LGBTQ San Diego County News April 24 volume 1 Issue 15

LGBTQSD.NEWS

APRIL 24 - MAY 7, 2020 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 15

APRIL 24 - MAY 7, 2020 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 15

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LGBTQSD.NEWS

FIND INSIDE

OPEN LETTER

By Todd Gloria P2

11 MINUTES WITH GLAM

11:11 Awakening Code of Enlightment P3 DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS

Tips to stay safe in the age of remote working P4 COMMUNITY VOICES

Life Beyond Therapy P5

ENTERTAINMENT

Virtual Game Night How to Have fun with friends P7 HOT DISH

Salsa Verde Not Just for Taco Tuesday P8 RESOURCES

to Keep Kids Entertained and Learningt P10 FITNESS

Staying in Shape Virtually P11 PLUS MUCH MORE

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NEWS

APRIL 24 - MAY 7, 2020 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 15

LGBTQSD.NEWS

WOOF! MEOW!

HOW ARE YOUR BEST COMPANIONS DOING? It is scientifically proven that people who own pets are generally happier. And it is no surprise that the majority of our community members are pet owners. Have you noticed any new or peculiar traits your pet is developing?

Our staff has been discussing the random thoughts that must be going through our pets’ minds and what the meanings are behind those looks they’ve been giving us.

Here are a few of our furry friends with what we think might be some of their current thoughts.

May is this year’s National Pet Month, so we invite you to take a picture of your pet(s) and come up with a caption of what they might be thinking.

Email your pictures and captions to Editor@LGBTQSD.news

la

Marine

DEAR COMMUNITY

R

ight now, we are living through a public health crisis unlike anything we have seen in over 100 years. In California, 30,000 people have been infected by COVID-19 and more than 1,200 have died. In San Diego County, over 2,000 have tested positive and 72 have succumbed to the disease. Hundreds more are in the hospital at this moment as you read this letter.

I share these things with you not to inject fear, but to project the reality of the situation we face.

It is in these situations that people look to government for leadership. It is, therefore, incumbent on elected officials to be transparent, honest, to communicate facts, and to act in the best interest of public health and safety. It is in these moments that we must act based upon science, not politics.

The reality posed by COVID-19 has caused the state, the county, and the city of San Diego to take significant action to keep everyone healthy and safe. These actions have impacted all of us — from renters to small business owners, from students to senior citizens. I see this, I know this, and I am working with my colleagues at every level of government to mitigate these impacts.

Last month, the Legislature allocated up to $1 billion to address COVID-19. The first batch of these funds, $150 million, went to protect our unsheltered population across the state.

San Diego has received more than $7 million to make sure those experiencing homelessness can become sheltered during this time and less at-risk of contracting COVID-19.

Because many Californians are unable to work or have had their hours reduced during this time, the state has redirected resources to bolster service in our unemployment insurance program. Hundreds of state workers have been re-assigned to process unemployment claims and we have extended call center hours to 12 hours of service to ensure that those who have questions or need help can access it.

For renters, both state and local directives

have halted evictions due to inability to pay rent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic through May 31. While this is technically a rent deferral and not rent forgiveness, we continue to work to figure out how we address this going forward.

We know it’s a significant hardship to have multiple months of rent come due at the same time, and we are looking to the federal government for assistance in this matter. Importantly, renters who aren’t able to pay rent must be in touch with their landlord to inform them.

For homeowners, a number of banks and lenders are providing mortgage payment relief during this time. This relief will allow you to reduce or defer your monthly mortgage payment. Be in contact with your lender directly to find out specific provisions and how to access this relief.

For small businesses, the state is offering the deferral of up to $50,000 in sales taxes as well as micro-loans through the state’s I-Bank.

In addition, the federal government is offering significant funding through its Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Assistance Loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

What this all means is that we are stepping up to meet this moment and address the impacts of COVID-19.

This is a hard time for all of us. I know practicing social isolation is particularly hard for our community. But what is important to know is that you are not alone. None of us are alone in this. All of us carry a responsibility — a responsibility to stay home, to check in and support one another, and to remember that we will get through this.

San Diego has faced crisis before. The LGBTQ community has faced crisis and despair like this before. In every instance, we have banded together, we rose to the occasion, and we overcame. COVID-19 will be no different. We are all in this together.

Assembly member Todd Gloria

Finally you understand why I want you home...

To keep you safe!

Ugh! Why are you humans home so much lately?

You’re really interrupting my nap schedule.

Moose

420 quarentine life...and what?

n

Salmo

NEWS

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Jax, Kevin & Louis Don’t judge us! y do e usuall This is what w t work. when you’re a

11 MINUTES WITH GLAM, AND THEN SOME!

By Glitz Glam

E Look into my eyes...

The cat is my master I will obey!

Remy

Salmon

Kylo

I don’t know anything about those charges on your credit card.

Shhhh... quiet!

Buffy is on.

And Yes I’m a fang!

very March, I take my annual GLAMINVASION to South Florida to visit/terrorize family, friends and the old stages where Glitz was born. I was to embark on 12 glorious days on March 15…who knew the world would be closed to me the day before I was supposed to leave?

Up until recently, you could always find me on a Tuesday night at the world-famous Urban MO’s Bar and Grill. Always being silly, singing and dancing around to showtunes, while slinging never-ending bowls of Spaghetti. That particular Tuesday was also the kickoff to what was supposed to be our Leather Pride Weekend. Now, we all knew it (COVID-19) was coming but what we didn’t realize was that it was already here. Fast forward three days to Friday the 13th (what an appropriate day for the “shit” to proverbially hit the fan): I got the call that a friend had tested positive and since I had hugged him on Tuesday, I had been exposed to a highly contagious virus.

I immediately thought of my staff and guests at MO’s, so I left the building and notified my husband that we needed to do the responsible thing and quarantine immediately.

That was 40 days ago and since then, the world as we know it has ended and it will never be the same again. There are so many questions: Will we ever feel normal again? When will we be able to go back to work? Can our employers afford to weather this storm? How long will that take?

Will I catch it? Do I have it? Will I die?

Both my husband and I are long-term HIVpositive survivors, so we are no strangers to the fear that revolves around them. For us, we just try to maintain life as usual. Wake up, coffee, yoga, two eggs over medium and toast, walk around the neighborhood, light workout and then we have daily cleaning projects — we call it “the purge.” Over the last month, it’s moved through the kitchen cabinets, hallway closets, bedroom and bathrooms. We have thrown away 10 years’ worth of clutter and still have the hubby’s workshop and drag room to complete. So, on the home front, we are good and grateful to have each other for support. Some days are a rollercoaster of emotions and he’s always there for me to get back on track and remind me of all the things to be grateful for.

This got me thinking more of my friends and family who are all alone right now though. Some are doing great; I don’t have to worry about my computer-introverted friends, they are used to the isolation — but there are so many that thrive on social interactions. We all need human connection to some degree. So, I started thinking:

What can I do for them? How can we connect and social distance at the same time? What can I share to help them through this?

“11 Minutes with Glam” — it’s a combination of everything I’ve learned from MO’s Universe training and the “11:11 Awakening Code to Enlightenment.” The world and everything in it, when broken down, is simply molecules bouncing off each other creating energy and vibration. We are nothing more than trillions and trillions of particles bouncing off each other and I’ll let you in on a little secret…you control it. This is why we love music — the vibration raises our own and we want to dance. What’s better than dancing alone?

Dancing with others. It feels good to raise your vibration, which makes you happy and when you are happy, you attract other happy people.

Time is speeding up and we are accelerating into a higher state of awareness.

The shift began on 11/11/11 and now the 11:11 time stamp is a marker, a signal that we are birthing a new Earth. Everything that is happening is due to a shift in consciousness. As a society, we have migrated into our heads and have gotten trapped in our minds. The vicious cycles of needing acceptance through social media and influencers creating paradigms of likes being the only way to achieve validation has created a toxic storm — and it needs to change. Physically, this has resulted in a life based on consumption and waste that has been slowly suffocating our planet since the industrial revolution. This is not the way we should live; we need to come back home to the heart and be present in our lives. We all need to stop and reflect right now; take this as an opportunity to slow down and find yourself again.

I invite everyone to set a timer and at 11:11 a.m./p.m., stop, close your eyes and picture white, healing light and think good, positive vibes for all. The idea is that collectively, we can all think positive, healing thoughts at the same time to raise the vibration of the planet. I hope you join me every morning at 11 a.m. for a little uplifting moment to change the world together. #ChurchofGlam You can also join MO’s Universe each Sunday for our Digital T Dance from 1-5 p.m. to enjoy some live local DJs and then the MO’s HO’s Beatdown at 5 p.m. with my sisters — Kickxy Vixen Styles, Disco Dollie and my daughter dear Mariam T — as we bring some color and the love of drag in this time of darkness. Each week, there is a different makeup challenge. Let’s have a Livestream Kiki Sundays at 5 p.m. on the Urban MO’s Facebook feed. #moshosbeat

Remember:

“You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying.

What you can do is calm yourself.

The storm will pass.” — Timber Hawkeye

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DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS Summer Stephan —District Attorney Summer Stephan has dedicated more than 29 years to serving justice and victims of crime as prosecutor.

She is a national leader in fighting sex crimes and human trafficking and in creating smart and fair criminal justice solutions and restorative justice practices that treat the underlying causes of addiction and mental illness and that keep young people from being incarcerated.

PUBLIC SERVICE / OPINION

TIPS TO STAY SAFE

LGBTQ San Diego County News PO Box 34664 San Diego, CA 92163 858.886.9458 PUBLISHER Terry Sidie

IN THE AGE OF REMOTE WORKING

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Nicole Murray Ramirez nicolemrsd1@gmail.com 619-241-5672 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A. Reyes creativedirector@lgbtqsd.news

(Photo by rawpixels.com)

• Safeguard home Wi-Fi by having the network encrypted with the WPA2 security option. Instructions on how to do this on your home network can be found online through a simple web search. s your district attorney, I’m committed • Never use a public Wi-Fi network to to increasing communication and acces- complete job assignments. sibility between the DA’s office and you, the • Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to community. One way I have been doing that is further protect your home network. Some emthrough this monthly column, where I provide ployers may even have corporate VPNs that consumer tips on public safety matters. you may use to access your company network.

As more people than ever are working re• If your company has a VPN, always use it. motely because of the COVID-19 stay-at-home • If possible, keep your personal devices sepaorder, the cyber protection typically offered by rate from the devices used for remote work. the office computer is lacking. Hackers know • Use mobile device management software so this and are working overtime to access vulner- that you can remotely wipe or delete sensitive able computers. That’s why it’s important to information if the device is stolen or lost. be aware of cyber hygiene and how we can im• Always be vigilant when working with senprove and safeguard our personal computers. sitive information. Look around your workWorking from home can present unexpectspace and block any sight lines from nearby ed challenges, such as we saw with “Zoombowindows or hallways. mbing,” when bad actors hacked into Zoom video conference meetings to cause trouble.

KEEP YOUR COMPUTER When using telework/remote conference apAND OTHER DEVICES UP TO DATE: plications, make sure it has robust security • You may be used to having your work comfeatures and that those features are enabled puter updated by the office IT department, so that unwanted people don’t show up in however, with your personal computer only your remote meetings. you are responsible for keeping it up to date.

Below are tips to help you maintain • Be sure that all your computer’s programs computer safety. are up to date and that all your devices have the latest security patches.

STRENGTHEN YOUR • All other devices, like routers and tablets, PERSONAL SECURITY: should be up to date as well so that your home • Always use a strong password. Hint: not network can be thoroughly safeguarded from the name of your pet or children. Instead, hackers. use a combination of letters upper and lower • Encrypt removable media on your devices so case, numbers and symbols. that they can be protected in case the device is • Have anti-virus software on all devices. stolen or lost.

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USE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION: • Two-factor authentication is when a website or app has the user enter two passwords to log in. One password may be a normal password you enter at a login screen and the second may be random number code sent to your smartphone or a fingerprint scan.

• If you have the option to use two-factor authentication, always use it.

AVOID PHISHING SCAMS: • A phishing scam is when a fraudster attempts to use an email or text message to try to obtain personal or sensitive information from you.

• Be observant when you receive an unexpected email or text message. Scammers often send emails or text messages that look like they’re legitimate, even posing as a co-worker or supervisor.

• If you get an email from a co-worker asking you click on a link or transfer sums of money, call the co-worker to verify before acting.

• Never click links in unsolicited emails or text messages.

• Do not give out personal identifying information in response to an unsolicited email, text message, or phone call.

• Look out for spelling mistakes, suspicious email/web addresses, and immediacy. Most phishing scams try to instill a sense of immediacy and panic to scam you into acting.

As many of us are now working from home, it’s all the more important to practice good cyber hygiene so you can be sure that your remote office is as safe as your real office.

EDITOR editor@lgbtqsd.news SALES sales@lgbtqsd.news STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Big Mike Phillips Bmsd1957@gmail.com 619-807-7324 COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA info@lgbtq.news CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alex Padilla Blake and Gwen Beckom Glitz Glam Max Disposti Michael Kimmel Neal Putnam Summer Stephan Todd Gloria

DISTRIBUTION LGBTQ San Diego County News is distributed free every other Friday of the month. © 2020. All rights reserved.

OPINION/LETTERS LGBTQ San Diego County News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email them directly to editor@lgbtqsd.news and include your name, 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 publishers or staff.

SUBMISSION/NEWS TIPS Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to editor@lgbtqsd.news. For breaking news and Investigative story ideas, contact the editor by phone or email.

Copyright © 2020 LGBTQ San Diego County News Editor’s Note: The opinions written in this publication’s editorial and opinion pages are the author’s own and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff and/or publisher of LGBTQ San Diego County News. The newspaper and its staff should be held harmless of liability or damages.

LGBTQSD.NEWS

COMMUNITY VOICES

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(Photos by rawpixels.com)

LIFE BEYOND THERAPY Michael Kimmel —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.

THE SILVER LINING WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE PANDEMIC?

I

f the pandemic is a huge, dark cloud, then where’s the silver lining? I am not a Pollyanna, but when life deals me a bad hand, I try to make the best of it. When I make a mistake, I do my best to learn from it so I won’t make that mistake again.

A pandemic is a big, cosmic mistake. It’s easy to blame Trump and his minions (I admit it, I do) but it only makes me feel worse to focus on his poor behavior. I have been through the phase where I posted his foibles on Facebook, but that didn’t take me anywhere I wanted to go. Venting is good — for a little while — but then it gets depressing.

I have been working with clients through FaceTime and discovered that there’s a lot we can learn from this pandemic-ed time, if we are open to the lessons available. So this column is about the “silver lining” in the enormous cloud that is the coronavirus pandemic.

When times get tough, how do we cope? This is worth knowing. It’s a great time to learn about ourselves and our relationships. What we choose to do with that information is up to us.

And, when this is all over, will we go back to the way we lived in January and February, or will we use what we’ve learned to make some changes?

Here are some possible “silver linings” I’m seeing from my therapist’s chair: If we are part of a couple, we get to see the cracks in our relationship. We can see, thanks to the pandemic and mutual quarantine, where our relationship works really well (yay!) and where it doesn’t (hmmmm). Temporary regression — typical of a crisis period — shows us where we still have unresolved issues: how our partner makes us angry, frustrated, pissed off; when we are judgmental and intolerant; where our nerves are fried and our patience vaporates.

I wonder if there will be a lot of broken relationships and divorces after the pandemic. Will people have had enough of their partners? Will we have seen more than we can handle? More than we can accept or forgive? That’s one way to cope. Another way is to use this information to improve our relationships. We have been shown where the cracks are, where the weak spots are…can we use that information constructively or will we just run away?

If we are alone, we can see what all the distractions in our lives have been hiding: what about ourselves do we find hard to accept?

What is it about being alone that’s so painful? This is why we normally have so many external distractions — going places, doing things, buying stuff — keeping us so busy that we don’t have time for any internal contemplation. We’re so busy “doing” stuff that we don’t let ourselves “be,” e.g., slow down and check in with ourselves on a regular basis. This pandemic has forced many of us, myself included, to slow down and check in.

I’ve read that business at liquor stores and dispensaries is booming. At first, this made me laugh. Then, it made me wonder: “During this scary time, how are we numbing ourselves?” When we spend this much time in isolation or quarantine, unemployed (or employed in a strange, new way), it becomes clear that we want to numb our difficult emotions. Do we typically work so much that we don’t have time to feel sad or lonely? Do we go out so much to avoid admitting to ourselves how unhappy we are? Do we drink too much, smoke too much weed, eat too much in order to numb the difficult feelings that lurk just beneath the surface?

Lately, during these days of the pandemic, I have also asked my clients questions like:

• How well can you adapt to change?

• How much structure do you need in your life?

• How self-directed are you?

Confident, secure people use everything that happens to them to learn something. Sure, the pandemic sucks, but even so, what can we learn from it? Where is our “silver lining”?

It’s here, if we’re willing to see it.

“when life deals me a bad hand, I try to make the best of it. When I make a mistake, I do my best to learn from it.”

The Center is here for you during COVID-19, offering Emergency Services: • Emergency Referral & Help Desk • Behavioral Health Services by Zoom Health Care • Individual Program Meetings & Check-Ins via Zoom

• Critical Housing Needs • HIV Testing by Appointment • Food Resources

If you need Emergency Services, please call The Center at 619.692.2077 x 211 Based on guidance from public health officials CENTER EMERGENCY FUND and out of concern for our community – The Please help us continue Center must also postpone our major fundraising to provide these events, Dining Out For Life® San Diego and the life-changing services annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. If you are during COVID-19. able, please donate so that we can continue our Emergency Services at thecentersd.org/giving thecentersd.org/giving The San Diego LGBT Community Center • 3909 Centre Street • 619-692-2077 www.thecentersd.org

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NEWS Graphic by freepik.com

LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE CENSUS! A MESSAGE FROM CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE ALEX PADILLA

As of last week, more than 46% of all households across California have responded to the 2020 census! That’s 6.9 million households — making California the state with the most households that have already responded to the census.

But, we still have millions more California households to go to achieve a fair and accurate count.

If you still haven’t responded to the 2020 census, it’s not too late. Households that have not yet responded to their census invitation should have started to receive a paper questionnaire in the mail as of April 8.

That means, while Californians are at home social distancing, they can now respond to the census by mail, online or by phone.

• To complete the census online, go to my2020census.gov.

• To respond by phone, call 844-330-2020. Or go to https://2020census.gov/en/contact-us for non-English.

Completing the census only takes about 10 minutes and will help your community for the next 10 years! Census participation determines each community’s share of federal funding for health care, schools, roads, and more for the next decade.

When you complete the census, make sure that everyone who lives in your household is counted. That includes all children and any extended family or friends who are living with you (regardless of immigration, citizenship, or voter registration status — everyone needs to be counted).

Remember, participation is simple, quick and confidential. To learn more about your rights, you can read California’s Census Bill of Rights.

Once you complete the census, help us spread the word. Forward this email to your family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers and remind them that it’s critical that everyone participate in the 2020 census.

Let’s get counted, let’s get funded, and let’s continue to stand up for democracy!

LGBTQSD.NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

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Graphic by freepik.com

VIRTUAL GAME NIGHT

By Cesar A Reyes

A

s we deal with social distancing and self-isolation, we find ourselves missing our friends and family and interacting with them. But we are all tech-savvy and there are plenty of things we can do to connect with other virtually. So get some snacks and invite your friends to connect for a virtual game night.

First, let’s get connected. Here are a few options of apps to use to do a group video chat.

OK, on to the games.

EASY AND FUN

LOG ON TO GAME

Read my lips

While chatting as a group, each player alternates turning off their microphone and speaking a short phrase or sentence.

Whoever can correctly guess what was said first wins a point. The first person to get 10 points wins.

Zoom:

One of the most popular due to its reliability, solid web integration and other features; good for big groups.

Charades

This can be done in teams and each team can assign one word or phrase to one of the opposite teams by texting one of those team members the phrase in question.

That person acts the phrase out (without using words) and the team with the most correct guesses wins.

Pictionary

Facebook Messenger:

Similar to charades. Same concept but instead of acting out the word or phrase, players draw. Both of these games can be set up ahead of time with categories or themes to make it even more fun.

Pogo

This is a free online gaming service. It has more than 100 games — everything from puzzles, sports, word games, etc. You can play Risk, Yahtzee, Monopoly, chess and more. Upgrade the subscription for more access. pogo.com

Easy to use and many of us already have it since it comes bundled with Facebook accounts. It supports up to 8 people.

Tabletopia House Party:

This is a good option for close groups of friends since it’s an app that also lets you know when someone is available or you can let them know to join in the chat with minimal fuss. This app has some built-in games that are also fun.

Another free portal gives users access to more than 800 games. Players can choose from board games to strategy games and can be filtered by age, number of players and overall play time. Upgrade to premium for even more options. tabletopia.com Don’t forget the snacks and let’s get ready to have a fun night.

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HOT DISH

SALSA VERDE NOT JUST FOR TACO TUESDAY

By Cesar A Reyes

W

e all have been craving Mexican food and no, we are not talking Taco Bell, we mean some authentic Mexican flavors. This issue, I want to teach you one of the basic salsas — one that is very versatile (really versatile, not like some of you fibbers) — that will bring some flavor into your kitchen.

However, there is nothing basic about this green salsa! With the right amount, you can make some for dipping or to add to that taco, use it to make some delicious green chilaquiles for breakfast, and for a fabulous dinner, why not some creamy green chicken enchiladas? Told you it was versatile.

DIPPING OR TACO SALSA (basic quantity) INGREDIENTS:

10 tomatillos 1/2 cup of chopped onion 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro 1 garlic clove 1/2 serrano pepper (this is all depending on your desired spice level)

PREPARATION:

Tomatillos naturally have a sticky coating that comes off when they are soaked in warm water.

In a small pot, bring a 1/2 cup of water, diced tomatillos, onion, garlic, and serrano pepper to a boil. After it boils, let it simmer in low heat for 5 minutes. After it simmers, turn heat off and set aside to cool down 10-15 minutes.

In blender or food processor, blend the ingredients with the chopped cilantro. You can determine how chunky or smooth you want the consistency.

I like some slight chunk to my salsa.

CHILAQUILES (makes 8 servings) Double the quantity for basic salsa

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

1 package of fresh tortilla chips you can get at your local Mexican grocery store (not Tostitos, please) or quickly fried 1/4-sliced tortillas. You will need at least 20 tortillas if you decide to fry your own.

1 8-ounce container sour cream for garnish 1 8-ounce pack of Monterey jack shredded cheese for garnish Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION:

In 1 tablespoon of oil, cook the salsa, bring to a boil, season with a pinch or two of sea salt and a pinch or two of pepper.

Add in small batches of the tortilla chips to the salsa. Let them soak up the salsa and soften a little.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and cheese.

For breakfast, you can add a sunny side up egg to top it off.

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HOT DISH / OPINION

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CREAMY ENCHILADAS (makes 25 enchiladas)

Double the quantity for basic salsa 1 8-ounce container of sour cream

OTHER INGREDIENTS FOR FILLING: 1 chicken breast, cooked and sheered 3 poblano peppers 3 cups of diced mushrooms 2 cups of corn 1 finely chopped garlic clove 1/2 cup of chicken broth

RAISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF CARING FOR EACH OTHER

PREPARATION OF FILLING:

First, char the poblano peppers. In a skillet, in high heat, place peppers to blister and char. After all sides have blistered, remove and place in a small plastic bag and put a damp towel over it to create steam inside the bag. (Let sit for 5-10 minutes to have all the blistered skin detach with the steam so it’s easier to remove.) Tip: To avoid getting some of the spicy heat on your fingers when you remove the skin and de-vein, put a couple of drops of cooking oil all over your hands (like lotion).

This completely works to avoid keeping the spice from soaking into your fingers if there are any peppers that happen to have a kick. After this process, slice the peppers into thin, long slices (rajas).

In a hot pan, add 1 tablespoon of oil and cook chopped garlic till translucent; add chicken and slices of poblano peppers. Simmer and add mushrooms, add 1/2 cup of chicken broth and place a lid on it so it steams and simmers (you know it’s all good when the mushrooms turn a darker brown color). Add the corn and season with salt and pepper.

(For a vegetarian or meatless option, just don’t add chicken and use vegetable stock instead)

PREPARATION OF SAUCE:

To our already-prepared sauce (you double and follow our basic recipe), add an 8-ounce container of sour cream and blend till smooth.

PREPARATION OF TORTILLAS:

You can either quickly fry each tortilla using a skillet and a 1/2 cup of oil, letting them rest in a paper towel to soak up excess oil. This step allows the tortillas to be more flexible when rolling them. But if you don’t want all the extra oil, you’ll have to warm up the tortillas so they’re soft.

TIME TO ASSEMBLE:

In a large baking pan, spray with nonstick cooking spray. Spread spoonful of sauce across the bottom.

To each tortilla, add a spoonful of filling and roll, stacking them next to each other. Spoon and roll. Spoon and roll. After all are assembled, cover them with sauce (yes, they will look like they’re drowning in sauce but remember, the tortilla soaks it up so you’ll want plenty to avoid drying them out). Sprinkle 3/4 of the package of cheese on top and cover the pan with foil paper.

Pre-heat oven at 350 and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil paper and let cook for another 5 minutes so all the cheese on top gets melty and gooey.

Take out of the oven (be careful, it’s hot) and let them cool down.

Don’t keep inside oven because the heat will dry them up.

Plate and garnish with some sour cream, extra cheese and some finely chopped cilantro.

Enjoy, amigos.

By Max Disposti Executive Director of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center

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eople protesting against the lockdown: I feel for you and the concern you express about certain liberties being taken away during this pandemic. What is it that makes you so uncomfortable — the possible infringement of our American freedoms or the sacrificing of our daily lives for the well-being of others?

At this very moment, people are detained in jail like criminals in hopes for the right to legally enter this country. Thousands of children were forcibly separated from their families to never be seen again. Black and brown folks are disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus under a judicial and economic system that has prevented them equity and access. Millions of poor people in America are banned from enjoying the fruits of our progress like health care, fair treatment and justice, while health workers lack the necessary protection to serve in our hospitals.

Is this protest really about your rebellion against a tyrannical government or the fact that you are asked for once to care for others? To give up, for a very short time, your individualistic needs and look at our community’s collective needs as a whole?

The reality is that you are not courageous, rebellious or independent. Not at all! You are the product of a consumeristic society that has indirectly imposed poverty, war, hunger and violence onto Max Disposti another demographic of America for more than a century. You are angry because you are forced to taste a very small piece of that deprivation in your own reality, in your own home. I get it, you are afraid. We all are. Your fragility is evident, you stumble on toilet paper, purchase your guns, theorize a possible government takeover when you have elected tyranny in the first place.

Look around you: millions of Americans are caring for each other, showing compassion and concern about their community, especially the most fragile. There is a web of love, solidarity, support and sacrifice like we haven’t seen in a long time.

We are not cowards for staying home. We are the America that adjusts, changes and evolves. The America that has fought for our civil and equal rights, many times at the cost of our own lives. The America that does not stop in the face of conspiracy ideas; ideas that only aim to instill fear for each other and everything, to then leave us without solutions and with a sense of apathy and distrust that makes us powerless instead.

We are the America that — with science, medicine, collective efforts and a good sense of justice (but more importantly love) — has fought for the well-being of everyone, yes, yours included.

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(Photo by rawpixels.com)

One web resource we are obsessed with is the San Diego Children’s Museum because of all the daily activity blogs it has for people to take advantage of. One day you can make “Leaf Creatures” with natural materials, the next day you can do an educational scavenger hunt!

The possibilities they provide are plentiful! https://bit.ly/3br2C3q

RESOURCES TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED AND LEARNING

By Cesar A Reyes

OK If you have a child that loves animals and nature or want to have your child discover the animal kingdom, they can take a virtual dive tour from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (I know it’s a mouthful). They can dive into a colorful coral reef tour, swim with seals, or explore a shipwreck. https://bit.ly/2VqDMLp

, so how is home-schooling working out?

Is it getting overwhelming for the parents and the children? Can we all agree at this point that teachers are definitely underpaid?

If only there were some entertaining and educational activities online that you and your child can do to get the creative juices flowing. Aha! We found some, read on!

If you have a child who loves computers and “Star Wars,” they can learn coding with some fun “Star Wars” games that are also available offline through Hour of Code. https://code.org/starwars For a fun classroom, check out Crash Course — a YouTube channel offering lessons, exercises and quizzes. Very visual and very active, it will grab your child’s attention. With lots of videos on specific topics, they won’t run out of material to learn. https://thecrashcourse.com/

You cannot spell learning without PBS and they have a great resource with games and lessons in PGB Kids. Let’s face it, kids these days love a video game or a character-based lesson and PBS Kids has all their favorites teaching them something new. https://pbskids.org/

If your child loves space and aircrafts, you can have them log onto the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s “Air and Space Anywhere” website, where they can find educational podcasts, games and activities about aircrafts and spacecraft. The site also has K-12 learning resources with lessons, activities and videos. https://bit.ly/2VLfBqg

Arts and crafts are the best way for some kids to learn and the following are some resources they will really enjoy while expanding their creativity.

If your child is more about the inner workings of theme parks, then have them learn how to build their own theme park from Pixar and Khan Academy with “Imagineering in a Box” virtual lessons. https://bit.ly/2VLV4BP

If you have a child who loves to draw, then tune them into daily cartooning lessons from MazeToon’s Joe Wos via his YouTube channel. https://bit.ly/2Vt0frt

If you have a black-and-white printer, here is a fun, free coloring book that kids can enjoy: “The Little World of Liz Climo.” https://adobe.ly/2zfZYzf

Keeping with the drawing lessons, Disney Parks Blog has some character-drawing videos by Disney Park artists that even you will want to try out. https://bit.ly/34VeNmE

One last recommendation is Camp Hello Bello, a site that has art, music and cooking activities — and they’re all curated by Kristen Bell (and you know we love her). She has so many fun activities that you can share with your child. camphellobello.com

FITNESS

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STAYING IN SHAPE VIRTUALLY

By Blake and Gwen Beckom

Photo by freepik.com

I

t has been over a month now since we have been forced closed due to COVID-19. It takes about six solid weeks of effort to develop a sustainable habit, but the loss of said habit is much faster when you end the habit abruptly given the hand the pandemic dealt to us all. Most, if not all of you, have lost your workout outlet, and some of you have given in and given up entirely. The poor food choices are easier and the alcohol to dampen the blow of it all, is more in vogue. But it doesn’t have to be. Many of us are using the time to focus even more so on our fitness and wellbeing. Are you the latter, or the former?

At the time of this writing, it appears to me at least, that we are in for several more weeks, if not a couple of months of further restrictions on life as we once knew it. We can sit idle and wait, hoping we can make a big comeback, not gain too much weight, or not get sick, or…. we can control what we can control and do something about it all. A fit person eats better, sleeps better and makes better nutrition choices, is on less meds, has a lower BMI and better overall health — all of which fight disease. Why would you not want that?

With virtual training, we bring the pre-programmed fitness session to you. Pre-planned sessions designed to fit your needs, your goals, your ability and your schedule. The first session is all about set-up, in home or office location, camera angles, what you have or don’t have equipment-wise, which matters not. You will be surprised at the things you have at home that we use to build sessions with. If you are afraid that the value of your time won’t be worth it, with virtual training, why not give one session a try? If you don’t like it, it’s on us. Here are testimonials from just a few of our group here in Mission Hills, people you may know:

Alex (client since December 2019, with 18 VT sessions under her belt at end-of-day April 24) “I was incredibly nervous about the progress that I’d made up to this point going to waste once the quarantine hit, but I’ve been so excited to see that I’m actually continuing to get stronger and more toned while doing our virtual workouts. I have been sore after every session and feel like I’m burning just as many calories in my office as I was in the studio before!”

Greg (client since June 2017, with 17 VT sessions under his belt at end-of-day April 24) “Working out, with online coaching, allows me to do the three things that were important to me when I started with Fitness Together: be accountable to someone else, enjoy variety in the types of exercises I do, and to have someone continue to challenge me to move closer to my goals. I don’t use a lot of stuff. I have some water bottles, a yoga mat, a broom handle, some folded towels. But I’m able to continue to make progress with Blake, when I’m sure I would lose ground if I tried to do this on my own. The virtual coaching is not a big obstacle. I encourage other people to try it; I think you’ll be happy with the workouts.”

We are very proud of our community for living out the “improvise, adapt, and overcome” mentality.

There is no reason to not take advantage of virtual training. It’s effective, challenging and fun.

One of the greatest moments in life is realizing that two weeks ago, your body couldn’t do what it just did.

Sue (client since June 2019, with 18 VT sessions under her belt at end-of-day April 24) “A big shout out and thank you to Vincent at Fitness Together Mission Hills. The virtual training has been so helpful during this difficult time. Although I miss going to the location and seeing everyone, working out on FaceTime with Vincent in my own home has been keeping me physically and mentally on track.”

Anne (client since June 2017, with eight VT sessions under her belt at end-of-day April 24) “I do appreciate the fact that I am exercising again.

Anything that feels even slightly normal is welcome!”

David (client since March 2020, with 18 VT sessions under his belt at end-of-day April 24) “I wasn’t sure how training at home would work, but a willingness to say, ‘I’ll give it a try,’ has shown me it provides a challenge in creative ways that are engaging and leave me sore. All it took was creating a bit of physical space but more importantly, the head space to jump in and commit. It has given me some regularity to my week, the opportunity to continue working out, and a chance to make progress toward my goals...all while still breaking a sweat!”

Fitness Together Mission Hills opened in October of 2007 providing exclusive, one-on-one, private, age-based, ability-appropriate fitness training in an appointment-only, private on-site suite setting or virtually. Fitness and nutrition programs are customized for all ages. See what others are saying about us on Yelp and Listen 360.

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METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

WE ARE CONNECTED IN SPIRIT

By Neal Putnam

T

he 50th anniversary of the founding of the Metropolitan Community Church in San Diego will be celebrated June 7 in a more subdued way than originally planned as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

All services for now are online only for viewing on the church’s Facebook page and also on YouTube. For now, it is assumed the governor’s stay-at-home order will still be in effect on June 7.

MCC had planned on having the denomination’s founder, Rev. Troy Perry, preach in a service on June 7, with the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir in an outdoor tent in the parking lot.

The big celebration was moved to June 6, 2021 “so we can celebrate without social distancing and be together in person,” announced Rev. Caedmon Grace on April 12.

“We are connected in spirit,” said Senior Pastor Dan Koeshall, who noted that the recent online viewing of Easter services showed “more people here right now than would fit in our sanctuary.”

“We may be physically apart these days,” said Koeshall. “Thanks for the miracle of technology, we can remain connected and we can be supportive of one another.”

“With the uncertainty of when social distancing will be relaxed,” the board of directors “felt it was prudent to wait” until 2021 for the big celebration, said Lee Bowman, minister of communications.

Bowman added that a lot of “lead time was required to put all of the pieces together, such as travel for guests and the tent.”

“We’re still going to celebrate the 50th anniversary online,” said Al Smithson, the vice moderator of the church’s board of directors and an original founding member from 1970.

“We have received a proclamation from the mayor to honor the 50th anniversary,” said Smithson.

San Diego Pride also announced there will be no parade or festival in July as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Comic-Con also canceled its July 2020 San Diego convention.

“We do best when we hold each other up,” said Koeshall in his April 19 sermon. “We’re all going

through this together. You’re not alone wherever y ou are.”

1970 was really a different time, recalled Smithson. “We even had what we called a bar ministry,” he added. “Every Friday or Saturday night, a little group of us would go around to all the gay bars handing out fliers to invite people to come to church the next day,” said Smithson.

Smithson said MCC was the first gay organization in San Diego to purchase real estate. The church was located in Golden Hill and eventually moved to North Park. The church lost its parking lot and sold the North Park building. MCC began services at the LGBT Center in Hillcrest.

In 2009, the church purchased a building at 2633 Denver St. in Bay Park. Thanks to the generosity of longtime members Ben Dillingham and Fred Hammond, who both passed away in 2017, the church paid off its mortgage in 2018.

The church started with 10 members in 1970. In 1980, it had grown to 400. The AIDS epidemic, however, struck the congregation in the 1980s and 1990s, killing approximately 170 members.

A growing number of straight people attend services. Some are parents of various members and others have joined because of the open acceptance they experience at MCC. Not everyone believes the same things. About a third of the congregation comes from Catholic faith, and others have come from fundamentalist or evangelical denominations who do not accept LGBT people.

Steve Ebner, a retired Methodist pastor, attends MCC and he leads a Bible study, which for now is online only. A Muslim man attended MCC because he wanted to congregate with an LGBT faith group that he could not find in his mosque.

Associated Press did a story some years ago that raised the question whether MCC is needed today because some denominations also welcome LGBT people.

It is true that some churches have changed, but friends and members at MCC still feel its message of God’s unconditional love is needed today.

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