Program

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.

on Wednesday, April 28, the San Diego Police Department, along with local LGBTQ+ leaders and business owners held a news conference to announce the “Safe Place” program, where victims of the growing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment and hate crimes will be welcomed and safely protected. The increase in LGBTQ+ hate crimes, especially in Hillcrest, has raised serious concerns by leaders in the LGBTQ+ community. In attendance at the news conference were Police Chief David Nisleit, Mayor Todd Gloria, City Council President Dr. Jen Campbell (District 2), City Council President Pro Tem Stephen Whitburn (District 3), local businessman Chris Shaw, LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer Christine Garcia and myself. Here are some of my remarks from the news conference:

“Good morning and buenos dias. First off, let us take a moment to remember that yesterday (April 27, 2021) was the second anniversary of the hate attack against the Poway Jewish Synagogue where Lori Gilbert Kate lost her life. Today is an important day for us in the LGBTQ+ Community of San Diego and our relationship with the San Diego Police Department. From the 1970s, when we had a homophobic and racist police chief, we were harassed and beaten, our bars and nightclubs were raided and we were constantly subjected to abuse and treated with hatred. Today, we have a police chief who makes himself available to LGBTQ+ leaders and activists, attends every meeting of his LGBTQ+ Advisory Board (as well as every meeting of his African American and Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander and all of his community advisory boards.) An absolute first in San Diego history. Think about it: Today we have an outstanding police officer Christine Garcia, who is a Transgender woman, and she is here with us announcing a police and LGBTQ+ community program that will help protect her LGBTQ+ community! Let me tell you from a Latino LGBTQ+ activist (for over half a century now), this is indeed progress and positive change in San Diego.

“But we, the San Diego LGBTQ+ community, want to make something very clear, we stand with the Asian American Pacific Islander, Jewish, Latino and African American and Native American, Muslim, immigrant communities and this sign also means that any San Diegan facing a hate crime or harassment can come into our LGBTQ+ businesses, bars and restaurants where they will be helped and protected from hate and violence. Because for us in the LGBTQ+ community, a hate crime against one of us is indeed a hate crime against all of us.

“I want to acknowledge and thank Susan Jester, co-chair of Sheriff Gore’s LGBTQ Advisory Council; Eddie Rey of the Equality Business Alliance; Big Mike Philips, chair of San Diego GLBT Vote; and other LGBTQ+ leaders and activists who are in attendance this morning for their support of this program and, most importantly, Police Chief David Nisleit, Mayor Todd Gloria, City Council President Dr. Jen Campbell

Conversations with nicole

courtesy images

(District 2), City Council President Pro Tem Stephen Whitburn (District 3) for their continuing leadership and commitment to stopping hate crimes in and against the San Diego community, thank you.”

The Safe Place Program and LGBTQ Safe Place Resources can be reached at 619-531-2000 for non-emergencies. Or online at SanDiego.gov/police/safeplace

the harvey MilK

diverSiTy BreakFaST 2021

By Lee a. Wilczek

Dear center community,

I am delighted to announce that The Center’s annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast is back this May as a free virtual celebration open to all! As you may recall, last year’s event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we continue to reimagine and reinvent our community events to keep everyone safe, it is so important that we uphold our community traditions, celebrations, and fundraising events that strengthen our vital work.

The Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast began as a vision. City Commissioner Nicole MurrayRamirez, who founded the breakfast with inaugural co-chairs Dr. Delores A. Jacobs and City Commissioner Robert Gleason, wanted to create an inspiring event to honor the memory of Harvey Milk, an influential civil rights activist and a pioneering openly Gay elected official, and to celebrate our San Diego LGBTQ+ community. In addition to celebrating the legacy of Harvey Milk, this yearly fundraising event also provides an opportunity to recognize the amazing contributions of our LGBTQ+ elected and appointed officials, leaders, and allies. Each year, this special community event provides us with a moment to reflect on our progress and recommit to the work that remains to be done. That inspiration is so important in this moment, as we continue the work to move forward together.

This year’s event will take place virtually on Friday, May 21, at noon and will be free to view on The Center’s YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/3eo3fyx)! We will be providing fun and exciting Watch Kits to those who sign up with creative ways to watch; please RSVP at https://thecentersd.org/hmdb/ to get the latest event information. The funds we raise at the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast will support The Center’s Emergency Fund, which allows us to continue to provide an extraordinary level of emergency services to our community during this pandemic.

In the absence of ticket or table sales, there will be unique sponsorship and recognition opportunities for this year’s event that range from $1,500 to $20,000. For more information on sponsorship and recognition opportunities, please contact Ian Johnson at ijohnson@thecentersd.org or 619-692-2077, ext. 247.

Over the past years, The Center and our community have created cherished memories from this powerful and moving breakfast. Although we will miss seeing you in person this year, we hope to create virtual memories this year and see all of you next year in person!

Lee A. Wilczek

Director of Communications & Marketing The San Diego LGBT Community Center Pronouns: She/Her/Hers e: lwilczek@thecentersd.org c: 619.920.5174 Mail: PO Box 3357, San Diego, CA 92163