Don’t forget that this Sunday is Mother’s Day. I’ll be flying back from Arizona on Sunday to meet my mother, who is coming down to San Diego. And don’t forget that this Friday, May 12, is Mama’s Kitchen’s annual “Mamma Mia!” event at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. For more information, phone (619) 233-6262 ext. 104.

Last week, I arranged (as chair of the Human Relations Commission) a visit to the county jail because of some complaints from GLBT inmates. Joining me were AJ Davis, director of public policy at The Center, and Russell O’Brien, editor of the Gay & Lesbian Times. We inspected the gay/transsexual housing unit and spoke to some inmates and sheriff officials.

Since the beginning, when I initiated this outreach, I have been very impressed with the cooperation and professionalism of the Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Bill Kolender. While there are issues we will be working on, especially their diversity training, I believe we are on the right track.

I am, of course, still concerned with the death of inmate Vanessa Facen.

The two leading candidates, Todd Gloria and Michael Portantino, have agreed that our community must unite and support one gay candidate for Council District 3 in 2008. Right now, we are going through somewhat of a “gay primary” to see which man ends up with the most support and has the best chance.

Though some Republicans are looking at a possible lesbian/gay candidate of their own, we cannot afford to divide our votes, money and volunteers when we’re up against candidates outside of our community who will also be running. We have ran one candidate in District 3 from our community for the last 16 years and must do so again if we are to win in 2008… period!

This year’s annual gay rodeo, held in Lakeside, got a lot of media, both because of the Brokeback Mountain movie craze and some of the anti-gay residents in our East County. But our local chapter of the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association did an outstanding job of representing and presenting our community. Among the news crews that showed up were the “Daily Show,” the “Tonight Show,” etc. This year’s rodeo was a huge success.

Not long ago, San Diego had a powerful and effective GLBT political action committee called the United San Diego Elections Committee (USDEC). A few years ago, some prominent GLBT political leaders and businessmen met at the home of Dr. Bill Beck to discuss re-establishing USDEC. After a few meetings, many agreed that they were too busy to re-establish USDEC.

Now comes word that another group of prominent businessmen and young political activists will be holding their first meeting to re-establish USDEC, and they are serious and committed. It is long overdue that San Diego joins almost every major city with a nonpartisan GLBT political action committee.

I promised my publisher, Michael Portantino, that I would help raise some money for the state Assembly race of his brother, Mayor Anthony Portantino. So we came up with the idea of Michael cooking a fancy Italian dinner at his home, and I would be the waiter and serve (but I limited it to only a dozen people).

Well, I have a newfound respect and admiration for the waiters and waitresses of the world. (By the way, thank you, Omar of #1 Fifth Ave., for the real mink full apron I wore!) It was actually a fun and outrageous evening, as people snapped and made demands of me. The dinner was a great success, and special thanks go to City Commissioner Bruce Abrams, Bob Nelson, Murray Olson, Bob Lehman, Tom Felkner, Chris Shaw, Michael Weiss, Richard Britton, Rick Ford, City Commissioner Julia Legaspi and Gene Heytow, Brian Tash and Michael Rood.

If you’ve ever been to Miami, then you know that South Beach is the star attraction, with some of the best nightclubs and restaurants in the world there. South Beach is considered the playground of the stars, VIPs, models and just everyone. And now, South Beach has come to San Diego with the opening of L.E.I. restaurant and nightclub (4622 Park Blvd.) next to Bourbon Street.

Already, L.E.I. is being called one of Southern California’s “must go” places, with outstanding food, great service and an atmosphere that I’ve not enjoyed in over 50 years of clubbing. My personal recommendations are: the coconut-crusted shrimp, Philly cheese steak spring rolls, mango chicken and the Kobe beef steak frites – but it’s all good.

At 10:00 p.m., the restaurant closes and L.E.I. becomes packed as the place to be for partying and drinking. Billy Weiss’ vision for L.E.I., which he showed me months ago, has become a reality, and as far as I’m concerned he is a genius when it comes to building exciting venues. Congratulations also to co-owners Michael Weiss and Michael Mack. For more information, call (619) 813-2272 or visit www.leilounge.com.

Let me tell you, I am a connoisseur of seafood – especially lobster, shrimp and crab – and I’ve eaten at some of the best seafood restaurants in the nation. But Oceanaire Seafood Room (400 J. St.) in the Gaslamp is the very best on the entire West Coast – the best food and service, period. They make everyone feel welcome. For more information, e-mail sandiego@theoceanaire.com.

Superstar Lorna Luft is coming into town for one night only at the North Park Theatre in a singing tribute to her late mother, the legendary Judy Garland, and tickets are going like hotcakes. I’ve heard Lorna many times on the East Coast, and she is fabulous. This concert will benefit Stepping Stone and our recovery community, so get your tickets today: (619) 239-8836 ext. 100 or www.livingoutloud.info.

By now, you have all heard of Viagra. Well, now there is Boom Energy for men and women, and it works in just 15 minutes. Boom is the all-natural way to a supernatural, sensual, sexy performance, if you know what I mean… and you don’t need a prescription. It’s the world’s first all-natural chocolate-powder aphrodisiac, and everyone who has tried it raves about it! For more information on Boom, visit www.boomenergy.com.