There is a Hillcrest Resident Citizens Committee organizing to give more of a voice to renters and owners within the 92103 area. All will be invited to join. Watch this column for more information.

A recent Gay & Lesbian Times editorial slammed GLBT Vote San Diego and some of its endorsements.

GLBT Vote San Diego was first established in 2000 with the late John McCusker serving as its first chair. It was and is organized to give the GLBT community a nonpartisan and different political voice. It supports Democrats as well as Republicans.

GLBT Vote San Diego is a committee of concerned GLBT activists and is not an organization. It backs its endorsements with its members’ individual campaign contributions, like the Victory Fund does.

GLBT Vote is proud of its record. It endorsed and supported Jerry Sanders in the primary and general elections while others did not. GLBT Vote also endorsed Mike Aguirre and John Rinaldi in the primaries while others did not. It supported Jerry Brown for attorney general in the primary while others supported his opponent. GLBT Vote supported San Diego City Council President Scott Peters while others did not. GLBT Vote endorsed the late Charles Lewis and then Tony Young in their successful bids for City Council District 4 while others supported a two-faced closet case. GLBT Vote endorsed Mary Salas for mayor while others did not. GLBT Vote endorsed Senator Denise Ducheny while others did not. It endorsed Kevin Faulconer, Brian Maienschein, Jim Madaffer and Ben Hueso when others did not.

GLBT Vote was the only group to support Mayor Sanders’ “Yes on B and C” campaign (and raised $22,000 in support).

Yes, GLBT Vote endorsed the re-election of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assemblymember Shirley Horton and Congressmember Brian Bilbray, and it has met with all three officeholders. Open communication and dialogue with all elected officials is important and can sometimes change minds.

GLBT Vote 2006, with former Marine Sgt. Bob Lehman serving as its chair, did an outstanding job and stands by its endorsements. It was the Gay & Lesbian Times editorial’s attack on GLBT Vote that was slimy. But then, you did support the slimy Peter Navarro for every office he ran for… enough said.

Deputy District Attorney Rod Shelton captured almost 60 percent of the vote for Superior Court judge after facing a very anti-gay, racist campaign aimed at him.

Shelton, who is a straight, African-American man, was attacked by a radical right-wing nut who accused him of being supported by “the most radical group of homosexual and lesbian attorneys in the U.S.A.” Shelton was also attacked for being a member of the “radical NAACP”!

Well, Rod Shelton did not shy away one inch from his support for the equality of all American citizens. And thank you, David Rubin, for your leadership in supporting Rod.

Isn’t it great when good, decent candidates finish first?

Once again, the GLBT San Diego chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) had a contingent in our city’s annual Veterans Day Parade, and they were well received with great rounds of applause.

Special “guests of honor” who were asked to ride with our local GLBT vets were: City Attorney Mike Aguirre, San Diego County Veterans Advisory Council member Ben F. Dillingham and me as chair of the city’s Human Relations Commission. We were honored to be asked, and had a great time.

A special thank you to former Marine Sgt. Bob Lehman, Ben Gomez and the entire AVER membership.

The Asian Pacific Islander community is one of the fastest growing populations in California, and this coming Saturday night, Nov. 18, at the beautiful Westin Horton Plaza Hotel will be one of its most fabulous, fun, colorful and entertaining galas produced in San Diego. The last gala was the talk of the town.

Among the gala’s well-deserved honorees are: Ben F. Dillingham, City Commissioner Julia Legaspi and the California Endowment. This year’s chairs are San Diego’s most respected and influential business/community leaders, Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Jenny Fat.

For more information, call Jess San Roque at (619) 757-0197.

We as a community should be proud of our growing transgender community.

Sadly, it seems they have to fight for a seat at our GLBT table, though it was the transgender community who built the GLBT table at Stonewall in 1969.

The violence against our transgender brothers and sisters grows, with more deaths each year. Please support the eighth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which will take place this Monday, Nov. 20, in San Diego at 7:00 p.m. at The Center. Thank you.

Mark your calendars for the annual Greater San Diego Business Association holiday cruise (love their new logo!).

It will take place aboard the California Spirit, and the event is always a sellout, with lots of holiday socializing and mixing. Don’t forget to bring a toy for their annual children’s holiday toy drive.

Tickets go like hot cakes, so call (619) 296-4543 today.

One of my favorite publications, CityBeat, just announced its 2006 Best of San Diego Readers Poll results and some of the winners are:

Best Late-Night Eatery: Brians’ American Eatery

Best Workout Gym: 24 Hour Fitness

Best Gay Bar: Bourbon Street

Best Adult Bookstore: F Street Bookstores

Best Entertainment Club: Lips

Best Coffee Shop: Claire De Lune

Best Barbecue: Phil’s BBQ

Best Deli: D.Z. Akins

Best Tequila Bar: Baja Betty’s

Best Movie Theater: Ken Cinema

One of Southern California’s most popular dance clubs, yes, Bacchus House, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this coming Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11:00 p.m.

It’s also time to show off their great, grand re-opening with their new look! And superstar Flava will be performing at 12:00 midnight, followed by a champagne toast.

Just follow the crowds to Bacchus House this Saturday. A very big hug and huge thank you to owners Robi and Greg for all you do for our community.

Hey, have you checked out the totally new, remodeled and awesome Bamboo Lounge, located at 1475 University Ave.?

It’s one of the most beautiful and classy design lounges in the city. They have daily specials with sandwiches and wraps, and also great drinks. Everyone is made to feel welcome and right at home.

On Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., Bo Andras will be hosting a Mama’s Kitchen food drive at Bamboo Lounge with a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

For more information and to RSVP, phone (619) 291-8221. A donation of $5 in cash or $5 worth of nonperishable food is suggested.

I just love this place!

Will Gorges and Gilles Belanger gear up to bring you their ninth installment of Latin Fever to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Nov. 21-26. This weeklong celebration has become more enjoyable as each year passes. Travelers from literally all over the globe have left their heart in this quaint old Mexican fishing village. Time seems to stand still here, but Gorges and Belanger, along with their great local team, have events that will keep you entertained without wiping you out, including performances by DJs Oscar Velasquez, Cary Stringfellow, Ramses and Marco. Check it out, and if you miss Latin Fever, the boys return for a New Year’s PV celebration Dec 26-Jan. 1. The events are very popular, so making reservations in advance is strongly advised. For more information about both events, log on to www.willgorges.com.

Pacific Homes International is setting up shop in Golden Hill with a luxury, six town home community! These gorgeous, three-level town homes have three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and are priced in the upper $500,000 range. Some of the highlights of these luxury digs include: custom granite, tile bathroom and kitchen flooring, upgraded chrome fixtures, indoor laundry room, and a two-car attached garage in a gated community. It all sounds positively to die for! To take a gander at these beautiful abodes, you can visit their sales offices at 7879 El Cajon Blvd. in La Mesa or visit their Web site at www.pacifichomesinternational.com. For further information, call Tila Cota at (619) 846-1390 or e-mail her at tila@eatondevelopment.com. Do it today – these beauties will be snapped up in no time!