I most sincerely hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. I am grateful that God has blessed me with such a family of friends, who have enriched my life and lifted my spirits these past months more than ever.

I urge all of you to attend Councilmember Toni Atkins’ town hall meeting regarding the increasing criminal attacks in our area, which takes place this coming Monday, Nov. 27, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Center (a Stonewall Citizens Patrol training will take place after the meeting, which ends at 6:00 p.m., for those who are interested in joining).

It’s time we come together as neighbors and as a community to fight back.

Councilmember Atkins will have the latest updates, and police officials will have more information and will provide tips for how to protect ourselves.

For more information, phone the District 3 council office at (619) 236-6633.

The first training session for the newly established Stonewall Citizens Patrol will take place this coming Monday, Nov. 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Center.

Please join. Your community needs you!

For further information, phone Bob Lehman or Ben Gomez at (619) 459-1019.

The growing and visible transgender community’s presence in San Diego was evident this past Monday night at the fifth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which hundreds of people attended.

It was a beautiful, moving and powerful event with many inspiring speeches and a reading of the names of transgender people who were killed this past year.

I was personally very touched by the event because it reminded me of my life decades ago, and I truly felt love for many of my struggling sisters and brothers.

I must acknowledge and thank organizers Connor Maddocks, Tracie O’Brien and Project S.T.A.R., as well as everyone involved.

The Center was packed. Especially moving was Mrs. Belinda Flynn, the mother of an 11-year-old transsexual. She truly touched all of our hearts.

There are many in our community who feel uncomfortable about our bisexual and transsexual brothers and sisters, but, trust me, they are here to stay and are growing in numbers, unity and pride. I welcome their courage and strength.

What else can I say but what everyone is saying about the recent APICAP Gala held at the beautiful Westin Horton Plaza Hotel? It was a spectacular evening from beginning to end, with entertainment that left us all breathless.

The Asian Pacific Islander Community AIDS Project and its culture shined in all its glory, with dignitaries and leaders from throughout our city and from every aspect of the Asian spectrum in attendance.

Congratulations to honorees Ben Dillingham, City Commissioner Julia Legaspi and Steve Eldred. Such outstanding choices!

Bravo to Jess San Roque, Shonee Henry, Aliza Carpio, Chris Galea and the entire gala committee staff.

The dinner was the best ever, and the emcee was San Diego’s most beautiful anchor, Maria Arcega-Dunn of FOX 6 News.

For a little more than a week, Gay & Lesbian Times publisher Michael Portantino and his handsome partner, school principal Michael Rood, have been the proud fathers of a baby girl named Samantha Nicole.

She weighed in at 6 pounds and has brown hair and eyes, and they received her two days after she was born. She is a bundle of joy, and both dads are in heaven (Rood has taken paternity leave).

Say whatever you want about Michael Portantino, but I know he is an outstanding, devoted father. I saw how he raised his daughter, Tatiana, who is now in college, since she was a little girl, and it was all about soccer practice, PTA meetings, etc. Truly, little Samantha is blessed to have these two dads.

First, let me say this: I’ve seen Hollywood drag queen Jackie Beat perform and she is a good comic who is somewhat talented. And, yes, I’ve enjoyed her shows.

But her recent column in Cybersocket magazine went too far in the “I’ve got one of the largest egos in the world” department.

Jackie Beat states that “it’s great to be her,” that she is “so damn talented” and that she can “act, sing and dance.” She talks about her so-called agent and that she is, and I quote, “so thankful that I do not have to lip sync stupid songs” like – and, again, I quote – “other less talented drag queens.”

Well, Jackie Beat, wake up and smell the coffee because you’re not all that! You see, there’s “originals” like RuPaul, Chi Chi LaRue and Chad Michaels, and then there’s cheap carbon copies like you. Some could try out for “American Idol,” but you, my dear, could try out for American Idiot!

How dare you put down drag queens who lip sync. Some of them are more talented and entertaining than you will ever be, and many of them raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities through their lip-syncing.

Now, like I said before, Jackie, you are talented and I do appreciate the benefits you sometimes hold. But when it all comes down to it, you’re just an ugly man in a dress, ugly in ego and words. Shame on you.

Well, one election down and the race for our next president is on.

On the Republican side, we have the current front-runner, Senator John McCain, who is pro-choice and pro-gay, but also pro-war.

We also have former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is also very pro-gay and even lived with two gay men, who were lovers, during his divorce from his first wife. Giuliani also appeared in full Marilyn Monroe drag during a fund-raising event! (The pictures are hideous.)

Then we have anti-gay Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon fanatic (and the darling of the right). And, oh yes, we must not forget San Diego’s very own Congressmember Duncan Hunter, who has about as much of a chance as Mark Foley!

On the Democratic side, we have the front-runner, Senator Hillary Clinton. But the big question is can this “love her or hate her” candidate win?

Then there is the Kennedy of the 21st century, Senator Barack Obama, who is a great orator and makes an exciting candidate. We also have former Vice President Al Gore, who is probably the most qualified candidate and could win.

We have former Senator John Edwards, who reminds many of Dan Quayle (hum), and now John Kerry is interested again. Well, if we need a boring snob who looks like the robot of Abraham Lincoln at Disneyland, then we will sure call upon John Kerry so we can lose again.

All the Democratic candidates are pro-gay. Let’s see… to me, a Gore/Clinton or Gore/Obama ticket sounds good.

Those hot hunks at the award-winning Powerhouse Gym are hosting “This Ain’t Your Mama’s Tupperware Party” on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 8:00 p.m. with the infamous hostess with the mostess Ms. Dixie Longate from Alabama.

This drag queen is America’s No. 1 top-selling Tupperware “lady,” and she puts on a hilarious show. All the Tupperware sold at the Dec. 6 party will benefit The Center.

That’s Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., so mark your calendar.

Admission to the party is free. Powerhouse Gym is located at 734 University Ave. in Hillcrest. RSVP to Ken St. Pierre at The Center: (619) 692-2077 ext. 104 or ken@thecentersd.org.

This past weekend, I lost one of my closest and longtime straight friends, Craig Silverman, who was also a political ally. His sudden and unexpected death shocked many in our city.

Craig came from a powerful political family. His father was the chief of staff to California Gov. Jerry Brown, and Craig also was the stepson of former San Diego Mayor Susan Golding and a top aide to then-Speaker of the Assembly Willie Brown.

Craig and I were close friends and talked every week, sometimes as much as four times a day! We talked a lot about local and state politics.

Craig loved his son, Adam, and his family. He always ended his calls to me by saying he loved me like a brother. He was part of my “family,” and I will miss him dearly.