candidate to run for the Third District City Council seat.

Now, wouldn’t that be interesting that in the general election in 2008, the two candidates would be a gay Republican and a gay Democrat? But first, the gay Democrats have to make up their minds between front-runners Todd Gloria and Michael Portantino. And let’s not think that a gay moderate Republican couldn’t win. After all, the Republican Party spent lots of money to win the District 2 seat.

By the way, the last Republican to represent District 3 was my friend Councilmember Gloria McCall.

A GLBT fund-raiser for congressional candidate John Rinaldi is set for Sunday, May 7, at the beautiful home of Michael Growe. Rinaldi is a member of our community, and among the fund-raiser’s hosts are: state Senator Chris Kehoe, City Councilmember Toni Atkins, City Commissioner Bruce Abrams, Ben Dillingham, Peter Cooper, Robert Gleason, Jennifer LeSar, Andrew Rosenberg, attorney Todd Stevens, Dr. Phil Diamond, Kevin Tilden and many more (when will the San Diego Democratic Club join the rest of our community and endorse Rinaldi?). Everyone is invited. For more info, phone (619) 291-5511. That’s May 7 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.!

I agree 100 percent with San Diego Union-Tribune dining critic Wolfgang Verkaaik that The Asian Bistro (414 University Ave.) is “one of Hillcrest’s great new dining venues.” With menu items named Too Wong Foo, The Last Emperor and Joy Luck Club, it has an exciting menu for lunch and dinner – and it’s open until 3:00 a.m.! (No more of that jail-like food they served at Hong Kong.)

The Asian Bistro only uses the freshest and highest quality products in its food, which includes Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisine. They also have a special children’s menu, vegetarian dishes and a complete dessert menu.

Owner Patty Allen Thongchua is beautiful, bright and one of the nicest restaurant owners I’ve met. She makes everyone feel welcome. The Asian Bistro’s executive chef, Songsri Thammasuckdi, has served the royal family of Thailand, and when the queen of Thailand visited San Diego, she requested that Chef Songsri cook for her and 50 of her guests! Now what restaurant can boast having a chef who has served royalty?

I had a great lunch, and our outstanding waiter was the very handsome Pom. I give The Asian Bistro five gold stars, and urge you to stop by and have your own personal celebration of Asian cuisine. For more info, visit www.theasianbistro.com. Open ’til 3:00 a.m.!

You’re all invited to meet the first openly GLBT member of Congress to be elected, Congressmember Tammy Baldwin, at a brunch taking place this Sunday, April 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the home of City Commissioner Bruce Abrams. The brunch is a fund-raiser for Congressmember Bob Filner. For more info, phone (619) 425-5047.