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Volume 10 Issue 11 May 24 - June 6, 2019

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FEATURE

Drag Takover

San Diego Police defend transgender equality policies

Seadragons & Seahorses

q DINING

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Dinner for deux

e

FILM

Chad Michaels performs “Fernando” from the movie “Mama Mia: Here we go Again” at the North County LGBTQ Resource Center’s Drag Takeover at the Belly up on May 14. (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

North County drag show benefits North County LGBTQ Center Albert H. Fulcher | Editor

Best in LGBTQ shorts

t CALENDAR

Solana Beach filled with pride as 550 people filled the Belly Up to support the North County LGBTQ Resource Center for Drag Takeover, the first drag show in the Belly

Up's 45 years of history on May 14. This sold out performance raised $12,000 as everyone came to see RuPaul's Drag Race All Star winner Chad Michaels and San Diego Drag All Stars. Crowded from wall to wall, the night filled with

cheers as San Diego's local divas strutted the stage with one knockout performance after another. And all of it supported the Center and its upcoming Pride by the Beach on Oct. 11.

see Belly Up, pg 4

The necessities of life Mama's Day celebrates 28 years of delivering free nutritious meals to those in need Albert H. Fulcher | Editor

Check out what’s happening in the community

Index Opinion ................................... 6 Classifieds............................ 13 Puzzle ................................... 14 OUT & About ......................... 16

Contact us Editorial/Letters 619-961-1960 albert@sdcnn.com

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Always held the Friday before Mother's Day, Mama's Kitchen celebrated its 28th Mama's Day tasting event at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine on May 10. With the best that San Diego has to offer, 60 local restaurants, hotels, catering companies and executive chefs joined in raising funds for the daily operations of Mama's Kitchen, including the purchase of a new refrigerating unit needed in its expanded operations.

Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien, a long-time supporter returned as this year's culinary host with a pre-party exclusive and an entertaining cocktail contest. Between silent auctions, opportunity drawings, there were many ways that the crowd of 625 could support Mama's Kitchen in a fun and delicious atmosphere.

Alberto Cortés, executive director, Mama's Kitchen said that Mama's Day is its annual celebration of all the people

see Mama’s Kitchen, pg 8

Mama’s Kitchen Executive Director Alberto Cortés talks about the mission to serve free food to people in the community that are hunger challenged due to chronic medical conditions at Mama’s Day on May 10.

(Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

SDPD: Training bulletins addressing transgender, nonbinary communities to be made public

By Kendra Sitton At local community planning group meetings, police representatives typically share announcements about shift changes and offer opportunities to have coffee with their team, but during the May 7 Uptown Planners meeting, San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Community Relations Officer David Surwilo used his time to speak out against a recent San Diego Union-Tribune (SDUT) article.

“The article doesn’t really reflect our city,” Surwilo said in the wake of the local report on a transgender advocacy group’s study that gave the SDPD low marks for its policies regarding transgender and nonbinary people.

Surwilo said that because the SDUT reporter reached out for comment on Friday, May 3, the department’s media relations officer was already gone for the weekend. The article was then published Monday, May 6 without comment from the SDPD.

see Police, pg 3

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GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

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NEWS

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GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

FROM PAGE 1

POLICE

Backed by a recent National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) report that claims many of the nation’s biggest police forces need to catch up to school and workplace policies regarding trans and nonbinary people, the SDUT article stirred anger and concern in the LGBT community immediately after it was published.

In response, City Councilmember Chris Ward said he would work with SDPD, trans and nonbinary San Diegans, and the San Diego LGBT Community Center (The Center) to address the needs of the community.

However, there is one major caveat to the NCTE study: it is based on what policies are made publicly available. SDPD said they have trained officers on how to interact with transgender people since 2014 in training bulletins entitled “Police Interaction with Transgender Individuals” and “Transgender Employees.”

However, those materials are currently private.

In a statement, SDPD said, “We provide our officers extensive LGBT training in the police academy and continued ongoing professional training, which includes state-mandated training. All of this training occurs throughout our police officers’ careers.”

According to the SDPD statement, new officers tour the LGBT Center and representatives from The Center have visited substations to train officers on LGBT-related matters and cultural competency.

Uptown News reached out to The Center for comment but they did not respond to repeated calls.

The Neutral Corner, the oldest San Diego transgender organization still in existence, released a statement slamming the NCTE report as inaccurate. The group pointed out some of the categories SDPD received failing marks on are not applicable. For instance, the failing mark for Placement in Temporary Lockup is not accurate because the SDPD does not operate any detention facilities — they are under the purview of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

According to a representative of he Neutral Corner who attended a May 9 Community Leadership Council meeting, Jen LeBarbera, Education and Advocacy Manager for San Diego Pride consulted with SDPD and Ward’s office and released her own analysis of their policies, which only found SDPD failing in one category: civilian oversight. She gave them four cautionary marks where improvements could be made and gave them 12 passing marks.

SDPD touts its emphasis on community policing and engagement, especially through its community liaison officers. Surwilo is in charge of outreach to the Western Division, which includes parts of Uptown, but there are also officers dedicated to LGBT matters. The SDPD statement said the responsibilities of LGBT Liaison Lieutenant Daniel Meyer and Transgender Liaison Officer Christine Garcia “include being

(Photo by Kendra Sitton)

on call for the LGBT community 24/7, responding to and addressing LGBT-related community concerns, working closely with the LGBT Center/SDPride organization and many other community groups as well as managing a chief’s advisory board.”

For some members of the transgender and nonbinary community who have had negative experiences with police, the presence of these officers, as well as the training bulletins, have done little to mitigate the harm they face.

“They’re neither sensitive to being black or being trans,” Adrian Scott said. “They think because they congratulate themselves for having a trans cop that that’s enough. They need trans training, ethnicity awareness and general knowledge of the law training.”

Scott is a nonbinary individual who lives Downtown and has frequent interactions with police while riding the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS).

In an altercation two months ago over a $2.50 MTS ticket, Scott said one of the contracted Transit Security Services officers called them “sir” repeatedly while restraining them, at the behest of an SDPD officer.

“I said, ‘I ain’t no dude.’ The [SDPD] officer that was telling the MTS officer it was okay to restrain me, said something like, ‘Don’t care what you are. I’d put my hands on you too if you got in my face,’” Scott said. Scott, who identifies as neither male nor female, presents as more masculine but is still designated as female on their ID. According to Scott, the MTS officer pushed them against an information board while other officers took their bag and wallet from their pocket.

“When they saw my ID, I heard two of them in the back joking about it,” Scott said. After being written a ticket, Scott said the confrontation ended “with

one of them handing me back my ID with a smirk saying ‘ma’am.’

My friend thought I was going to get shot.”

The transgender and nonbinary communities also often overlap with groups that feel marginalized by police, including people of color, individuals with mental illnesses and other disabilities, as well as people who are low-income or homeless.

A local Hispanic queer man, who wanted to stay anonymous, told Uptown News he was the victim of police brutality in February 2012. His journal entries at the time of the incident detail being pepper-sprayed, dragged in a parking lot, slammed against a police vehicle and passing out. He said he did not receive medical care for his eyes and bruised body until being released from custody the next day.

The anonymous source did not identify as transgender at the time of the incident, but it has still colored his view of SDPD ever since.

“SDPD got away with what they did to all of us … Do we trust cops? No. They continue to intentionally use brutal force against our communities,” he said.

Ward’s office said details of a potential community forum or roundtable are still being worked on, as “Councilmember Ward wants to ensure that any guidelines developed or reinforced are modeled after nationally-recognized best practices and shaped by our transgender and nonbinary communities.” In addition, SDPD is working to make public the current training materials.

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—Kendra Sitton is editor of Uptown News, a San Diego Community News Group publication. Kendra Sitton can be reached at kendra@sdnews.com.

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Saturday, June 1 LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations Drag Queens & Kings Musical entertainment Fun Kid Activities Art exhibits Dunk a Hunk

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FEATURE

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

FROM PAGE 1

BELLY UP Inspired by drag, Bella Lux Entertainment stomped the stage with creative choreography, and some slick moves that primed the audience for what was coming next.

Nina Bel Vande showed everyone the true artistry of burlesque. With a seamless performance, her bopping, shimmies, grinds, and spins, she eloquently strutted her way on the stage. Clearly, she was mesmerizing.

The fabulously funny Mariam T brought the tea party with her this time and had the audience cheering as she belted Mariah Carey's “Emotions” with some of her emotional outbursts finding their way in the song that turned cheers into laughter.

Her inclusions of Sally Field's Nina Bel Vande shows everyone the true artistry of burlesque. emotional breakdown in “Steel (Photos by Albert H. Fulcher) Magnolias” were superb as she left the stage and broke down in the middle of the crowd. performance, it was hard to European tour, Chad Michaels Coco Chanel! Everybody catch your breath as these dishowed North County that it needs to watch you take down vas dived into the audience who is his home and he is there to Aerosmith's “Dream On,” and were constantly begging for stay. The excitement of staging the Postmodern Jukebox/ more. The Belly Up will never this spectacular display, worthy Morgan James version is the be the same again. of queens, was evident in the way to slay the stage. It was In the spirit of Chad pride of his talking about home, more than just heart and soul, Michael's Cher persona, Kickxy his family, and his LGBTQ it was a soul with heart, captiVixen-Styles nailed Christina family. vating from the first note to the Aguilera's “I'm a Good Girl” And Cher did not disappoint. last. Stellar performance! from “Burlesque” in both looks She showed why there is no As the show never stopped, and performance. Simply beaudoubt Michaels is in the top of you could clearly see the hard tiful, amazing and professional. the list as a Cher impersonwork of the volunteers doing Kickxy never leaves anyone ator. In full burlesque fashion, what they do best to keep the wanting when she hits the “Welcome to Burlesque” was momentum going. And it did stage. 1 2/5/19 8:06 PM chic. Later in the show, he CMI_Half_Page_English_Bleed.pdf just that. Performance after Just coming off of a channeled the “Mama Mia”

gay-sd.com Cher, capturing the look, style and sleek class with “Fernando.”

Absolutely a spotlight in the night and it's no wonder that Michaels is a draw for people of all ages. But in no way does he steal the spotlight. He shares it with the marvelous entertainers that surround him. And the talent was limitless with Lolita Von Tease, Strawberry Corncake, Keex Rose, Loya Vixen and Riena Shine bringing their personal versions of the best of drag to this fabulous show. I'm pretty sure they met their goal, as many of us left, wanting more and believing that we had witnesses a little piece of “queer history” in our own community.

Wil Fisher, aka Sylvia London, our hostess (and producer) of the night said that he supports the Center because he knows how challenging it was growing up gay in Encinitas.

With his history of large event fundraising and drag, he said, “This seemed like a good way to use both of those skills and experiences.”

Fisher said many people were moved by the visibility in North County. One guest emailed him after the event.

“I have to say that as a 41-year long resident of North County, I cried when everything was taking place. Cries of pride and happiness. We have come a long way due to people like yourself.”

Fisher said the Belly Up could not have been happier with the event and is ready to have them back next year for what promises to be another

sold out event.

North County LGBTQ Resource Center Executive Director Max Disposti said the event was a historic success with the first drag show or queer event being completely sold out at the Belly Up. Disposti said the event netted $10,000 for Pride by the Beach and the Center's programming, specifically bringing pride visibility to North County and sustaining Unicorn Homes, a program that supports local queer and homeless LGBT youth.

For more information about the North County LGBTQ Resource Center and the programs it offers, visit ncresourcecenter.org.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

Chad Michaels performing “Welcome to Burlesque” from Cher’s role in “Burlesque.”

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COMMUNITY VOICES

Moving fast, never satisfied Life Beyond Therapy Michael Kimmel

T

his is a tale of two men. The first guy, Carlos*, was in his mid-30s. When I met him, he talked so fast and thought so rapidly that I wondered if he suffered from ADHD (he didn’t). The second guy, Daniel*, was a little older than Carlos, but had the same way of talking and acting: fast, fast, fast!

Everything needed to happen now. He was a man on his way to the top of his profession and he didn’t want anything to get in his way or slow him down.

Both these guys were moving fast, yet never satisfied. They both had good jobs and boyfriends, although not many close friends because they “didn’t have time” to devote to friendships.

They differed in one way: Carlos was willing to change; Daniel wasn’t.

Today, Carlos is, honestly, one of the happiest people I know. He has learned to really enjoy his life and to slow down (mentally, verbally and physically). He ultimately ended his relationship with his boyfriend (another frantic person) and found a new boyfriend who’s much more grounded and mellow. Carlos also cultivated a loyal circle of friends that he enjoys spending time with.

Why was Daniel unable to change like Carlos? Daniel was externally focused and very career-driven. He was determined to get to the top of his profession and be medical director of a hospital. His own self-identity was based on career success: without that achievement, he felt like he was nothing.

Carlos really liked his work, but it wasn’t his everything. He, too, had a highstress job, working as an executive for a huge multi-national firm. But his identity wasn’t based on his job.

“What does this have to do with me?” you may be asking.

Everyone I know feels pressure to move fast, achieve exciting things and have a nice house/car/partner/job. Thanks to social media, we mainline what I call, “The (Fake) Facebook Life,” the life of illusions that you get from looking at other people’s Facebook/Instagram pages.

On social media, other people’s lives look so amazing: look where they are on vacation! Look how amazing they look in the gym! Look at their new car/house/ husband!

The result of all that comparison? We feel like we’re

losing out/moving too slow.

We are not having enough fun/sex/money and, as a result, we push ourselves to move faster, faster, faster!

And yet, we’re never satisfied because there is no satisfaction in comparison. There will always be someone who appears to be happier, richer or more beautiful than we are. Research — and my own experience as a psychotherapist — shows that the more time people spend on social media, the more depressed they feel about their lives. Social media typically shows only the very best of the best moments of our lives. It’s like porn: all the boring stuff is edited out. A porn producer once told me, “In reality, making porn is like making any other video or movie: you spend so much time preparing to shoot, waiting around, that it’s really pretty boring.

And all the moments where the sex isn’t perfect? We edit those out so you never see them.”

If you expect your life to be like a porn video or your friends’ Facebook/Instagram pages, you’re apt to never be satisfied. What to do? Here are some ideas: Try a break from social media and/or porn: don’t drown in all those images of fake perfection.

Get off your phone: get out into the real world and talk to people. Have lunch/go for a walk with a friend. Be around real people with all their f laws and foibles. You’ll feel less inferior and more “normal.”

Any time you’re around beautiful people, in Hillcrest, at the gym or the beach, instead of comparing yourself to all the best-looking people, focus on the wide range of people there: beautiful and not-so, young and old, lean and heavy … see the full range of human potential and know that you’re somewhere in the middle (like the rest of us).

Be like Carlos: find a way to get off the endless treadmill (or hamster wheel, as my grandma used to say).

Find ways to enjoy life more, live less frenetically and find satisfaction wherever you go. Carlos did it; so can you. *All names and identifying information have been changed to ensure confidentiality.

— Michael Kimmel is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in helping LGBT clients achieve their goals and deal with anxiety, depression, grief, sexually addictive behavior, coming out, relationship challenges and homophobia. Contact him at 619-955-3311 or visit lifebeyondtherapy.com.

Graphic by www.

CanStockPhoto.comt

(www.canstockphoto.com)

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

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OPINION

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

Creep of the Week: Trump Administration

By D’Anne Witkowski In a parallel universe somewhere president Hillary Clinton is expanding access to health care in the United States and LGBTQ people are fully protected under the law.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump is the president and he, along with the heartless ghouls who make up his administration, seek daily to restrict health care access, especially for groups of people they don’t like: the poor, women and LGBTQ people.

I recently saw a video of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) posted by Progress Iowa (youtube. com/watch?v=L1klfquaNwc) where a constituent tells him that by repeatedly voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act threatens her life. He literally gets in her face and says, essentially, that she’s a silly for worrying about that because it isn’t going to happen. He’s voted to repeal seven times.

That’s like telling your child, “I want to kill you in your sleep” and then being mad at that kid for having nightmares about something that “isn’t going to

happen.”

As someone with health issues of my own (I’m a two-time cancer survivor and just happen to be trying to pass a kidney stone right now), I totally understand where this woman is coming from. Every single one of us has to trust the health care system with our lives. At the bare minimum we should have guaranteed access to the system and be protected from discrimination.

That’s literally the opposite of the Republican health care plan.

Not only do they want fewer people to have access to care, they want health care professionals to be allowed to refuse treatment if they have a religious or conscientious objection.

This sounds all well and good on the surface. I mean, someone shouldn’t be forced to participate in something that violates their sincerely held beliefs, right?

But when you consider the fact that what health care providers participate in is life-saving treatment, suddenly it’s all a lot less well or good.

It’s important to note that right-wing, so-called Christians

EDITOR Albert H. Fulcher (619) 961-1960 albert@sdcnn.om

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Mike Rosensteel (619) 961-1958 mike@sdcnn.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael Kimmel Nicole Murray Ramirez Frank Sabatini Jr. D'Anne Witkowski

MARKETING MANAGER Francisco Tamayo (619) 272-1279

CONTRIBUTOR www.canstockphoto.com WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA Albert Fulcher albert@sdcnn.com COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich

ACCOUNTING Priscilla Umel-Martinez (619) 961-1962 accounting@sdcnn.com

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PUBLISHER David Mannis (619) 961-1951 david@sdcnn.com

have been waging a war on science for decades so these objections can very well be based on reasoning that is contrary to science and established medical treatment.

The main procedures the Trump administration wants to let people opt out of is abortion, contraception, assisted suicide (which could more broadly be interpreted as end of life care, which includes DNR orders and removing life support from patients who are not going to recover), sterilization and gender affirmation surgeries.

This new rule comes with the full support of the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

"This rule ensures that healthcare entities and professionals won't be bullied out of the health care field because they decline to participate in actions that violate their conscience, including the taking of human life," OCR Director Roger Severino said in a written statement. "Protecting conscience and religious freedom not only fosters greater diversity in healthcare, it's the law.”

gay-sd.com

Oh, thank goodness “healthcare entities and professionals” won’t get bullied out of the field.

Never mind that patients from vulnerable populations might very well get bullied out of care or, you know, life.

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement, “HHS’s final denial of care rule will substantially harm the health and well-being of many – in particular women and transgender patients.”

Not that Severino would care. According to The Advocate, Severino “has opposed marriage equality, defended ‘ex-gay’ therapy and objected to allowing transgender people to serve in the military.”

He was also behind a memo that sought to erase trans people by simply declaring they do not exist.

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence celebrated the new rule during a Rose Garden speech on the National Day of Prayer.

Pence stood in the Rose Garden and said, “In this White House, under this president, we believe in prayer.”

Seriously? Trump, the man who embodies the opposite of just about every one of the Ten

OPINIONS/LETTERS: Gay San Diego encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email either to albert@sdcnn.com and include your phone number and address for verification.

We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy.

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Commandments, is the prayer president? Gross.

And then Pence said, “From early in this administration, President Trump has taken steps to ensure that the federal government will never, ever penalize anyone for their religious beliefs ever again.”

WTF are you talking about Trump literally tried to ban Muslims FFS! Of course, religious freedom really means right-wing Christian dominance. Which isn’t very Jesus like.

It’s like that famous poem about Jesus walking with Trump in the sand when Jesus says, “When you saw only one set of footprints, it was because you were in a golf cart and when I tried to counsel you out your trials and testings you kept yelling, “Fake news!” And soon there were no footprints because I peaced out of there to go find some real Christians.

And then your golf cart disappeared into the sea and I sent you my thoughts and prayers.”

—D'Anne Witkowski is a poet, writer and comedian living in Michigan with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBT politics for over a decade.

Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.t

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Finally ... a San Diego Aids Memorial!

Conversations with Nicole Nicole Murray Ramirez

I

first approached then Mayor Susan Golding about an AIDS memorial and she had me chair a Task Force of citizens to look into this. Soon we realized that this project, then proposed in Balboa Park, would take hundreds of dollars and many of us felt our focus should be to continue helping people living with AIDS, and the Task Force was dissolved. After Mayor Kevin Faulconer was elected and San Diego County was at more than 8,000 men, women, and children having died from AIDS (that we know of ), he agreed on another AIDS Memorial Task Force and our first lady Katherine Stuart Faulconer agreed to co-chair it with me. In the last decades I have visited AIDS memorials from Buffalo, New York to Anchorage, Alaska, and researched their history.

Almost all of them had opposition, but everyone finally came together after they were built to celebrate and remember those that they had lost.

Our city's Park and Recreational Board voted unanimously for an AIDS memorial to be located in the soon to be built Olive Street Park, just a few blocks from Balboa Park. It will not be a regional park or have all kinds of HIV/AIDS events there, but it will be a place that we can go and quietly, lovingly, and peacefully remember our thousands of San Diegans we have lost to AIDS. There will be also be special “markers” of the names of our present and past HIV/AIDS organizations, the story of AIDS and also one about our care-givers, women — our unsung heroes.

This past Monday Susan Jester and I had dinner with the mayor and his wife, and we hope to get started on the Olive Street Park as soon as possible.

We’ll then have a wonderful, beautiful dedication ceremony of our San Diego A IDS Memorial.

Yes, there can still be other AIDS memorials and markers anywhere in San Diego County. I certainly hope there will be.

I must most certainly acknowledge and thank then City Council member Todd Gloria who supported this project from the beginning and came up with the idea of Olive Street Park to be its home. Special appreciation and love also goes to Susan Jester, the Rev. Dean Penny Bridges and St. Paul's Cathedral, Jim Lennox, Jen LeBron, Jay

Sheehan, Francis Barraza, Bruce Abrams, Rabbi Laurie Coskey, John Ly, Big Mike Phillips, Sherman Mendoza, Ben Dillingham, Jim Cassidy, Benny Cartwright, David Jester, Imperial Court de San Diego, Being Alive, Alberto Cortes and Mama's Kitchen, Shannon Wagner, Carolina Ramos, Diana Schmid, Jimmy Ramsey, B52's, AHF Pharmacy, the AIDS Health Foundation, Chad Michaels, Rock Star Rob Halford and former State Assemblyman Jeff Marston who was also on the first AIDS Memorial Task Force, and AT&T ... God Bless You All.

Harvey Milk Breakfast draws 1,000

Once again the 11th Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast drew more than 1,000 San Diegans. When I first approached Dr. Delores Jacobs and Commissioner Robert Gleason about my idea of this breakfast in the tradition of the annual Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez breakfasts, many thought it would not go over well, especially because the governor had then vetoed the Harvey Milk State holiday bill. Now, 11 years later, it is one of the largest civil rights breakfasts in the county. A very special and sincere thank you to the hardworking Center staff and volunteers especially Ian Johnson, Rick-Arlo YahLira, Jacqueline Palmer, Rebekah Hook-Held and Cara Dessert. The Imperial Court de San Diego who 11 years ago gave $5,000 seed money to produce the first breakfast and this year gave out $2,000 in LGBT student scholarships.

Among the V.I.P.s in attendance were Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Senate President Toni Atkins, State Assembly members Todd Gloria and Brian Maeinshein, City Attorney Mara Elliott, Police Chief David Nisleit, District Attorney Summer Stephan, City Council President Georgette Gomez, Council member Dr. Jen Campbell, former senator Chris Kehoe, Chula Vista Council member Steve Padilla, Encinitas Deputy Mayor Joe Mosca, Council member Chris Ward, Joyce Rowlands, City Commissioner Bruce Abrams, Sheriff Bill Gore, Police Lt. Dan Meyers and Ambassador Marcela Celorio, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego and Randy Edmonds, tribal elder.

Thank you so much for all our sponsors and every one of you who came.

Especially Harvey Milk Champion of Equality Award recipient Norma Chavez-Peterson, Harvey

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

Milk Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Kate Kendell, the fabulous San Diego Gay Men's Chorus (outstanding!) and Sweetwater High School's Homecoming Queen Karlie Cruz and Homecoming K ing Jonathan Velasco.

—Nicole Murray Ramirez has been writing a column since 1973. He has been a Latino/gay activist for almost half a century and has advised and served the last seven mayors of San Diego.

Named the “Honorary Mayor of Hillcrest” by a city proclamation, he has received many media awards including from the prestigious San Diego Press Club. Reach Nicole at Nicolemrsd1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @ Nmrsd2.

Editor’s Note: The opinions written in this column are the author’s own and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff and/or publisher of Gay San Diego and/or its parent company, San Diego Community News Network (SDCNN). The newspaper and its staff should be held harmless of liability or damages.t

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer speaks at the 9th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on May 17.

(Photo by Michael Lochner)

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NEWS

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

FROM PAGE 1

MAMA’S KITCHEN that make Mama's Kitchen what it is today.

“Many of you know who we are and many of you may know who we were,” Cortés said. “We have evolved to include more people in our mission, and we are able to do that with support from people like you. At Mama's Kitchen we believe that everyone is entitled to the basic necessities of life, nutritious food.'

Cortés said that the community driven organization addresses the nutritional needs of people that are affected by critical illnesses like cancer, HIV, heart disease and diabetes. It is able to accomplish this through an array of services with the core is home delivery of meals, but that Mama's is not limited to that. It also has pantry services where it provides emergency food assistance, medical nutrition therapy, nutrition education classes.

“We look to address nutrition needs of sick people in the most comprehensive way possible,” Cortés said. “All of

the services that we provide are at no cost to the people that receive them. We have two strong components. A volunteer core that is absolutely amazing. I am thrilled to say that we have more than 900 people that are committed to the mission of Mama's Kitchen in a multitude of ways that include making food in our kitchen, working in our staging areas, staffing our pantry, delivering food in their own car at their own expense throughout San Diego County. “Last year our volunteers drove over 120,000 miles to make sure that every person that we serve gets their food on every delivery day,” Cortés continued. “The other aspect that makes our organization work is the involvement of the folks that have the capacity of contributing dollars.

Everybody has that capacity. A dollar is meaningful, $100,000 is meaningful and everything in between is meaningful.”

Mama's Day raised $160,000 to deliver three medically-tailored nutritional meals a day, seven days a week, free of charge to local women, men and children vulnerable to hunger.

gay-sd.com

In a VIP reception at Mama’s Day, long-time supporter Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien holds a battle of the cocktails, with the best martini and old fashioned. (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher) —Mama's Kitchen was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund discovered that many of their clients were becoming too ill to take care of themselves.

They realized that a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue

to receive nutritious, life-sustaining food. In 2004, Mama’s Pantry was opened to provide individuals with HIV who are able to prepare meals the opportunity to supplement their nutritional needs. Over the past 28 years, Mama’s Kitchen served over eight million meals.

Mama’s Kitchen currently

provides delivered meals, pantry services and nutrition education services to more than 1,200 men, women and children in San Diego County annually. Learn more and make a donation at mamaskitchen.org.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

Time to be ‘Out’ at the Fair Albert H. Fulcher | Editor Out at the Fair started from a simple Facebook post in 2011 from William Zakrajshek, WZ Productions and Caleb Wilkins that asked people to join them at the San Diego County Fair for the first-ever “Unofficial Gay Days.” In its second year, with an extended Facebook invitation, more than 135 people accepted the request. The Del Mar Fairgrounds took notice — and Out at the Fair grew from there.

It’s expansion has spread to the Alameda, Marin, Orange, Santa Clara and Sonoma county fairs, the California State Fair, and the New Mexico State Fair.

The Out at the Fair LGBTQ+ Festival is coming to the San Diego County Fair on June 1, one of the largest “Out” events in the region.

Held at the Paddock Stage, this year’s lineup includes the Glam Show, featuring many of San Diego’s finest impersonators, former “American Idol” singer Effie Passero, and LGBTQ+ Art

The Family Jewels performing at the 2018 Out at the Fair on June 9, 2018.

(Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

Show, electronic hip-hop duo GIRLboy, InAchord, the Gay Uncles, and activities Dunk A Hunk, a Super Smash Bros. Tournament and the official ribbon cutting for the 9th annual LGBTQ+

gathering at the San Diego County Fair.

For more information, visit outatthefair.com/sdfair.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

Congratulations to our e-blast winners who win a pair of tickets to the San Diego LGBT Pride Festival for completing the community marketing survey! · Shaun Niyo-Ramdas · Robert Wilkerson · Kevin Tucker · Jerome Ammer · Gary Elbert Sign up to receive our Gay San Diego e-newsletter at gay-sd.com, and stay tuned for more contests in June!

FEATURE

gay-sd.com

One of three leafy seadragons on display at the Birch Aquarium. (Photos courtesy Birch Aquarium)

Seadragons & Seahorses Birch Aquarium newest exhibits fosters breeding habitat for seahorses and seadragons Albert H. Fulcher | Editor Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego opened its doors with its largest exhibition since its opening in 1992, Seadragons & Seahorses, a home for weedy and leafy seadragons and several species of seahorses.

Center piecing this exhibit is an 18-foot wide, 9-foot tall aquarium that holds 5,375 gallons of water, with smaller aquariums featuring different species of seadragons, seahorses and pipefish. This is the largest seadragon’s habitat in the world and Birch Aquarium hopes to be the first aquarium to successfully breed leafy seadragons in captivity.

“The goal of this exhibit and the aquarium is to instill that since of wonder and passion for these animals

in hopes that people will take steps to not the planet that is close to home, but the planet as a whole,” said Caitlin Scully, marketing specialist, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla.

“And hopefully take steps to protect it. These are amazing creatures that we hope are around a long time.

And I think everything benefits when we are protecting habitats and species. All of them.”

Closely related as cousins, Scully said the difference between seahorses and seadragons is that a seadragon does not have a prehensile tail, whereas the seahorse does. Seahorses have the ability to grip on to things like seaweed, coral and things like that but a seadragon's tail goes straight out. The other big difference between the two is that the

male seahorses carry eggs inside a pouch, females lay the eggs inside. But the seadragons, the females lay the eggs on to a patch along their tails. So the males hold on and protect the eggs externally.

“Seahorses, seadragons, pipe fish and some other funky creatures that we have in the exhibit are all in the syngnathidae family, which is a type of fish,” Scully said. “They may look bizarre, but they are true fish. There are three different types of seadragons. Up until a few of years ago we thought there were only two.

What we have on exhibit are the leafy seadragons, that are a little more elaborate and beautiful and we also have the weedy seadragons, just as cool, with the spots and the purple stripes. Scripps Institution of Oceanography recently

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019 discovered a few years ago the ruby seadragon, which was unknown to science.

They found it through genetic research, then they went on an expedition to find this fish out in the wild. No one has the ruby seadragon in captivity.”

Scully said one of the rare things about seadragons is that they are very rare to see in captivity. There are only about 15 facilities around the world have them on display. Specifically the leafy seadragon there may only be 11 adults on display in the world and three of them live in Birch Aquarium.

“The wonderful thing about having both seadragons and seahorses here, is more than 25 years ago, Birch Aquarium started the Seahorse Breeding Program and we have been breeding 13 different species of seahorses in captivity,” Scully said. “There is a lot of pressure on seahorses.

People take them out of the wild fro trinkets, aquariums, traditional medicine.

They are kind of one of those things you can easily love to death.”

Scully said by breeding them in captivity, they trade the seahorses with other members in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Birch Aquarium has traded more than 5,000 seahorses to reduce the pressures on wild populations in order to help to contribute to the Species Survival Plan to

ensure that these animals are around in the future.

“We are hoping to do the same with the seadragons,” Scully said. “The exhibit was designed with decades of experience along with our Husbandry Team and the team at Scripps Institution of Oceanography who studies these guides. One of the reasons it is so wide and deep is to that the seadragons have enough room to their really elaborate dances so that they can reproduce in captivity.

The weedy seadragons have reproduced in captivity a handful of times over the last 30 years, but the leafy seadragons have never been bred in captivity anywhere in the world. We are really hoping to get the leafy dragons to reproduce in captivity, especially since we don't know how many are left in the wild.

The populations are changing but that is pretty much all we know.”

Seahorses are found in oceans all over the world in temperate waters, not too cold and tropical waters. They love sea grass beds, rocky bottoms, places that are good places to hide, hold on and find food. In San Diego, the giant Pacific seahorse can be up to nine inches tall and can be found in the San Diego Bay. Scully said not very many and there are stories they were in Mission Bay until it got transformed back in the day, but there might actually still be some in there.

see Aquarium, pg 15

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Birch Aquarium has several species of seahorses in its newest exhibit Seadragons & Seahorses.

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DINING

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

10

gay-sd.com

Take this cornichon, my love Restaurant Review Frank Sabatini Jr.

T

here are plenty of reasons to visit Bleu Bohéme for unleashing your inner Francophile: the Rhone wines, the cassoulet d’escargots, the astute service, and a charming farmhouse atmosphere capturing a slice of rural France.

Now, in pure romantic fashion, the Kensington restaurant offers a four-course “dinner for deux” at a flat price of $75 per couple. And we aren’t talking about small, finicky portions.

In high-priced San Diego, the Wednesday night offer is a standout. It includes either a bottle of Champagne,

Bleu Bohéme’s romantic atmosphere is a draw

white Rhone, red Rhone, or a three-quarter liter of chardonnay or syrah — plus four shareable plates starting with a choice of salad. Add to the equation a dining room illuminated softly by melting stick candles, and you’ll charm the heck out of whomever you bring — if that’s your ulterior motive.

Hubby and I reveled in the experience, which contrasted our usual dinner outings fraught often by noise, cramped seating and other physical discomforts indicative of the modern restaurant scene.

Here, we left feeling un-rushed, completely full, and noticeably juiced up from polishing off the nearly whole liter of wine, a well-structured syrah from Fallbrook Winery. (It’s been a long time since I lucked out with a Temecula vino.)

The special menu features just over a dozen plates from the regular dinner card. As a longtime fan of the place, I’m familiar with most of them, such as the “salade maison” with Dijon dressing.

The salad was split for us, with each portion providing adequate sustenance. Though simple, it’s a reliably gripping combo of velvety butter lettuce, green apples, almonds, diced beets, and blue cheese crumbles that melt on your tongue.

Our three other dishes were served family-style, including a charcuterie board that included garlic sausage, prosciutto, Spanish chorizo and

Bleu Bohéme 4090 Adams Ave. (Kensington) 619-255-4167, bleuboheme.com “Dinner for deux” price: $75 (four courses plus wine or Champagne ) luscious rabbit pate. The latter was as rich and poetically spiced as any pate lifted from the terrines of accomplished French chefs. In this case it’s chef-owner Ken Irvine, who bestows his French-Canadian roots and Culinary Institute of America schooling to the operation.

My only complaint about the charcuterie board centered on the pungent Dijon, which carried the ferocious strength of Chinese mustard. And as a devout fan of cornichons — those mildly sweet miniature pickles that no arrangement like this can do without — I was sad to see there was only one. It was hidden beneath a few olives and brined green beans.

I love my husband for many reasons, like for this touching instance when he also so badly wanted to pop down that lone, little pickle but instead kindheartedly pushed it toward me.

It was a minor gesture romantically amplified by flickering candlelight and full glasses of

A destination for French food since 2008 (Photos by Frank Sabatini Jr.) wine.

Skipping over items such as black Mediterranean mussels with pommes frites; Parmesan gnocchi with summer squash; and crab croquettes with saffron aioli (my least favorite dish in past visits due to excessive salt and bread crumbs), we proceeded to two veggie-heavy winners.

A colorful medley of roasted Brussels sprouts, butternut squash and house-smoked pork belly resonated terrifically to a light dressing of apple-balsamic vinegar. The flavors were both sweet and tart, and the textures were suitably varied.

Minced shiitake and oyster mushrooms encased in thin sheet pasta defined a plate of five ravioli, which appear often on the frequently updated dinner menu. The French do wonders with ravioli, no matter the filling. And these lightweight beauties, strewn with spinach and tomato relish, attested to that.

Given its recent debut, the “dinner for deux” menu will likely change to some degree

based on what sells and what doesn’t. As a big fan of Irvine’s onion soup gratinée, flavored deeply with braised sweet onions and beef consommé, I vote to see that added.

Dessert isn’t included in the deal. I’m not a sweet tooth.

But hubby is. So in exchange for letting me seize the cornichon, I chose for him mousse au chocolat, a trio of bite-size “cakes” featuring dark-chocolate mousse layered atop chocolate-crumb crust and accented with berries.

This was an uncomplicated and well-paced meal geared ideally for couples, close friends or even first dates preferring a nice dose of intimacy with their food and wine. For the price, it’s French dining at its most accessible.

— Frank Sabatini Jr. is the author of ‘Secret San Diego’ (ECW Press), and began his local writing career more than two decades ago as a staffer for the former San Diego Tribune.

You can reach him at fsabatini@san.rr.com.t

JOIN US & support the growth of our center & the lives of the thousands of people we help each year.

6.9.2019

Roasted Brussels sprouts with squash and pork belly

2-7pm The Farm of Leichtag Foundation 441 Saxony Rd. Encinitas, CA 92024 reserve your place

760-994-1690 or www.ncresourcecenter.org/signature-events

The salade maison

$125 (per person) $175 after May 15th Charcuterie board for two

DINING

gay-sd.com

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

11

Vegan chili and other meatless dishes are among a rotating selection of halfoff meals every Monday at Cafe Gratitude. (Courtesy of Bay Bird Inc.)

A paleo bakery celebrates a milestone anniversary. (Courtesy of Paleo Treats)

Modern takes on Korean dishes are now available at a new restaurant in Fashion Valley Mall. (Bibigo Facebook) Two culinary newcomers have landed on the ground level of Fashion Valley Mall, just below the AMC Theaters: Pure Burger (760-683-5101, pure-burger.com) specializing in grass-fed beef, and Bibigo Kitchen (858-291-8311, bibigousa.com), an international company famous for its Korean barbecue and related dishes.

At Pure Burger, the beef is ground daily onsite and the menu extends to grass-fed Look for dishes such as veggie scrambles, loaded hash browns and lobster Benedict at the upcoming Breakfast Bitch, a central-Hillcrest venture that will operate as a booze-serving breakfast spot by day (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and a laidback after-hours speakeasy on Friday and Saturday nights (12:30 - 3:30 a.m.). For the latter crowd, there will be games, CBD waters and non-alcoholic spritzers.

The project replaces the short-lived Vancouver Wings on a block of Fifth Avenue between University Avenue and Robinson Street that has seen a number of eateries come and go. Its owners, former college and professional football player Derrell Hutsona and his wife, Tracii, own the Los Angeles-based lifestyle management company Elite Luxe, which caters to athletes and celebrities.

Hutsona, a local native, told us he came up with the concept because “there’s no place to eat after hours in San Diego.” The couple was originally looking for spaces in the Gaslamp District until the Hillcrest opportunity caught their eye.

He added that the establishment’s campy bitch-speak concept, already evident on the web site and voice greeting, isn’t specifically aimed at the LGBT community, but that it’s

bison burgers, Jidori chicken sandwiches, vegan Impossible burgers and gluten-free french fries cooked in non-GMO rice bran oil.

Bibigo Kitchen made its San Diego debut a couple years ago in Westfield UTC Mall. The Fashion Valley location will offer a similar menu of bulgogi beef, galbi chicken in addition to signature bowls and assorted dumplings. The mall is located at 7007 Friars Road.

Paleo Treats in Normal Heights is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with free, daily samples given out through the end of June.

The company, owned by Lee Selman and her husband, Nik Hawks, touts itself as the first paleo bakery in the nation and the only one in San Diego. It launched originally from a tent in 2009 at Cross Fit Games in Northern California. Soon after, the couple grew it into a direct-to-consumer business before moving the business into its current retail space a couple years ago.

Its six-item product line includes chocolate bars with nuts and raisins, assorted cakes and espresso brownies, all of which are free of gluten, grains, dairy and starches. 4662 30th St., 619-795-2203, paleotreats.com.

Derrell and Tracii Hutsona are bringing an edgy concept to Fifth Avenue.

(Courtesy of Breakfast Bitch)

merely a fun, playful approach “open to everyone.”

There is a LGBT connection to the project, however, with community member Carla Andrea in talks to serve as executive chef. Andrea runs a

cooking show on YouTube and has already helped develop the menu for Breakfast Bitch, which Hutsona hopes to have open by early July. 3825 Fifth Ave., 877-732-4824, eatbreakfastbitch.com.t

Attention vegans: Mondays are your bargain days at Cafe Gratitude in Little Italy. Each week for the next three months, the stylish plant-based restaurant is offering 50 percent off on select items as part of its

“meatless Mondays” promotion.

The discounts are available to members of the restaurant’s free Gratification Program to those who wish to sign up. 1980 Kettner Blvd., 619-736-5077, cafegratitude.com.

The Hillcrest Farmers Market recently doubled the number of chairs, tables and canopies in its food court area to provide ample shaded seating for those consuming dishes prepared onsite.

In addition, several new San Diego-based vendors have arrived since the start of spring.

They include: Fresh Flavors Chutney, which sells six different chutneys created by Madhulika Achal from India.

There is also Marley’s Pet Planet Dog Beer specializing in a fermented non-alcoholic beverage for canines; Grandma Sally’s Farm out of Chula Vista, which brings in fresh herbs, mini beets and other seasonal veggies; Ritual Energy, a maker of healthy bars containing 100

milligrams of caffeine; and Veg-N-Out, a purveyor of pea-protein burgers, vegan bratwurst and homemade sauces.

Vendor manager Mark Larson says the current number of food and merchandise sellers has reached 176, and there’s still room for several more.

“We now rank as the largest farmers market in the city of San Diego,” he added.

The market is runs from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. every Sunday along Normal Street between University Avenue and Lincoln Street. For more information call 619-237-1632 or visit hillcrestfarmersmarket.com.

—Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at fsabatini@san.rr.com.t

12

FILMS

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

Engaging short films FilmOut San Diego brings premiere short films in LGBTQ ShortFest Albert H. Fulcher | Editor On May 15, FilmOut San Diego brought its LGBTQ ShortFest to the Landmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas for a double feature of 20 LGBTQ short films premiering for the first time in San Diego. The two showings included 10 original films in each tract with some Q&A sessions at the end with some of the producers and actors that were able to make the premiere.

All of the films shown showed originality, quality and purpose, regardless of the genre or cinematic elements.

This was truly a festival of LGBTQ life and brought out a range of emotions from laughter to tears, delight and horror and each film made you think about circumstances that our community faces today.

Making its California premiere, “Carlito Leaves Forever” (directed by Quentin Lazzarotto) told the story of Carlito, a young man living in an indigenous village in the Amazon jungle. Rejected by his people he makes the decision to leave the only life he knows to start it with another young man who seems to be in the same position. The story was sad yet touching and the cinemaphotography was stunning as you traveled through

the Amazon on his journey to freedom.

“Headspace,” directed by Jake Graf from the United Kingdom was only a 4-minute film, but its impact was strong.

This short took you into the minds of transgender people and the fears that they face every day of their lives. Going from character to character, this showed what happens when transgender people are faced with no access to a private restroom, wondering what will happen as they walk in front of a group of construction workers, what do you do when you are in the locker room and someone else walks in. This was so brilliantly composed, that you felt the fear and anxiety. What a rare glimpse and extremely intense.

Directed by Carly Usdin and making its California premiere, “Misdirection” is a sweet story about a college student with obsessive-compulsive disorder crushing on her roommate. It’s entertaining, has some good light comedy as Camilia comes to terms with her own obsessiveness and by chance finding a way to deal with the existing problems in her life and move on. That is, with a little help from a street magician.

“Miller & Son,” directed by Asher Jelinsky tells the story of a transwoman who juggles

her life as a day time mechanic in her father’s shop and only expressing her true identity at night through clubs. All is well until a co-worker finds her while out on a bachelor party at night. Faced with the outing to her father, this film embraces the candid concerns of a parent, the struggles of living a double life and the bond of a family.

“Thrive,” coming from the United Kingdom and directed

by Jamie De Spirito is about two men who meet as a simple hook-up with no intentions of a relationship. After seeing the man’s medication on the counter, he confronts the other about his HIV status to find that he is recently diagnosed and terrified. What follows is a wonderous conversation that reminds us that we all need to be open about our status, without judgement. An excellent film.

“Engaged,” directed by David Scala, a San Diego Alumni Filmmaker is about Darren and his boyfriend Elliot. Darren is trying to propose but keeps failing and begins questioning whether it is coincidence or himself that is blocking his path. Darren’s anxiety is humorous in this film as he tries to make everything perfect, but never finding perfection in timing.

His insecurities get the best of him most of the time, but fortunately his boyfriend Elliot is loving and understanding. The humor in this film carries the story with a compelling ease and from the beginning has you rooting for a happily ever after ending.

Another San Diego

events @THECENTER Friday, May 31

Thursday, June 20

South Bay Youth Center’s Ice Cream Social

Summer Solstice 6-9 pm, Porto Vista Hotel Rooftop Deck

2-4 pm, South Bay Youth Center Join The Center’s South Bay Youth Center for the first ever Ice Cream Social! Youth ages 10-13 and their families are welcome to tour the South Bay Youth Center and enjoy FREE local ice-cream!

This is a fabulous opportunity to meet other LGBTQ+ youth and families. Please help us share this event with youth and families! For more information contact southbayyouth@thecentersd.org.

Saturday, June 15

Rainbow Prom: Haunted Fairy Tale 6-10 pm, The Center An enchanting celebration awaits you - Youth Services at The Center invites you to the 2019 Rainbow Prom! The theme this year is “Haunted Fairy Tale” and all are welcome to come dressed as a spooky fairy tale creature/character.

We are here to create an affirming and magical prom for LGBTQ+ youth ages 14-18. This free event includes food, a DJ, a photo booth, a live drag performance by the fabulous Friidae, and much more! We can’t wait to see you there!

For more information contact hyc@thecentersd.org.

www.thecentersd.org The San Diego LGBT Community Center 3909 Centre Street • 619-692-2077 Twitter: @LGBTCenter

facebook.com/At.The.Center

MARYAH (Metro Area Real Estate Professionals for Young Adult Housing) and the San Diego LGBT Community Center invite you to join us for our Summer Solstice Event. Guests will enjoy great music by a local DJ, bottle service for your exclusive private cabana– should you wish to purchase one, networking with the local real estate community, and an amazing time with stunning harbor views and a spectacular sunset. The event includes a cash bar, hors-d’oeuvres, entertainment and much, much more with all proceeds benefiting The Center’s Sunburst Youth Housing. Tickets and more info at www.maryah.org.

Saturday, June 22

12th Annual Pachanga de Frida 6-10 pm, The Center Each year we celebrate the birthday of Frida Kahlo, commemorating the legendary life of one of the most influential Mexican painters of the mid-twentieth century. Attendees will enjoy live music, art exhibits by local Latin@ artists and vendors, a Frida look-alike contest, great food and tequila! Proceeds from this event benefit The Nicole Murray-Ramirez Latino Services @ The Center. Ticket information coming soon! For more information on the event or accessibility requests, contact Ricardo at latinos@thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077 x116. For sponsorship opportunities contact Megan at events@thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077 x255.

Visit us online at events.thecentersd.org/frida.

gay-sd.com

(l to r) “He Drinks” actor Francisco film director Chacin, FilmOut San Diego Program Director Michael McQuiggan and director Michael Varrati.

(Photo courtesy of Michael McQuiggan)

filmmaker Mark Marchillo directs and acts in “Gay Camp.”

As serious conversion therapy is today, Marchillo, a straight man came up with the idea of switching the roles to where homosexuality is the norm and straight kids are sent to camp. This film is hysterically funny and as outrageous as the concepts are in reforming the straight kids, it spotlights how ridiculous current gay conversion therapy is. Camp Sohomo sheds a light on conversion therapy in a comical way, but the subject matter is as serious as it gets. This is a film that everyone should see and in comparison with the recent drama films that deal with the subject, has just as much impact on the ideology of how wrong conversion therapy is.

Director Michael Varrati brings a light comical view of a gay couple facing problems and finding themselves in couple therapy. In meeting with the doctor, their feelings come out as Chris and Bram begin talking seriously about Chris’ drinking problems and how it is affecting their relationship.

As they work through it together, they find light at the end of the tunnel, but Varrati throws in a dark comedic horror ending that catches everyone off guard but made this film one to remember.

From Italy, Director Alessandro Samoali brings a beautiful story in “Pepitas.”

Struggling to take care of his visually impaired grandmother and mother despite being in his 30s, this is a wonderful story about the love of family. A drag queen and not out to his family, his grandmother begs him to take her out with him. He finally agrees and takes her to his show that evening. What follows is a tender moment between grandmother and grandson, with her acceptance of Andrea, a star in her eyes.

Wonderfully done with some stellar comedic moments that hurls this film into a heartwarming story of love and family.

“Romance is Dead,” directed

by Todd Jackson (San Diego filmmaker) is a dark comedy

horror story when Donavan turns to his best friend (who is straight) to help him with a crazy scheme to bring his dead lover back to life. The comedy in this film is superb with great timing and storytelling. The addition of bringing it as a partial musical was brilliant and more than just entertaining.

Look for this film, it is well worth 13 minutes of amusement over on the dark side.

“Pasos en la Noche,” directed by Daniel Garcia and Maximiliano Garcia (another San Diego film) is about a young man in Tijuana who enters a Cumbia dance competition in the hopes of finally getting a dance with a man he has secretly admired and desired. Set in the mid 80s, this film goes through the cultural difference in a Hispanic family, the struggle of coming out of the closet and the desire that compels you to do whatever it takes to live your life as your true self.

“Kathy,” directed by Jonathon Hammond is called a “true(ish)” film about a young boy whose mother holds exorcisms in her house on a daily basis. The young boy is struggling with his sexual identity when Kathy shows up and disrupts his mother and her friends with her premonitions and godliness. But the question remains, is she godly or evil?

The ending is remarkable and has a connection to the longtime problem of whether or not to come out of the closet.

FilmOut San Diego provided a night of great entertainment with a little bit of everything that falls in our LGBTQ+ umbrella. This was a stellar selection of films and would love another chance to see them again. Next up for FilmOut is “50 Years of Fabulous,” which recounts the rich history of the oldest LGBT charity organization in the world, the Imperial Court. Showing at the Landmark’s Hillcrest Cinemas on Wednesday, July 10 at 7 p.m. For more information visit filmoutsandiego.com.

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

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PUZZLE SOLUTION: (FROM PAGE 14)

WE WON'T MAKE YOU SPELL BUTTIGIEG

14

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

gay-sd.com Friday, May 24

Leading with Love Gala – Tickets now available for North County LGBTQ Resource Center’s “Leading with Love: An LGBTQI Gala Experience.”

On June 9, the gala aims to share the stories and accomplishments of its local LGBTQI community under the wonderful setting of a historic farm in Encinitas with a sprawling view. This signature event is what keeps the Center’s doors open and the ability to serve thousands of people each year. Again this year, the partnership with the Leichtag Foundation brings the gala back to its wonderful farm, a perfect backdrop to enjoy the sunset while dining with friends and family, listening to live music and supporting the local LGBTQI community. For programs this year, the goal is to raise $100,000. Early-bird tickets: $125. Event sponsorships begin at $1,500.

Auction items are also encouraged to raise funds.

The Farm of Leichtag Foundation, 441 Saxony Road, Encinitas. bit.ly/2LfL6qp

Red Dress Party 2019 – Red Dress Party San Diego is a whimsical fundraising event where everyone is encouraged to be brave, let loose, and celebrate impact.

Like the name suggests, attendees are required to wear a red dress, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. This serves as a powerful sign of compassion and solidarity for those affected by HIV/ AIDS and as a way to unite the crowd in one radiant theme. Pre-sale tickets now available at discounted prices. General admission: $45. VIP admission: $140.

Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier. 100 N. Harbor Drive. bit.ly/2HnWRpr

‘Significant Other’ – As Jordan Berman pounds the New York City pavement searching for Mr. Right, he wards off lonely nights with his trio of close-knit girlfriends. As singles’ nights turn into bachelorette parties, Jordan must face his own capacity to love and be loved. This hilarious and heart-wrenching Broadway comedy dives into the trenches of urban single life and the aspirational gay wedding, reminding us that you can’t hurry love — no matter how much you wish you could. Diversionary Theatre. Runs through June 23. $15-$25. Dates and times vary. 4545 Park Blvd. #101. bit.ly/2EenrRf ‘Pride and Prejudice’ – The outspoken Elizabeth Bennet faces mounting pressure from her status-conscious mother to secure a suitable marriage.

But is marriage suitable for a woman of Elizabeth’s intelligence and independence? Especially when the irritating, aloof, self-involved… tall, vaguely handsome, mildly amusing, and impossibly aristocratic Mr. Darcy keeps popping up at every turn.

Literature’s greatest tale of latent love has never felt so theatrical, or so full of life as it does in this effervescent new adaptation. Runs through June 16 at the Cygnet Theatre.

Tickets start at $45. 4040 Twiggs St. bit.ly/2EahFQv 2019 SDLA Fundraiser – Join the 2019 San Diego Leadership Alliance Fellows for a mixer and drag show at The Rail in Hillcrest. Proceeds will benefit future classes of the San Diego Leadership Alliance Institute, by ensuring that it remains free for all fellows. This event will feature some of San Diego’s

finest drag queens, celebrate the diversity of our local progressive community, and highlight LGBTQ+ history. $30-$35. 6:30-9:30 p.m. 3796 Fifth Ave. bit.ly/2HjqfOL Drag King Bar – It's the fourth Friday! It's drag king bar time. Come join your favorite kings to kick off your holiday weekend.

It's nothing but a good time when the boys take the stage. It's also a preview of our talent heading into Out at the Fair on June 1. The Gossip Grill hotties pour all night and DJ Kinkyloops keeps the club hopping. Then stick around for Gossip Grill's Memorial Day weekend kickoff event Leather and Lace at 10 p.m. $7. Doors open at 7 p.m.

1220 University Ave. bit.ly/2Hn0IUT

Sunday, May 26 Guard B-Q – Memorial Day Weekend Sunday tradition continues at The Loft with our annual Guard B-Q! Celebrate with The San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as the Guard Corps serves up awesome burgers, dogs, chicken skewers, and vegan options with the TOPpings and extras you expect! (After all, we all want a little extra, right?)

Awesome raffle too. All to benefit the San Diego Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Free. 3610 Fifth Ave. bit.ly/2vWimbL

Tuesday, May 28

In Search of Stonewall – As part of the San Diego History Center’s “LGBTQ+ San Diego: Stories of Struggles and Triumphs exhibition,” join editor Richard Schneider, and Lillian Faderman in a discussion of this pivotal event in our community’s history. The year was 1994. It was the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and, as luck would have it, the year in which a new magazine called The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review was publishing its first issue

(winter ’94). The fact that The HG&LR’s first year coincided with Stonewall’s 25th forever joined its fate with that of the founding event of the modern LGBT movement. Join celebrated speakers to help launch the Review’s “In Search of Stonewall,” their book that commemorates the magazine’s 25th birthday with a collection of relevant articles selected from its 136 issues. 7-8:30 p.m. Free to members. Non-members $5.

RSVP required. 1649 El Prado, Suite 3. bit.ly/2LEwpx3

Friday, May 31

Ice Cream Social – The South Bay Youth Center is excited to host its first Ice Cream Social! Youth ages 10-13 and their families are welcome to tour the South Bay Youth Center and enjoy free local ice cream! This is a fabulous opportunity to meet other LGBTQ+ youth and families. Free. 2-4 p.m. 11180 Third Ave., Chula Vista. bit.ly/2VrVRpa

Saturday, June 1

Out at the Fair – Kick off Pride month 2019 at the ninth annual Out at the Fair – San Diego County Fair festival on June 1.

What started as a group of friends going to the fair to enjoy a turkey leg … “has now turned into the largest ‘Out’ celebration in the Southern California Region.” $14-$20. 11 a.m.10:30 p.m. 2660 Jimmy Durante Blvd. sdfair.com

Let Your Fears Go – Gamification on the dance floor. Imagine a house music party with riddles mixed into the songs our DJ plays. Solve the riddle on our dark and sexy dance floor and win $1,000! Nights Like These aims to be an evening that provokes thought, challenges social norms and invites guests to interact with art, music, performance artists, visuals and more. We encourage guests to participate with riddles and puzzles throughout the evening with the intention to lead one lucky team of no more than five people, or one single individual, in winning a $1,000 cash prize. Likewise, if a guest so chooses, they can simply be a voyeur and enjoy the sights, sounds and feels the evening will offer up. 8-11:56 p.m. General admission: $15. VIP table: $200. San Diego Art Institute. 1439 El Prado. bit.ly/2Hj47nD

Sunday, June 2

VIDA’s Bowl for Life 2019 – VIDA is hosting its third annual Bowl for Life, hosted by Glitz Glam. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the scholarship program for LGBTQ Latinx youth who are dedicated to the active promotion of human rights and equality for all. Kearny Mesa Bowl.

7585 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. $30. 1-3 p.m. bit. ly/2EdTNeCt

Calendar events can be sent to albert@sdcnn.com.

QSyndicate.com

Q Q PUZZLE PUZZLE

WE WON'T MAKE YOU SPELL BUTTIGIEG

solution on page 13

DOWN

ACROSS

Across 1 Gilbert of “Roseanne” 5 Gave the once-over in a gay bar 9 “The condition of my ___ is in the hands of God...”

13 Direction from Stephen Pyles 14 Word after International 15 Golden rule word 16 DeGeneres voice role 17 SALT subject 18 Vowels of Sappho 19 Continuation of the quote at 9-Across 22 Elton John, to his instrument 24 Spins a baton 27 Macho man with an earring?

28 Takes a liking to 29 Down in the mouth 30 Says a word to Mary 33 Port on Osaka Bay 34 More of the quote

Red Dress Party SD Launch Party – Help us kick off our event season at the RDPSD Launch Party!

You'll be able to meet the RDPSD team; purchase discounted tickets to RDPSD 2019 (at the absolute lowest price); donate wearable red dresses; and get some RDPSD swag. No red dresses required at this event. Just a feel-good, fun-loving attitude! MO’s Bar and Grill. 2-5 p.m.

Free. 308 University Ave. bit.ly/2VoF1ri

36 Syndicate bigwig 39 They come out of the choir closet 40 Prone 43 Same-sex partner, in prison 45 Ink user 47 Of a major blood vessel 48 Juicy fruits 50 End of the quote 52 Native American tongue 54 Stead 55 Poet ___ Wu 58 Slumlord’s declaration?

59 160 square rods 60 Emulate Paul Cadmus 61 ___ Buttigieg, source of the quote 62 Prince's purple precipitation 63 Exams for srs.

1 1040 ID 2 Prepared for the Twinkie defense 3 Author Arthur 4 In the vicinity 5 What a guy does nocturnally 6 Luxury cruiser 7 River in Roehm's country 8 Cup for Moore coffee?

9 Former New York Liberty player 10 Xtra's province 11 Hagen of “The Boys from Brazil” 12 Article for Frida 20 Campbell of “Martin” 21 “A League of Their ___” 22 Ends of letters 23 It changes a seÒor’s gender 25 Neighbor of Isr. 26 NNW's opposite 28 Totally screw 31 Like “Stick it in your ear!”?

32 “My Computer,” e.g.

34 On bended knee 35 “A Room of One’s Own,” e.g.

36 Land of Stonewall Jackson (abbr.)

37 From ___ Z 38 Feature of the queen’s castle 40 The Masters Tournament site 41 Brown's Sneaky ___ 42 Scores with David Kopay 44 Monopoly piece 46 LGBTQ publication based in Charlotte 48 “Scary Movie” Cheri 49 City in Colette's land 51 Not elite 52 Body part to shoot from 53 Hurrah for Jose 56 ___ UP (advocacy org.)

57 Cries of surprise

FEATURE

gay-sd.com FROM PAGE 9

AQUARIUM Seadragons are only found in the waters off of South Australia. There are some areas where the leafy and the weedy population overlap but not all of it. So in the wild, they would be interacting like they are in the exhibit.

“The coral reefs in Australia are getting hit very hard by climate change and large bleaching events,” Scully said. “That's effecting many types of species of seahorses living there.

The seadragons live on the southern coast of Australia because it is more temperate waters. You would not find a seadragon in a coral reef, but their habitats are changing. Not only climate change but through thing like destructive fishing practices, dredging, the intensity of the storms due to climate change.” Scully said that seadragons are really good at hiding and are strong swimmers up to a point, but when there are big storms where the sea grass and sea beds get pulled up, you'll find a lot of them dead on the coast. A major storm

event can knock out a whole lot of them.

“Most of the seadragons can be found up along the remote coast between Sydney and Perth,” Scully said.

“Researchers have found that they really love staying around piers. They think the piers help break up the surge of the water. We actually have pier pilings in our exhibit because when our team went out to study them they found so many of them under the piers.”

This exhibit allows guests to learn how to observe these animals the same way that scientists do, by noticing the unique features that distinguish individual animals and identifying courtship and mating behaviors that will make Birch’s breeding program a success.

“People love ocean animals, especially seadragons and seahorses,” said Nan Renner, the aquarium’s senior director of Learning Design and Innovation. “We invite our gusts to draw closer to these wondrous fish, to appreciate their amazing qualities and their value as part of our natural world.”

—Albert Fulcher can be reached at albert@sdcnn.com.t

The large aquarium at the Seadragons & Seahorses exhibit replicates a natural habitat for seadragons in an effort to get them to breed in captivity.

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Weedy seadragon (Photos courtesy of Birch Aquarium)

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

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16

GAY SAN DIEGO May 24 - June 6, 2019

GAY SAN DIEGO

&in

Gay San Diego CaBEARet Albert H. Fulcher | Editor The San Diego Bears held its annual CaBEARet Show at The Merrow on May 11. With a little burlesque, comedy, drag queens and kings, and some fundraising, the San Diego Bears presented Special Delivery $11,000 to help it continue its services in serving those with HIV. Phil Leggitt, a recipient of services from Special Delivery and spokesman accepted the donation on behalf of Special Delivery and its founder and owner of The Huddle restaurant Ruth Henricks. Special Delivery now delivers hot meals five days a week to over 315 people throughout this county living with HIV/AIDS and terminal illnesses that are home bound. Special Delivery has delivered more than 1 million meals. Through the compassion and vision of Ruth Henricks, she was named a 2019 CNN Hero.

(Photos by Albert H. Fulcher)t

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