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Volume 10 Issue 15

2019

July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

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COMMUNITY VOICES

Pride’s history in San Diego

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DINING

Smoked meats and roasted vegetables

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ARTS

Best of Gay San Diego coming Aug. 2

46th San Diego Pride embraces the diversity of the regions LGBTQ+ community Albert H. Fulcher | Editor The LGBTQ+ community, friends and allies came out in droves this year with a record breaking estimated 300,000 crowd at the San Diego Pride Parade and 50,000 attending the San Diego Pride Festival.

San Diego Pride made history once again this year with the first military flyover Saturday morning in a salute to transgender military service members from Cal Guard’s Fresno 144th Fighter Wing. Preceding Pride, the Stonewall Rally reveled the crowd. Held in conjunction with the Pride of Hillcrest Block Party, (hosted by the Hillcrest Business Association, Fabulous Hillcrest, Hillcrest Pride Flag, San Diego Pride, Hillcrest Farmers Market and SDPIX Presents) pride shined

Index Opinion ................................... 6 Puzzle ................................... 12 Calendar ............................... 12 Classifieds............................ 13

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throughout the event charging the community for the festivities of the weekend.

San Diego’s Pride Parade grows each year, with this year’s parade bring more than

On an early date in 2012, Cara Dessert answered a question about her dream job by saying she'd love to one day lead the San Diego LGBT Community Center. At the time, she thought that would be a long way off.

“Today, I just wrapped up my first year as the chief executive officer of The Center,” said San Diego LGBT Community Center CEO Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq., who landed that dream job on July 1, 2018.

“It is truly one of the most incredible honors of my life to have been chosen to serve as The Center’s CEO; a lot has

happened over this past year, and the community’s support helped make it one of incredible opportunities and growth,” Dessert said.

“I'd say that change is hard, and our community has been extraordinary. Everywhere I go, folks often thank me for taking the position, and then ask how they can help and what they can do to support the work. If they don't understand something, folks also ask for more information,” she continued. “Throughout our broad community here in Hillcrest, our larger LGBTQ community throughout the County, and our allies have all been extraordinarily supportive, and I am

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240 contingents. As a military town, this year’s parade put even a larger emphasis on military service members with trans military service members helping kick off the

parade in lead.

This year’s festival had the largest selection of LGBTQ entertainment in its

see Pride, pg 2

Cara Dessert talks growth, triumphs and challenges in serving the LGBTQ community Albert H. Fulcher | Editor

Faces of Pride

After the end of San Diego Trans Pride people marched to the Stonewall Rally to bring attention to the recent attacks on trans persons. #SAYHERNAME reflected on the 14 trans women of color that have been killed this year and in recent years past, the ban on transgender service members and attacks on sexual identification by the Trump Administration. (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

A year at The Center

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deeply grateful for that.”

Dessert said that The Center had a really exciting year. With its wide breadth of services and programs for San Diego's broad community, this year, The Center grew services outside the city of San Diego to make more of an impact in the larger County.

“We opened the South Bay Youth Center in the heart of Chula Vista, our first facility outside the city of San Diego and that has gone even better than we hoped for,” Dessert said. “We opened up in February, had about 25 youth joined us in our first month,

see Cara Dessert, pg 4

San Diego LGBT Community Center CEO Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq. (Courtesy photo)

2

NEWS

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

FROM PAGE 1

PRIDE

history, including headliners King Princess and Melissa Etheridge who closed out the Stonewall Stage on Saturday and Sunday night. With four stages, the festival’s lineup made it an inclusive weekend of entertainment with its cultural mix of performing artists.

All of this, following more than a week of events leading up to this year’s Pride, made for an exciting week with events fit for all in the community.

Keynote speaker Dwayne Crenshaw, former executive director of San Diego Pride and

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co-founder and CEO of RISE San Diego said that the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots made this year a momentous occasion about the legacy of liberation that began that night and still continues today.

Inviting all of the San Diego region’s elected officials and their representatives on stage he said that San Diego now has more LGBTQ elected officials than San Francisco.

“It's about the legacy of liberation that began that night and continues today,” Crenshaw said. “With all of you [elected LGBTQ representatives] we are building a legacy of liberation in honor and in celebration of our founders, of our family, the outcasts, the

see Pride, pg 3

Melissa Etheridge closes out the San Diego Pride Festival with a two-hour concert on Sunday, July 13. (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

Gay San Diego is for sale

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Publisher David Mannis recently sold five of his six newspapers and is now ready to retire and sell Gay SD. “We appreciate the interest we’ve received but want to be sure the new owner/publisher has a demonstrated passion for/wants to be a voice for the LGBT community and is not just an investor looking for a profit,” Mannis said. “This is a great opportunity for an individual or community organization to take the helm of this important resource and communications vehicle. I’d like to make sure it continues.”

Gay San Diego, the only

newspaper serving San Diego’s LGBT community, has been publishing for 10 years with copies distributed every other Friday. Gay SD also publishes the San Diego PRIDE program, which was included in the July 5 of Gay SD and July 12 issue of San Diego Uptown News.

Best of Gay San Diego will be published in the August 2 issue. The sale of this hyper-local paper includes the newspaper, its website, digital media and social media platforms.

Interested parties should contact Mannis at david@ sdcnn.com Or call (858) 750-5631.

NEWS

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GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

3

FROM PAGE 2

PRIDE

most marginalized, the most vulnerable getting tired of getting sick and tired.”

He said that the Stonewall riots showed that the LGBTQ community had had enough.

They wanted to be able to step out of the shadows, the closet, to toss aside any shame or guilt, and to be respected with basic human dignity, to have pride.

“You, us, together we are San Diego Pride and we are liberating our people. In 1974, people marched with paper bags on their heads,” Crenshaw said. “The next year they came back and made this a city recognized celebration and it has gone on strong ever since. The LGBTQ movement has had some of its biggest victories right here in San Diego.”

In going over San Diego’s victories over the years, he noted that San Diego brought the first Harvey Milk street in the country. But that there was more that San Diego did as first in the nation in building a strong LGBTQ community.

“All of you made sure that all of San Diego city schools had an LGBTQ curriculum,” Crenshaw said. “San Diego Pride was the first to launch and create International Pride not for just us here in San Diego, but for LGBTQ people around the world where our brothers and sisters can literally be killed for being who they are. In 2011, we were the first Pride in the country to have active duty service members march in our parade. And if that wasn't enough, we came back the next year with the first military contingent in uniform approved by the Pentagon to march in any Pride parade in the country. I believe that we have such a great legacy of leadership and a great legacy of liberation, San Diego and the largest military town, we will be the ones who will continue to build our legacy of liberation and pave the way in saying, ‘Hell no!’ We will not turn our backs on transgender persons in our military. On marriage and families, when California got it wrong we here in San Diego got it right. [No on Prop. 8]. There were rallies across the country saying that it wasn't right. The largest rally on that weekend was the 20,000 of you. We lead the way for liberation.”

At the rally, due to the recent attacks against the transgender community, colors were presented by transgender veterans and active duty personnel and the national anthem sung by Mila Jam, American transgender singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and LGBTQ activist.

Keynote speaker Bixby Marino-Kibbee (They/Them/ Theirs) said in his opinion, the Stonewall Rally is the most important event of the weekend.

“This is the part of Pride that reminds us why we are here,” Marino-Kibbee said.

“This is the time that we pause and reflect on why it is that we are able to have a

Spirit of Stonewall Friend of Pride Award recipient The Very Reverend Penny Bridges (Photos by Albert H. Fulcher)

Spirit of Stonewall Community Award recipient Abráhn Monzán

Pride parade. I'm able to stand on this stage as an out nonbinary trans person and speak with you tonight because of transgender women of color.

Because of people like Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy.

Women who were accused of being too loud, too opinionated. Women who were told that

tell you how they would like to be addressed it's up to you to honor that request. We need to stop enforcing a binary understanding of gender.”

Keynote speaker San Diego LGBT Community Center CEO Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq. said that in the last 50 years we, as a community, have learned many things.

their needs were too controversial. We must never forget who paved the way and on who's shoulders we stand on today.

Gender identity is not a special interest, it's not a passing phase, it's a component of our identity. Names and pronouns are nonnegotiable. They literally save lives. If a young person trusts you enough to

“We know that LGBT people are everywhere,” Dessert said.

“We're all races, and places, all genders and ages and occupations. We are parents, co-workers, neighbors. We are even World Cup champions and candidates for president of the United States.”

see Pride, pg 9

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FEATURE

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

FROM PAGE 1

CARA DESSERT and in the second month we were open, those numbers doubled. We knew that Chula Vista was ready for an LGBTQ center for youth and families, but we didn't know how welcoming the community would be. Everywhere we go people are asking how to help. 'Yes, we know you have a Dining Out for Life event, we want a Chula Vista location, we're going to do it, is that okay?' Absolutely!”

South Bay PFLAG, the parent's group for parents of LGBTQ youth, started a clothing closet within the South Bay center, which they keep filled with clothes for youth that need clothing either because they are in need of clothes because of financial need or because they need clothes that matches and affirms their gender identity because they are transgender or non-binary.

“That closet has been a powerful addition to the South Bay Youth Center’s services. All the youth are going in there and playing dress-up, playing with clothes; there is even a sewing machine so they can add flair to whatever they'd like,” Dessert said. “Watching that closet be so successful is just one example of the South Bay community, who is not just welcoming us, but really embracing the South Bay Youth Center and being there as a partner to make sure that it is successful. Folks are doing everything they can think of to support the new facility.

That's been really exciting.”

The Center has long served our LGBTQ immigrant community, said Dessert. It has the first Latino Services program at any LGBTQ center in the country, celebrating its 15th year this October.

“We've been serving our Latino/a/x and immigrant communities for a long time, but this year took that work across the border for the first time this past fall,” Dessert said.

“We partnered with RAICES, Al Otro Lado Border Rights Project, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, embarking in the first LGBT border campaign in history to ensure the that legal services, case management and humanitarian relief to LGBTQ and HIV-positive asylum seekers was provided to those who made it to the Mexican/U.S.

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The Center reached it’s $2 million fundraising goal with unprecedented community support, with the help of matching donors Ron Bowman, with his husband Stan Zukowfsky announcing a second gift of $1.65 million to pay off the mortgage for the Centre Street building. border.”

“None of our agencies had ever done a cross-border campaign like this before, but we all knew the need was critical, we had the courage to try, and we were all committed to working together,” she continued. “We wanted to make this first LGBT border campaign in history truly impactful. We really made a difference in the lives of about 100 LGBTQ asylum seekers.”

Dessert said that everyone at The Center is really proud of that work and equally proud that the community was there to support that work because The Center's done so much education about why immigration is an LGBTQ issue.

“So many LGBTQ people are immigrants themselves,” Dessert said. “In San Diego, we have so many mixed-status families that have both documented and undocumented people living together. We know that the same people who attack immigrants, attack our LGBTQ community, so we are stronger together. Watching the community supporting this new project was really exciting. It was a limited program with that last caravan- we began the work in November and ended the work in March. We are looking for some grant funding to continue working together; it is our goal that this work will continue in the long term.”

Dessert said it is not just immigrants, but also our transgender and non-binary community, “that have been absolutely and relentlessly attacked by the Trump Administration.” She said that at every turn where the transgender and non-binary community has been attacked, The Center responded in a way that supports and develops longterm leadership and capacity in the transgender and non-binary community.

“I understand that the transgender community has felt that The Center is behind the times,” Dessert said. “In my heart, I understand that The Center is a 47-year-old organization and that our transgender program is seven years old. I hear that, and we’ve been working really hard over the past seven years to change that. There have been so many attacks on the transgender community from this Administration. We’ve wanted to respond in a way that builds up and supports leadership in the transgender community.

We trained new spokespeople, with the specific goal of increasing capacity and building

up long-term leadership. We see our role as The Center to support the development of that kind of leadership.”

“By next month, we will have 75 staff; we had 61 when I started, and we’ve intentionally tried to hire transgender and non-binary folks,” she continued.

Dessert said the other exciting work The Center is doing is about housing. For 13 years, its 23-unit apartment building, Sunburst Youth Housing project, provides permanent

gay-sd.com of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ; we really needed more tools than just Sunburst.

Additionally, we also created a host home program and started to offer a cutting-edge family reunification program.”

Dessert said in looking ahead, The Center is currently engaging in a strategic planning process as the transition continues into next year.

“This isn’t just my transition as CEO; this remains a time of organizational transition,” Dessert said. “This has been a year of tremendous growth – the budget is a million more annually, the staff has grown from 61 to 75 people. We have to stabilize the growth of our new programs and make sure our work is successful and impactful.”

“Strategic planning is a great tool to plan for our future with our community,” she continued. “We’re in the middle of collecting community input with surveys, focus groups, interviews – we’re excited to give everyone the opportunity to participate in that. The Center will be strengthened by the data and feedback from the community.”

Dessert said [they] will continue building upon the incredible work The Center has done

The Center’s CEO Cara Dessert cuts the ribbon for its new South Bay Youth Center in Chula Vista on Feb. 16. (Photos courtesy of San Diego LGBT Community Center)

supportive housing for homeless LGBTQ and HIV+ youth. She said it is a successful program, but it was The Center's only big tool to combat homelessness for LGBTQ youth.

“This year we have tripled our housing program,” Dessert said. “Now we have a continuum of housing services. There was no LGBTQ shelter in the whole County, and we are proud to have started one the first week of June. It's brand new and it is called LGBTQ Safe S.T.A.Y. (shelter, for transitional aged youth). It's a four-bed shelter that we opened inside the Sunburst Youth Housing project.”

Another tool that The Center has added for emergency housing is a hotel program where youth that are LGBTQ and un-housed are placed in a hotel room that night while The Center finds a longer-term housing solution.

“Both of those emergency housing programs are brand new tools to really combat LGBTQ youth homelessness,” Dessert said. “Forty percent

and growing towards a San Diego where LGBT people and [our] families are connected, healthy and thriving. She said none of this would have been possible without the support of the community and that she is thankful for each and every one of them.

“This is a huge job and it’s a lot of responsibility,” Dessert said. “And, folks have been really amazing. Change is hard; I know that. But honestly, folks have been so great and welcoming and supportive, and if they don’t understand something we’re doing, they will ask. I thought there might be resistance to change, but mostly it’s been, ‘How can I help?’ ‘What can I do?’”

“I’m so grateful for our board, staff, volunteers and community for giving me the opportunity to show what our vision is and to help make that real,” she continued. “On issues of immigration, of expansion of location and service provision, we’re all so thankful for the trust the community has placed in us. I’m so deeply grateful to

be in this role, and it’s such an honor. The community’s support has really provided us with the opportunity to do this work and has made possible a year of incredible opportunities and growth.”

Dessert said that The Center is continuing to face unique opportunities and real challenges.

It has to meet its ongoing needs, and the unexpected needs.

“The basic humanity and existence of our transgender and non-binary community has been under attack,” Dessert said. “In a year where we saw tear gas utilized at our border, we also opened the first LGBT organization in the South Bay. In the face of deep and very real challenges, we’ve capitalized on some incredible opportunities – bringing in a $3 million gift, paying off the mortgage at our Centre Street location and providing a record number of service visits. We are all so grateful for the community’s support that makes all of this possible. On behalf of all of us at The Center, I thank you for the incredible support of this community that makes all of this possible! ¡Mil gracias!”

—Caroline (Cara) Dessert, Esq.: Prior to being named CEO of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, she served as the organization’s chief Development and Community Engagement officer. A queer Latina, Dessert is an attorney and non-profit executive with 15 years in social justice leadership. Previously, Dessert was executive director of Immigration Equality, a national organization focused on LGBT immigrant rights.

She worked closely with the Obama Administration, as well as local, state and national organizations working at the intersection of LGBT and immigrant rights. During this time, she was named an Arcus Leadership Fellow. She served in the California Department of Justice in the Office of the Attorney General as a deputy attorney general in the Public Rights Division, Consumer Law Section where she also worked with then-California Attorney General (now U.S. Senator) Kamala Harris’ executive team. Dessert also worked with the U.S. Central District Court and with California’s Fair Employment and Housing Commission. Dessert has deep roots in the San Diego area. A native of El Centro, she previously served as The Center’s public policy and community organizing coordinator, and as San Diego’s field director for the No on 8/Equality for All campaign. She also worked for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest. She completed her JD at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law, where she was the editor-in-chief of the Chicana/o Latina/o Law Review and earned degree specializations from the Epstein Public Interest Law and Policy and Critical Race Studies programs. She earned her BA at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD). Dessert is married to Lisa Valenzuela.

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

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COMMUNITY VOICES

The best sleep ever Life Beyond Therapy Michael Kimmel

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leep — beautiful, wonderful, drowsy, deep, restful sleep. Don’t we love it? Isn’t it one of the best things in life? Doesn’t it keep us well-rested, content and healthy?

And isn’t it a drag when we can’t have it?

I was talking with a client recently about sleep. He said that he occasionally suffers from insomnia. I asked some questions (“Is it hard to fall asleep?” “Does your mind race?” “What time do you usually wake up?”) and gave him some techniques to try. At the end of our session, he told me, “You really know a lot about sleep, you should write a book about it.”

A book? No thanks. But, a column, sure.

I am an amateur sleep expert. I have done mountains of reading on the subject and experimented on myself with countless sleep-encouraging techniques over the past 25 years. I never thought I really knew that much about sleep until my client gave me a reality check. So let me share with you a little bit of what I know so you can more easily fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up happy and rested.

First of all, when you can’t fall asleep (or stay asleep), stop fighting it — that only makes

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it worse. You can get up and do something calming (reading something light and fluffy like People magazine) or you can stay in bed and let yourself just lay there comfortably. When I can’t fall asleep, I put on a relaxing guided meditation (with words, to keep my mind occupied), lay on my back on a small mountain of pillows and listen to the words of the meditation as they replace the racing thoughts in my head. Eventually, I start to feel sleepy again.

Here’s another technique I have shared with sleepless clients: imagine yourself in a really beautiful, peaceful place.

It may be the best vacation you ever had. It could be the hammock in your backyard or your favorite spot in a desert or public park. Why not have more than one peaceful place in your repertoire? You can always visualize different ones to see which one works best on any given sleepless night.

For many of us, our minds (our “monkey minds,” as the Buddhists call them) keep us awake: our thoughts are bouncing all over the place. We try, but fail, to turn off our worry thoughts, obsessive thoughts… all those thoughts that keep us from falling asleep.

How to work with these intrusive thoughts? Here are a few things to try: • Observe them — don’t try to fight them, it’ll just make you more tense. Instead, aim for a neutral stance: try seeing your thoughts as clouds or balloons floating through the sky.

Just watch them and let them move on.

• Replace them with something — I like to use a meditation tape with spoken words, but you can use anything that displaces them. Try counting backwards from 100 or recalling times from your life when you were really happy.

• Walk away from them — Visualize your monkey mind thoughts as a living “sculpture” piece. See this sculpture on a stage in an auditorium. You are sitting in the front row of the auditorium, watching those crazy thoughts on the stage.

Watch for a while, then get up

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019 and move toward the back of the auditorium. Now you see your thoughts on stage, but they’re further away: smaller and less annoying. Then move to the back row of the auditorium, where the thoughts are smaller still. Then open the back door of the auditorium and exit, leaving your crazy thoughts onstage, without you to witness them.

• Relax your body — Find a YouTube video of a guided visualization, one that talks you through relaxing each muscle group of your body, one by one.

The more your body relaxes, the sleepier you get. Eventually, you won’t need the guided visualization, you can relax your body yourself: start with your feet, toes, ankles, shins and move slowly upwards. I usually

5

fall asleep before I make it to my shoulders.

Occasional insomnia is normal. Learn to calmly work with it — don’t panic — and it will bother you less and less often. I hope these ideas/techniques are useful, they’ve sure helped me — and my clients — to get the best sleep ever.

—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.com.

6

OPINION

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

gay-sd.com

Guest Editorial

Creep of the Week: Donald Trump

By D’Anne Witkowski Donald Trump is a racist.

Racists are not good people.

Therefore, Donald Trump is not a good person.

But to other racists, he’s the best of the best. For his supporters, hating black and brown people is a feature, not a bug.

But to everyone in this country who cares, or at least knows they should care, about racism, Trump’s latest comments were an undeniable racist bullhorn compared to his previous racist dog whistles, which, honestly, were not whistles at all but a hard frequency for some (white) people to hear.

I am referring, of course, to Trump tweeting that Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) should go back to the countries they came from if they didn’t like what was happening in the U.S. All four representatives are

Democrats and are women of color who are very critical of Trump, which is very hard for him to take since he is both sexist and racist.

“So interesting to see ‘Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world,” Trump tweeted on July 14, “now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."

OK. There’s a lot to unpack here. First of all, Tlaib, Omar, Pressley, and Ocasio-Cortez are all Americans and all of them were born in the U.S. with the exception of Ilhan Omar, who came to America as a refugee from Somalia. Secondly, white people telling brown and black people to “go back

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. Gabriela Serrano D'Anne Witkowski

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

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to your country” is textbook racism. And third, all four of these women were elected to the House of Representatives, a co-equal branch of the United States government, which means that telling the people of this country how they think the government should be run is not only their business, it’s literally their job.

One of the things that Tlaib, Omar, Pressley and OcasioCortez have been critical of is Trump’s policy of separating families crossing the border and locking children up in cages. Trump and Pence, who visited detention centers and declared them fine and dandy, doesn’t understand what people are so upset about.

Keep in mind that Omar lived for a number of years in a refugee camp after fleeing war before coming to America. So she knows a thing or two about how to treat refugees and immigrants.

The next day reporters asked Trump about his tweets and Trump doubled down calling the women “communists” who hate America, love

al-Qaida and hate Jews. Very on-brand for Trump, who is essentially your right-wing uncle — if your right-wing uncle lived in a golden palace and was the most powerful man in the world. This should absolutely scare the hell out of you.

The person Trump has singled out most in his racist rantings is Rep. Omar. She is Muslim and she wears a hijab and she is not taking any shit.

"This is a president who has overseen the most corrupt administration in our history," Omar said addressing Trump’s racist attacks at a press conference. "To distract from that, he’s launching a blatantly racist attack on four duly elected members of the United States House of Representatives, all of whom are women of color.”

Tlaib, Pressley and OcasioCortez stood beside her.

Omar continued, “He would love nothing more than to divide our country based on race, religion, gender, orientation, or immigration status because this is the only way he knows how to prevent the solidarity of us working together across all of our differences.”

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.

Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or staff.

SUBMISSIONS/NEWS TIPS Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to editor@sdcnn.com.

For breaking news and investigative story ideas contact the editor by phone or email.

Copyright © 2019 San Diego Community News Network

She is, of course, spot on.

Divide and conquer is the only way Trump can win. He is wildly unpopular and the majority of Americans do not support his policies. He and his supporters love to hold up Omar as the face of dangerous leftists because she doesn’t look like them. In fact, the things that Omar supports, such as free college tuition, Medicare for all, a $15 minimum hourly wage and LGBTQ equality are much more popular than the things Trump supports such as building a wall to keep brown people out of our country and caging babies.

It is easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed. But remember that saying: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” Do something.

Here’s a good place to start: usa.gov/register-to-vote —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.

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COMMUNITY VOICES / NEWS

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

Life at Shady Pines Conversations with Nicole Nicole Murray Ramirez

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ome years ago I moved into a senior housing complex that you have to be 65 years and older to move in.

It’s a five story and it’s like the United Nations as the seniors who live here are from all over the world and you hear many languages being spoken. Living here has opened my eyes to a lot of things and I have become friends with many of my neighbors. Many of them are singled widows and some are couples and married. There are about four of us LGBT seniors living here, two are in the closet and avoid me like the plague and one is a campy old sissy and I just love talking to him and gossiping. I have learned a lot about the senior world that I live in and have realized that in so many ways I am blessed and lucky. I have many friends and am always very busy and going places while so many of my fellow seniors are lonely and many have children who don't come around much or visit them at all.

But what I have noticed is that there is a sense of community in this five story building and many have made friends with each other and help each other out. For many these relationships are all they have and so these senior housing

buildings are very important. I have learned that they actually serve a purpose and in a way everyone living here is lucky because so many seniors are alone and especially LGBT seniors. Living here is a reality check for me as ambulances come here weekly and take people to the hospital, and yes, many do not come back. And since I have been here quite a few have died. Because I am so busy and always doing something I have come to realize that just by being kind and nice to my fellow seniors and having conversations with them brightens their days as for some these conversations are the only ones they have.

I have read many reports and studies on the lives of many of our LGBT seniors and many lead very lonely lives, but finally our community is beginning to realize that just as we must focus on our LGBT youth we must start focusing on our LGBT seniors.

I am glad that there are more services and activities for seniors at our San Diego LGBT Community Center. There are now even senior organizations and social clubs. People are now living longer, and our senior population is growing.

As for me and how old I am let’s say between 70 and 90 lets leave it at that and my health at times goes up and down. I am diabetic and at times suffer from depression.

I also have to use a cane to

2019 San Diego Gay Pride ambassadors

walk around but God has blessed me with good friends and an activist life that keeps me pretty busy. Living here has made me realize that in so many ways I am lucky as I have witnessed the lives of my fellow seniors around me and other LGBT seniors I know. I see seniors struggling to provide food for themselves and to get good medical care.

One of my fellow seniors I have become friends with is a 96-year young woman and her family all lives back east. She has a walker and I try to check in on her as I soon realized that all she has is all of us at "Shady Pines". Everyone of course knows I am gay here and a group of us have become like the "Golden Girls" and become good friends.

The reason I am writing this column is to ask you to please ne nicer to seniors even if you just smile and say “hi” and strike up a conversation with them. It could make their day. We are all going to get old so we should treat each other better and yes care about each other. As for me I am more grateful than ever for my close friends and LGBT family.

Indeed I am a lucky old queen.

—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

Congratulations to The Very Rev. Penny Bridges, dean St. Paul’s Cathedral for being named the 2019 Stonewall Spirit Award's Friend of Pride. (Courtesy photo) “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.

events @TheCenTer LGBT Safe S.T.A.Y. Program

Monday, July 22

The Center is happy to provide the LGBT Safe S.T.A.Y. Program (Shelter for Transitional Age Youth) for youth ages 18-24.

This 4-bed emergency housing program is available three nights per week for LGBTQ youth on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 pm-7 am. To inquire about a bed call Silvia at 619.692.2077 x124.

5:30-8 pm, The Center

nominations for The Benjamin F. Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of honor are open through July 31!

(l to r) Mx. San Diego Gay Pride Amber St. James, Mr. San Diego Gay Pride Ryan White and Miss. San Diego Gay Pride Nomi D'Shire.

On July 6, this year's Mr., Miss, and Mx. Gay Pride at a fundraiser at Flicks. Hosted by Prince Royale Steven Blocker and Princess Royale Jessica D'Nalga of Reign XLVI of the Imperial Court. The fundraiser by candidates reached $4,000 between online fundraisers, live auctions and money raised during the live show emceed by Empress XLVI Barbie Z Noers, three candidates earned the titles. Since the 1970's, the Imperial Court has selected San Diego's Pride ambassadors. This year , for the first time in San Diego history, the title of Mx. Gay Pride for inclusiveness of gender nonconforming persons. (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

The Benjamin F. Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor recognizes LGBT veterans with ties to San Diego who have taken the oath to serve our country and have done so honorably, and with distinction, acting as role models in advancing equality. The Veterans Wall commemorates these veterans’ lives in hopes that their courage, bravery, and sacrifices will continue to inspire future generations. Learn more at www.thecentersd.org/about/wall-of-honor/ lgbt-veteran-wall.

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

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facebook.com/At.The.Center

Transgender & nonbinary Identities: A Community Training The transgender community is incredibly diverse. Some transgender people identify as male or female, & some identify as nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, or somewhere else outside the gender binary. This training will leave you with a higher level of understanding of transgender & nonbinary identities, as well as offer better competency with using gender-neutral pronouns. The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Training Institute Presents a Free Community Training & Panel Monday, July 22. A free dinner will be served at 5:30 pm. The training and panel will be from 6-8 pm. The Center is wheelchair accessible. For additional accessibility requests or more information, please contact Sarah Merk-Benitez at 619.692.2077 x214 or smerkbenitez@thecentersd.org. 72-hour advance notice for ASL interpreters is much appreciated.

Thursday, August 22

Town hall For The Black LGBTQ Community 6-7:30 pm, The Center The San Diego LGBT Community Center invites you to a Town Hall for the Black LGBTQ Community. This event will center Black LGBTQ voices especially transgender women, though friends, family and chosen family of the Black LGBTQ community are welcome to join. We invite community members to share open & honest feedback with Center Leadership in this safe space. Dinner and refreshments will be provided. Visit us on Facebook for more information!

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COMMUNITY VOICES

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

gay-sd.com

When our histories are our tools and archives are our resources Out of the Archives Gabriela Serrano How do we speak of LGBTQ+ histories and highlight the many legacies that have brought us to our contemporary historical moment?

Undeniably, we must not perpetuate history as unfolding in a neat and singular fashion. To do so would be the rejection of our histories as culminations of contested facts that spur our complex narratives. On the other hand, to accept this enables us to utilize our histories as tools for change. When we affirm history as plural, as collections of simultaneously coincidental and conflicting stories, we acknowledge the multifaceted histories we are

currently building and open up space for histories we have yet to know as intimately as the 1959 Cooper Donuts Riot, the 1966 Compton Cafeteria Riot, and 1969’s legendary Stonewall riots.

It was this context, coupled with my interest to learn about LGBTQ+ histories in San Diego, which led me to volunteer at the Lambda Archives.

After a few months I was privileged to be offered an intern position. This new role granted me a particular intimacy with the collections at the Archives.

Tasked with cross-referencing the Archives’ inventories against themselves and against the collections housed on the shelves, I was able to see the depth and breadth the Archives has to offer.

Pouring over Lambda Archives’ collections was the

At San Diego Pride in 1977, many used paper bags to disguise their identity and became known as the Paper Bag Brigade.” (Photos by Lambda Archives)

The “early board” is of Lambda Archives 1992-93

catalyst for stumbling across information about many Gay and Lesbian groups organizing in Baja California, Tijuana, and San Diego. One such group was Grupo Orgullo Homosexual De Liberacion (GOHL): a homosexual group from Guadalajara, Mexico active during the 1980’s that fought for sexuality-based rights. A flyer created by GOHL announced a call to action urging folks to join a rally on July 23, 1983 to protest the unjust detention of

250 gays and lesbians and the closures of several homosexual bars and clubs by the Mexican Government.

A separate document put out by another group, Grupo De Lesbianas, declared a collective statement outlining how these Mexican Lesbian Feminists defined themselves and their movement. Together these materials highlight international solidarity and the importance of acknowledging how multiple marginalized identities influence LGBTQ+ organizing work.

Similarly, to try and identify the demographics of people who live in San Diego enables us to reframe our focus and trace the histories of communities thriving pre-settler colonial violence.

There is an inherent political and historical responsibility to understand the histories of indigenous groups. Tom Lidot, a local indigenous activist, has an oral history at the Archives describing the formation of Nations of 4 Directions. This

see Lambda Archives, pg 15

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NEWS

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GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

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FROM PAGE 3

PRIDE

Dessert added that we now also know that some LGBTQ people are immigrants or have an immigrant in their family.

There are more than 300,000 undocumented LGBTQ people in the nation and millions more who are U.S. born citizens, LGBTQ people with families that include immigrant spouses and children.

“The fight for LGBT rights is inseparable for the fight for immigration rights because immigrants are our community,” Dessert said. “For San Diegans, a border community, this matters even more. Our region made national headlines when the government's zero policy forced families apart and separated parents from their children. Our nation's collective outrage about the inhumane treatment of immigrants was happening in our own back yard. That means we have to fight back. We must stand together as San Diego's LGBTQ community to say that immigration is our issue. In the 50 years since Stonewall we have learned through each hard-won victory that this community has learned one powerful lesson. We can do incredible things together as one, strong, powerful, fierce queer community.”

The San Diego Pride Parade draws 300,000 people with more than 240 contingents. (Photos by Albert H. Fulcher) San Diego Pride Executive Director Fernando Zweifach López (They/Them/Theirs) reminded everyone that we don’t have Pride because we are free, but rather we have Pride because we are not due to systemic legal oppression and systemic social oppression.

“That is what our society was fighting 50 years ago at Stonewall and that is what we are still fighting today,” they said. “In 1969 our community

San Diego Pride staff’s Ben Mendoza proposes to Mark Maddox at the Stonewall Main Stage on Sunday, July 13.

was considered mentally ill.

Our love was devalued. And they ways that we expressed our gender, our intimacy, were literally criminal acts. But over the years as our bars were raided, our young ones ejected from their homes and people fired from their jobs.”

López said that in the summer of 1969 the LGBTQ community unlocked its own power and fought back against police brutality and since then have not let the momentum stop.

“The first Pride in San Diego was held at a time when it was legal to lobotomize gay men,” they said. “Many people had paper bags over their heads because they were afraid. They wanted to protect their identities, their careers and their very lives. But over the decades the San Diego region and San Diego Pride have been at the leading edge in fighting for our community's rights and protections.”

Spirit of Stonewall Awards were presented at the rally, with the first given to the “Stonewall Generation” this year’s Community Grand Marshall. At the rally, they recognized several people in San Diego that have used their lives to empower the LGBTQ community throughout their lives.

Those honored: Nicole Murray Ramirez, one of Pride's original founders and Queen Mother of the Americas of the Imperial Court System, Jeri Dilno, who helped Pride organize for all 45 years of its

existence, Patrick McCarron, San Diego Chapter of Dignity, and Doug Moore, founding member of San Diego Pride.

The Spirit of Stonewall Awards also recognized Community Service awardee Abráhn Monzán, Champion of Pride awardee LaRue Fields, Friends of Pride awardee The Very Reverend Penny Bridges,

Stonewall Philanthropy awardee Blue Shield of California, the Stonewall Service Award awardee The San Diego History Center, and the Inspirational Couple Award went to Ricardo Gallego and Orlando Espín.

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

In the spirit of the Stonewall riots, contingents protested the attacks on the LGBTQ community.

MICHAEL KIMMEL

Paris Sukomi Max brings local drag queens, female impersonators and local dancers with knockout performances with the “All Color Review” drag show.

Psychotherapist Author of "Life Beyond Therapy" in Gay San Diego 5100 Marlborough Drive San Diego CA 92116 (619)955-3311 www.LifeBeyondTherapy.com

DINING

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

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gay-sd.com

Al fresco all the way Fireside by the Patio

Restaurant Review Frank Sabatini Jr.

S

ince blazing onto the Point Loma dining scene in 2016, Fireside by the Patio has been feeding Liberty Station diners an array of smoked meats and roasted vegetables cooked in smokers and ovens fueled by oak. The restaurant occupies a historic structure that served as a naval fire station more than 70 years ago.

Most of the smoking and grilling equipment can be seen on the restaurant’s two spacious patios, where a majority of seating options exist directly beneath the path of planes taking off from San Diego International Airport.

Though inside you’ll find an inviting bar as well as a row of banquette tables running parallel to it. The architectural details are vintage and appealing.

I rarely favor eating outdoors for a number of reasons: kamikaze insects, chummy birds, napkin-blowing breezes, and direct sun. Also, much like aging skin, food just looks nicer under controlled, indoor light.

To my husband’s surprise, I made an exception by picking an outdoor perch. It wasn’t difficult given Fireside’s attractive patio featuring heavywood tables, orange umbrellas,

2855 Perry Road, Bldg. 8 (Liberty Station) 619-432-2100, firesidesd. com Lunch prices: Tacos and starters, $3.45 to $15.65 Salads, $11.49 to $13.76 Sandwiches, $14.67 to $17.12 custom pillows, and leafy trees incorporated thoughtfully into the layout. It was the first time I’d eaten al fresco in years— and with nary an antagonistic element sending me running inside.

Fireside is the first in a trilogy of patio-themed restaurants

by The Patio Group to roll out significant menu revisions under a fresh slate of top-rung employees. Those new hires include corporate executive chef Jarrod Moiles, and chef de cuisine Juan Pablo de Santiago, both of whom held culinary positions at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa in Rancho Santa Fe. Also, the restaurant just restarted lunch service this month. It was offered for a brief run in the earlier days, but it catch on. Perhaps it will this time around due to increased consumer traffic throughout

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Clockwise from Top: Reggie D. White and Aleque Reid; Aleque Reid; Aleque Reid and Deirdre Lovejoy. Photo by Jim Carmody.

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Lunch service has resumed this Patio Group restaurant. (Photos by Frank Sabatini Jr.) Liberty Station. Until it does, customers are asked to place their orders at the bar, grab a table and wait for their food to be brought out.

Moiles and Santiago collaborated on the lunch menu while refreshing much of the dinner offerings. What we encountered midday was a selection of “Baja Americana” starters, plus sprightly salads with various protein options, and hearty sandwiches that unapologetically don’t cater to vegetarians.

A plate of Mexican street corn (on the cob) was delightful.

With the outdoor grill dormant at this time of day, the ears were pre-roasted the previous day and then reheated in the kitchen’s wood-fired oven upon order. If the holding process hindered the corn’s integrity, it was masked beautifully by house-made tajin seasoning, citrus aioli, cilantro and a dusting of cotija cheese.

Wood-roasted cauliflower served in a wide bowl was equally complex in flavor, thanks to the interplay between tangy apple-cider vinaigrette and sweet blond raisins.

The slightly charred florets were also accented with pickled

onions, chives and sunflower seeds. At last, trendy cauliflower is given an exciting, new outfit.

Our meat parade started with strips of pork belly draping a wedge salad. The star of the dish, however, was the house-made poblano ranch dressing, which made fast friends with everything on the plate — the pork, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles and iceberg lettuce.

A tri tip street taco with onions, avocado and cilantro gave us our first taste of Fireside’s smoked beef, which to my liking was subtle in flavor.

Conversely, the ultra-tender brisket used on a well-endowed Reuben was Texas-level smokey. Served on good marble rye with Swiss cheese and spicy slaw, the sandwich is a palate pleaser provided you don’t expect the traditional flavors of a Reuben. The high smokiness of the meat puts a dramatic spin on it.

Seafood is scant on the lunch menu. There’s local ono with cilantro-corn salad and a halibut po’boy sandwich, which we tried.

Served on a brioche bun with pickle aioli, lettuce and heirloom

tomatoes, the construct exceeded in flavor its simple description due to the “chicken fried” preparation of the fish. Imagine the batter of Southern fried encasing flaky halibut. It works exceptionally well.

The company, which also operates The Patio on Lamont in Pacific Beach and The Patio on Goldfinch in Mission Hills, served up more than 700 pork tacos at this year’s fundraiser for the Rob Benzon Foundation, which helps those suffering from catastrophic events as well as charities that benefit youth and the LGBT community.

Those smoked pork tacos are on the lunch menu as well, along with other items such as smoked chicken salad with farro, a pulled pork sandwich, a double beef burger, and other enticing choices that will enable you to tune out the rumbling jet engines overhead.

—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.

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DINING

gay-sd.com

Learn the ins and outs of pasta making at Cucina Sorella. (Singler Photography)

Internationally inspired ice creams will be briefly available at Stella Jean’s. (By Haley Hill)

Cucina Sorella in Kensington will hold another pasta-making class from noon to 2 p.m., Aug. 24. Those interested should make reservations soon, as the July class sold out weeks in advance.

Executive Chef Tim Kolanko will teach attendees how to make laminated dough and stuffed pasta. The class includes a glass of wine, lunch, and freshly created pastas to take home. The cost is $82.75, which includes service fees and tax. 4055 Adams Ave., 619-281-4014, www.cucinasorella.com.

Get your brain freeze on at gay-owned Stella Jean’s in University Heights as the shop celebrates National Ice Cream Day July 21.

Chef and co-owner Gan Suebsarakham has teamed up with several other local chefs in creating six specialty flavors reflecting six countries from around the world. They include Thai tea (Thailand), pineapple dulce de leche (Brazil) and one infused with dates and pistachios (Jordan). The ice creams will be sold in scoops until they run out. 4404 Park Blvd., 619501-8252, www.stellajeans.com.

Stay tuned for a big September bash at Ponce’s Mexican Restaurant in Kensington. The beloved business is already in early preparation for its 50th anniversary.

We’re told the event will be held starting at noon in the

restaurant’s adjacent parking lot and will accommodate 300 people. It will feature food, drinks, live music and family-friendly activities. Admission price is yet to be announced.

4050 Adams Ave., 619-282-4413, www.poncesrestaurant.com.

section. Those items and more are available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The restaurant doubles as a late-night hangout from 12:30 to 3:30 a.m. on weekends, when spritzers, kombucha and coffee drinks are available. A limited food menu includes a sweet-and-savory taco featuring a waffle shell filled with eggs and bacon or turkey sausage.

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New keto-style tortillas at Rubio’s are all the rage. (Courtesy photo) Taco alert: Say hello to the new keto-style cheese tortillas now available at all Rubio’s Coastal Grill eateries. Made with a blend of mozzarella, Monterey jack and white cheddar, the shells ring in at only 2 grams of carbohydrates each. And they can be requested for any taco on the menu at no additional fee.

The company, which began 35 years ago in Mission Beach and claims to have sold 200 million tacos from 200 locations nationally, has also began catering to vegans and vegetarians more. Some of those latest items include a cilantro-lime quinoa bowl and a mango-avocado salad with grilled veggies. Locally, Rubio’s has locations in Loma Portal, Fashion Valley Mall, Pacific Beach and several other neighborhoods. www.rubios.com.

The sassiest breakfast eatery in San Diego is here. (Courtesy photo) The much-anticipated Breakfast Bitch opened in Hillcrest on San Diego Pride weekend with a playfully profane menu.

Under the “basic bitch” category are create-your-own pancakes. Selections from “skinny bitch” include light items such as avocado toast and kombucha smoothies with fruit and veggies. Dishes such as lobster Benedict and loaded croissant sandwiches await under the “main bitch”

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

Breakfast Bitch’s owners are former college and professional football player Derrell Hutsona and his wife, Tracii. The couple also runs the Los Angeles-based lifestyle management company Elite Luxe, which caters to athletes and celebrities. 3825 Fifth Ave., 877-732-4824, www.eatbreakfastbitch.com.

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

Gibran Fernandez, aka Mr. Moto, is expanding his brand. (Courtesy of Mr. Moto Pizza House)

A fifth San Diego location of Mr. Moto Pizza House has opened in Ocean Beach.

The locally based eatery, which first launched in Pacific Beach and then North Park, is named after a fictional, animated character flaunting a thick, dark mustache.

Owner Gibran Fernandez, a San Diego native who became obsessed with pizza making in his early days, admits that “Mr. Moto is my alter ego.”

He was dressed as such when making his debut in this

month’s San Diego LGBT Pride parade.

The menu is the same at all locations, which also include La Jolla and Point Loma. In addition to a large variety of pizzas (whole and by the slice), the kitchens also crank out salads, wings, calzones, meatball sandwiches and stromboli. Fernandez noted that only at the Ocean Beach is vegan pizza available by the slice. 1929 Cable St., 619-981-9777, www.mrmotopizza.com.

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GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

Ongoing Events

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ – Take a musical journey through the streets of skid row to a rundown flower shop where a bloodthirsty plant from another world eagerly awaits its next victim. Full of delightfully demented humor, this long-running off-Broadway musical comedy was inspired by Roger Corman's shockingly schlocky B-movie.

Enjoy all the bloody good fun of doo-wop inspired songs like “Somewhere That’s Green,” “Feed Me” and “Suddenly, Seymour” with this creepy, campy creature feature ... starring some of San Diego's best musical theater talent!

Runs through Aug. 4 at New Village Arts Theatre. $28$50. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. bit.ly/2XlbErQ

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 for this Sept. 14 event.

General admission: $60. VIP admission: $160. Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier. 100 N. Harbor Drive. bit.ly/2HnWRpr

CityFest Art & Music Festival – San Diego's

gay-sd.com ultimate summer art and music festival takes over 5th Avenue from noon until 11p.m. on Sunday, Aug, 11during Hillcrest CityFest!

Tje 36th annual celebration of community spirit features live bands, electric dance music DJ's, arts, crafts, and food that attracts over 150,000+ visitors from San Diego and Southern California! This is San Diego's largest and best art and music festival, stretching nearly half a mile in size on over nine city blocks. A grand stage with live music and headliner bands will keep you entertained from noon until 7 p.m., followed by headliner DJ's and wellknown talent. A massive cocktail bar and MillerCoors Beer Garden featuring Hop Valley Brewing Co.'s Reveal Pale Ale, will keep you hydrated and entertained, and over 250 vendors will give you plenty of shopping opportunities.

Located in the colorful and vibrant community of Hillcrest- our quaint shops and restaurants along; Fifth, Robinson, and University avenues will come alive with community spirit, giving you a place to dive into and explore. bit.ly/2XRWEWz

‘Rock of Ages’ – Journey back to the sexy 1980s era of big: big bands, big egos, big guitar solos and big hair!

Aqua Net, Lycra and liquor flow freely on the legendary Sunset Strip rock music scene. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star Drew longs to become the next big thing in music, and longs for fresh-off-the-bus newcomer Sherrie, a Kansas kid with stars in her eyes. This musical comedy lovingly nudges the fashion of the 1980s and features some of the best rock hits from the time with music from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and many more. Runs through Aug. 25. $45. The Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. bit.ly/2Y1aDVa

are villain, superhero, gender bender, Star Wars, Gaymer.

Each category winner wins $50 and the grand prize takes $500. Performances by Cassidy Vaiolagi Richards, Jimmy Sherfy and Eddie Loya. Sign up is at 7 p.m. 308 University Ave. bit.ly/2JEyLJC

Saturday, July 20

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live – Tickets are already on sale for the hilarious Peabody Awardwinning hit TV comedy is coming to San Diego on Jan. 25, 2020 with an all-new Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour! Join creator and original host, Joel Hodgson, in his final tour and the world’s greatest – and only – movie-riffing robots, Tom Servo, Crow, and Gypsy, as they take you on an exhilarating roller coaster ride through some of the cheesiest films ever made.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 has earned its place in history as one of the Top 100 TV Shows of all time.

Now you can sit in the same theater with your favorite characters and experience this comedy phenomenon in a universally acclaimed live event. $45.50-$65.50.

Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave. bit.ly/2Y3R5ji

Friday, July 19

PROUD+ Exhibition Artists Talk – Join local artists exhibiting in PROUD+ to hear the stories behind the art at 3 p.m. followed by a panel discussion with artist David Jester exploring the theme of his work “GRID” and its lasting impact on the Gay community at 4 p.m. Confirmed artists include Stevan Dupus, Rory Chrz and Patric Stillman. Free. The Studio Door, 3867 Fourth Ave. bit.ly/2xWRXeE

Monday, July 22

Transgender & Nonbinary Identities: A Community Training – The transgender community is incredibly diverse. Some transgender people identify as male or female, and some identify as nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, or somewhere else outside the gender binary. This training will leave you with a greater level of understanding of transgender and nonbinary identities, as well as offer better competency with using gender-neutral pronouns.

Brought to you by the San Diego LGBT Community Center's Training Institute Presents a Free Community Training & Panel. A free dinner will be served at 5:30pm.

The training and panel will be from 6-8 p.m. RSVP at the Facebook event. 3909 Centre St. bit.ly/2O0p9Nb

Tuesday, July 23

Kickxy’s ComicCon Cosplay Battle Extravaganza – During 2019 Comic-Con International, it’s going down. Join at Mo’s Bar and Grill for Kickxy’s Comic-Con Cosplay Battle Extravaganza!

Costume contest categories

ACROSS

1 1985 play about AIDS 5 Pricks 10 Score in Jill Ellis's sport 14 Gay cable network 15 Want in the worst way 16 Village Voice award 17 Walk like you're fagged out 18 Playground retort 19 Gimlet garnish 20 Singer in the “You Need to Calm Down” video 23 Buddy's hillbilly role 24 Madonna's pair 25 Wedding seater 28 Mouth-open-wide sound 31 Sevigny of “Boys Don’t Cry” 35 Hairy fairy?

36 Came to a halt 38 Stallion's supper 39 Word from a pen 40 City of “The Bird Cage” 41 Forbidden fruit eater, et al.

42 Beebo Brinker creator Bannon 43 “Heather Has Two ___” 45 Before, in verse 46 Where to find nipples 48 Pirate interjections 49 Spacey in “Beyond the Sea” 51 Fathers and sons 52 Labium 53 IRS info 54 Waters of “Hairspray” 56 Male type 58 The Connecticut Sun, for one 61 Meir contemporary 62 Spoke (up) 63 NCAA home of the Bruins 64 Spelling of “Trick” 65 Previously, previously 66 Tugboat sound 67 Gets hard 68 Transsexual Richards 69 Renate and Elton

Saturday, July 27-28

The Music of Cher – Get ready for our biggest summer blockbuster ever! It’s our all-new, nothing-heldback Cher show featuring her iconic hits belted to the high heavens in tribute to the legendary diva. Don’t miss the fishnets, feathers and hair out to there — all live on the famous Balboa Theatre stage on July 2728. You’ll love this show from Cher’s early days singing “I Got You Babe” with Sonny to her comeback sailor-boy smash “If I Could Turn Back Time” to her smoldering, scene-stealing “Fernando” from “Mama Mia 2!” Just wait until you see our 200 singers, dancers and musicians give our own hair-flippin’ spin on “Strong Enough,” “Believe” and “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me.” Calling all dark ladies, gypsies, tramps and thieves.

Don’t miss the ultimate show of the summer with the world-famous San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus! $27-$75. 868 Fourth Ave. bit.ly/2KIIrEG

QSyndicate.com

Q Q PUZZLE PUZZLE

YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN

‘The Book of Mormon’ – The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius.

Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s “The Book of Mormon,” the nine-time Tony Awardwinning Best Musical. This outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. Now with standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, “The Book of Mormon” has truly become an international sensation. Running through July 28. $36.50 - $105.50. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave. bit.ly/2Yf2hgM

solution on page 14 DOWN 1 One of Maria's mountains 2 Our sun 3 “___ Rhythm” 4 He serves drinks with foamy heads 5 Burn with water 6 That's bull, to Frida 7 State emphatically 8 Porgy’s lady 9 “Uncle Tom's Cabin” writer 10 Sheehan footwear item 11 Parting words 12 Prepare to shoot off 13 Liberace's nickname 21 Suffix with law 22 Corp. name tag 25 Sub, to Rohm 26 Left Bank river 27 “My Drunk Kitchen” star in the video 28 Lions and tigers and bears, e.g.

29 Championship figure skater in the video 30 1/4 of a pair of balls

32 “Orange Is the New Black” star in the video 33 Funny Cheri 34 To eat, to Ulrichs 36 Alt-rock genre 37 “To ___ For” (1994 gay British flick) 43 Submissions to eds.

44 ‘60s radical org.

47 Mauresmo's game 50 Keenly perceptive 54 “West Side Story” gang 55 Penetrating reed 56 On ___ with 57 Chick's suffix 59 Soothing agent for skin 60 Where to pin sweaty guys

ARTS

gay-sd.com

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

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PROUD+ exhibition at The Studio Door showcases diversity of Pride Albert H. Fulcher | Editor On July 5, The Studio Door in Hillcrest opened its main gallery for its newest display PROUD+ National LGBTQIA+ Visual Arts Exhibition. Artists from 14 states and Puerto Rico submitted artwork that represents what Pride means to them in today's world. This one time exhibit runs through July, 27.

Patric Stillman, owner of The Studio Door and one of the artists in this exhibition said that the theme brought in a myriad of responses and that the exhibit is getting a great response from the public.

"People walking in off the streets are just so energized by the different voices that they are seeing in here," Stillman said. "Part of The Studio Door's foundation is to have diverse works of art, so I think it is exciting for the artists because they get to hear what people are talking about their art, or meeting patrons when they come in. It's not just one thing.

It's abstract. One person will come in and look to someone and say, 'Look at this,' and the other person will say, 'No, come look at this.' So they actually start talking about art. That's really important. We don't talk about art enough. I hope this gallery helps give people the opportunity to do that."

This exhibit is a must see for the art lover. With a mix of mediums from clothing, acrylics, photography illustrations

and more, there is more than enough variety with the diversity of the artists' interpretations of Pride to them.

All artwork is for sale from this exhibition and outside of the main gallery, The Studio Door has 16 artists working onsite and six other exhibiting artists.

The Studio Door is located at 3867 Fourth Ave and is open Tuesday - Saturday, noon - 7 p.m. Appointment only is available Sundays and Mondays.

For more information visit TheStudioDoor.com.

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

Beaded lace appliqué teddy, beaded corset, necklace and panty with ostrich plume wings, leather coat with necklace and beaded panty, David Santillanes, San Diego. Commissioned work available.

"Good Samaritan," Rory Chrz, San Diego, oil

(Photos by Albert H. Fulcher)

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gay-sd.com FROM PAGE 8

LAMBDA ARCHIVES group served Two-Spirited Indigenous folks from eighteen reservations across the San Diego area. Being able to learn about Indigenous LGBTQ+ struggles allows us to complicate the political organizing histories here in San Diego.

It is in the same vein that encountering information on various publications of the late 70’s and 80’s centering black women/black lesbian communities is situated. A short list of a few of the publications noted include: Aché: The Bay Area’s Journal for Black Lesbians, The Black Scholar magazine, Matrix Mag, and Literary Xpress. To be able to unveil a glimpse of the literary scene for Black women/lesbians during a decade that was just beginning to confront the grievances of women of color presents an example of the ways communities advocate and support themselves. There are still many stories to be told, heard, and collectively remembered.

It is necessary to supplement the contents of the Lambda Archives with collections that emphasize Gender NonConforming communities, Intersex communities, Queer communities, LGBTQ+ Disabled communities, LGBTQ+ coalitional organizing, LGBTQ+ people of color grassroots/community organizing, trans elders, and so much more.

All this begs the question: how do we come to know our histories? What resources do we have to help us in that endeavor? Our communities are some of our most vital resources and carry with them our individual and collective lived experience. Even so, our own communities are not the

1992 pride parade archives banner

Grupo De Lesbianas

COMMUNITY VOICES only resources at our disposal. In San Diego/Southern California, Lambda Archives is one such resource. The Archives showcases San Diego specific LGBTQ+ communities and their histories. The space houses a myriad of collections, including a bisexual archive (in the LGBTQ+ spectrum the Bs are the most ignored and Lambda’s collection has more on bisexuals than most other archives in the U.S.); personal collections of prominent LGBTQ+ leaders; collections focused on LGBTQ+ events; and LGBTQ+ banner, button, and t-shirt collections.

The Archives holds collections of LGBTQ+ non-profits, collectives, business, and numerous LGBTQ+ oral histories which are accessible to the public online. Lambda Archives maintains an in-house LGBTQ+ library covering the genres of non-fiction, biography, fiction, education, academic, and more.

Yet, what is most striking about the space is that it exists as a community-based entity, one of the few freestanding LGBTQ+ archives in country, unaffiliated with any institution; it started as a community effort and continues to exist as an open and available resource to the communities to which it sees itself accountable.

Lambda Archives thrives when the communities it labors to amplify continue to utilize it.

For more information, contact the archives: info@ LambdaArchives.org or 619-260-1522.

— Lambda Archives, a 501(c) (3) dedicated to collecting, preserving and teaching the history of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in San Diego and the Northern Baja California region, is located at 4545 Park Blvd., in University Heights. To learn more, stop in or visit their website at lambdaarchives.org.

Orgullos is from the 1985 Pride parade (Photos courtesy Lambda Archives)

GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

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GAY SAN DIEGO July 19 – Aug. 1, 2019

COMMUNITY

gay-sd.com

(Photos by Albert H. Fulcher)