This coming weekend (Aug. 15 and 16) at the downtown Navy Pier (960 North Harbpr Dr.) will be the 1812 Overture Tchaikovsky spectacular, part of the Summer Pops concerts with the San Diego Symphony.… It will include fireworks, with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. both nights. This is the one to catch! Call (619) 235-0804 for tickets.

In just about 55 days we will be facing a two-part ballot in the upcoming recall election. The first part will ask if Governor Gray Davis should be recalled. I urge you to most strongly vote NO. But if, as current polls show could happen, a majority votes to remove Davis, the candidate who gets the most votes on the second part of the ballot will become our new governor.… We now have a safety net in case this happens, so while I urge you to vote NO on the recall, I also urge you to vote for our Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante for governor. While Arnold Schwarzenegger is somewhat pro-gay, his recent announcement that former governor Pete Wilson is his campaign chair means he could bring a return to a Pete Wilson-like administration. Arnold’s record doesn’t even compare to Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, who has been solidly pro-gay civil rights and equality since he was Speaker of the Assembly. Equality California (formerly CAPE), which is our GLBT voice in Sacramento, gave Cruz Bustamante its highest civil rights award. We cannot return to a Republican administration that will block our progress.

One of our city council’s most popular and respected members (and pro-gay civil rights leaders), Donna Frye, has officially endorsed Michael Aguirre to be our next City Attorney.… Many of our GLBT leadership and activists are also endorsing Mike Aguirre.… Among the many are Al Best, Bob Lehman, Carolina Ramos, John McCusker, Julia Legaspi, Mike Smith, Linda Childers, Jess San Roque, Dr. Pat Washington and many more. Mike Aguirre has a record of 30 years of commitment to the equality and civil rights of ALL citizens.

The recent first appointment of an openly gay man as a judge in San Diego by the governor, while historic and long overdue, leaves us with big questions on such future appointments with the current political climate and recall campaign. Now many GLBT leaders, business people and activists, as well as leaders outside our community, are urging prominent and respected attorney and city commissioner Rick Kerman to run for judge, with a strong commitment already being made in support of his possible candidacy. Rick Kerman was high on Governor Davis’ list of possible future appointments.… We say, Run, Rick, run! By the way, while I appreciate the credit given to me in the press for my part in lobbying the governor for our first openly gay appointment (now the Honorable Judge Ted Weathers), big credit must be given to Assemblymember Chris Kehoe, Governor Davis’ chief of staff, Lynn Schenk, Mike Gotch and Councilmember Toni Atkins.

If you look up “hypocrite” or “desperate” in the dictionary you will find the face of John Hartley, who was once a leader and champion of gay equality and the public health issue of AIDS. He has now made an almost 100 percent turnaround and is using anything and everything to defeat popular Councilmember Toni Atkins.… John Hartley is using the AIDS needle exchange test program against Toni Atkins and has organized opposition to naming our city’s first street after a gay citizen (Jess Jessop) … and he has totally misrepresented Toni Atkins on this street renaming. Yes, Centre Street, among others, was being considered, but we would not make a move until complete feedback from Centre Street residents was received. John Hartley is San Diego’s latest Benedict Arnold and political opportunist, who will say and do anything to get elected and discredit our hardworking council representative, Toni Atkins.

After a week of heavy politics, I wanted to relax on Sunday with a good, solid brunch — and thank goodness Sunday brunches at Bourbon Street are back (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), with about four food stations it’s the best deal in town, for only $10, including your first mimosa!! The main entrée is provided every Sunday by world-famous De Mille’s Italian Restaurant, including various Italian pasta dishes. But I just love their new waffle station — yes, with fresh Belgian waffles and loads of delicious fruit and real Canadian syrup. Their outstanding egg omelet station is back and reminds me of the Hyatt hotel brunch…. Their new head chef is John Levery of Boston restaurant fame. Just one visit and you’ll be back, as Bourbon Street’s Sunday brunch is one of the best in town…. The service is outstanding too!