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NOV 22 - DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

LGBTQSD.NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

FEATURE

Cabrillo Credit Union names Michael A. DeShazo as new president/CEO

10 Questions with Vic Laverne Cox C12

Pro & Con Question? Gender identities C3

C18

NEW NIGHT LIFE

Houston, we have a problem

C5

HOLIDAY

NEWS

Small Business Saturday Your Holiday Shopping Guide

For the first time, city raises Transgender Pride Flag C3 COURT NEWS

Man ordered to trial for murders, including local gay man

C19

C4

20 years of service for HIV/AIDS

SAN DIEGO

Buttigieg Barnstormers

patients in South Bay

By Albert H. Fulcher

JOIN IOWA INVASION

What motivated local grassroots supporters to fly halfway across the country for Mayor Pete?

By George Biagi

Y

ou may have noticed that Pete Buttigieg, the first major openly gay candidate for president of the United States, is having quite the autumn. The recent Monmouth Poll (rated an A+ polling firm by fivethirtyeight. com) showed Buttigieg as the No. 1 choice among Iowa caucus-goers with 22%, a surge of 14 points since its last poll in August, and the first time he’s been in first in any state poll. This coincided with the Pete 2020 campaign opening more than 20 campaign offices throughout the state, and the birth of the grassroots Buttigieg Barnstormer movement, which brought over 1,200 self-funded grassroots volunteers from all 49 states outside of Iowa to Des Moines for the big Iowa State Democratic Party Liberty and Justice Dinner (LJD) held in the Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 1. An additional 1,200 volunteers from Iowa also descended upon the state capital for the weekend to help blanket the city in a sea of blue and gold (the official campaign colors, and, not coincidentally, the colors of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, the city in which Buttigieg serves as mayor).

Karla Torres, San Ysidro Health Clinic associate director of HIV Services (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

Photo courtesy of Pete Buttigieg’s website

(l to r) George Biagi and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg at the California Democratic Convention in Long Beach on Nov. 16.

(Photo by George Biagi)

I was one of five San Diego County — and 160 from California(!) — Barnstormers, for Pete grassroots volunteers who traveled to Des Moines to essentially be everywhere and do everything for Pete that weekend, to create a show of force for his positive, inspiring, and unifying campaign.

While the primary focus of the journey was for Team Pete to make a huge splash at the LJD, which drew an estimated 13,000 attendees (one-quarter of which appeared to be Pete supporters), the entire 16-hour day was filled with empowering and energizing volunteer events which created a lifelong bond among the Pete faithful.

Buttigieg Barnstormers continues on C2

M

ore than 100 people showed up to celebrate 20 years of CASA’s service in South Bay San Diego.

San Ysidro Health Center’s (SYHC) Coordinated, Assistance, Services and Advocacy (CASA) service center was founded specifically to improve the lives of people living with HIV/ AIDS and their families. It hasn’t been an easy road for SYHC, with many financial problems impacting CASA’s development over the last 20 years, especially with the stigma that HIV and AIDS had in the community during the height of the AIDS crisis. Even though event attendees remembered the obstacles SYHC faced in opening a special clinic in South Bay, Nov. 13 was a day of celebration for CASA’s two decades worth of service.

Karla Torres, SYHC associate director of HIV Services, said that the celebration could not be held without celebrating Ryan White, the 13-yearold boy from Indiana who was diagnosed with HIV in 1984 following a blood transfusion.

“It was a time when people feared HIV,” Torres said. “A time when they knew very little about HIV/AIDS. White and his family had to fight the stigma surrounding the epidemic. For years, him and his family fought for people infected with HIV/AIDS.

CASA continues on C3

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NOV 22 -DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

NEWS

LGBTQSD.NEWS

Buttigieg Barnstormers continues from Page 1

(l to r) San Diego County for Pete Barnstormers George Biagi, Kate DeJong, Andi McNew, Marilyn Tawatao, and Gina Opinaldo did visibility for Pete for three hours in the rain on Friday afternoon in Iowa.

This photo found its way into a Wall Street Journal story highlighting the Barnstormer movement. (Photo by George Biagi)

Whether it was meeting with the California posse in the morning; standing in the rain for three hours holding Pete signs doing visibility; hearing Pete speak at a rally in the park in front of 3,000 Iowa supporters and Barnstormers; marching behind him and his husband Chasten through the streets of Des Moines up to the Wells Fargo Arena; or tearing the roof off the arena (with our uber-cool illuminated wristbands that flashed in unison) during Pete’s address to the LJD crowd — that Friday in Des Moines was one of the 10 greatest, most memorable days in my life.

When people ask me what I see in Pete, or why I was first drawn to him, I tend to fall back on two words: inspiring and relatable. After living through the past three traumatic years, I have been yearning for inspiration and the need to feel good about my country and my president again. When you hear Pete speak, he lifts you up. He’s articulate, thoughtful, kind, insightful, compassionate, and

relatable. He has this ability to speak to you in a way that makes you see how we can find a way out of this darkness together, in a practical way that can unite this divided and rancorous nation. That’s why I’ve decided to put so much energy into this grassroots effort, and why I, and the rest of our merry band of San Diego Barnstormers, opted to take time off from work and pay our own ways to be in Des Moines to do whatever we could to give Pete a boost in Iowa.

I’d like to share with you some insight into what prompted my fellow Barnstormers to go to Iowa, and what first attracted them to Pete.

Ramona resident Andrea “Andi” McNew, the founder of San Diego County for Pete, is passionate about Buttigieg.

“The first time I heard Pete was in March on a podcast, and I instantly knew he was my candidate. I’ve never been this inspired by anyone before, certainly not enough to travel to Iowa in November,” Andi said. “Presidential politics in Iowa is totally unique, and I knew there would be no better

way to experience it than to go to the Liberty and Justice Celebration as a grassroots supporter of Pete. Iowa voters are informed and engaged, and after seeing it first-hand, I’m motivated to work hard to bring that same energy here to San Diego.”

Marilyn Tawatao, a mechanical engineer, second-generation Filipino, and volunteer organizer for our San Diego County for Pete grassroots group, was drawn to Pete for intensely personal reasons.

“I know what it feels like to be alone, to be different.

Coming from a family of immigrants, Pete’s message of unity and inclusivity resonates with me,” Tawatao said.

“Aside from voting, I’ve never done anything political, but I took time off from work and went on my own dime to Iowa because I want to know that I did everything I could to help give America the president that we need, the president that will unite everyone.”

Marilyn’s good friend, Gina Opinaldo, a teacher from Orange County, traveled with us to Iowa. She’s still undecided,

but for now has narrowed it down to Buttigieg and Andrew Yang. Gina was blown away by the sheer number of Pete supporters who seemed to overrun Des Moines.

“Pretty much anywhere you went in town, Buttigieg Barnstormers in blue and gold seemed to be everywhere. In hotels, restaurants, on the street, and especially inside the Wells Fargo Arena during the Liberty and Justice Dinner,” Opinaldo said. “I saw how being an active part of our democratic process can influence people to think more responsibly about how they will vote.”

“With us were people from so many different backgrounds, but we were all united to help Pete get elected. If he can inspire over 1,200 people from across the country to travel to Iowa on their own dime, many who have never been politically active before, imagine what Pete can do for our country,” Tawatao continued.

Kate De Jong, an organizational development consultant from Bankers Hill, is also a volunteer organizer for our

grassroots group who trekked to Iowa. Like many others, she first noticed Pete on television.

“I started gravitating toward Pete Buttigieg last spring, around the time he attended the Fox News Town Hall and handled the questions about women’s reproductive rights so well. He didn’t let Chris Wallace advance incorrect data and biased questioning, and instead answered in-depth his reasoning for a woman’s right to be in charge of her body,” De Jong noted. “But my support for Pete as the nominee solidified during a summer vacation when my husband and I visited (rather conservative) relatives in Michigan. We typically don’t talk about politics with family since we have differing opinions on policies; however, two of my in-laws brought up Pete as someone they admired for his values and his desire to include, not divide.”

Robert Hansen, a 47-yearold gay man from Granite Hills and a Buttigieg Barnstormer who also made the journey to Iowa, was rather frank in relating what attracted him most to Pete’s campaign: “His policies, of course.

But most importantly, he can get the job done and make it cool to be nice again.”

The Pete 2020 campaign has allocated most of its staff to the early caucus and primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, leaving, for now, Super Tuesday (March 3) primary states like California to rely heavily on grassroots volunteer recruiting and organizing.

As Pete continues to rise in the polls, more and more people want to get involved, but they don’t always know where to go or what they can help with.

That’s where our group — San Diego County for Pete — comes into play.

We host a series of weekly volunteer-training workshops (on Thursday nights from 6:307:30 p.m. upstairs at Lestat’s at 1041 University Ave., and on Saturdays at rotating locations), organize house meetings, conduct visibility at farmers markets and other community events (look for us at December Nights — we could really use your help!), conduct phone banks, and in the new year, we will be canvassing door to door.

I serve on the local San Diego County for Pete steering committee and am helping spearhead our grassroots volunteer recruitment. If you would like to volunteer, simply sign up at sandiegoforpete.com and I or one of my fellow teammates will follow up with you.

This is an exciting, uplifting, and energizing campaign with a talented candidate inspiring us into action. It’s also a watershed moment for the LGBTQ community. If only Harvey Milk were alive to witness just how far we’ve come in a relatively short amount of time.

—George Biagi was the editor of the San Diego Gay & Lesbian Times from 1991-94. He has worked for the city of San Diego since 1995, serving 10 years as communications director for then-3rd District City Councilmembers Christine Kehoe and Toni Atkins, two years as deputy press secretary to former Mayor Jerry Sanders, and for the past 11 years as the deputy director of legislative services in the Office of the City Clerk.

SOUTH BAY / NEWS

LGBTQSD.NEWS

NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

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CASA continues from Page 1

For the first time, city raises Transgender Pride Flag

(l to r) Terry Whitaker, SYHC vice president and chief operating officer, and Rosana Scolari, SYHC vice president of Senior Health Services, receiving special recognition for their efforts in establishing SYHC’s CASA HIV/AIDS services and programs. (Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

He became one of the greatest living symbols [championing] unbiased, accurate information on HIV. Five years later, he died of AIDS at the age of 18. Just a few months after that, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program was enacted in 1990.

It is still, right now, the most comprehensive program supporting the people with HIV. Thanks to them, we can now celebrate 20 years of services throughout the community.”

Having individuals onboard back then who joined forces with Ryan White, who fought the epidemic and the stigma, was one of the biggest aspects SYHC wanted to focus on.

“To make sure that everyone had dignity, and everyone had care,” Torres said. “Fighting discrimination, they then became activists, even at the start of the epidemic. Here in San Diego, we had our own advocates, our very strong allies leading the fight to combat stigma. In my 15 years of working in San Ysidro, it has been an honor to work along side some of our patients to make sure that we end the epidemic.”

SYHC President/CEO Kevin Mattson said the day was an incredible milestone (during SYHC’s own 50th anniversary year, no less) as he watched this program evolve over 20 years.“I would like to thank our staff for providing compassionate care for our patients living with HIV/AIDS and their families,” Mattson said.

“Thank you to our patients for entrusting us [with] your care and our community partners for helping our organization expand our reach and provide much-needed services in the South Bay and South East areas. As we continue to celebrate 50 years of service in San Diego County, San Ysidro Health is committed to continuing to improve the health and well-being of the patients we serve. Access for all, including individuals living with HIV and their families.”

San Diego Councilmember Vivian Moreno, District 8, said CASA has provided centrical services for the South Bay community.

“CASA is a one-stop-shop service center dedicated to

help improving the quality of life for people living with HIV or AIDS,” Moreno said.

“It is also a resource for their families. I can’t stress this enough as a family member who just had a medical scare how important it is for these facilities to be open for our families so we understand how to navigate, not only what our family members are going through, but just the treacherous waters of finding services.

It’s so important.”

Moreno said CASA enhances the quality of life for people living with HIV and AIDS, not only with social interaction, but mutual support for access to medical care, educational and recreational activities.

“The services that you provide ease the challenge and difficulty for people living with HIV/AIDS,” Morena said. “We all know we wouldn’t be here without the dedicated staff who run the day-to-day operations at this center. The CASA program has made a lasting impact for many and best wishes for 20 more or until we eradicate HIV.” Terry Whitaker, SYHC vice president and chief operating officer, compared CASA’s impact to the holiday classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

He said it is strange to think how each person’s life impacts the lives of so many others and like the film, San Ysidro is a small town that prospers because of the sacrifice and selflessness of individuals.

“CASA had an improbable, almost impossible start, which is worthy of a movie,” Whitaker said. “The concept for CASA was born when San Ysidro Health was failing financially, and the project depended on obtaining grant funding.

Things were bleak.”

He thanked Rosana Scolari for taking a leap of faith and coming back to San Ysidro, dedicating a portion of her life to CASA and to all of its HIV programs.“Your impact on this community is still being written,” Whitaker said.

“While CASA has been the unlikely foundation of San Ysidro Health’s HIV programs and other programs are part of the story of celebration today.

They are all interconnected.

To you, our HIV staff past and present, your sacrifices and selflessness have saved lives, averted suffering and provided hope to people during their darkest moments of despair.

Without you, you would have left an awful hole in the history of San Ysidro Health.”

Rosana Scolari, SYCH vice president of Senior Health Services, grew up in San Ysidro and joined the health center in 1997.

“Filled with emotions, I am here celebrating something that wasn’t supposed to be,” Scolari said. “Back then, [when first hired] I worked as a case manager. We didn’t have any primary care, so we had to take our people to UCSD’s Owen’s Clinic. At one time, I accompanied one of my clients and we waited for three hours.

There was no sense of priority.

When I realized that this was happening to every patient, I thought, ‘No, this is not right.’

This is when my mind started thinking that we needed something in South Bay.” Scolari said, as destiny would have it, within a few months, data came out and the statistics of people diagnosed as HIV-positive in San Diego jumped from 6% to 11%.

“That’s when we got the attention that we needed,” Scolari said. “Finally, excited that we might be able to build something here in South Bay, we needed funds to address this. I was very hopeful and very stubborn. Many said that they wanted to go to UCSD or Hillcrest because they didn’t want to be seen here. I didn’t think so, so I had to try. In 1998, we started writing for five grants in 30 days. We turned in the grants and I left because there was no opportunity here for me at that time.

At that time, I said that if we got these grants, I will be here and I’m going to make this work. We got those grants.

Twenty years later, we are here. We proved everybody wrong, serving 1,500 patients and we have now served thousands more. It’s incredible.

We managed to make this a success. We planted seeds that are growing.”

(l to r) Jen LaBarbera, San Diego Pride Education & Advocacy manager; Councilman Chris Ward, District 3; and the San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Deja Cabrera, Transgender Services coordinator, and staff member Naya Velazco, attending the raising of the Transgender Pride Flag at San Diego City Hall in honor of Transgender Awareness Week on Nov. 18.

(Courtesy of the office of Councilman Chris Ward)

HE,SHE,THEM,THEY

PRO & CON QUESTION

Is it necessary to announce gender identities in all communications (public meetings, emails…)? email us your comments to editor@lgbtqsd.news

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COURT NEWS

NOV 22 -DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

LGBTQSD.NEWS

A

Man ordered to trial for

four murders, including local gay man

By Neal Putnam

Jon David Guerrero photo by Jeff Herrera/NBC 7

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man suspected in a series of homicides on homeless people, including someone who attended Metropolitan Community Church, has been ordered to stand trial on four murders and numerous assaults on people who survived.

The preliminary hearing of Jon David Guerrero, 42, lasted five days and San Diego Superior Court Judge Kenneth So ordered him to stand trial after hearing many witnesses about the 2016 series.

Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey said a possible motive surfaced in which an officer testified a surviving homeless victim asked his attacker why did he stab him in the face.

“Because you’re a bum,” the officer said the attacker told him.

All but one of the victims were homeless, but that remark is the only time in which someone said Guerrero said anything during the attack.

This is a little difficult to write because I knew Angelo DeNardo, 53, the first person killed on July 3, 2016. Angelo attended Metropolitan Community Church and also the adult Sunday School class for two years.

I had lunch with him at least twice. He was a gentle soul who would never hurt anyone. He never asked anyone for money and always paid his own way for lunch.

Angelo was well functioning for a homeless man who lived under the Clairemont Drive bridge off Interstate 5 near Mission Bay. He had a bus pass, a cell phone, and collected a disability check from Social Security.

I thought he might have Tourette’s syndrome because he sometimes said odd things, perhaps involuntarily, but he had no facial tics. He was just Angelo and we accepted him for who he was.

“He was a loving, funny, friendly person who will be hugely missed,” said MCC member Kathy Wilson at the time. “To find out when he was killed so violently. When Pastor Dan made the announcement, I wanted to scream, cry out and grieve.”

On his last Sunday morning, Angelo was asleep under the bridge and was killed when someone hammered a railroad spike through his head and also his chest. He died from blunt force trauma, and then his body was set on fire.

While going to MCC that Sunday morning, Teresa Biery noticed police converging on the area where Angelo slept.

She wondered what it was about. We didn’t see Angelo that Sunday.

Guerrero is also charged with the special circumstance of committing multiple murders and a decision as to whether he faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole has not yet been made by the District Attorney.

He is also charged with arson, attempted murder, and assault.

He will get a trial date on Dec. 2. Guerrero has pleaded

not guilty and remains in jail without bail.

His attorney, Dan Tandon, has long said Guerrero is mentally ill. This hearing was delayed for years because Guerrero was housed at a state mental hospital after being found mentally incompetent to understand court proceedings.

Judge So found Guerrero was mentally competent in a competency trial in June.

Police detective David Spitzer testified Guerrero was seen on surveillance camera footage at a nearby service station purchasing a red gas can along with gasoline some minutes before Angelo was killed. A witness saw a man running away from the scene carrying a red gas can, which was recovered.

The second homicide victim was Shawn Longley, 41, in Ocean Beach on July 4, 2016, and he was found on a sidewalk and partially out of a sleeping bag near tennis courts and a park. A railroad spike was found beside his head.

The third man killed was Dionicio Vahidy, 23, in downtown San Diego. He was attacked two days later and died in a hospital.

The fourth victim killed, Molly Simons, 83, of North Park, broke the pattern in that she was the only non-homeless person attacked. Harvey said the pattern was similar, however, because surveillance cameras showed a man on a bicycle carrying some type of weapon before Simons was struck in the head on July 13, 2016.

Simons volunteered at a local YMCA and was walking to a bus stop around 5 a.m. when she was struck to the back of her head in an alley on Arizona Street near University Avenue. She was taken to a hospital and died two weeks later from a skull fracture.

Harvey said in court one victim, Michael Mason, survived a railroad spike hammered into his face, but he was left blinded when he was attacked in the Midway area in 2016.

Mason died in July 2019.

A homeless woman was also among the victims and she survived. Video surveillance showed a man on a bicycle coming by, and the victim appears to get up only to fall down repeatedly. The attacks themselves were not captured by surveillance cameras.

When police searched Guerrero’s apartment in the East Village, they found identification from two murder victims in his possession along with railroad spikes, police said.

At the funeral for Angelo and also in memory of the others, Biery read a litany for social justice and others recalled how they met him.

“Angelo was part of this church. I remember his wonderful smile and gracious personality,” said Senior Pastor Dan Koeshall at the funeral.

“We’re here to celebrate that all life is sacred. It’s important to be reminded that no one is defined by life’s circumstance, but by God.”

FEATURE / NORTH COUNTY

LGBTQSD.NEWS

NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

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From the field to CEO

Cabrillo Credit Union names Michael A. DeShazo as new president/CEO

By Albert H. Fulcher

In his office in Encinitas, Cabrillo Credit Union President/CEO Michael A. DeShazo.

(Photo by Albert H. Fulcher)

W

hen Michael A. DeShazo was 17, he had an interest in becoming a policeman with one of his friends. As they were preparing to go into law enforcement, his friend told him he would have to take a lie detector class and one of the questions would ask if you were gay or had ever slept with a man.

DeShazo decided to change his future. He became a bank teller instead.

Now, after 42 years in the business and 23 years at Cabrillo Credit Union, DeShazo recently took on the role as president/CEO. He was elected to this position by the Cabrillo Credit Union board of directors after serving as interim CEO and several other key positions within the financial institution.

DeShazo said that being gay never made a difference in his banking career. He came out to his boss in 1997, when he bought a house in Fletcher Hills, and told her that it was listed as a “joint tenancy.”

“That’s when I told her about my boyfriend at that time. I felt very comfortable telling her,” DeShazo said.

“I think for a lot of people at my age turning 60, is that in the late ’70s and early ’80s, it was very popular to have gay friends. Gay people know culture, style and are fun to go out with. Then AIDS came out.

At that point, many people my age retreated back into the closet. I was 35 when I came out. And everyone already knew. Even at Border Patrol, I would be doing presentations and after a few years, you get to know these agents. One agent would say, ‘I thought you were married, the way you presented yourself, told your stories about trying to raise a family.’ Other agents said, ‘As soon as you opened your mouth, I knew that boy was gay.’ But everyone knows.

That has never been a hindrance with Cabrillo or working with the Border Patrol.”

Cabrillo Credit Union was established in 1955 to serve Border Patrol agents in San Diego. Today it serves as the primary financial institution for those employed by the U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agencies in the San Diego area. Cabrillo also serves Sharp HealthCare, Carlsbad city employees, and is open to anyone who lives or works in San Diego County. A small but industrious financial institution, Cabrillo’s assets total more than $370 million and more than 24,000 members.

When DeShazo joined the Cabrillo team in 1997, he came in as its business development officer, pulling in new accounts.

With the base of its membership being the Border Patrol, he went to stations to recruit new business.

The first time he went out, he came back with 35 accounts out of 50 agents.

Cabrillo’s president at the time, Robin Lentz, was impressed, but DeShazo made it his goal to get more.

On his next recruitment, he came back with 50 out of 51 agents, along with the paperwork for direct deposit. Lentz asked him how he did it and his answer was that they loved the free checking account, in which she replied, “Michael we have no free checking.”

“We do now,” DeShazo said.

Lentz changed the bank’s policy on the spot, making Cabrillo one of the few financial institutions to forego a service fee for checking.

This was the beginning of many big changes that DeShazo made that grew Cabrillo as he worked his way up to senior vice president.

“At a credit union of this size, you wear a lot of hats,”

DeShazo said. “I had facilities, security, lending, branch operations underneath me.

My primary function was still working with Border Patrol.”

Eight years ago, DeShazo led a program with a corresponding organization FORBPO (Fraternal Order of Retired Border Patrol Officers) and in three years, added 1,100 new accounts and $18 million in deposits and loans. This was phenomenal as a pilot pro-

“Cabrillo is a niche credit union rather than the big guys. So, we do [more] service [for] our membership group. All credit unions in America were started by a select employee group. Be it Navy, Army, Marine, electricians, teachers.”

— Michael A. DeShazo

gram. Today, half of Cabrillo’s membership is owed to this program. This opened Cabrillo up for nationwide service.

As interim CEO, DeShazo made some immediate changes. “In my case, when they say membership makes a difference at a credit union, it truly does,” DeShazo said. “Over my 23 years of working with the Border Patrol, these guys liked me. They trusted me. It was the relationship that I had built over 20 years. The members made a difference.”

“The board is very excited to see where Mike will lead Cabrillo,” said Board Chair Richard Amezcua. “Mike is a dedicated credit union executive, with more than four decades of experience, which has

prepared him well for this new leadership role. We feel that Mike will continue to grow and strengthen Cabrillo for many years.”

Amezcua went on to say, “During Mike’s four months as interim CEO, the credit union has seen some amazing transformations. Cabrillo has had two of the credit union’s best loan production months in history. Staff seems happier and more engaged and members are excited to see Mike at the helm.”

DeShazo implemented plans like the Payroll Assurance Loan. If the federal government goes on furlough, the credit union pays the amount of the member’s last paycheck for however long the furlough last. During 2018-19, when the government shut down, Cabrillo extended more than $24 million in lines of credit to its membership.

“That was so popular it brought national attention,” DeShazo said. “Our members in the Border Patrol didn’t even have to worry about government shutdowns. We also started early payroll dates. Border Patrol gets paid on Monday.

We pay them on Friday. If you must wait until Monday for your paycheck, it can really just throw things off for your family.”

DeShazo said Cabrillo is a wonderful credit union to belong to.“We have a claim of having the best auto loan program in the nation,” DeShazo said. “We have a Meet or Beat program, we offer bi-weekly payments, we pay your DMV fees every year through a DMV add-on, we let you skip payments twice and if the federal government goes on furlough, so does your auto loan.”

Cabrillo is very high tech when it comes to delivering services so that members can

do anything from home.

“Half of our member that use us have never stepped foot into Cabrillo because they do it all remotely,” DeShazo said. “They continue to use it, and we continue to grow. The technology of this credit union exceeds those of larger financial institutions. Cabrillo does not invest as much into brick-and-mortar offices because it is working with member’s money.”

Cabrillo has only four branches in the county, but DeShazo said other branches are expensive to build, maintain and staff and with its high-tech services, there is no need.

“When you have a phenomenal subsidized ATM network, home banking, early pay, great products and services that complement the members, that is what our members really like,” DeShazo said. “Those are the binding initiatives that are personalized to our membership. Our job is to serve our membership and we do that through technology.

Our members can go into any other credit union and do a transaction, so they can use their ATMs or branches for anything. So, this partnership eliminates the need for more offices for Cabrillo. This is a nationwide partnership.”

Out of the 18 credit unions in San Diego, Cabrillo is No. 9.

“Cabrillo is a niche credit union rather than the big guys,” DeShazo said. “So, we do [more] service [for] our membership group. All credit unions in America were started by a select employee group. Be it Navy, Army, Marine, electricians, teachers. We are not as large as a Bank of America, so our focus is more on our niche group, Border Patrol, Customs, Sharp, and the city of Carlsbad. And Cabrillo’s services are available for anyone who works or lives in San Diego County.”

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NOV 22 -DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

GUEST COMMENTARY / OPINION

LGBTQSD.NEWS

R

esearch by Shaun Pichler, chair and professor of management at Cal State Fullerton, has shown that companies with LGBT-supportive policies tend to outperform their competitors over time, and if those policies are rescinded, firm value, productivity, and profitability declines.

Such policies have a positive effect among all employees at a firm — not just LGBT workers — and this effect occurs even in states with anti-discrimination laws.

Pichler’s interest in studying fairness and support in organizations was fueled by his own experience in industry, where he saw discriminatory actions and the suffering they caused.

Why do LGBT-supportive policies impact the bottom line favorably?

My colleagues and I were among the first researchers to demonstrate a link between LGBT-supportive policies and firm performance, but we weren’t able to tease out exactly why this occurs. However, we suspect there are two key reasons: these firms are able to attract and retain more highly qualified workers than their competitors, and they are more attractive to LGBTQ+ consumers, a community with the estimated purchasing power of $917 billion in 2016, according to Forbes magazine.

Why does discontinuing such policies lead to decreases in firm performance?

When firms discontinue LGBT-supportive policies, they are less attractive as employers of choice, which leads to less qualified applicants, job incumbents, and lower levels of retention of top talent. Moreover, they are less attractive to LGBT consumers. Firms experience performance decrements over time as they become less attractive or less competitive

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

Companies with LGBT-supportive policies outperform the competition

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

CSUF professor of management links policies, productivity and profitability

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Albert H. Fulcher editor@lgbtqsd.news 619-315-8194 SALES Mike Rosensteel sales@lgbtqsd.news 619-865-2220

By CSUF News Service

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Big Mike Phillips Bmsd1957@gmail.com 619-807-7324 Research by Shaun Pichler, chair and professor of management at Cal State Fullerton, links LGBT-supportive policies to productivity and profitability. Supportive companies tend to outperform their competitors over time and employers that rescind such policies see declines in firm value, productivity, and profitability. (Courtesy Photo)

in both their labor and product or service markets.

Why do the benefits of these policies persist in the presence of state anti-discrimination laws?

This finding is something that we didn’t expect. We thought that the effects of LGBT-supportive policies would be mitigated in states with legal protections because these workers would know that they have protections at the state level. In hindsight, though, what seems to matter to workers is whether or not they feel fairly treated and supported by their employer.

Why do LGBT-supportive policies have a positive impact on all workers at a firm?

We theorized that these policies should have a positive effect on all workers because they send the signal that the company values and supports everyone. This signal should create a more positive diversity climate and increase perceptions of organizational justice and fairness among all workers. When employees feel that their work environment is more inclusive, fairer and more supportive, they tend to be happier, healthier and more productive.

Since there are no federal mandates for firms to support LGBT workers, when they do, they are going above and beyond to offer a strong signal to potential applicants and their workforce. This is similar to what we have found in stud-

ies of on-site childcare — even non-parents tend to react positively to this benefit because the employer is signaling they care about their employees and want to do what they can to support them.

What are your next projects related to LGBT issues?

My colleagues and I are working on a cross-cultural comparison of LGBT equality indexes from several countries.

These indexes monitor the diversity climate and inclusiveness of firms. We want to better understand how a country’s culture influences the design and use of the indexes, and how the indexes might influence LGBT rights in their respective countries.

COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA info@lgbtq.news CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Biagi CSUF News Service Vic Gerami Korie Houston Michael Kimmel Connor Maddocks MG Perez Neal Putman Summer Stephan Tootie Darnelle Williams Lambda Archives staff DISTRIBUTION LGBTQ San Diego County News is distributed free every other Friday of the month. © 2019. 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 © 2019 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.

COMMUNITY VOICES

LGBTQSD.NEWS

NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

Conversations with Nicole Hillcrest rainbow crosswalk 2020 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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ecause of our Councilman Chris Ward and his hard-working staff (especially Brittany Bailey), Hillcrest will finally join other major cities and dedicate a rainbow crosswalk at Normal Street and University Avenue in January of 2020. Councilman Ward and his staff are also hard at work for a future Pride promenade at the same location!

San Diego AIDS Memorial Many of you have been asking me about the proposed San Diego AIDS Memorial and plans for it are moving along. All the government agencies have given their approval and it will probably begin construction next year and I will keep you posted! Thank you, Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

A community Thanksgiving dinner For 32 years, the Imperial Court de San Diego and the San Diego LGBT Community Center have hosted a community Thanksgiving dinner for seniors, families, people living with AIDS, cancer, the homeless, and anyone wanting to share a meal with your community. This year’s Scott Carlson/Dan Ferbal Thanksgiving Community Dinner will be held on Thanksgiving Day next Thursday, Nov. 28, at The Center and all are invited!

Register to vote!

Every LGBTQ San Diegan can help make history.

You can elect the first person of color and gay mayor, Todd Gloria, and the first Latina and lesbian congresswoman, Georgette Gomez. To know them both is to know that they will be a mayor and congresswoman for all people. You can get a voter registration form at The Center or Hillcrest Post Office.

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COMMUNITY VOICES

LGBTQSD.NEWS

Romance. Sex. Intimacy. Hooking up. Hanging out.

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.

Do I have your attention?

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s men who love men, we want all things from all men. We want hot sex; emotional intimacy; a great, loyal friend; and a handyman who can help us fix our car/house/life. In short, we want to feel loved (heart), respected for our intelligence (mind) and physically desired (genitals).

Most men I know — myself included — find this balance pretty challenging. Not only is it difficult to find a man like that, it’s even harder to be a man like that. So, what are our alternatives? Can we have it all? Or, better question — how can we have it all?

In any meaningful man-to-man relationship, it’s wise to balance the desires and demands of our heart, mind and genitals. For example, when you meet a guy and feel an attraction, how and when do you decide to have sex with him? Is it right away, when your heart and mind barely know the guy? Or is it later on, after your libido has a healthy conversation with the wisdom of your mind and the feelings in your heart?

I’m not here to tell you that there’s one right way to do it. I had a client who met a guy at our local bathhouse, had great sex with him and they exchanged numbers. The next day, he wondered if there might be more possible with this guy than merely (?) great sex. Initially, my client’s genitals had called the shots, but now his mind (thoughts) and heart (feelings) wanted to get in the game too. He

“Your heart is all about emotions and feelings. When you’re getting to know a guy, take some time and check in with yourself.”

— Michael Kimmel

came to me asking, “How can I have a relationship where my mind, heart and dick all work together?”

Good question. Let’s look at the heart first.

Your heart is all about emotions and feelings. When you’re getting to know a guy, take some time and check in with yourself. What are you feeling? What emotions are you aware of? Does thinking of him make you smile? This is your heart talking.

Now, check in with your head. Your thoughts, the rational, logical part of your brain. This is where we live most of the time: thinking, judging and analyzing. Sometimes we have lots of “voices” in our head, and they don’t always agree. One voice says, “Could this guy be husband material?” or you may hear another voice, that says, “Don’t be an idiot, it was fun: move on!”

All the voices in our head are like a committee. Each committee member has a

unique point-of-view and wants to be heard. Every high-functioning committee allows each member to speak their truth, and then a consensus is reached. You can do the same with the voices in your head.

Once you listen to your heart and mind, it’s time to pay attention to your testosterone-driven friend, your dick. Watching man-onman porn, you’d think that hard dicks and great orgasms are all that count. Where’s the intelligence, the emotion? The mind and heart are almost seen as “girly” parts of man-to-man relationships.

And yet, without the mind and heart’s involvement, our relationships — from hookups to marriage — will suck pretty bad (pun intended).

In the best sex, your thoughts, emotions and libido all work together. Ever noticed how a good sexual relationship is mostly mental?

The next time you’re making love with someone you really

like, notice what makes you excited. When you masturbate, what fantasies do you have?

This is all in your head: your thoughts create feelings and the feelings work in harmony with physical sensations to create great sex.

I am often asked by clients, “How do I know if I have a sex addiction?” People who have addictive sexual behavior are rarely in touch with their emotions: their dicks are running the show. Their emotional hunger never gets satisfied, so they keep looking for the next man, and one after that.

Many of us gay/bi/trans guys have lots of sex, but does it bring us real satisfaction? Relationships totally focused on sex can be fun, but — in my experience — the best relationships (monogamous or not) are those where your mind is attracted to someone, your heart feels affection and connection, and your dick gets just the right amount of attention too.

Graphic by freepik.com

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NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

Along with performances, charity work and designing, Paris is the general manager and partner at insideOUT. Paris Sukomi Max (Photo by Rob Lucas)

BIG MIKE AND 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 619-8077324, or bmsd1957@gmail.com.

L

iving in San Diego for 30 years now, I’ve had the privilege to meet and get to know a lot of incredible individuals — many who stand out in our community for different reasons. It’s rare to find those who stand out with so many talents and ways to contribute to society. Well, I am excited to introduce someone who has all these amazing and positive attributes (she really doesn’t need an introduction): our very own beloved Paris.

Aris Antionette Quion is her birth given name, but we as a community know her best by Paris Sukomi Max or just simply, Paris. Born and raised in San Diego by a very large, loving and supportive family, Paris came out of the closet at 11 years old. Love and support from her mother encouraged Paris to live her honest life, and if you know Paris, she does just that.

Being a role model to so many people who admire and look up to her is an example of her self-truth. As a young person, Paris was lucky to find Hillcrest where she developed relationships for support, guidance and became part of the LGBTQ community. Having Hillcrest in her life helped Paris gain confidence to know who she is and realize she would be just fine. The process of coming out for Paris was not necessarily scary for her but it made her very cautious. Being a very private person outside of her entertainment life, she has a very protective side. At 16, Paris started doing drag and performing. At 19, she came out to the world as a transgender person, making her a stronger and happier individual with more self-awareness and appreciation of her life’s journey.

Growing into one of San Diego’s leading drag entertainers, along with a handful of other amazing drag queens, she was featured at the San Diego Museum of History and honored with her own display as one of San Diego’s Drag Legends.

Paris has so much respect for the queens that came before her, learning the art of drag, about life, professionalism and longevity. I, for one, think she was paying attention. Paris is received and very respected within the world of drag, working with so many other admired and beloved entertainers. There is not a stage small or large she can’t bring down the house with her talents.

I met Paris just by being out and about in town. I saw her perform in a few places including several community functions and charity events. After a while, we just started making

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Paris from insideOUT

a point to stop and get to know each other. I invited Paris to co-host Being Alive’s Diving for Life, a benefit with mermaids diving for rocks with numbers on them which picked their auction items. We did this event for two years raising several thousand of dollars to benefit this great charity. Not only did Paris co-host this event, she made all the mermaid tails for all the hot men and women models. I have loved working with her ever since.

Over the years, you’d find Paris giving up her valuable time to give back in so many ways. Some of the many things she works hard to show her support for is The Center, Pride, and the San Diego Family Justice Center, which advocates, extracts and relocates victims of domestic abuse. When Paris has the time, she really enjoys using her voice to speak to colleges, city administrations, school district offices, private corporations and prison and jails about gender sensitivity and LGBTQ inclusion and equality.

You would have to be blind if you have never noticed what a fashionista and designer Paris is, always in a beautiful and very creative, self-designed creation. Known more for her entertainment life as a drag queen, Paris also loves to design clothes, mainly eveningwear and bridal gowns or anything she can sell to what her clients need. I’m sure you have seen her wearing her own designs for different events, shows she performs in and holiday creations thoughout the year. She looks like a million dollars and is

always a first-class act.

Paris never stops. I personally have no idea how she finds the time, especially now pouring her heart into opening the Hillcrest restaurant insideOUT with the MO’s Universe Group. As general manager, Paris breathes a sigh of relief knowing that her community has been very receptive and welcoming toward them. You will find her welcoming guests in a beautiful outfit with that beautiful smile to enjoy specialty cocktails and delicious food prepared by the chef. If you haven’t been, you need to treat yourself to this unique atmosphere that will no doubt have you talking about your experience, located in the heart of Hillcrest.

“I think my life has been pretty much laid out for everyone to see but if ever it’s questioned, I’m happy. I have been fortunate bring a part of this community and for all the opportunities I have been given because of being openly and unapologetically me,” Paris said.

San Diego has so many colorful and bright stars who contribute to make our community fun, different, accepting, and full of love.

Thank God we have Paris to be one of those brighter stars that shine for all of us. I love you, Paris.

To contact Paris for more information, you can find her on her social media under Paris Sukomi Max; if you have any questions about insideOUT, feel free to reach out her at Paris@insideOUTSD.com; and for entertainment/events inquiries, you can reach her at ParisQueenEntertainer@gmail.com

All are

welcome Monte Vista Village is a vibrant, energetic senior living community dedicated to helping you live a life enriched wonderful experiences in a beautiful environment.

We’d love to hear from you! 619-465-1331 INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | LONG-TERM SKILLED NURSING

2211 Massachusetts Avenue | Lemon Grove, California 91945 montevistavillage.com

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COMMUNITY VOICES

LGBTQSD.NEWS

Supporting the homeless on their own terms Graphic by freepik.com

THE C WORD …

COMMUNITY Tootie —Tootie is synonymous with Lips, executive director at the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association, and chair of the Mid-City Community Parking District, vegan and mahu.

Contact Tootie at Nefertootie@gmail.com.

I

n the communities I move in and around through, there is diversity in the opinion and attitudes toward the increasing homeless situation. San Diego is increasingly defined by the haves and the have-nots. This discussion would take more pages and experience than you or I have. Many of us want to help yet feel powerless. I was interested in the community of homeless advocates, how they mobilize, communicate and congregate around the issues that they are trying to highlight and address.

A friend of mine spent his high school years sleeping on a pile of clean clothes in his father’s car while his his father slept on the dirty clothes. He is now a homeless advocate who was really trying to effect change. His ideas came from a place of knowing.

“I went to the pavement after I was busted and my car was impounded, I had no idea how to do it,” he said. “I thought I had found a place to curl up unseen at night. It was someone else’s space. I just got there earlier. He quickly looked me over and said, need a blanket? [He] tossed me a blanket. Then proceeded to shoot some meth. One thing surprised me. The other shocked me. But no one else offered to help me. It taught me to not be so judgmental. He showed me some of the ropes in that neighborhood.

So, I was able to survive better than I could have without. I began to realize that certain behaviors on the street are all about surviving.”

While these experiences have been imprinted on his life (he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder), it has also given himself a drive and focus on helping others living on the street and those who are interested in helping. That’s not everyone. Many in this struggle, while well-meaning, have no real understanding.

“We are failing as the system and not [as] homeless San Diegans,” he said. He explained that we have to be realistic and understand who we are talking with.

Where did they come from? One remedy cannot fit every circumstance.

He continued, “And so now another message I carry is that the city, the county, service providers, and others think that placement is the be all to end all. No, it is not! We are now seeing a system that churns people into and out of placements and hopes that no one notices. If persons are not placed in permanent housing successfully, then we need to start holding the system responsible for its failings. The program in New York that Housing First is based upon placed its hardest to house consumers [not clients]. Almost 250 individuals [were placed] in housing [scattered site, even] in 1995. In 2015, every single one was still successfully housed in those same units!”

In my attempt to steer the conversation in the direction of community, which is what this article deals with but to also understand the issue more, I asked about homeless communities. My interview continues with someone who identifies as

“Homeless San Diegans are not things.

They are San Diegans who are in a current circumstance.”

— Ellis Rose

formerly homeless, and who represents homeless and formerly homeless San Diegans.

“I never use ‘homeless’ as a noun. I use it as an adjective,” he said.

Make note: Homeless San Diegans are not things. They are San Diegans who are in a current circumstance.

He continued talking about the homeless populations.

“So, there are very real homeless communities [plural]. Because our homelessness defines how we interact,” he said. “There are communities based upon where and how we sleep, eat, etc. They can be based upon our geographical locations or how we have met each other. And they constantly shift ... in my experience.

One form of community has been on the internet. And so I am connected to homeless Americans in Seattle, in California cities, and elsewhere. A good example of all that I have said are RV dwellers. I have slept in my car, in the pavement, in shelters, and couch surfed and hotel hopped. But I have never used an oversized vehicle or RV. But by being the only one talking with RV dwellers, I knew that the safe parking site at SDCCU stadium would be a failure for them. And it has been a failure because it fails to meet their needs because no one sought them and their input out.”

Where there was an intention to address the needs of and the opportunity for success with RV dwellers, the project at the stadium failed. Attorney Ann Menasche, with Disability Rights California, said, “They didn’t do their homework. As far as I can tell, they didn’t talk to RV people.

Community requires communication!”

With that understanding and illumination, I asked about homeless advocates and how they meet,

communicate, and coalesce around an issue. There is a San Diego task force on this issue with 31 seats and only three are held by advocates who once slept on the streets.

Earlier it was just one amongst 31 who said, “That decision to include one ‘token’ was based on supposed consideration. It is way out of line with the true Housing First best practice of inclusion. More realistic inclusion would be 10 or 11 seats at least in my opinion. But all of the seat holders don’t want to give up their seats, of course. There is a sense of being important and expert by virtue of their seats even if they contribute little in the way of discussion or otherwise.”

There is also a breakfast put on by a local charity that operates out of a church, meeting the needs of homeless people on their terms. Aside from providing two meals a week to about 100, they also help by providing other services and remain committed to making a difference. These meals give people a chance to interact.

“Going back to communities, shelters foster a very fluid sense of community. Fluid because people enter and leave them for various reasons,” he said.

Perhaps people who are homeless have the best way forward to a more stable life. They’ve lived it and are doing for themselves. The best way we can help is to support them.

“I know of a homeless man and his girlfriend who feed over 70-80 others a nutritious meal every week,” he said. “It meets health code standards. And as a street preacher, he gave an invocation before a meal that made me literally cry. Only one other prayer has done that for me in my entire life.”

During this interview I was moved to tears and understanding. I felt shook to my core. “It always comes back to community. No man is an island.” I haven’t identified our homeless advocate’s name until now as I wanted to really lay out the issue. Let me introduce you to Ellis Rose, whose unfiltered words and passion can help us help each other.

“The worst thing any community can do to a person is exile someone, cast someone out,” Rose said. “Contemporary homelessness has become a large-scale casting out of individuals simply for reasons of lacking property. Casting out traditionally was done because of serious crimes like murder and rape. This says such awful things about our morality as communities. Very awful.”

Rose grew up in central Illinois and moved here for a love relationship.

“One last thought,” Rose said.

“People don’t really become homeless because they run out of money.

They become homeless because they run out of relationships. No matter the cause, ultimately they have no more relationships to rescue them.

Our communities need to focus on and work upon restoring or replacing relationships.”

The simplest thing you can do daily is say hello. If you want to do more in addition, donate to these charities who are meeting people on their own terms and providing for their needs and advocate, speak out on supporting people who have a history of being displaced to be at the table and in decision making for their own community and our collective future together.”

Read my entire interview with Ellis Rose online.

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Clockwise The first Center on B Street about which Charles David talks on the audio tape.

The cover of In Touch magazine in which Charles David had a column titled “Oppression?”

Robert “Jess” Jessop talks on two phones at once while holding a paintbrush as he was setting up The Center in 1973.

OUT UT OF THE ARCHIVES

Charles David’s column about oppression in the April 1974 In Touch magazine.

By Lambda Archives staff

“Charles David” wrote about the Carnival Fundraiser for the Center in the April 1, 1973 MCC Prodigal.

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

(Photos by Lambda Archives)

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ambda Archives board member emeritus Chuck Kaminski keeps searching for the history of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community. He shows up at random times at the Archives and selects a box to take a deep dive into its contents and often digs up buried gems.

Sometimes he’ll go online and search in different places and new ways until he turns up other pieces of our past. One such search led him to discover that San Diego had two chapters of the Mattachine Society in the early 1950s and Chuck, along with Lambda’s historian-inresidence Lillian Faderman, was able to get ONE Archive in Los Angeles to send us the 52 pages of that history.

A recent find was that the New York Public Library had an audio tape that was labeled as an interview with an “unknown man” about the formation of The Gay Center in San Diego. Chuck contacted the library and asked if they were willing to sell us a copy of the interview.

But they said the interview had been donated by the International Gay Information Center, so we’d need the permission from San Diego’s Center to get the copy.

Cara Dessert and the staff of The Center were happy to authorize that transfer of our history.

The tape is fascinating for several reasons. From the dates mentioned in it, it is clear the interview was recorded sometime between October of 1973 and April of 1974. The Center for Social Services (as it was then called) had just opened in September of 1973 so the details were fresh in the mind of the man being interviewed, including specific dates.

The interviewer mentions having spent four days in Los Angeles at their center (which was the first in the country, having started in 1969) and among the people she interviewed there was Morris Kight, the primary founder of that center who offered advice to the people starting the San Diego Center. San Diego’s was the second LGBT center in the country, even pre-dating New York’s by 10 years.

By researching the articles the interviewee mentions that he wrote for The Prodigal, (the San Diego Metropolitan Community Church newsletter that started publishing in 1970) and that he said he’ll have an article in the upcoming April 1974 issue of In Touch magazine about oppression, Chuck was able to determine that the man speaking is Charles David Hollenbeck, who usually wrote under the name “Charles David.” Back then, many people were reluctant to use their actual names in gay publications.

Lambda Archives has Jess Jessop’s and Bernie Michels’ notes on those meetings and Michels notes that David Hollenbeck was a participant in those early planning sessions.

Throughout the interview, Hollenbeck refers to Robert Jessop, (the driving force behind The Center and eventually the founder of Lambda Archives) as “Bob.” Everyone else called him “Jess.”

A mystery that adds to our history In October 1972, 12 people met at a house in Point Loma looking to expand from just being a phone line to an actual center. In February 1973, they had their first fundraiser. The organizers arranged for eight bar owners to guarantee the budget of The Center. If the center’s fundraising goals were not met, the bar owners would chip in funds to keep it operating. This was a unique agreement that was covered in The Advocate magazine.

On April 10, 1973, they put on a carnival that raised about $2,300 for The Center. Hollenbeck reported, “We exhausted ourselves emotionally.”

And now that money was coming in it led to, “drastic shake-ups during some very hot meetings.” The upheavals after the carnival resulted in, “the resignation of the idealist who was leading this, Bernie Michels, and the resignation of several of the women who were bitching about drag things.” But he noted that they had “ a good representation of gay women.”

He said there was, “A big argument lasting four or five weeks or six weeks over what sort of a place should we get. The argument was to spend little and save what we have or spend a lot and trust...” (that more money would come in). “We spent a lot more than we thought we would. But so far it’s been all right. It’s a good house.” They moved in during September of 1973. “Women are cooperating tremendously.

People are pouring in, taking advantage of it.

It’s working. It was worth the gamble and worth the trouble.”

Hollenbeck said, “Bob Jessop took over as co-director,” but added, “the beautiful period of consensus is gone and you have to follow the lines of authority. They had to organize. But in a way I didn’t like.” Of Jessop he also said, “He is somewhat of a prima donna. But an organizational prima donna.”

Among Hollenbeck’s complaints was that the boards of The Center and the MCC told him he

couldn’t “hook up” with people who called the hotline or came to the church for counseling.

He admits, “I’m a controversial guy. I’m a loner. I’m a maverick.

I function best alone.”

And he talks about leading protests and stirring things up but adds that even back then they would get cops thanking them for protesting.

Unfortunately, the tape is incomplete. There is no introduc-

tion and there are pieces missing. After she left Hollenbeck, the interviewer apparently planned to visit the San Diego Center to interview Jess “Bob” Jessop. This makes Chuck Kaminski and the rest of us here at the Archives wonder if there is a tape somewhere out there of that interview or if there is a more complete version of this one.

There is always more digging to do!

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ENTERTAINMENT

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10 QUESTIONS WITH VIC Vic Gerami —A noted columnist, Vic Gerami is also a journalist and media contributor who is also publisher and editor of The Blunt Post.

Today reaching national international audiences, Gerami first built a foundation of knowledge and skills by learning the media industry during his years at Frontiers Magazine, followed by positions at LA Weekly and Voice Media Group.

LAVERNE W

COX

ith various ‘firsts’ in her already impressive career, the Emmy-nominated actress, documentary film producer and prominent equal rights advocate, Laverne Cox, continues to make history in her career and significant strides in her activism.

Debuting on the scene in the groundbreaking role of Sophia Burset, in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series “Orange Is The New Black,” Laverne is the first trans woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show.

Laverne earned numerous honors and award nominations for her work and advocacy, from being featured on the cover of Time Magazine, to an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, to a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

An advocate with an empowering message of moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically, she was also named as one of Glamour magazine’s 2014 Women of the Year, one of The Grio’s 100 Most Influential African Americans, one of the Top 50 Trans Icons by the Huffington Post, and honored with the Courage Award from the Anti-Violence Project, and the Reader’s Choice Award from Out Magazine, among other accolades.

Recently, Laverne has partnered with the Band-Aid brand, Johnson & Johnson, and (RED) to #BandTogether in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Every purchase of BandAid (RED) bandages is enough to provide a day’s worth of life-saving medication to someone living with HIV. I interviewed Laverne at West Hollywood Andaz Hotel’s red suite. She exuded confidence, friendliness and authenticity, and that made the interview even more special.

She made me feel very comfortable, so we chatted for about an hour and took pictures together. She is beautiful but modest, on top of her game but in gratitude and glowing with star power.

VG: My first question I ask everyone, it’s the same, and you can interpret it as you wish. Modesty aside, how would you describe yourself?

LC: Oh wow! It depends on the day. Today, oh my God! I guess I don’t think about this much. I like to call myself an artist, there was a moment I went to the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, Alabama, and I started studying dance when I was in third grade, but I didn’t study ballet until high school, so when I auditioned for the Alabama School of Fine Arts, I needed to get a scholarship and I didn’t think I would be able to get the scholarship if I hadn’t ever studied ballet before. Because, it was a ballet-only dance program, so I had been writing a lot, and so I submitted

Laverne Cox continues to make history in her career and significant strides in her activism.

(Photo by Michael Simon)

myself as a creative writing major, and got in, and got a scholarship, and the very first piece I wrote at the Alabama School of Fine Arts had the recurring line, “I would like to call myself an artist.” And I think that has been the through line of my life, that at every point when I feel a drift or unsure, uncertain of myself for my direction, something artistic gets me back on track, and even now, at this point in my life, I am so blessed. This year has been so transitional in so many ways with “Orange” ending.

I started the year feeling like this is a transitional year, I don’t know where I am transitioning to and where I am at now, is the art.

Where I am at now is like I have always gone to acting classes or singing voice lessons or dance classes, and just being in process, it is the process of getting better that I feel most connected to myself, as in a voice lesson yesterday, and I was like yeah, this is right. And communicated with my acting coach, I had some stuff coming up, but it’s not even about the job, it’s about refining my process as an artist, so that it really goes back to the craft. I remember, it’s a long answer, I remember one time I co-hosted “The View” and Lady Gaga was on with Tony Bennet, and you know she was singing with Tony Bennett phase and it was probably a year into me being famous and I think it was end of 2014, and I asked her, as I asked so many people, I was like, you know I am kind of famous now, how do 10 Questions with Vic continues on Page 16

LGBTQSD.NEWS

CALENDAR

LGBTQSD.NEWS

NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

Nov NOV 22

VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS NEEDED The 32nd annual Scott Carlson & Dan Ferbal Thanksgiving Dinner is on Nov. 28. The event will feed an estimated 400 people this year as well as gather food that will be taken to the Hillcrest Fire Station, UCSD Hospital and the North Park Senior Apartments. To volunteer or to make donations, contact Robert Rodriguez at 619-817-9926 or Steven Blocker at 619-921-3775.

BLACK BOX THEATRE Tickets are now on sale for “Wally & His Lover Boys,” a comedy about growing older, dating younger and surviving both. Runs Dec. 7-15. Performance times vary. $25. Black Box Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. bit.ly/2OhFUR4

Send calendar events to editor@lgbtqsd.news

GRINCH Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is a wonderful, whimsical musical. Back for its 22nd incredible year, the family favorite features the songs “This Time of Year,”“Santa for a Day,”“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Fah Who Doraze,” the delightful carol from the popular animated version. Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into snow-covered Whoville, right down to the last can of Whohash. Runs through Dec. 29. $19-$84. Visit theoldglobe.org for dates and show times.

NOV 22

‘THE SANTALAND DIARIES’ From the brilliantly twisted mind of David Sedaris comes a classic tonic for the “holidaze.”

Out of work and options, “The Santaland Diaries” finds David as he begins his career as an elf in Macy’s Santaland during the holiday crunch. Battling throngs of rabid families clamoring towards a drunken Santa to satiate their Christmas fix, David makes do with some hilarious observations on human nature, and an unexpected connection to the holiday spirit. Runs through Dec. 22. $22.50-$25. Dates and times vary. Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. Ste. 101. bit.ly/2PF6t54

NOV 22

WONDERFRONT FESTIVAL Nov. 22-24. A highly-anticipated, seven-plus stage, 100-plus band, three-day music, culinary and arts festival descending upon the stunning waterfront of Downtown San Diego – “where the city meets the sea.” The festival will feature more than 85 international touring performers across different stages, throughout the various parks and piers along the Port of San Diego, from the Embarcadero parks up to Broadway Pier.

Wonderfront’s come-and-goas-you-want policy encourages festival patrons to customize their weekend experience and truly integrates the city of San Diego right into the fabric of the festival. $79-$1,200 (VIP).

San Diego bayfront, Downtown. wonderfrontfestival.com

NOV 27

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ “A Christmas Carol” returns to Cygnet Theatre for its sixth season of cheer. It has become a true holiday favorite, with San Diegans making Scrooge, the spirits, and the Cratchit family part of their holiday tradition. And for the first time, Cygnet Theatre is pleased to add a sensory friendly performance to the schedule. The family-friendly musical runs Nov. 27-Dec. 29 at Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. $40. cygnettheatre.com

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Dec5

NOV 28

THANKSGIVING DAY

NOV 30

NOV 28

THANKSGIVING MORNING 5K Join Father Joe’s Village to gather with more than 6,500 people to raise money for programs benefiting those facing food insecurity. Turkey-themed headpieces, turkey costumes and pilgrim hats will zoom through Balboa Park to raise funds for a local nonprofit.

On Thanksgiving morning, more than 6,500 people in Thanksgiving-inspired costumes will participate in Father Joe’s Villages’ Thanksgiving Day 5K, one of San Diego’s longest-standing holiday traditions. After families and pets in costume make their way through the loop around the iconic Balboa Park, they will cross the finish line to a holiday festival, complete with a pancake breakfast, children’s activities, characters like Santa Claus and cartoon favorites, a beer garden and live music. Balboa Park, Plaza De Panama. 6:30-10 a.m. Registration $30-$60. thanksgivingrun.org

ADAMS AVENUE SPIRIT STROLL The fifth annual Adams Avenue Spirit Stroll will take place from 2-5 p.m., as part of the nationwide Small Business Saturday. Attendees will be served holiday-themed cocktail tastes and sweet treats at 20-plus independently owned retail stops along Adams Avenue, from University Heights through Normal Heights and into Kensington. Cocktail tastes will be created and served by 12 of Adams Avenue’s most talented bartenders from the area’s top bars and restaurants.

This extraordinary small business celebration is limited to adults 21 and up. $20. Adams Avenue. bit.ly/2CNhGsn

DEC EC 1

TREE OF LIFE CEREMONY Each year, Mama’s Kitchen and Village Hillcrest commemorates World AIDS Day by recognizing and remembering those affected by AIDS, as well as the ongoing leadership efforts made to end the epidemic.

Visit Mama’s Kitchen’s website to dedicate an ornament here: http://bit.ly/2QrfGy4. 6-8 p.m.

Village Hillcrest, 3959 Fifth Ave. bit.ly/2NTpAXF

Q Puzzle LGBTQ SLOGANS ACROSS 1 Clay Aiken and others 6 “Dancing Queen” band 10 Adam and Steve’s locale?

14 Oscar winner Marisa 15 Vibrator measure 16 Winged goddess 17 “Ready ___, here I come!”

18 Piece of Aaron Copland 19 Chin stroker’s words 20 Slogan on banners of the Pink Pistols 23 “Atlas Shrugged” author Rand 24 Mob collectors 26 “Suzie Q” band, for short 28 T, as in Leviticus 31 With 33-Across, slogan coined

by Frank Kameny 33 See 31-Across 34 Sorta 37 Grazing ground 38 River of Michelangelo’s land 39 Woman who goes both ways?

40 Give a pink slip to 41 Tyler of “Lord of the Rings” 42 Kahlo’s country 43 Trick joint, maybe 44 “The end of ___” 46 Mama’s boy

47 Wood and more 48 Tiny bits on South Beach 51 Bellows of “Ally McBeal” 53 Slogan used to draw attention to the AIDS crisis 59 Label on a lemon that isn’t a fruit 61 “Queen of Country” McEntire 62 Kilmer simile phrase 63 “Star Trek” counselor Deanna 64 Deviate 65 Helmeted cartoon character 66 A. Spear’s state 67 Slips up 68 Words said from one’s knees

DOWN 1 “Believe ___ not!”

2 Nickelodeon explorer 3 Potent leader?

4 Sculptor da Vinci 5 Be passive 6 Admit openly 7 Conks on the head 8 Words on a book jacket 9 Cruising, maybe 10 It’s hard to figure out 11 Gay-friendly theme park 12 Barely get, with “out”

13 Born, in gay Paree 21 How punctual people come 22 Pop of pop 25 Sibling issue 26 Removing a fruit center, e.g.

27 Homophobic type of therapy 29 Some have it to grind 30 “Quo ___?”

32 Drink from the land of the samurai 33 The Oscars, e.g.

35 Baylor’s city 36 First ____ 40 Like a pirate insignia 42 Chains around a knight 45 Hansberry’s wrinkled fruit 49 Cheek 50 Look from Snidely 52 “My Own Private ___” 54 Good buddy 55 Features of Disney’s Dumbo 56 2012 Ben Affleck movie 57 Tin Woodsman’s rust source 58 Bunch of stallions 59 It swallows plastic 60 Hindu title of respect

QSyndicate.com

Solutions on page 17

14

COMMUNITY VOICES

NOV 22 -DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

LGBTQSD.NEWS

Transgender Day of Remembrance, what’s it really all about

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.

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very year on Nov. 20, the transgender community worldwide memorializes those we have lost to hate and violence. Every day it seems, somewhere in the world another trans life is taken.

Day of Remembrance began when a black trans woman named Rita Hester was murdered in Allston, Massachusetts on Nov. 28, 1998. There were so many people grieving and angry, a candlelight vigil was held and nearly 250 people showed up.

Some fought to make sure Rita’s identity was respected in the Boston newspapers.

Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transwoman, was so inspired by the death of Rita that she created the web project Remember Our Dead and founded the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) the next year on Nov. 20, 1999. TDOR quickly spread across the country and then the world. Today it is called the International Day of Remembrance. This later inspired the Transgender Day of Action and then Transgender Awareness week, which runs Nov. 13-19 to help raise awareness of the trans com-

Graphic by freepik.com

munity and educate the greater community.

As TDOR started to spread, organizers came up with unique ways to remember those who had passed. Some, like San Diego, have indoor memorial services, others have outdoor ceremonies; there are vigils and marches, rooms decorated with butterflies, pictures of victims, PowerPoint presentations with photos — each one is beautiful in its own way.

Some celebrations are happy and have party-like

atmospheres, while others are very solemn.

This year, as of Nov. 15, in the United States, we have lost 30 beautiful transgender souls, gone now because of hate, prejudice, racism and violence.

These souls — almost all trans women of color, most of them black women — did not deserve to die. Most were so young, a waste of beautiful people, a waste of our future. Many are tortured, their bodies mutilated and then often burned beyond recognition. Leaving

events @THECENTER Saturday, December 7

Holiday Hours: The Center will be closed from Thursday, Nov. 28 – Sunday, Dec. 1.

Come Home for the Holidays, 5-7:30 pm, The Center

Join us as we gather to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions within the San Diego LGBT Community!

Family-Friendly and free to all. Come dance with our DJ’s tunes, learn something new, and meet your “neighbors”!

Holiday refreshments will be provided by community host organizations. For more information, contact Sarah at smerkbenitez@ thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077 x214.

Wednesday, December 11

Inclusive Provider Networking Event

6-8 pm, San Diego Family Wellness Center, 8080 La Mesa Blvd. Suite 113

Creating Kin has partnered with The San Diego LGBT Community Center to offer monthly support groups for the full LGBTQ parenting spectrum. Meet and mingle with other family building professionals. Our networking events are the best way to learn more about the Creating Kin IPN and build a trusted referral network for your practice. For more information or to RSVP, contact ashley@creatingkin.com.

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

Twitter: @LGBTCenter

facebook.com/At.The.Center

Please join The Center and #BeTheGeneration for an evening of support and education! This event will cover a broad range of topics related to sexual health including HIV/AIDS, STIs, undetectable status, and PrEP. The event will also explore the social, cultural, and institutional factors that influence sexual health for both individuals and communities, such as HIV stigma, sex negativity, and racial and gender-based biases amongst health care providers. Attendees can expect a down-to-earth, informative discussion where participation and interaction are encouraged.

The Center is wheelchair accessible. A 72 hour advance notice for ASL interpreters is greatly appreciated. For other accessibility requests or information, please contact dcabrera@ thecentersd.org or 619.692.2077 x109.

us to yell, “Stop the madness!”

This has to end.

I sit here feeling powerless, I can scream all day, I can cry all night. I can try to make sense of something that makes no sense until I am blue. That won’t bring anyone back.

There is nothing I can do, no one is listening. But I can, and I will, hold on to hope. Hope that our communities can find ways to keep our trans folks, especially our trans women of color, safe. We are all beautiful people, we just want to live our lives in peace. We don’t want to hurt anybody, we are just looking for a safe place to be who we are, to be free. Ways to stop hating each other, some want ways to have more allies, and ways to just be our true selves. To walk out of our houses and not be afraid, not have to be on guard every single day, all day and all night, never letting our guard down.

Imagine living like that.

Our trans women, especially our trans women of color and black trans women, do live like that. So do many of our trans men and our gender-nonconforming and nonbinary folks.

As I researched the international deaths, I found something I wasn’t prepared for.

There were trans men who had also died. Almost all, died of suicide. Trans men in our communities are mostly quiet and go unnoticed, but we exist, and it is self-violence that is usually our enemy.

Here is where we can help them. We can check on those we haven’t seen for a while or call them when we see a Facebook post that sounds ominous. I took a suicide prevention training so I know what to look for. Anyone can take it from a reputable mental health agency. These helpful suggestions go for our youth and trans women, nonbinary and gender nonconforming as well.

In places where there is no support or mental health care is lacking, we need to do better. I think perhaps, in the United States, we should add those who died from suicide to the list. Violence, whether from another person or against ourselves, is still

violence. According to The National Center for Transgender Equality, the suicide rate for transgender adults is 40% and for youths it is very close to the same number.

So why, you may ask, do we even have TDOR? First to honor, show our respect, and promise to never forget the victims of the year’s hate.

Even when we don’t know the people, they are part of us, part of our community where we are all connected. We are siblings and losing them is as hurtful as losing anyone close to you. It’s an attack on all of us and we need a time and a place to come together to remember and memorialize.

It is also a time when our allies can join us to strengthen our bond, our partnership of holding each other up when the sadness hits. The strength it gives us prepares for the fight that lays ahead where we join together for battle.

It is a time of education.

We invite everyone in, all are welcome. This way we can educate the larger community about what is happening to us. It is starting to feel like genocide. What we know, as it’s been said out loud, is that all of the deaths are not counted. There are so many that go unreported, or not listed as a hate crime. Often, police list the person as male because that’s what the family wants, or the person hasn’t legally changed their ID yet, or because they haven’t had their SRS (surgical reassignment surgery). And officials don’t care what they were wearing, or how they lived, or the name they used. And the deceased have no one to speak for them.

So I will speak for them. I will call out their names loud and clear. I need to know what my friends need, what they want and help them get that. What will you do?

Here in California, we are so fortunate to have so many legislators who are true allies and forward thinkers.

The Respect After Death Act authored by state Sen. Toni Atkins (Assembly speaker at this time) and Equality California, which requires any official responsible for completing the person’s death certificate to ensure it represents the deceased person’s gender expression as documented by legal documents or confirmation by medical procedures.

This is the 17th year of this solemn day of remembrance here in San Diego. Our community will always come together to mourn and remember our lost siblings. Although we have not lost anyone in San Diego to anti-transgender, gender-nonconforming or non-binary violence, we will remember those from our community who did pass away. This year in the U.S., 30 transgender people were murdered, and their names were read at The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s 17th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, also lowering the transgender flag at half-mast.

LGBTQSD.NEWS

COMMUNITY VOICES/POLITICS

NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

15

Impeachment hearings, what do you think?

BLACK LIVES Darnelle Williams —Darnelle Williams is a business professional who has worked in the insurance industry for more than 23 years. Presently, he is a supervisor and certified arbitrator. Darnelle is also an entertainer and appeared on “America’s Got Talent” season two, and worked weekly for the La Jolla Comedy Store’s “Best of San Diego.” He’s a duel title-holder for the Imperial Court de San Diego and is a member of the LGBTQ Black Coalition. Darnelle can be reached at mwhomecollection@yahoo.com. Black Voices provides a space where people of color express their viewpoint and opinion of local or national issues that have a direct effect on their lives and the citizens of this nation.

P

resident Donald Trump has greatly diminished the office of the presidency. During his tenure, he has done some things that have begun to right some of the nation’s wrongs, such as prison reform and releasing incarcerated individuals that have been given unjust sentences.

However, he has done far more harm and has created an environment for those who employ hatred and contempt toward minorities and the LGBTQ community.

He has essentially waged war against transgender men and women who serve this nation, and he is actively trying to erase the nation’s progress as it relates to LGBTQ rights. He has alienated our nation’s allies and has openly expressed praise onto dictators and sworn enemies of

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.

the United States. And many of us have become anesthetized to his tweets and attacks launched against private citizens, veterans, minorities and women.

So much that his statements rarely make headlines anymore. He is literally the world’s greatest internet bully.

The way he refers to people color and nations of color is disrespectful and distasteful. He is narcissistic and harbors thoughts of delusion, persecution, unwarranted jealousy, exaggerated self-importance, and on most occasions, lacks truth or facts in his statements.

For me, regardless of the stock market, unemployment rate or quarterly growth, none of it is worth “dancing with the devil” and for that reason, he will never earn my vote. With that being said, I haven’t seen the smoking gun. In contrast to the impeachment against [former President] Bill Clinton in the ’90s, most people can’t even articulate the precise and explicit actions that Trump participated in. Trump lacks the intelligence to consciously participate in a quid pro quo and based on what I’ve seen to date, I do not believe that his actions rise to the level of impeachment.

impeach this president. I do not believe that the impeachment process was to be used because you do not like the results of a presidential election. The behaviors of these politicians have truly been so distasteful and makes it extremely hard to watch or to give validity to the process.

You can certainly dislike a person or dislike their politics, however when you intentionally embellish, lie and intentionally spin stories, I would not support you whether I liked the person or not. My mother always said, ‘Two wrongs don’t make it right.’” – Carmen P. “I feel that this country has been misled. I feel the accusations are valid based on what I have seen and heard from the Democratic party.” – Mark K.

QUESTION:

“In my opinion, the impeachment that’s going on with the president of the United States [is that] he is a liar, manipulator and he constantly lies about what he has done and tries to throw his cabinet members to lie for him and threatens to fire them. When you become president, you make an oath to protect your country and with him having great ties with Ukraine, that’s a bad conflict of interest. The impeachment is the right thing to do. If he does not get out of office, this country will be in great danger!” – Randolph W.

“From the beginning, it has been clear that the Democrats would do anything to

“I believe that the president knew exactly what he was doing on the phone call with the Ukrainian president. At the time of the call, he knew that Joe Biden was a presidential candidate and likely contender. He specifically mentioned Joe Biden and his son and asked for a favor in investigating them. Money that was

The Democrats have recently launched a public impeachment hearing against President Donald Trump.

Based on your knowledge, what are your personal feelings surrounding the accusations and validity of the charges?

“My personal opinion is that any and every elected official should undergo extensive judicial and political testing to confirm their overall understanding of the position and the duties that they are undertaking to make sure that they are qualified. I would expect that any person who is responsible for running the entire United States would have had some prior governmental experience and extensive education on business and politics with the ability to take a test about all the duties that they need to perform and have knowledge of prior to starting the job and if they cannot pass the test, then it does not matter how many votes they get — they cannot lead the country because they are simply not qualified to do so. It has nothing to do with how much we like or do not like their character. It’s just like a lawyer who has to take the bar exam and a doctor has to go through years of medical school and even children who have to take an SAT before going into college.

The overall scores that they get usually determine where they are accepted. The greater the knowledge, the greater the strength to succeed!” – Joanne M.

Keep your packages safe from porch pirates

A

s your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and you, the community. One way I have been doing that is through this monthly column, where I provide consumer tips on public safety matters.

As the holiday shopping season nears, you may be focused on the fact that there are only three weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. With a shorter time period to shop this season, it’s likely that more consumers will rely on online shopping. While that’s great for online retailers and for the economy, it can also be a boon for porch pirates.

Nearly 26 million Americans reported they had packages stolen in 2017 according to a study. With online sales unlikely to slow down, it is more important than ever to know how to stop and prevent porch theft.

allocated from Congress was withheld from the Ukraine and only released after the whistleblower’s complaint was filed and made known to the White House. Had there not been a whistleblower complaint, there would most likely be an open investigation against the Bidens led by the Ukraine. No one is above the law and the president should not be given a pass.

There is a clear violation of the law and all the facts need to be presented. I believe that there is a clear case for impeachment.” – Stacy J.

Graphic by rawpixel.com

Here are some steps you can take to help prevent package theft: • Schedule your package to be delivered when you are home.

• If this is not possible, consider having packages delivered to your workplace.

• Use a lockbox service such as Amazon Locker, UPS Access Point, or rent a P.O. Box. • Use tracking services to know the time and date of your package arrival.

Tracking services are typically provided free of charge by UPS, FedEx, and the USPS. • Install a camera to monitor your front door.

• Leave detailed instructions for the delivery person. For example, you might

include leaving your package under a porch couch pillow to have it hidden from view.

• Insuring your packages guarantees that even if your package is stolen, you can obtain a refund or identical replacement.

• Finally, if all else fails, buy your product the old-fashioned way from a brick-and-mortar store or order online for an in-store pickup.

Following the tips above will increase your chances of receiving your package safely. Despite our best precautions, however, there are still times when things go wrong.

So what do you do when your package is stolen?

Here’s what you should do if your package is missing: • First, check around the outside of your home to make sure the delivery person didn’t place your package in a hidden spot.

• Check with your neighbors to see if your package wasn’t accidentally delivered to them.

• Check for attempted delivery notices.

• If your package remains missing, contact the shipping carrier to confirm delivery and to report the stolen packages.

• Contact the online seller to report the stolen package as well. Often times, online sellers like Amazon or Walmart can resend your purchased item at no cost if stolen.

• Some home insurance policies cover stolen packages but will usually only do so if they are valued above $500.

• Finally, submit an online theft report with your local police agency.

As consumers continue to opt for online shopping, the possibility that your goods may be stolen becomes more of a prospect. Following the tips above might give you a better sense of security that your package will be delivered to your front door instead of into the hands of a thief.

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NOV 22 -DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

ENTERTAINMENT

LGBTQSD.NEWS

10 Questions with Vic continues from Page 12

you deal? And she is like, it is about coming back to your craft, always about coming back to the craft. And you see her doing that, and that feels like the truth to me, as I navigate multiple aspects of the brand that I have, that is about me being an artist in the work of sussing out a character, of making artistic choices that will get me better. Long answer.

VG: You seem to be on top of the world, with your career, coming off ‘Orange Is The New Black,” all your other projects, a film coming up, covers of Cosmo, Time and British Vogue.

LC: The interesting thing about perception is that it is complicated.This means, you said, that it seems like I am on top of the world and there

are so many things that are quite wonderful about my life and my work, so many dreams have come true. I am really living the dream in so many ways. But at the moment, I mean I am being quite honest, I broke up with my boyfriend, or he broke up with me, I should say at the end of June.

We were dating for almost two years, and I was madly in love, and I am still heartbroken. So, my career is kind of wonderful right now in so many ways, but I am also heartbroken, so it is complicated. So, yes, I am living a dream that a lot of people I think would like to live.

VG: Well, you just humanized it. Because the public seems on the outside for the most part but might not realize that you have your own challenges.

LC: It almost feels like this, you know I had a moment, especially after my Emmy nomination, I was like, I have an Emmy nomination and then the British Vogue came out, and it was my first Vogue cover. And I am like, I am on the cover of Vogue and this Emmy nomination and I am like heartbroken. I end up waking up crying, you now, because I miss him, I mean I miss us. I think it is for the best, you know the spiritual part of me knows that things happen for a reason and there is a plan bigger than my understanding. But the grief process is the grief process, you know that when you have been in a relationship with someone for rwo years and have healed so much trauma and shame in that relationship

and all of a sudden, it’s over, it’s devastating. So yeah! It just sobers the whole experience of what it means to be on top of the world.

VG: Your immense success is notable and impressive, but it’s even more significant when one factors in that you are a transgender woman of color. How would you reflect on your career when noting all the glass ceilings that you have broken?

LC: I think we have to because there is a case going to the Supreme Court, where the question is just titled “should we even cover the LGBTQ+ community” [to federally protect LGBTQ employees], a woman, a trans woman named Amy Stevens, who was fired from her job for being transgender. Her employer concedes that is why he fired her, and the Supreme Court may decide that is legal to do. We have to keep talking about it because transgender people are banned from serving openly in the military, we have to keep talking about it, because this current administration wants to discriminate against us in homeless shelters and in health care. We have to keep talking about it because trans people are being murdered in record numbers and 78% of trans youth are bullied in schools, that is why we have to keep talking about it.

VG: So, when one doesn’t even know you are a trans and assesses your career, it’s like wow. But when we factor that in, it’s incredible. So, how do you reflect on that?

LC: I just think it feels like a miracle, it feels like a miracle, and I think because I have always dreamed of having this kind of career, but I never saw someone openly trans have this kind of career before me. That I am wondering if I was crazy, wondering if it was actually even possible. I was going to stop acting and go to graduate school and get a job. It feels just remarkable, but also, what I am very clear about is that I believe this happened to me when it happened to me because I was ready to be of service and I could be of service — and I have tried to take care of myself and not have my whole life to be of service, and to you know, to fill up my cup first, and have the overflow be for everyone else.

But I think it’s really about being of service and that is why I partnered with Band-Aid and (RED) on this incredible campaign that is really about continuing the work (RED) has been doing since 2006 of making sure that folks in subSaharan Africa have access to medication to prevent the spread of HIV, medication to keep their viral load undetectable if they are HIV-positive, to keep mothers from transmitting the virus to their babies if they are HIV-positive, condoms, all the incredible work that (RED) has been doing.

And I often feel powerless in a lot of my work as an advocate, particularly, when it comes to violence against trans people; I feel like I have been talking

about that for years and years and it keeps getting worse, and I am like, what can we do? With this partnership with Band-Aid and (RED), there is something we can do to end HIV and AIDS — and we can just buy this, and this one box can contribute and make possible for a day’s worth of lifesaving medication for someone living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We can actually end AIDS and HIV in our lifetime.

It is possible. There is no reason why people should be dying of HIV and AIDS still in 2019. So that piece of getting to be of service, I believe, I really believe in my spirit, that it’s partly why I have been given the opportunities by the world, by the universe, by those I partner with, so I can be of service. And I think that is why, I know that is why I get to enjoy this wonderful life.

VG: In addition to your remarkable achievements as an actress, you are often esteemed as the pinnacle of success in the trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming communities. How does that part feel? Is it too much pressure to live up to that?

LC: As things shift for me, and I rethink the advocacy work that I am doing and where I want to focus my energy, and there is so much work that needs to be done, I get guilty, I feel like I can’t be everywhere, and I can’t do everything. It’s just not possible and continue to try to build a career as an artist, it’s not possible. And so, where I am at now, I just saw my dear friend, Angelica Ross on “Black Women Own the Conversation” on her network. And she just was so brilliant in the way in which she had the conversation, with the black women in the black community about trans lives. I was just so, I mean I could cry, I was so inspired and moved by everything that she said. And she said it so much better, and I was like, oh, this is wonderful, Angelica got that, she’s got it and I don’t have to do that.

And then I saw India Morse’s insanely moving speech at the Fashion Media Awards a few weeks ago and she wore these beautiful earrings that had a picture of a different trans woman who had been murdered this year. And she made this incredibly moving speech that was just dead on, and smart, and nuanced, and I was like, and I should use ‘they’ pronouns because India identifies as nonbinary. So, India was just so brilliant, and I was like, oh yes, India’s got this, I don’t have to do that. I see my trans siblings out there with platforms as big as mine doing the work.

And then I see fans on the ground doing grass-root activism and handling that so beautifully, and so I want to lift up that work when I can, but then I am like OK, I don’t have to bear the weight of all this. And I never had to, but when there were fewer of us with this level of visibility, it was a different kind of weight. And so I don’t know if the weight is lighter, the load is lighter, but I just feel so lifted up by other trans folks, who because of visionar-

LGBTQSD.NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT/BUSINESS & SERVICES

NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

BUSINESS & SERVICES

ATTORNEY

COMPUTER/IT SUPPORT

Laverne Cox partnered with the Band-Aid brand, Johnson & Johnson, and (RED) to #BandTogether in the fight against HIV/AIDS. (Photo by Michael Simon)

ies and gatekeepers that they have these wonderful platforms as well and are even more articulate than I am on some of these issues. I mean Janet Mock, oh God! How can I forget Janet Mock.

VG: Thank you for that.

Let’s switch topics and talk about your film, ‘Jolt,’ that you just shot. Tell me about that LC: Oh my gosh! “Jolt” is an action-comedy starring Kate Beckinsale, who I just adore, and I have been a fan of hers for years, and they were like, you want to do a movie with Kate Beckinsale and Bobby Cannavale? And I was like yeah! You sort of say yes even before you read the script, because it’s a dream for me to work with an actress of that caliber, I mean that is the company I would like to be keeping. So, “Jolt” is about, I forget what’s been in the press, so I am trying to like sort of not give things away and just sort of talk, you know, talk press release about the film. This is a woman who sort of has impulse control and the therapist has given her this suit, when she feels a murderous urge, she presses the button and it kind of gives her an electric jolt.

And she has trouble meeting men, and she meets a guy and then he ends up dead. So, it becomes her trying to figure out who killed him and my character, I play this police detective while I think she killed him. And so, it’s just a wonderful road that we

had a blast shooting, I had a blast shooting in London and then Bulgaria, never been to Bulgaria before. We were in Sofia, Bulgaria, running around and I got to chase Kate Beckinsale around.

VG: How is it when a fan recognizes you in public?

LC: It depends on a lot of things. It depends on if I am in the space to receive it. I think I have gotten very careful about where I go now, because I have been in situations often with fans, where I was not in the place to receive the love that they wanted to give me. Because I have been distracted or just wanting to sort of not be on.

I just wanted to go about my daily life as a normal person, whatever that means, and so I think it depends if I am in the space where I can receive it and I try not to be out in the world now that can’t receive it, which is a weird thing, honestly.

I try to go out like incognito if I am not able to receive that energy. But if I am and I meet, let me think of the last interaction, it was somewhere recently. I was out for lunch with a friend with some sort of business. He is a friend, but we were talking business as well and someone came up and she was quite lovely, and I would say thank you so much. I was able to receive it, I was. So, when I meet people at meet-and-greets, I can look them in the eye, and I can hear them when they talk to me about whatever it

is they need to say — and I can be present for whatever they are saying. But being present sometimes means if they are crying, I am crying with them, and it means that I might hear a story about them thinking about committing suicide and shooting, and then deciding not to because they saw me on television and that is really intense and that is a lot to kind of take in.

VG: I have looked up at some of the charities and organizations that you have worked with. Just give me a few of the highlights, the ones that are close to your heart right now, obviously the BandAid (RED) campaign.

LC: Yeah, so excited about this, just as I already said that it just feels like we can make a difference, and it’s just like, wow – that feels like such a weird thing. I don’t know if I mentioned it, but we are doing #BandTogether, that when those go to CVS and buy their (RED) Band-Aids, we are encouraging them to post photos of themselves on social media with their Band-Aids with #BandTogether. And what I am doing, I hope they are OK with it, is encouraging people to have conversations with their followers, with their friends and family about what they know about HIV and AIDS, and there is still so much stigma and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, and I think that needs to part of the process. So that all my

friends who are living with HIV and AIDS don’t have to continually deal with stigma around it, like this is not a death sentence, like you are not going to transmit the virus. All these things, I feel that people should know, but they still don’t know and there is so much fear around … So, band together, #BandTogether. I’m super excited about that.

VG: My last question is always this: Tell me a secret, and make it a good one.

LC: I have so few secrets now, I am just spilling all my tongue. Gee! Oh, my goodness, a secret.

I feel if I haven’t talked about it publicly, I probably can’t or won’t. Oh my gosh, a secret. Actually, there is, this isn’t a secret but they wanted me to wear for the Savage and Fenty Fashion Show, they wanted me to have – I don’t own pink shoes and so, like, I brought my own shoes, because I wear a size 13, I have big ass feet, that’s not a secret. And so, they dyed a pair of my custom Kenneth Cole shoes that I had them in white, they dyed them pink and like put stones on them for the Savage and Fenty show. That’s not a secret but I haven’t told anyone yet.

You are the first person I am telling.

For more information about Laverne Cox, please visit LaverneCox.com

PUZZLE SOLUTION

LGBT SLOGANS from page 13

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NIGHT LIFE

NOV OV 22 -DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

LGBTQSD.NEWS

Straight people in the gayborhood

“I’m out with some friends on a Thursday night...There we meet this very effusive girl that we’ll call Tina.”

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM Korie Houston

— Korie Houston

—Korie has worked within the LGBTQIA+ community since coming out in college in 2014. With five-plus years of experience working with marginalized communities in various positions such as a peer educator at California State University San Marcos’ Gender Equity Center, a writer at the RAGE Monthly Magazine and as a host at Baja Betty’s. He currently works at University of California San Diego providing support to students. His journey as an undergraduate student at SCUSM provided him the skillset and depth he has in his current role.

S

omething I think we can all agree upon is that the LGBTQ community is pretty resilient when it comes to … well, basically everything. We’ve survived the AIDS epidemic; the fight for marriage equality; and “don’t ask, don’t tell,” among many others. However, the dust has not yet settled on one of our latest struggles — straight people in the gayborhood. Having allies is always a welcome sight, and who hasn’t enjoyed having that straight bestie in your life? After all, who else is going to tell you, grinning like the Cheshire Cat the entire time, that they have a friend that they’re dying to introduce you to, who also fashion tips. (As if the “gay gene” also bestows upon us just happens to be gay? In fact, you’ve lost a compulsive predilection toward converting straight • “Pose” Here are my top FIVE TIPS on count how many times you’ve said, “Just men and fixing fashion).

• “Looking” how to be a better ally for the because we’re both gay Karen, doesn’t Unfortunately, the rise of LGBTQ people in media • “Paris is Burning” LGBTQ community. mean we’re perfect for each other. That’s has had the side effect of leading many viewers to very • “Moonlight” 1. Trying to hook your gay not how any of this works.” much believe that those media people pro• “The Death and Life of Marfriends up with one another Now, before you start vide a perfect window into how we exist sha P. Johnson” when our only commonality is thinking this is going to be in the world. Sure, many in our vast and 4. Google is free. If you don’t being gay is not allyship. Get yet another article advocating diverse community may be well dressed, know something, it’s not our to know your friends a little for the wholesale expulsion of sassy, uninhibited, and confident. That job to educate you when better. straight people out of the gaysaid, while it is genuinely wonderful that we’re out in the club. That 2. Just because you’re straight borhood, I’m here to tell you so many people are becoming interested in said, if you ask politely, your and you walk into a gay bar that’s far from the truth. our community, it is important for them to friends may be happy to help doesn’t mean everyone’s Let’s set the scene. I’m out remember that we’re not a zoo for straight you navigate the different going to hit on you. Try not with some friends on a Thurspeople to gawk at, awestruck at the exotic terminology and decorum. to make a scene if someone day night. We’ve just had a sights within.

5. Lastly, remember we all does hit on you, though. few shots lovingly poured by For many in our community, the bars, may not have the same You’re in a gay bar. one of our favorite bartenders clubs, coffee shops, and boutiques are just beliefs, but one thing that’s 3. Watch something other (Scott Gomes) at Baja Betty’s, a few places that have made us feel like universal is wanting to feel acthan “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and we decide it’s time to head we have a space to just be ourselves. As cepted. Just be kind in spaces or “Will & Grace.” There is a to Gossip Grill. There we meet the community becomes more accepted, that were created out of a lot more LGBTQ media out Scott Games is a bartender at Baja Betty’s. this very effusive girl that it’s important to remind our heterosexual (Courtesy photo) need for safety, not to gawk. there with more realistic and we’ll call Tina. Now, let’s hold allies and friends that this space wasn’t BONUS TIP: Buy your LGBTQ humanizing depictions of myself accountable here. My immediate made for them, and while their presence is welcome, in friends a vodka soda. It’s low our lives and struggles. A few assumption is well, she’s at Gossip Grill, being here, they should be sure to respect us, our diverin calories. examples: and we shouldn’t assume she’s straight. sity, and the spaces created for our survival.

As the night goes on, however, the telltale signs become impossible to ignore. Tina’s speech increasingly becomes dominated by incoherent streams of “Yass” every few seconds. She decides to join us at Rich’s (uninvited) and every time we, the gay boys, literally do anything, including breathing, we’re met with revering declarations that we’re sassy, we’re bold, we’re divas and we’re fierce. But what does it mean when every little thing that we say or do, Tina’s hung up on us? I know, that joke was terrible, but you get the gist of what I’m saying. Hillcrest’s scene has a little something for all of us, but what does it mean when the LGBTQ spaces are no longer just ours?

You might be thinking that this is just one instance, and it’s not always like this.

Some would say that she’s empowering us to be ourselves, and perhaps we should re#1 FIFTH AVENUE INSIDEOUT RICH’S FLICKS MO’S turn the favor. After all, we fought to have Havana Nights Uncorked & Movie 13th Annual Gobble Turkey Shuffle All Gender Latin the right to do the same. I wholeheartedly agree that we all have every right to exLive music by Manny Under the Stars: Gobble Party The Turkey Shuffle is back!

Dance Lessons press ourselves, and people like Tina aren’t Cepeda and Orchestra will Thanksgiving Edition Thanksgiving Eve! DJ John Joseph on the Get ready for a night of inherently bad. Nonetheless, this behavhave you dancing the night Join in San Diego’s only Ft. DJ John Joseph & DJ decks giving you all the free Latin dance lessons. ior can be alienating for someone looking away with the best in salsa, urban oasis for movie night Kiki. Get a head start on holiday beats and a live Learn some new, hot dance to be with their fellow queer community merengue, cumbia. at InsideOUT featuring “The dancing the Thanksgiving performance at midnight by moves. 7:45 p.m. members, yet everywhere they turn, there No cover!

Sound of Music!”

Movie calories off.

For 1/2-off cover Sienna Desire! are heterosexual people telling them how starts at 6:30 p.m. sharp! before 11 p.m., text RICHS much they love gay bars, interspersed with requests to not hit on them or to give them to 46786.

Your guide to night life adventures

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HOLIDAYS

LGBTQSD.NEWS

NOV 22-DEC 5, 2019 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4

Yves Saint Laurent oversized gold muse tote: $600

Fully restored Heller & Co. upright grand piano. Includes free tuning: $2,200

Design Consignment Gallery

Luigi Vera One of a Kind Boutique

8840 Miramar Rd. Suite B San Diego CA 92126 designconsignmentgallery.com A unique shopping experience with wellpriced quality furniture and handcrafted home décor. Plenty of items for your home or that “hard to shop for” person on your list (the mother-in-law?).

Your Holiday Shopping Guide

By Cesar A Reyes

N

ational Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 30.

We have taken a trip to some of our favorite small businesses to give you a glimpse of what awaits you! Skip the nonsense of Black Friday — eat leftovers instead. However, on Saturday put away that threeday-old cold turkey and please get out and support local small businesses! Shopping locally helps small businesses keep unique and charming items available that no chain stores can provide, not to mention helps our local economy. Take a gander at some of the treasures we found!

Local artist Douglas Jones hand-carved wall chess board: $525

Nasty Pig Troop Jockstrap, red and black: $44.69

Etheria Is Burning T-shirt, Queen of the Desert T-shirt: $29.69

3823 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103 619.291.5988 A resale shop with high-end designer goods and a love for fashion. You can find something for that special occasion, that holiday party, or a special gift for the fashionista on Santa’s list.

Women’s Roberto Cavalli leather belt: $350

Bluestocking Books “Love Makes a Family” $11.99

Humanity

1435 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 Humanitysd.com The new kid on the block, this lifestyle boutique offers some of the most fun and campy apparel locally. From sassy print T-shirts to adult “fun to wear un underwear” as well as naughty accessories to get anybody kicked off the nice list!

3817 Fifth Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 619.296.1424 One of our last book stores in the hood, this charming shop offers a fantastic selection of vintage and contemporary books in stock. And, if it’s not in stock, they will happily order it for you. Who doesn’t enjoy a good leatherbound first edition or something clever for the kids.

Classic, gorgeous, leatherbound Easton Press books (different titles $)

Creek Mini clock mixer: $59

Cairn snow globe: $59

Cody’s Home + Gifts

1029 University Avenue San Diego, California 92103 codyshome.com Your neighborhood home décor expert, the shop has furniture, lighting and décor pieces to finish any room in any home. Specially curated items that will make that gift the best one ever.

Leather Fleur cross-body satchel: $180

2942 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 619.922.1121 This little shop on Adams Avenue brings very unique and thoughtfully collected lifestyle merchandise in natural textures and materials with artisan-crafted goods and some special vintage finds. This Idea presents a new vision for home décor, personal accessories and lifestyle goods.

Fellow EKG copper kettle: $169

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OUT & ABOUT

LGBTQSD.NEWS

Nicky Awards Nomination Party Drags-Giving

A benefit was held at Rich’s on Nov. 15 to raise funds for the 32nd annual Scott Carlson / Dan Ferbal Thanksgiving Dinner. Produced by Jessica Wright Carter, Bryan Tivenan, Scott Parman and Robert Rodriquez, the event raised more than $4,000. (Photos by Big Mike Phillips)

The 2019 Nicky Awards recognizes the impact of LGBTQ community people, businesses, activists, artists, dining, philanthropy, services, entertainment and more. Now in its 44th year, members of the community gathered at Flicks on Nov. 12 for the annual Nicky Awards Nomination Party in anticipation for the annual Nicky Awards, dubbed “The Gay Academy Awards of San Diego.” The Nicky Awards is one of the longest running gay award shows on the West Coast raising more than $1 million to benefit local LGBTQ organizations. Online voting began Nov. 14 at midnight and closes Nov. 29 at midnight. Cast your votes at www.NickyAwards.org. Follow the Nicky Awards on Facebook and its website for further information.

Let the voting begin. (Photos by Albert H. Fulcher)