LGBTQ San Diego County News March 4 2022, Volume 3 Issue 11

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MARCH 2022 voluMe 3 issue 11

MARCH 4, 2022 voLuME 3 iSSuE 11

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LGBTQSD.NEWS

cOMMUNITY vOIcES

NEWS

Hope Of Deliverance p11

conversations with nicole Call to Action!p7

fEATURE

San Diego Armada America’s Finest City’s inclusive Rugby Club p16

Big Mike & Friends Featuring Mayor Todd Gloria p8

trans talk with connor Trans Day of Empowerment p10

liFe Beyond theraPy Comfortable with Uncertainty p9

Pozitively Michael Shift in Energies p12

WOMEN’S HISTORY IS TRANS HISTORY IS QUEER HISTORY

PUblIc SERvIcE

a note FroM toni A Hopeful March p6

district attorney news Buyer and Seller Beware p14

OUT & AbOUT

State Tribute Dinner & Coronation p18

cOURT NEWS

Chula Vista Man to Stand Trial for a Felony Hate Crime p19

Robert Tice (courtesy image)

RObERT TIcE

and Live and Let Live aLano CLub

By Allan Acevedo

S

ince 1987, America has recognized March as Women’s History Month. This is an important time, especially for young girls and women to see others acknowledge and see themselves having a part in shaping our collective advancements and history.

Strawberry Corncakes

t’s time to channel your inner leprechaun as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Viejas! Hosted by Strawberry Corncakes and featuring Adonyss Illuzion, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Ongina and Kimora Blac. Don’t forget to dance the night away with DJ PurFlo after the show. The event is 21+, tickets are $25 advance and $30 at door.

Doors open at 7pm and show starts promptly at 8pm.

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San diego Pride and viejaS invite you to

cElEbRATE ST. PATRIck’S DAY WITH A DRAg ExTRAvAgANcE!

I

Adonyss Illuzion

Ongina

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s a bartender for over 42 years, I have always taken my job very seriously. I was taught to understand that this service holds a great deal of responsibility towards my customers.

Over all these years I still support and help raise money and awareness to both of our LGBTQ recovery organizations.

I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with my friend Robert Tice about what is happening and needed with the Live and Let Live Alano Club (LLLAC).

Robert Tice is a certified recovery counselor with Scripps Mercy Hospital System, a board member of LLLAC, and a recovering addict since July 4, 2003. “May you never know the soulcrushing despair of watching yourself hurt and alienate your loved ones, destroy your life, and slowly kill yourself while those you use with die one by one while you wait your own turn. May I never forget it though, for that pain is what brought me to seek and accept treatment - just like the millions like me who have recovered”, explained Tice in a powerful statement regarding his journey of recovery.

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Kimora Blac

By Big Mike phillips

By Cesar A Reyes

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St. patrick’s Day Extravagance! continued from page 1 American Sign Language interpretation services can be arranged for this event with at least one week of advance notice. We will provide reserved seating for those who use ASL interpreters and those with accessibility needs in the first row by request. The venue is accessible to all mobility devices. All-gender, mobilitydevice-accessible restrooms are available at the venue. For any other accommodation needs, please email accessibility@ sdpride.org one week before the event.

San Diego Pride is excited to provide a variety of options for people to come together in ways that feel comfortable, healthy, and safe. We ask each individual to review the guidelines and setting for this event in order to assess their own comfortability with attendance.

Don’t forget to wear green.

the showcase featuring local LGBTQIA Drag and guest performers at Viejas Resort & Casino. Our local Drag community has really flourished with their eccentric performances for each show.

It’s been really exciting to see each artist’s growth since the pandemic.

What can people who are traveling to see a show expect?

Each and every show is carefully curated to provide attendees with a talent-filled night of music, dancing, and magical entertainment. Expect to be enthralled by the dress, delighted by the numbers, and intoxicated by the ambiance.

Stay after the show and dance the night away with a live DJ, and try your luck at the casino downstairs.

What do you guys have prepared for the Saint Patrick’s Day Extravaganza?

For our St. Patrick’s show in the Oak ballroom, we have RuPaul’s Drag Race Queens Kimora Blac from Season Nine and Ongina, with supporting talent from Adonyss Illuzion and Strawberry Corncakes.

DJ PurFlo (Number on Fifth Avenue) closing the night with all your favorite dance hits.

Gardenia Partridge (courtesy image)

We spoke with Entertainment Director Gardenia Partridge to get the 411 on this fantastic partnership and event.

Give us some history on the San Diego Pride and Viejas Casino partnership. How long have they been a sponsor of pride?

Viejas Resort & Casino has been a supporter of Pride since

2019 providing not only sponsorship, but audiovisual equipment and expertise. In addition, throughout the pandemic they have shown their dedication to the LGBTQ community by pivoting support to match our needs throughout those unprecedented times.

The event series at Viejas from what we understand gives all the profits back to Pride and its programs. Is this correct?

Viejas generously donates their venue and equipment to host San Diego Pride’s events.

Pride utilizes the proceeds from those events to help fund our year-round programming,

education, and advocacy. It is a perfect example of a sponsor showing up in word and deed to support the community.

Our organization has been so grateful for their continued partnership.

What has been the response to the Viejas shows?

The attendees have enjoyed

Can you give us the dates for the other shows at Viejas?

- April 15th - May 27th - June 17th Anything else our readers should know?

Early bird prices for the 2022 San Diego Pride Festival end on March 22. Get yours before they’re gone! sdpride.org/tickets

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Robert Tice and Live and Let Live Alano Club continued from page 1

“lllAc is open to the public 365 days a year and serves thousands of patrons annually without dues or any fees, just a willingness to change their lives”

It was the treatment that Tice needed, and thankfully, he finds himself needing to explain less and less that addiction - substance use disorder - is a mental health disorder with a physiological basis caused by neurochemical deficits. Those suffering from addiction can no more fix themselves than the clinically depressed can will themselves into happiness.

What they can do, what millions have done, is open themselves to the evidencebased treatment found in fellowships and recovery clubs like LLLAC. LLLAC is a GuideStar platinum-rated 501(c)3 that has served the San Diego recovery community and helped over 48,000 patrons recover from addiction and lead happy, healthy, productive lives. LLLAC welcomes all, but is focused on the Queer community, which as we all know has long suffered for a lack of equitable access to healthcare, and members have long died because they didn’t have the resources they needed to be well.

In Tice’s sobriety, inspired by his own 12-step program sponsor, he went back to school and became a CADC II-certified counselor at the age of 40. Robert discovered the LLLAC and appreciated the fellowship and the breadth, depth, and effectiveness of its community-based, volunteer-led services. Tice explains that the real magic was what he found at the LLLAC - the willingness of the ill to change, thanks to the fellowship and community of others. Those 48,000 patrons saved themselves with the tools and opportunities LLLAC provided.

LLLAC is open every day of the year, even holidays.

They host over fifty 12-Step and Harm Reduction meetings each week and provide a safe, sober environment for those in recovery – too many of whom have no other option

Connor Maddocks, Robert Tice and Carolina Ramos (courtesy image)

but the street. Their center embraces a ‘harm reduction approach’ toward recovery and they are the only Narcan “Naloxone” distribution center in Hillcrest, Mission Hills, and Middletown – a program which we know saves lives because some of the survivors are now in recovery in their programs. Just the other night in a meeting at Alano, Tice met one of the girls who received the 4mg Narcan lifesaving nasal spray and she is a living example of how the vital impact of LLLAC does work. It is known that a recovering addict with W-2 employment is fully 1.8x more likely to stay clean, so they are expanding their computer lab and successful training programs that offer education to addicts, career apprenticeships, and assist those who need it in getting their GED. Unfortunately, COVID closures significantly reduced program fee-for-service revenues and their rent was recently tripled, however, they will now be moving into a remodeled permanent space that will allow for much greater program access and long-term solvency. Addiction thrives during times of stress, but pandemics and addiction do not wait for the right time to donate, so finding a way to give what you are able too will help support their mission and work. You can very literally save lives

by donating from your heart whatever you can afford. Every single dollar makes a positive and healing difference. You’re welcome to go to the LLLAC, the only Guide-Star Platinum rated LGBTQ non-profit by visiting https://gofund.me/c7e8b22f. Give what you can if you can. Gofundme will not charge fees from the proceeds.

LLLAC is open to the public 365 days a year and serves thousands of patrons annually without dues or any fees, just a willingness to change their lives.

The compassion and strength of others and listening to their stories frequently gives each other the wisdom to see the truth of their own addiction and/ or willingness to change.

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous reads this about helping others and fellowship: “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is [their] twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can.

You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends—this is an experience you must not miss.

We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of their lives.” (pg. 89).

You are always welcome to stop by LLLAC at 3847 Park Blvd. and there will be a community of people who want nothing more than to share their recovery, their success, and their joy. Thank you, Robert Tice, for sharing this with our readers and community. I have always said we live in the best community with the best people in the world.

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Women’s History is Trans History is Queer History continued from page 1

Trans Resources in San Diego county TransFamily Support Services TransFamily Support Services guides transgender/non-binary youth and their families through the gender transitioning process to help make it the most positive experience possible. They provide family coaching, assistance with healthcare and insurance issues, help navigating the legal system, and support at schools. All services are provided at no fee. www.transfamilysos.org PFLAG This nationwide organization promotes the health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ people, their families, and their friends through support, education and advocacy. www.pflag.com

Leea Pronovost - NC LGBTQ Resource Center’s Unicorn Homes Case Manager (photo by Big Mike Phillips)

Unfortunately, during March many fail to center the fact that Women’s History is Queer history is Trans history. This is not a surprise to our community. Early feminists such as Betty Friedan would call lesbians the “lavender menace” while serving as president of the National Organization of Women (NOW).

Despite progress, the mainstream depiction of Women’s History would leave us to think that Queer and Trans women have made no significant contributions.

We know this is not true. Much of our modern liberation movement was founded on the hard work, labor, and activism of the Trans, Drag, and gender non-confirming community.

Early trailblazers such as Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson were Trans BIPOC activists during the time of Stonewall and co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) House because, as sex workers who had experienced homelessness, they saw the needs of the Trans, Drag, and gender non-conforming community were not being met by the Gay rights groups of the time.

Housing has always been an issue for Trans and gender non-conforming community members who often experience trauma and rejections from both the straight and Gay communities.

NORTH COUNTY SPOTLIGHT:

LEEA PRONOVOST

Locally, we are continuing our fight for our Trans and gender nonconforming siblings and kiddos. Leading those efforts for the North County LGBTQ Resource Center is Leea Pronovost (She/Her).

Leea was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. Early in her career, she was a quality engineer in the Aero Space Industry. She

left mechanical engineering for telecommunications engineering, which she did for 37 years.

In her teens, she became very interested in religion and spirituality. While raised a strict Roman Catholic, she struggled with who she really was because she was identified male at birth, and this was completely against her religion.

After a near death experience in 2006, she wondered what life was truly about, and concluded she could not live her life for others.

Leea came out and told everyone that she could not live a lie anymore and had to be true to herself.

At that point she started living her life. After truly making the decision, she became an activist and advocate for the trans community. She volunteers for the detention project at the Transgender Law Center and is a team leader for operators at the Trans Lifeline.

She also facilitates our Come As You Are (CAYA) support group, chairs the Gender Advocacy Project, and now serves as Case Manager for Unicorn Homes.

Unicorn Homes seeks

to provide housing stability with an ultimate goal to reunite families and rectify problems whenever possible. Unicorn Homes also provides paths to mental health resources, job readiness, life coaching, and independent living skills.

Forty percent of homeless youth in California identify as LGBTQ and family rejection is the number one reason why LGBTQ kids are on the streets.

Leea’s case management, advocacy, and program facilitation has literally saved countless lives. And that is why Leea Pronovost is our hero for Women’s History Month.

TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY: This Women’s History Month, join The North County Center and Gender Advocacy Project for a Trans Day of Visibility Picnic.

Date: Saturday, March 26 Where: Heritage Park, 220 Peyri Drive, Oceanside, CA 92058 Time: Noon to 4 PM What: Join us for fun, games, food, and music.

More info at ncresourcecenter.org

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Transgender Health Services (Family Health Center) Family Health Centers of San Diego provides quality, comprehensive Transgender Health Services to meet the health care needs of the community. www.fhcsd.org/transgender-healthservices/ Proyecto Trans Latina Somos un Grupo No Lucrativo Dedicado a la Ayuda de Nuestra Comunidad Trans Latina y sus Aliados. Con el Fin facilitar Los Diferentes Servicios De Salud, Legales y Educativos. Nos dedicamos apoyar a nuestra comunidad trans latina y sus aliados a los diferentes servicios que existen en favor de nuestra comunidad en la ciudad de San Diego. promovemos la seguridad de todos, promorcionando informacion, de salud, legal y educativa. www.facebook.com/Proyecto-Trans-Latina The Gender Phluid Collective: PoC LGBTQ+ Support A collaborative effort in the San Diego County LGBTQIA+ community to provide support and resources to BIPoC youth, young adults, their families/friends. https://www.thegenderphluidcollective. com/ (858) 255-0279 North County LGBTQ Resource Center The North County LGBTQ Resource Center has created a lasting tradition of caring, outreach, and support for member of our community.

Our mission is to serve, empower, and advocate for North County’s diverse LGBTQI community. We envision a community where everyone lives in equality, feeling accepted, valued, safe and free from social stigma.

(760) 994-1690.

NCResourceCenter.org The San Diego LGBT Community Center The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, Inc., (d.b.a., The Center) is one of the largest and most vibrant LGBTQ community centers in the nation. Functioning as the San Diego LGBTQ community’s anchor organization, The Center is led by an 11-member board of directors, employs more than 75 paid staff, and utilizes more than 1,200 community volunteers to achieve its twin goals of promoting LGBTQ health/ wellness and human rights. The Center provides targeted programs and services to the full diversity of the San Diego LGBTQ community, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, nonbinary, immigrant, and HIV communities to the betterment of our entire San Diego region.

Last year, The Center provided more than 80,000 direct service visits to San Diego community members, and through its events, activities, and advocacy, touched the lives of thousands more.

LGBT CENTER GRouP SCHEDuLE: Transgender and Nonbinary Coming Out Group (Monday 7-8:30pm.)

This group supports transgender and nonbianry people in all stages of exploring their gender identity. Open to transgender women, transgender men, Two-Spirit, nonbinary/genderqueer/agender/ genderfluid/ gender non-conforming people,

people who are intersex, those questioning, and exploring their gender identity.

For more information, accessibility requests and/or a ZOOM invitation, contact our transgender and nonbinary services at Trans@thecentersd.org.

RVTIP – Transgender & Nonbinary (Tuesday 7-8pm.)

This group is for transgender and nonbinary individuals who have perpetrated intimate partner violence; either courtordered or self-referred. This is a 52-week program and the curriculum is LGBTQinclusive. You can start at any time. This group meets on Tuesdays from 7 – 8pm.

For more information about this program please contact L (they/them) at ltuiletufuga@thecentersd.org.

Trans Positive – Support Group (Wednesdays 12-1:30pm) This group is a support group for transgender women living with HIV. Join us as we destigmatize HIV, raise awareness regarding the health disparities and challenges that affect transgender women, and heal internalized transphobia. This group meets Wednesdays from 12-1:30 pm. For more information on this group, please contact Elizabeth (they/elle) at egreen@thecentersd.org.

Trans Masculine Discussion Group (Wednesdays 7-9pm.)

This group serves as a social gathering space for trans masc individuals to discuss and receive support and/or guidance on transitioning and life events.

Transmasculine is an umbrella term used to describe someone who was assigned female at birth and who identifies either their gender identity or gender expression as masculine in any way. Transmasculine community members include but are not limited to: transgender men, demi-boys, nonbinary, two-spirit, and gender-fluid people. People questioning and exploring their gender are always welcome! ASL is confirmed for this event.

For more information and a ZOOM invitation contact our transgender and nonbinary services at trans@thecentersd. org or 619.692.2077 x162.

Trans S/o: Significant other(s) (Second and Fourth Wednesday 5-6:30pm.)

This group is intended for the significant other(s) and partner(s) of someone who is transgender, questioning, and exploring their gender identity!

We know you are in need of a safe space to discuss intimate and private topics, so our peer advocate has cultivated this safe and confidential space especially for you! For more information, and a virtual ZOOM invite contact our Transgender and Nonbinary Services at trans@thecentersd.org 619.692.2077 x 162.

Transgenero 2000 – Grupo de Apoyo (First and Fourth Friday 6-7:30pm.)

Este grupo se lleva a cabo de 6:00pm a 7:30pm, es un grupo abierto a familias, amigos y personas que quieran comprender y dar apoyo a personas transgenero, en este grupo se dan diferentes temas educativos y tambien se comparten sus experiencias de la vida. Primer y último viernes de cada mes.

Para más información y solicitudes de accesibilidad póngase en contacto con trans@thecentersd.org.

Transgender & Nonbinary – Discussion Group (Saturday 5-7pm.)

A discussion and support group which is peer facilitated by incredible pioneers in our community! Share valuable life experiences and resources with one another, but most importantly find kinship!

ASL confirmed for this event. For more information, and a virtual ZOOM invitation contact our transgender and nonbinary services at trans@thecentersd.org 619.692.2077 x162.

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MARCH 2022 voluMe 3 issue 11

AHF Wellness Center 3580 Fifth Ave, 2nd Fl San Diego, 92103 (619) 837-2100 Mon-Fri 10am - 6pm

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image by shutterstock.com)

“DIlIgENcE IS STIll THE WORD Of THE DAY”

A NOTE fROM TONI

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

Toni g. Atkins

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Nicole Murray Ramirez nicolemrsd1@gmail.com 619.241.5672

—Toni G. Atkins represents the 39th District in the California Senate.

Follow her on Twitter @SenToniAtkins.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A. Reyes creativedirector@lgbtqsd.news EDITOR JP Emerson editor@lgbtqsd.news

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his month, we continue to watch the disturbing and dangerous events unfolding in Ukraine, and pray for the safety of the Ukrainian people. Spring is often a harbinger of hope, and we certainly need that now.

I’m hopeful because March brings with it early budget actions in Sacramento, and projections continue to show that this will be another great year for historic investments and savings thanks to California’s commonsense, voterapproved revenue system. One of the first early budget actions we’ve already taken is extending California’s COVID-19 paid sick leave program through September 30, 2022. That helps protect the health of frontline workers and allows businesses to continue to stabilize and succeed. We’ve also taken early actions to restore some tax breaks for small businesses that were deferred by the pandemic.

I’m hopeful this March because, as I write this, COVID-19 numbers are continuing down after our precautions during the Omicron surge, and the path toward normal could be coming into sight. Diligence

COPY EDITOR Brittany Berger iceberger@gmail.com SALES sales@lgbtqsd.news 858.886.9458 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Big Mike Phillips Bmsd1957@gmail.com 619.807.7324 WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA info@lgbtq.news

A HOPEfUl MARcH is still the word of the day though—it would be a shame, the closer we get to having safer and healthier communities, to rush ahead of the science as we navigate the ongoing—and God willing final— twists and turns of this crisis.

I’m hopeful this women’s history month because more women are running for elected office and women like our region’s own Kallie Humphries and Elena Meyers-Taylor, and

former resident Lindsay Jacobellis, are bringing home medals from the Winter Olympics – and one of the most talented and generous women in the world was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And, by the way, if you don’t think Dolly Parton is rock and roll, well, she was not only bad enough to take on Jolene, she just announced she’s paying for all of Dollywood’s employees’ educational

costs—not only rocking the world, but improving it!

Honestly, though, the most hope I see right now may come from Mia and Joey. With daylight saving time beginning this month, they seem to believe no matter how late mom gets home from work the chances of a long walk are going to get better. I have to say, with all the work ahead of us, that gives me something else to hope for, too!

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allan Acevedo Big Mike Phillips Connor Maddocks Earl Avramis Michael Guadarrama Michael Kimmel Neal Putnam Paulina Angel Summer Stephan Toni G. Atkins

DISTRIBUTION LGBTQ San Diego County News is distributed free every first Friday of the month. © 2021. 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 © 2022 LGBTQ San Diego County News Editor’s Note: The opinions written in this publication’s advertorial, 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.

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cOMvERSATIONS WITH NIcOlE

cOMMUNITY vOIcES

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cAll TO AcTION!

Nicole Murray Ramirez —Nicole Murray Ramirez has been writing a column since 1973. He has been a Latino/gay activist for almost half a century and has advised and served the last seven mayors of San Diego. Named the ‘Honorary Mayor of Hillcrest’ by a city proclamation, he has received many media awards including from the prestigious San Diego Press Club. Reach Nicole at Nicolemrsd1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Nmrsd2.

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he following is the response (signed by over 50 community and civic leaders) to the hate speech that “Anti-LGBTQ Advocate” Dennis Hodges made at a commission meeting in November of 2021, first attacking the Transgender Community, then the entire LGBTQ+ Community. As the Co-Founder of this Commission and elected Vice Chair, I join the many civic and community leaders in calling for his resignation and urge people to write and call their County Supervisors and demand that he be removed from this commission which he was appointed to by a conservative right-wing Republican.

“We stand with the LGBTQ community and denounce hate speech at the Human Relations Commission In 2020, the San Diego Board of Supervisors revived the County’s Human Relations Commission, naming it in honor of former Supervisor Leon L. Williams, who worked for inclusion for all San Diegans. The Commission’s reinstatement was led by Chair Nathan Fletcher, who was awarded the Spirit of Stonewall Friend of Pride Award last year. The mission of the Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission is to promote positive relations, respect, and the integrity of every individual regardless of gender, religion, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or citizenship status. The Commission brings together a diverse group of commissioners to work together to foster a more inclusive and equitable San Diego County.

On November 9, 2021, the Commission discussed an agenda item regarding a recommitment to end discrimination and transphobia by amplifying the visibility and voices of the San Diego transgender community.

Commissioner Dennis Hodges abstained from the vote, and when asked to explain his abstention, said that he believes adamantly that “transgendereds [sic]” are “sinners” and “an abomination to God,” and that he could never and will never support this community.

Later that day, Commissioner

Hodges wrote a letter to Commission Chair Ellen Nash, stating, “My understanding of a Transgender is a Man dresses and behaves as a Woman and Vice Versa.” In referring to the full LGBTQ community, he stated, “those who commit such acts or should I say Practice such Behaviors in this manner are making immoral and UNGODLY decisions.”

In direct response to Commissioner Hodges’ comments, Commissioner Cara Dessert, CEO of The San Diego LGBT Community Center, called for his immediate resignation during the November 9th meeting.

On November 12th, two letters were sent to the Board of Supervisors, one from Chair Ellen Nash and another from seven members of the Commission, calling for the Board of Supervisors to remove Commissioner Hodges. While the Commission does not have the power to remove a commissioner, the Board of Supervisors is empowered to so do under the Com-

mission’s bylaws. Subsequently, in a Commission meeting on December 14th, a majority of commissioners joined in a symbolic vote, calling for his resignation; Commissioner Hodges was present and has, to date, refused to resign. While we believe in Commissioner Hodges’ right to free speech and freedom of religion, his persistent discriminatory and hateful comments are antithetical to the mission of this Commission. Human Relation Commissioners are called to serve our region in furtherance of human rights for all, and because Commissioner Hodges stands vocally and fervently against our LGBTQ community, he is unqualified to serve as a Human Relations Commissioner.

In every community, hate speech leads to hate crimes and other harms, including acts of violence. Hate against one person is an assault against all of us and creates a culture where discrimination, violence, and murder occur,

and where those who are treated with disregard towards their human life have a higher risk of suicide, mental health challenges, and face barriers to living a safe and healthy life. Data released by the San Diego County District Attorney’s office this year shows a troubling increase in hate crimes in San Diego motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender. 2021 was the deadliest year on record for transgender people; 47 transgender people were known to be killed in the U.S. last year, and most from the Black and Latinx communities.

Transgender people are at a greater risk for suicide; they are twice as likely to think about and attempt suicide than other lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. 1 in 3 transgender youth attempted suicide in the past year. To fight this violence, rooted in transphobia, we must work collectively to combat the discrimination that the transgender com-

munity faces, actively support the transgender community’s human and civil rights, stand with the LGBTQ community, and work to build a safe and equitable San Diego for us all. The work of the Human Relations Commission cannot move forward with Commissioner Hodges remaining in his position. Allowing Commissioner Hodges to remain a commissioner will signify to others that outright discrimination and hate speech from an appointed official during a commission meeting will be tolerated in San Diego County.

We, a broad coalition signed to this letter, reject this, and call upon the Board of Supervisors to stand with our LGBTQ community, stand up against transphobia and this continuing injustice that has occurred for months, and schedule a vote immediately to right this wrong and remove Commissioner Hodges from his appointed position on the Human Relations Commission”.

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MARCH 2022 voluMe 3 issue 11

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Photo by Rikke Photography

Mayor Todd Gloria (courtesy images)

bIg MIkE & fRIENDS big Mike Phillips —Big Mike Phillips is an activist, fundraiser, bartender and photographer who has lived in San Diego for 30 years.

He has helped create two nonprofits and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. He has been a photographer for more than 25 years and has recorded our LGBTQ history not only in San Diego but around the country, including three LGBTQ marches on Washington D.C. Contact Big Mike at 619-807-7324, or bmsd1957@gmail.com.

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am excited to introduce our readers to amazing and caring people who live, work, play, and do business in our community and city. Learning about people of all lifestyles, talents, and personalities who I think would be interesting for our readers to enjoy.

San Diego has a wonderful diversity of individuals that make our slice of paradise the greatest place to live and enjoy each other’s uniqueness. A very special thank you to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria for taking time to be a part of my column. Enjoy.

If you had a chance to spend one million dollars on someone, or any group of people, who would it be and how would you spend that money to better them?

We are actually doing this.

San Diego has joined National City on a guaranteed basic income pilot program with the partnership of Jewish Family Services. Over two years, 150 local families will receive a monthly payment of $500. We expect this initiative will show that participating families reach higher levels of employment and educational attainment that reduces poverty and leads to greater stability.

MAYOR

TODD glORIA

If you could give someone advice about your art, hobby or business, what would you tell them?

I am passionate about public service and have been fortunate to have a career doing what I love. I would encourage others to find their passion and turn it into their career.

How did you end up in San Diego and what do you love about it?

I am a proud native San Diegan! My grandparents came here from different places around the world because of the Navy. That’s how you get the city’s first Native American, Puerto Rican, Dutch and Filipino Mayor. I love that our city is full of opportunity. It’s what attracted my grandparents to come here, why I’m grateful to have been born here and why all of us stayed here.

What gets you most excited about life?

I love my job and the opportunity every day to make my hometown a better place for all San Diegans. It’s why I’m excited to get out of bed every day and go to work.

In your business life, what makes your work stand out and how has it changed your life?

Public service is a calling.

I believe people are called to public service, and though the hours are long, the work is tough and, if you do it honestly, it won’t make you rich – you end the day knowing you made a difference in the community, and that is priceless.

What small act of kindness were you once shown that you’ll never forget?

Like many in the LGBTQ community, I was bullied in school. I’m forever grateful for the teachers and classmates who protected and supported me, often in small and quiet ways. Their solidarity helped

me navigate those tough times and allow me to emerge stronger.

If the universe could grant you one wish, what would you wish for, and why?

I’d wish for everyone to have a safe and affordable place to live.

If you were given the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world, and were able to take one person with you, where would you go, who would you take and why?

After the travel limitations of recent years, I’d be happy to go almost anywhere! Of course, wherever I went I would take my partner Adam and our rescue dog, Diego.

Loving yourself is so important to becoming the best of who you are. Please write a couple sentences to describe your loving self and how you want to live your best life?

I am living my best life! I have my dream job, a loving family, great friends and I’m part of an amazing community. Loving yourself is about accepting who you are and shutting down the inner monologue that can sometimes make ourselves our own worst enemy.

Gratitude is so important in each of our lives, what are you most grateful for, and how do you pay it forward?

I am most grateful for the incredible support of our community! I never take for granted that I get to do my work because of the people of San Diego. I try to pay that forward by working hard, remaining accessible and responsive, and by throwing open the doors a bit wider for those who come after me.

@MayorToddGloria IG: @ToddGloria FB: Facebook.com/toddgloria Phone #: 619-236-6330

cOMMUNITY vOIcES

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(image by shutterstock.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.

C

OVID continues. Russia Invades the Ukraine.

Inflation is high. Financial instability, global warming and institutional racism continue to plague us all. I’m 68 years’ old and I cannot remember a time of such uncertainty. Who can we count on? What is stable and lasting? How much can we predict our lives in the next week/month/year/decade?

Uncertainty occurs when things are in a state of flux and we don’t know what will happen next. The first step toward becoming more comfortable with uncertainty is accepting that - as much as we wish it weren’t true - almost nothing is certain. The world outside of us changes all the time, as does our internal (emotional) world.

On the positive side, learning to be comfortable with uncertainty makes life a lot more fun: instead of living from a rigid, fear-based place where we try (unsuccessfully) to control everyone and everything, we can relax, enjoy what comes our way and be more spontaneous.

How do we get there? Well, it’s a process…and there’s no time like today to begin. Here are some ideas that work for me and my clients: • Be aware of your breathing: make it slower and deeper.

When we’re afraid, our breathing is usually fast and shallow; this increases our stress and anxiety.

• Don’t be a Lone Ranger: in these difficult times, we need to know that we’re not alone and that our reactions to the uncertainty in the world are normal. Many of my clients say things like, “Are other people as scared about the future as I am?” It helps to know we’re not alone.

• Be of service and do something meaningful (however small) for someone in need or less fortunate.

• Drink more water - many of us don’t drink enough water and our bodies end up in a state of mild dehydration that exacerbates our stress and anxiety.

• Explore constructive ways to release your emotions. Sometimes, when I meditate, I find

cOMfORTAblE WITH UNcERTAINTY

“WHO cAN WE cOUNT ON?

WHAT IS STAblE AND lASTINg?”

myself gently crying – seemingly, for no conscious reason.

I think my subconscious is so frustrated with the world that it needs to let it out. I also find myself more easily angered and annoyed: I’m working with that one by being more physical (e.g., hiking, walking, gardening, swimming, going to the gym and yoga).

• Engage in physical movement: movement is the body’s internal lubricant.

• Find ways to accept the uncertainty in the world right now. Admit that you are powerless to control most of what goes on out there. Do what you can to effect change and then do what you can to find some inner peace.

• Reach out to someone (inperson is ideal) who will listen to you with kindness and emotional availability.

• Remind yourself often of all the good things in your life.

Where does this fear of uncertainty come from? It’s the pain of anticipated loss and change. We’re comfortable with our routines and possessions, the people we know and places that are familiar. We worry about the possible loss of our comfortable, dependable life. So, we resist any changes that uncertainty might bring.

However, it isn’t the change itself that’s the problem - it’s fighting and fearing change that makes us anxious and scared.

But what if we could become so comfortable with change so that we didn’t fear it? You can see this in people who we call “adventurous”: these men and women welcome new experiences, because they know they’ll be fine, and that life can be more amazing than it is now.

As I’m becoming more comfortable with uncertainty,

I don’t fear life’s changes (as much). I’m getting better at taking on new challenges (e.g., considering retirement) and creating new things (e.g., writing my first fiction book) that I would’ve been afraid of in the past. When I’m face-toface with a great, big piece of uncertainty in my life – be it COVID or a difficult neigh-

bor – I’m learning to handle it with a lot less fear, anger and/ or resistance.

As all of us grow more comfortable with uncertainty, we can respond instead of react to life’s never-ending challenges, and experience the deep security of knowing that - no matter what the world throws at us - we’ll be fine.

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TRANS TAlk WITH cONNOR

connor Maddocks —Connor Maddocks has been a civil rights advocate in the San Diego transgender community for years. He does trainings on legal and personal transition information.

He continues his work, even though he is now retired. Contact Conner at Neon411@gmail.com.

T

he month of March we honor the work, strength, compassion, and courage of the women in the world. I would like to thank some women from my life and our community. Their impact on my life and the lives of others is often gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Let’s take a moment to see the women I feel have influenced me and/or have taken action to make our community better.

Before my time in San Diego, according to my research, a small group of women took it upon themselves to fight a law that was unjust and unfair.

It was known as the ‘Cross Dressing Law’. Municipal Code 56.19 in the city of San Diego was a law that specifically targeted Cross Dressers and Transgender people, mainly of color. The law went into effect in 1966 and prohibited people from wearing the apparel usually worn in public by the opposite sex with the purpose of deceiving another person or perform an illegal act. The police said the law was targeted at prostitutes, but everyone knew that the police used the law to harass, humiliate, and arrest Trans Women of Color.

During the fight to repeal this law, Janet, not her real name, was one of the women who met at the Craftsman Hall, later to become the San Diego LGBT Center, at a small conference organized by an LGBT activist Paul Conlon.

Janet and others remained anonymous to protect themselves from loss of employment and being harassed in society. This young woman, full of courage, stood before the newly formed Human Relations Commission and pled her case to have this law repealed.

Two other women who stood up and fought against this law were Elena Albee and Dolores Dickerson, founders of a local organization named Trans Action. The law was successfully repealed in 1998.

I admire these women for doing something so powerful at a time when their very safety could be put in jeopardy.

When reading the story about their fight some years ago, it truly inspired me to stand up against injustice. I had the pleasure of knowing Elena Albee. We met a few years after this fight against discrimina-

CeLebrate Women’S HiStory montH and

TRANS DAY Of EMPOWERMENT

image courtesy of Lambda Archives

Julia Legaspi (courtesy image)

Tracie O’Brien (courtesy image)

Veronica Zerrer (courtesy image)

Michelle Dungan (courtesy image)

Autumn Sandeen (courtesy image)

Vicki Estrada (courtesy image)

Mary Ann Horton (courtesy image)

Paris Quion (courtesy image)

Miss Pepper Price (courtesy image)

tion directed at Trans Women, mainly women of color here in San Diego. She was a feisty lady who wasn’t afraid to say what she meant. She taught me to be proud of who I was and proud of my community.

She taught me that you can fight, and you can win. She taught me that change was possible.

Another Trans woman who inspired me is a woman I met

early on into my activism. We met many years ago when being Transgender was a lot more unsafe than it is today.

We worked together on an issue involving law enforcement. From the moment I met her I could feel the courage and dignity with which she held herself. It was easy for me to go about my life as a Trans man. I could blend in, be myself and appear to be

a straight white cis human.

This young lady, like so many other Trans women didn’t have that luxury. She is also of color which brings about more barriers.

She was horribly harassed by a few members of law enforcement here in San Diego.

When word got out a meeting was held to which I was invited. I was immediately made aware of how strong a woman

she really was. She stood in the faces of those who tormented her and didn’t flinch.

She told her story with the passion of one who knows they have been wronged and expect justice. What I loved was that she didn’t ASK for retribution.

She asked for long term justice on the issue. She asked that the issues in question be corrected. She asked that future Trans Women never be treated the way she was. Because of her courage and her love of her community, we were able to do trainings where she looked them in the eye and told her story. I was later able to do trainings all across many law enforcement platforms.

Policies were changed and the effects of her bravery and wisdom created changes that are still in effect today. She now has a successful career and is living a full life as a proud Transgender Woman.

Thank you, Paris Quion for your bravery, your power, and your friendship.

I also salute the following Transgender women for their many years of dedication, their service and fighting for equal rights for the Transgender community here in San Diego.

These women made lasting changes to our community, to workplaces, to social justice, and law enforcement.

Julia Legaspi, Tracie O’Brien, Veronica Zerrer, Michelle Dungan, Autumn Sandeen, Vicki Estrada, Mary Ann Horton, Paris Quion, Miss Pepper Price, and so many more.

Speaking of celebrating, I have a few upcoming events to share with you. As we exit winter and jump into Spring here are some save the date events for you.

On April 8, 2022 there will be the 19th annual San Diego Transgender Day of Empowerment. This event was conceived to be the opposite of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a very solemn event which happens every November 20th. The Day of Empowerment is a day to celebrate, acknowledge, and come together as a community.

Unfortunately, due to COVID, this year’s event will be virtual again. Join us for some great Trans speakers, Community Awards, entertainment, and acknowledging our 2022 Scholarship award recipients.

Scholarship applications are due Sunday March 13th by 6 P.M. For more information go to https://sdpride.org/tdoe/.

If you would like to donate to the scholarship fund please contact Kelcie Kopf, Director of Philanthropy at kelcie@ sdpride.org. You may also nominate someone for a Community Award by also going to https://sdpride.org/tdoe.

Another community event is the Trans Hang Out in the Park. Every third Saturday of the month from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. we are meeting in Balboa Park to just hang out and get to know each other. Bring your own drink and snack, chairs, blankets, even a game to share. Meet at Spruce and 6th Ave, look for the Trans Flag.

The next Hang Out will be March 19th starting at 1 P.M. I look forward to seeing more of you there.

NEWS

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L

ooking back at the last two years, it feels like an eternity. I remember it feeling like the first part of Avengers Endgame when the pandemic hit: the news would show the freeway with hardly any cars on the road, businesses were closed, and you would go on social media and the events you were following were all saying CANCELLED. The only time that you would see a crowd, would be at 5 in the morning with people waiting in line at the local market, hoping that you can get at least a 4-pack of toilet paper. The major rough part of all of this was the daily broadcast from your local news station of the many new cases of COVID, and how many of those have died, hoping that you, your family, your friends become a statistic. It really did feel like the sun wasn’t shining and everything just felt so blue and grey, but in 2021, HOPE was on the way...literally.

Since the formation of CalHOPE, the many great teams of Peer Crisis Counselors and Outreach Coordinators have been able to lift up the spirits of those whose faith had dropped. The message of our project has been so strong, that it was great getting emails from elected officials in different cities, requesting a Zoom presentation about CalHOPE and how they can effectively spread the message of our services. Reports from our counselors were generally positive with every interaction they’ve been able to make from our phone and online Warm Lines.

As restrictions started to gradually lift towards the

(images by

shutterstock

.com)

HOPE Of DElIvERANcE “The message of our projecT has been so sTrong” By paulina Angel

end of summer last year, our teams were able to go out into the community, set up at food banks and vaccination sites, and have great in-person sessions with those who were already feeling overwhelmed. Our teams were able to finally meet each other in person, having only seeing each other through a computer screen, and able to get together to do trainings on having in-person interactions with those we meet out in the

2022 HIv/AIDS cONfERENcE fOR WOMEN

“A WOMAN’S vOIcE”

Saturday, marCH 12, 2022 10:00 am – 12:30 Pm Presented by the San Diego CARE Partnership for Women, Children, Youth and Families.

This year’s event is completely virtual and 100% free of charge.

Join us for a day of inspiring stories, updates and messages from our speakers and panelists.

Spanish-speaking options are available.

To register, simply complete the registration form and we will send you event information and instructions how to log in a week before the conference.

Register online at https://awomansvoice.info/register/ PANELIST Dr. Neva Chauppette “A Woman’s Voice: Self-Care and Resilience” Kamaria Laffrey “Resistant to Stigma: Chronically Optimistic & Unapologetic” Women Living with HIV Panel We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

field. The UnityHOPE team was even able to set up at the Greater Palm Springs Pride celebration in November with help from Trans Community Project, and they proved to be a very big hit with dozens of LGBTQA attendees talking to our counselors on site, adding to the festive vibes of an in-person Pride celebration returning, and participating at local Transgender Day of Remembrance events in the Inland Empire.

Now in 2022, mask mandates are starting to get lifted, jobs continue to return, and COVID is hopefully on the decline, though we are still seeing people dying from the virus. Now more than ever, people are keeping their mental health in check, and, lucky for them, CalHOPE is still here offering their services through our Warm Lines as well as in person, and still setting up at local events. It goes to show that these services are

still needed and our many Peer Crisis Counselors are more than happy to speak and listen to those seeking help.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite songs from my youth that goes “We live in Hope of Deliverance, from the darkness that surrounds us” by Paul McCartney, and I am happy that CalHOPE is doing just that.

For more information on how you can utilize our services, visit us at www.CalHOPE.org

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lgbtqsd.news

image by shutterstock.com)

POzITIvElY MIcHAEl Michael guadarrama — I am a 30-year-old Latino male, living with HIV (undetectable) and living my best life. I wanted to write and help others living with HIV realize that they can also achieve living a healthy life, being in love, and being successful.

H

ello Beautiful San Diegans! March is here and winter is coming to an end in a couple of weeks! I do not know about you but I am ready for spring to be here. I am excited to be leaving the cold and heading into a season of flowers, new babies, sunny days, and all-around new energy!

I am sure that you have all felt these crazy times since the last time we shared some time together. I sure have felt a switch in energies, and I really think we did some growing and healing. Covid is still here but we do not see the staggering numbers we saw a couple of months ago so I am grateful that things are starting to stabilize for the better. I know that we recently had the mask mandate revised by Governor Newsom. Even though it has been nice to see people smile I hope that people do not get too careless, so we don’t have to go back to wearing masks and shutting things down.

I want to share with you a story of a friend of mine. I was given permission to share, so do not think I am just spilling tea! I have two friends who have been together for four years and recently got engaged last December. They both seem very happy, and I have never seen them argue or have any kind of conflicts.

Of course most people will not have that kind of interaction in the public eye. One friend is 36 (for privacy I will call him “Mario”) and the other is 39 (I will call him “Scott”).

Both have awesome jobs, both have degrees, and both are very smart, sweet people.

Recently they had both been traveling a bit for work with Covid numbers dwindling. My younger friend has recently felt some distancing from his partner and even mentioned to me that their sex dynamic had changed a bit. Scott was getting a little rougher, had a few new kinks he was wanting to try, etc. Mario was open to trying new things, but then the sex kind of stopped. The excuse was that Scott was stressed out with work and was tired, so the normal 3-5 times a week became once every couple of weeks. With them traveling it didn’t seem uncommon. Mario ended up getting Covid and went to the

IT’S TIME fOR A SHIfT IN ENERgIES, groWing and HeaLing

doctor to get a PCR test; when he was there the doctor suggested he book an appointment for a physical.

Fast forward 2 weeks, Mario went into his appointment and had full labs done including STI and HIV testing. While waiting for his rapid test results we were texting back and forth, and he told me that it had been about three years since he had last been tested.

I told Mario that he should be tested regularly regardless of being in a monogamous relationship or not. He said he loved the man that he was with, and that Scott would never cheat on him or hurt him. I have trust issues from my personal experience so I am always careful and cautious about these things since my diagnosis, but I understand if others are more trustworthy of their partners.

I didn’t want to freak him out or put any doubts into his mind, so I quickly changed the subject. A few minutes later Mario texted that the nurse said he would be right back.

The nurse returned with the doctor and at that mo-

ment the doctor told him that his rapid test had come back positive. Mario was in shock and in full denial that Scott would have cheated on him.

He told me that he instantly told the doctor that he likes to go out and have fun with his friends and that there were a couple of times where he had way too much to drink and had blacked out at parties and that he wasn’t sure if maybe he had cheated on Scott. He thought of all kinds of situations where this could have occurred and in all of them, he was the person responsible. He was in full denial and demanded that they do the bloodwork and left the office. After his appointment he called me as he sat in his car to ask me about my experience and how I found out.

I tried to calm him down and take some deep breathes.

I reassured him that he had a friend in me and that he could count on me to be there for him during this journey if the results came back positive.

I asked him if he cheated on Scott during their relationship and he stated that he had kissed a couple of guys

but never had sex as far as he could recall, but he still admitted to having blacked out a handful of times at parties.

I didn’t judge him as we have all been drunk and it’s really not my place to judge him, I was there to comfort him.

After calming him down a bit I reminded him that HIV is no longer a death sentence.

Thankfully the medicine we have has come a very long way. I told him a little about my story and how I was also scared, but how I quickly learned to have hope and faith in the medicine and doctors who were treating me. I told him that he needed to tell Scott about his recent diagnosis. He was not willing to do that until he had gotten the blood results back and then he would consider his options.

He was pretty shaken up and asked if I could meet him for coffee. I drove up to Orange County to hold space for my friend during his shock.

A couple of days later the results were in and sure enough they were not what he was hoping for. The bloodwork had come back positive. Mario did

not understand how this could happen and why this could happen to him. He was still in full denial. He is working with a therapist to understand and accept his recent diagnosis so that he is able to tell his partner. I do not know how Mario got it or if Scott has it too. However, I want to remind others that even if you are in a relationship with someone who you trust and love, it is still a great idea to get tested regularly or get on Prep. I wish that Prep was a medicine available when I was younger, I would have done my best to have been on it. We need to learn how to protect ourselves and educate ourselves. All I ask is that you go and get tested and know your status. I do not want you to think that I am telling you not to trust your partner but just do it as a regular checkup and discuss with your doctor how often you should be tested. Call your local doctor’s office and schedule and appointment, or if you live in San Diego head on over to AHF San Diego and know your status. Stay safe and spread love San Diego!

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EvENTS / PUzzlE

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Q Puzzle

HouSToN, WE DoN’T HAvE A pRoBLEM ACRoSS 1 gives a tongue-lashing to 7 State of secrecy 13 Cry for emptying 7-across?

14 Houston, with whom we have no problem 15 al of baseball 16 Like fine wine 17 With 36-across, Houston won a grammy for this song 19 thornton Wilder, for one 20 emulates eminem 24 “___ live and breathe!”

27 madras title 31 early man’s opening 32 Loads 34 elton, e.g.

36 See 17-across 38 three-time role for Pacino 39 tennis champ nastase 40 gardener’s long tool 41 Poet Lorde 43 PC display 44 Forbidden fruit site 46 Home state of j. nabors 48 With 56-across, song from “the bodyguard” 56 See 48-across 59 unanimously, sexistly 60 brand of steering wheel lock 61 darrinís mother-in-law of 60s tv 62 gift recipients 63 going out with

Solutions on page 19

DoWN 1 Samurai sip this 2 eagle gripper 3 Spicy stew 4 Kind of cloth 5 irene of “my Favorite Wife” 6 gets to second base, perhaps 7 Stroke it 8 “mod Squad” character 9 Playful swimmer 10 alan Cumming’s precipitation 11 Hosp. scan 12 nautical chain or rope 14 Home st. of Kathy mattea 18 Field for billy bean 21 Like sour fruits 22 asked mary for help, e.g.

23 Prince William, to diana 24 “the Handmaid’s tale” author 25 big bash of bonheur’s land 26 the i in iHoP (abbr.)

28 about a bone.

29 Verb suffix for Rupert everett 30 netanyahu’s nickname 33 old Queens location 35 Higher-learning org.

37 meaningless amount 38 antonio’s “evita” role 42 tickles pink 45 dorothy, to em 47 Like a woman without a woman 49 noah of “er” 50 debtor’s slips 51 Friction reducer: abbr.

52 go in only partway, at the beach 53 mine, to rimbaud 54 Craft store bundle 55 Problem for a drag queen’s hosiery 56 old Ford model 57 “Caught you with your drawers down!”

58 Caracas’ country, to the ioC

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(image by shutterstock.com)

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.

F

acebook is a platform where you can seemingly get it all: updates about your friends, cute baby pics, news stories or romantic dates. But its marketplace, where people go to quickly buy and sell merchandise, is also a place fraught with scams. One billion users buy and sell goods on Facebook Marketplace each month. Unfortunately, like with most things in life, there are bad actors ready to take advantage of a technology for their own financial gain.

Scams are an unfortunate reality on any selling platform.

Oftentimes the scam is one we’ve seen before but made new using this new service.

Here are Facebook Marketplace scams to be aware of: Fake home and apartment listings • Scammers pose as property agents, owners or landlords to post properties they have no right to sell or rent.

• They then use high pressure tactics to get the victim to send money, such as “this is a hot market,” “I have tons of bidders,” “If you send the deposit or down payment now, I can reserve you the apartment.”

• Sometimes they use properties they know are unoccupied and invite the buyer to view the property without them.

Use caution if you cannot get into a property.

• To protect yourself, use verified real estate services.

• Use Google reverse image search to see if the property is posted elsewhere.

• Do not pay without signing paperwork.

bUYER AND SEllER bEWARE:

don’t FaLL For FaCebooK marKetPLaCe SCamS

Fake vehicle listings • Same type of scam as phone apartment listings in which the bad actor asks for a deposit or payment up front.

• In this scam the scammer does not own the car and does not intend to provide it.

• They may claim the vehicle has eBay purchase protection, but this only applies to vehicles bought on eBay. Shipping insurance scam • This scam occurs where the buyer agrees to buy an item and pay for the shipping if seller pays for the insurance.

• The phony buyer then generates a fake shipping invoice from UPS/USPS/FedEx and often quotes $50-100 shipping insurance.

• Once the seller pays the buyer the insurance, they never hear from the buyer again.

Stealing your information scam • Once a seller or buyer agrees on a purchase, the other party claims they want to verify your ID to protect themselves.

• They will ask for your personal identifying information, which can be used to create fake accounts, to obtain credit in your name or to answer questions if they try to hack into your online accounts.

• The fraudster may tell you that you’ll receive a text code to your phone number and ask for the code to verify who you are. The scammer then uses your number as verification or set up a Google Voice number connected to your phone number.

It may be a scam if • If you are asked to switch to a different platform, such as text or WhatsApp, it may be a scam.

• If the deal is too good to be true, the goods may very well be fake, broken, stolen or nonexistent.

• Being asked to pay via gift card or cryptocurrency is a red flag.

Facebook Marketplace is convenient and useful platform, but make sure you are aware of common scams,

so you don’t get defrauded.

Remember, when meeting in person to exchange goods and payment, be sure it is in a lighted, public and safe space.

Also, consider using Facebook Messenger’s “checkout” feature, which keeps a record of all transactions.

As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and the public. I hope these consumer and public safety tips have been helpful.

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image courtesy of San Diego Armada Rugby Club

O

n September 11, 2001, a horrific tragedy occurred on American soil. One of the heroes of that horrific day was an American rugby player named Mark Bingham. His actions on Flight 93 helped save countless lives, and his heroism is commemorated in the namesake of International Gay Rugby’s (IGR) world championship and trophy. The Bingham Cup is the second largest rugby event in the world and involves more than eighty-three clubs and 148 teams from across the planet. Mark Bingham was a gay rugby player, playing for the San Francisco Fog and helping establish the New York City Gotham Knights, and the Bingham Cup is held in honor of his memory. The tournament provides a place for those who believe that sportsmanship and camaraderie are not restricted to traditional heteronormativity. Most anyone who has played for a west coast International Gay Rugby affiliated team owes some of that experience to Mark and his work evangelizing the sport of rugby.

Rugby is often advertised as the ‘tougher and simpler’ version of American Football, running for eighty minutes and ideally lacking the frequent stops and starts typical of gridiron football. While each of the fifteen players on the field have a position name and set of expected tasks, the best players in the world are expected not to be locks or centers or wings, but rugby players. There is no change over between offense and defense, only a change in who has the ball at any given moment. Rugby is a physically demanding sport, it asks you how much are you willing to put on the line, and it will ask you that multiple times over the course of a game. After reading that, you might ask ‘why would anyone subject themselves to this?’ Through rugby we gain a camaraderie that can only be forged on the pitch; the mental and physical challenge is second to none.

Our celebration is the singing of bawdy songs till the voice is hoarse and the beer glass emptied. You will make lifelong friends that will still meet up long after the playing days are over to watch games, grab drinks and continue to share their lives. It provides an opportunity to spend Saturday playing your heart out while enjoying the eye-candy of athletic bodies, thick thighs, and short-shorts.

Rugby is unfortunately not very friendly to new viewers.

With a plethora of British derived terms and titles, to first observe a rugby game is not unlike attempting to apply Sports Center analysis to a bar fight. Paradoxically running

SAN DIEgO ARMADA

ameriCa’S FineSt City’S inCLuSive rugby CLub

By Earl Avramis

forward whilst passing backwards, large athletes in small clothes being alley-ooped along the edge of a field, and this “scrummaging” business of linking up and performing the most violent group hug ever seen. Where could a potential fan turn in order to make sense of this barely-contained chaos and perhaps put on a jersey?

The San Diego Armada, America’s Finest City’s inclusive Rugby club.

Our team and our sport have long stood by a governing tenet: that there is a place for everyone on the field. Skin color, size, gender identification, religious or national background, all are welcome to be a part of a family which believes anyone can be strong with the support of their teammates. Welcoming all peoples, Armada has proudly been a part of the Bingham Cup tournament since our inception and has ranked within the top five teams worldwide in backto-back appearances.

Our team has also used their love of the sport and its misshapen balls as a means of empowerment to the LGBTQIA+ communities in America’s finest city. The Armada has always worked with the San Diego LGBTQIA+ community and has helped raise thousands of fundraising dollars.

We have marched alongside our friends, family and compatriots in joyous celebration during the San Diego Pride march, helped dole out Christmas trees to gracious donors, and stood (in heels) with our dear friends in the San Diego Imperial Court. We have consistently worked to help keep our neighborhood in Ocean Beach clean. One can still find our name at the base of the Hillcrest Pride Flag. While we have accomplished much within our community, we strive to increase our outreach and output, to help make our community greater and a more welcoming space, and we hope to inspire others to join us in this journey.

As an organization, we are always looking for new players and new fans. If you have read this and our sport and club sounds like the place for you, or you would just like to learn more about the great sport of rugby, we can be found on Facebook (@SanDiegoArmada), Instagram (@Sandiegoarmadarfc), or making a ruckus at Robb Field in Ocean Beach, Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30-9:30pm. Give us and our amazing sport a chance, you will always have a spot at the bar and family to lean on.

See you on the pitch!

And as they say on the rugby pitch, “With You.”

lgbtqsd.news

MARCH 2022 voluMe 3 issue 11

Where ALL GUYS come together Visit www.squirt.org today to join the action

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OUT & AbOUT

Nicole Murray Ramirez State Tribute Dinner (above) Imperial court de San Diego coronation 2022 (below) Photos by Big Mike Phillips

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cOURT NEWS

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MARCH 2022 voluMe 3 issue 11

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Robert Frank Wilson (courtesy image)

A

judge ordered a Chula Vista man on Feb. 24 to stand trial for a felony hate crime in which he slugged his neighbor while yelling anti-gay slurs.

The neighbor of Robert Frank Wilson, 40, identified him as the man who slugged him in the face on Nov. 10 while he was in his vehicle and blocking him in his own driveway.

The neighbor told Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Enrique Camarena that was the first time Wilson had ever punched him. He did not seek any medical attention.

He said Wilson got out of his vehicle and reached into his car window and struck him in the face.

The judge dismissed a misdemeanor charge of displaying a large anti-Semitic poster on the fence of an Interstate 805 overpass on Dec. 18. The prosecutor presented photos and testimony about the incident.

The sign violation charge said it had been placed in a public right-of-way in violation of the San Diego municipal code. Wilson’s attorney asked Camarena to dismiss it and that was granted. She could not be reached for comment afterwards.

Others were with Wilson in the Dec. 18 incident, but he was only one charged with displaying the sign that had the words “Jewish supremacy” and “censor” written.

Wilson has pleaded not guilty and remains free on $50,000 bond. A trial date was set for May 16.

“Hate against one group is a threat to everyone and we won’t tolerate these crimes in our community,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan, in a press release announcing charges on Dec. 27.

cHUlA vISTA MAN TO STAND TRIAl

For a FeLony Hate Crime

By Neal putnam

“Anyone considering committing a hate crime should think again as they will be investigated, prosecuted and held accountable under the law,” said Stephan.

Stephen said her office has filed 30 hate crime cases in 2021 and 20 in 2020. The Hate Crimes Hotline number is (619) 515-8805.

the memorial service for

Mick Michele Donahue will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 6 at the metropolitan Community Church, 2633 denver Street, San diego. mick died on nov. 13, 2021 at age 83.

PUzzlE SOlUTION

HouSToN, WE DoN’T HAvE A pRoBLEM fRoM pAGE 13

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