This coming Monday, Jan. 15, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our GLBT community owes much to the King family because almost all fights for equality have come from – and learned from – the black civil rights movement and Dr. King.

Let us all give pause on Monday and reflect, and give thanks for Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Their lives enriched our nation with honor and dignity, and we must continue their struggle for equality and justice for all.

For the first time since I started writing this column in 1973, I missed turning in a column three weeks in a row. Your concerns, questions, etc. – from within and outside the community – were overwhelming.

Yes, it was my health, but I’m doing OK now and I deeply appreciate the countless efforts to reach me.

Yes, also for the first time in my life, I didn’t send out any Christmas cards and I even had to cancel my plans to attend the governor’s inauguration ceremonies, as well as many local events.

I hope everyone has a great and healthy 2007, as I pray I will be granted.

Recently, there have been letters to the editor questioning what exactly this column is. No, it’s not a gossip, social, political, etc. column, it is what it has always been: a column that can and has covered topics and subjects from A to Z. And I’m proud that for the last decades I’ve been what the Los Angeles Times called “San Diego’s most read and popular gay columnist.”

I know that we can’t always agree on everything, and I welcome constructive criticism and differences of opinions, but let’s all try to make 2007 more civil in our disagreements, as I will try to do my best not to get personal or be too negative in my column. Thank you.

This past Monday, David Rubin made history not only as the first openly gay elected Superior Court judge in San Diego but also for having the largest attendance in local history for any judge’s installation ceremony.

The huge main ballroom of the US Grant Hotel was packed with family, friends, elected officials and many of San Diego’s top movers and shakers. But most of all, you could feel the crowd’s friendship, love and pride for the Honorable David M. Rubin.

I first ran into David’s handsome partner of 16 years, Todd Stevens (the first openly gay elected president of the San Diego Bar Association) who, along with David’s wonderful mother (a former mayor of Albany, Calif.), Thelma Rubin, was a part of our new judge’s official “robing ceremony.”

The top and most outstanding speakers were Judge Rubin’s longtime school friends Philip Mezey and James Bates, who should team up and go on a nationwide comedy tour! District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis was also in rare form.

It was great that both Judge Rubin and Todd Stevens’ families were in attendance.

There was a lot of GLBT, Jewish and legal professionals pride in that ballroom – you could feel it. It was great seeing Judge Ted Weathers in attendance (the first openly gay judge appointed by a governor – Gray Davis – in San Diego).

This historic event will be one many of us will never forget. It was kind of emotional for me, coming from the 1960s and ’70s when the thought of an openly gay elected judge was an impossible dream.

Thank you, David (and Todd), for stepping up and out, and for being proud of who you are. Know that not only is your GLBT community proud of you, so many others are as well. By the way, your honor, can I borrow those beautiful white pearls Bonnie Dumanis presented to you?

About 12 hours after Judge Rubin’s event, Tom Felkner, Bob Lehman and I found ourselves headed to another swearing-in ceremony, this one for recently elected county officials. I got up at 7:30 a.m. to attend this event, especially for our re-elected District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Supervisor Ron Roberts and County Treasurer Dan McAllister.

Bonnie’s father, Abraham Dumanis, administered her oath of office, and our new Judge David Rubin had the honor of giving the oath to our popular Sheriff Bill Kolender.

Among those spotted in the crowd were Bob Nelson and Dr. Phil Diamond.

I had a nice chat with Midge Costanza, a former top aide to President Jimmy Carter, Governor Davis and Senator Barbara Boxer, etc. who is now on the staff of D.A. Dumanis.

I congratulated everyone, especially Ron Roberts, who is the newly elected chair of the county Board of Supervisors, and then I headed home for some much-needed rest!

One of the questions I am asked most often is what Councilmember Toni Atkins is going to do after her term is over next year. As I’ve said before, Toni Atkins will be getting ready to run for the 76th Assembly District seat. Incumbent Lori Saldaña will be termed out.

The rumor is former District 3 Councilmember John Hartley will be a candidate for City Council next year. He has already lost two past elections to get his old seat back and recently also even lost a campaign to get elected to the local San Diego Democratic Central Committee.

This coming July, Todd Gloria and Stephen Whitburn can officially start raising money for their City Council campaigns, so be ready to write a big check for your favorite candidate.

San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros was in San Diego this past weekend and we had several conversations spanning many topics, including San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s re-election campaign this year, which is looking like it’s in good, solid condition.

I will be in Los Angeles at the end of the month, where I will be one of the hosts for a reception for West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman.

Newly elected Assemblymember Anthony Portantino of L.A. was in town during the holidays to visit his brother, Michael Portantino, and Michael’s new baby daughter.

Word is that super San Diego businessperson Rick Ford has sold his huge All Worlds Resort in Palm Springs.

Plans are in full works to get sports legend Billie Jean King to San Diego this year for a benefit for our local Lambda Archives historical society.

Many of us miss seeing former Chula Vista Mayor Steve Padilla since his re-election defeat. We wish him well and want him to know he will always have a lot of loyal support and friendship in this community, and we are here for him.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will be going on a patrol in the coming months with our local Stonewall Citizens Patrol.

GLBT Vote 2006 chair Bob Lehman and his partner, Tom Felkner, received special invitations to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s swearing-in ceremony and inauguration ball.

Word has it that a multimillion dollar restaurant and nightclub will be built right off of Washington Street in Hillcrest, according to one of the owners, who gave me a call.

Congratulations to our state Senator Christine Kehoe, who has been named the chair of the powerful Senate Energy Committee.

Recently, top African-American leaders have called upon their community to stop using the “N” word within the community, be it in conversations, songs, etc.

I and many others have always felt uncomfortable with the word “queer,” coming from a time (which continues even today) when members of our GLBT community were beaten and murdered by people calling their victims “queer.” I know that in many ways it’s a “generation thing,” but for decades and to this day people who hate us always use the “Q” word.

The recent Trump vs. O’Donnell verbal war has gotten way out of line, but Donald Trump attacking Rosie O’Donnell for her weight and looks – and, yes, insulting in many ways her lesbian relationship – really crosses the line. His fat attacks on Rosie are especially offensive to overweight people… period.

Looks like the whole town will be showing up to help celebrate the 50th birthday of one of our community’s most popular personalities and activists, Big Mike Phillips, on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the beautiful US Grant Hotel.

And now comes word that Emmy Award-winning comedian Leslie Jordan will be the top entertainer, so this will most certainly be a fun, outrageous and most entertaining event. Everyone is invited, and I promise that the food will be fabulous. Tickets are only $50 each, and proceeds benefit the Ben F. Dillingham Community Grant.

For more information, phone (619) 692-1967 or (619) 757-0197.

A special thank you to Megamates.com all of their support for this event.