LGBTQ San Diego County News November 2023 Volume 4 Issue 27

Festival of Trees!

Details, page 3

NOVEMBER, 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

LGBTQSD.NEWS

>>> NEWS P5

Christynne for the win >>> COMMUNITY P9

Red hot Supervisor Race

By Morgan M. Hurley

The boys in the baths >>> DINING P13

District 4 of San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors has been without a supervisor since late March of this year. District 4 is the smallest and yet the most densely populated supervisorial district within the county, and it includes Hillcrest.

The very public fall from grace of Supervisor Nathan Fletcher at that time was a huge disappointment to our community. He and his wife,

former assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, were huge allies to our community, often appearing at various local LGBTQ events and always supporting our many organizations.

As chair of the board of supervisors, Fletcher very adeptly led our region through the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the Mpox outbreak. He had just announced his bid for the state senate at the first of the year, and since he’d already served in the state assembly, his career

trajectory seemed limitless. That is, until he fell victim to his own libido and it ended that career.

Fletcher’s poor judgment not only got him in trouble with his wife, family, colleagues, and constituents, it forced a special election – estimated to cost $2 million – to fill his seat for the balance of his current term, which was to end in 2027.

On Aug. 15, the special election pitted four candidates against each other: City Council President Pro Tem Monica

Participate & donate >>> CRIME P15

Firefighters at the scene (screenshot from video courtesy Gossip Grill)

e)

Gossip Grill arsonist caught

Suspect is a local homeless man reported to be a former bartender

by Neal Putnam

Shipmates’ deadly tryst

CONTACT US

858-886-9458 sales@lgbtqsd.news

A judge set bail at $150,000 on Oct. 24 for a man suspected of arson at Gossip Grill that caused $7,000 in damages to the LGBTQ establishment on University Avenue.

A former employee of Urban MO’s was arrested Oct. 20, not far from the scene. The arson is not believed to be a hate crime, said Gossip Grill owner Moe Girton.

Girton told KPBS she believed the fire was set as “an action from a person living on the streets and experiencing a mental health crisis.”

The fire department estimated the $7,000 in damages were mostly to the awnings, a large

rainbow flag and electrical equipment on the two front patios.

“There was no structural damage to the actual building,” Girton told KPBS. “We have it all on video. We have [video on] one patio of him using an accelerant and then lighting it on fire, and another camera has him walking away giggling and smiling.”

The fire was set around 12:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, after the bar had already closed for the previous Thursday evening. Gossip Grill reopened later that Friday as usual.

See GOSSIP page 14

Pro Tem Monica MontgomerySteppe (D), Janessa Goldbeck (D), Amy Reichert (R), and Paul McQuigg (R).

Since no one got 50% of the vote during that election, the two top vote getters – who happened to be a democrat and a republican – now move to a run-off this Nov. 7.

The current make-up of the Board of Supervisors is two women, Nora Vargas (D-1) and Terra Lawson-Remer (D-3), and two men, Joel Anderson (D-2) and Jim Desmond (D-5). Vargas is the only person of color (POC).

Two candidates will be on the ballot Nov. 7 for the vacant district 4 seat, Monica MontgomerySteppe and Amy Reichert. So regardless of who wins, the board will consist of three women and two men after the election. Both women identify themselves as allies of the LGBTQ community.

As a public service to our readers, LGBTQ San Diego County News reached out to both Montgomery-Steppe and Reichert with the same set of eight questions, all which our editorial board came up with.

We are publishing their answers in this issue in their entirety, with only minor edits for clarity and grammar. You can read the questions and the candidates’ responses, starting on page 4.

—Morgan M. Hurley can be reached at editor@lgbtqsd.news.

CITY SEEKS FEEDBACK ON ‘PLAN HILLCREST’ DEVELOPMENT The City of San Diego’s Planning Department recently released a draft plan that, if approved, would shape the future growth of the Hillcrest neighborhood. The Hillcrest Focused Plan, also known as Plan Hillcrest, “envisions a complete neighborhood that celebrates its unique identity and honors the legacy of a place that welcomes everyone,” says a City website created to share information about the plan.

Plan Hillcrest is an amendment to the greater Uptown Community Plan, which guides development for the neighborhoods in the Uptown planning area, which include Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Bankers Hill/Park West, University Heights, Middletown, and the Medical Complex -- some of the city’s oldest and most distinctive neighborhoods. The amendment provides focused planning guidance for Hillcrest, specifically.

The plan would allow for a great deal of growth in the neighborhood, including the addition of buildings that could be built as high as 30 stories, much of

See BRIEFS page 12

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NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

LGBTQSD.NEWS

LGBTQSD.NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

NEWS

3

A Joyous Festival of Trees

Bring your love for the holidays and your pocketbook

by Benny Cartwright Halloween is behind us and it’s already time to start thinking about Christmas and the other winter holidays ahead. And that means it is almost time for the Festival of Trees San Diego, which is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 19 at insideOUT. Now in its third year, the Festival of Trees was brought to San Diego in 2021 by a relative newcomer to town at the time, Bobby Gordon. Following in the footsteps of an event that Gordon hosted in his former town, Gordon was quickly able to assemble a team of community leaders here in San Diego who were enthusiastic about his idea for a live tree auction, something that had never been done before in the community.

Gordon, who many refer to as the “King of Christmas,” said that the genesis for the event really goes back to love of Christmas and the holidays as a kid.

“Growing up, I’d always been a fan of the holidays,” Gordon told LGBTQ San Diego County News. “It was the one time of year that I was allowed to be super creative and decorate pretty much however I wanted. There were years where we’d discover tinsel in a corner months later.”

Later in life, Gordon said that as a DJ and event host, he’s always gravitated toward disco balls, glitter, and everything “extra.”

“The holidays provide that perfect time of year for me to express myself in that way,” Gordon said.

He prioradded that prior to moving to San Diego about 5 years ago, he saw and participated in other non-profit fundraisers in other cities -- including a “Festival of Trees” which can be found in many cities across the nation.

“After settling here and surviving the pandemic lockdown, I saw an opportunity to make a difference,” Gordon said. “I noticed that, after a few high-profile fall community fundraisers, our community was missing a holiday-themed event. So, combining my love of the holidays, my nickname as the ‘King of Christmas,’ and my non-profit fundraising and event background, that led to the first Festival of Trees San Diego in 2021.”

Gordon believes that the first event benefited from the perfect combination of having just come out of the pandemic and a gap in events, including the discontinuation of the popular holiday Wreath Auction that had

been held for several years at the former Martinis Above Fourth.

“We nearly sold out the first year and raised just over $27,000 — where my goal was $5,000,” Gordon said. “The following year we raised $40,000 where we sold out the week before the event!”

For the third year in a row, the Festival of Trees will benefit Being Alive San Diego HIV/AIDS Services, which has provided a variety of end-to-end services for people living with HIV and AIDS since 1989. Gordon said Being Alive was chosen because “their impact in serving individuals and families afflicted with HIV/AIDS has a phenomenal and strong history.

“Being Alive has been a unanimous choice for our team the past three years,” he said.

What is the Festival of Trees?

Festival of Trees brings together a wide variety of community members and businesses to participate.

Approximately 20 local bars and other businesses sign on to not only sponsor but build a very unique, over-the-top Christmas tree. Past trees have been decorated in themes like the Nightmare Before Christmas, A Palm Springs Gay Christmas, a Ho, Ho, Hoe tree, a Dia de los Muertos tree, a Mary Juana tree, and so much more. Sponsoring a tree gives the local businesses the opportunity to contribute while bringing their teams together to build something creative and beautiful.

The trees are displayed throughout insideOUT in the days leading up to the Festival of Trees, and on event day, attendees bid on their favorite trees and the winners get to take their pre-decorated tree home in time for the holiday season.

In fact, winners don’t even have to worry about transporting their trees, as they are delivered directly to them the following day, Monday, Nov. 20, by professional moving company, Real Quality Movers.

Winners who prefer to just support the event but don’t necessarily want the tree have the option to donate to a family in need in the community to brighten their holidays.

The event also includes food, drinks, and a lot of fun led by hosts Kickxy Vixen Styles, Amber St. James, Moe Girton, and Gordon himself.

There is a travel raffle that includes a voucher worth $1500 travel credit and Southwest Airlines vouchers to use on an upcoming trip. Anyone can participate in the travel raffle, whether or not they attend the event, by purchasing raffle tickets here: festivaloftreessd.org/travelraffle.

This year’s event will start with a special VIP ticket holder reception at 4 pm, with all attendees welcome at 5 pm. There will be three hours full of light charcuterie, drinks, and holiday revelry.

Guests will then be able to participate in several rounds of live auctions for trees. A few trees will be available for raffle ticket purchases, as well. There will also be a silent auction with some unique art pieces, tickets to local

events, and other fun packages. erIn addition, there will be a 50/50 raffle, where the winner gets half of the money raised that night.

Gordon shared that the Festival of Trees is especially unique as it serves as a community kickoff to the holiday season, and is positioned right after a very busy series of fall events in the LGBTQ+ community.

“On top of that, our event will always support one of two objectives: HIV/AIDS health and wellness and/or LGBTQ+ suicide prevention in our local San Diego community,” Gordon said. “Probably the most unique aspect of Festival of Trees is that our nonprofit, BGCA, which stands sor Big Gay California, donates 100% of the proceeds to our chosen beneficiary. That translates to this — once we pay for the event-related expenses, we are able to maximize our donation to our beneficiary because of the generosity of the community and their commitment to providing discounted or in-kind donations.

“BGCA is 100% volunteer, without paid staff and without an office or much overhead to operate,” he added. “That places us in a unique position in the community to maximize our impact as a non-profit, private foundation.”

Sponsors like insideOUT, CopyCove, and the Coldwell Banker West Foundation have also served as pillars of the event all three years, said Gordon.

“Without the generosity from them and our other sponsors and donors, we would not have had the impact on local HIV/AIDS resources that we’ve been able to enjoy.”

While insideOUT generously donates their beautiful space for the event each year, and often sponsor their own tree as well, the event is completely produced

by Gordon, his foundation, and a team of volunteers.

Gordon is excited for this year’s event and is humbled by how quickly the San Diego LGBTQ+ and allied communities embraced and supported his “little” concept that has quickly turned from a hobby for him to a full-fledged nonprofit organization.

“That momentum has helped to make a difference in peoples’ lives the past 3 years for those who are battling HIV/AIDSrelated challenges in their lives,” Gordon said.

Tickets can be purchased online at festivaloftreessd.org and are likely to sell out so those

interested are encouraged to purchase them right away.

–Benny Cartwright is a longtime activist and community leader. Reach him at community@lgbtqsd. news. Follow him on Instagram @BennyC80.

Last years Festival of Tree’s (Photos courtesy BGCA)

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NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

LGBTQSD.NEWS

POLITICS

Supervisor Q&A [LGBTQ San Diego County News (LGBTQ SDCN)] Do you think our county government is currently headed in the right direction?

[Amy Reichert (Amy)] No. San Diego is at a crossroads. From Hillcrest to Southeastern San Diego to Spring Valley, community members are sharing with me how shocked, disappointed and powerless they feel about the sudden drastic decline in just the past five years in San Diego. Homelessness, public safety and cost of living are causing people to suffer and it is the direct result of the failed policies of our current elected officials.

As supervisor, I will enhance transparency, community engagement and accountability.

We need a change of direction, not higher taxes at the hands of career politicians. I’ll work to ensure efficiency and that our government is responsive to the needs of our diverse community so that everyone knows they have a seat at the table, not just special interests.

[Monica MontgomerySteppe (Monica)] The County has made a lot of progress in the last several years. Unfortunately, we have experienced a set back, which is why we’re having this election in the first place. People are suffering from real impacts that affect them every day, such as rising gas prices, high housing costs, and many other factors that contribute to our high cost of living. We also see serious social issues that lead to disparities in health and human services.

The County Board of Supervisors have the ability to work together to leverage funds and resources to make a positive change in our region, but we have to take a new approach and hold ourselves accountable to the people we serve. I believe we have all the tools to move in that direction.

[LGBTQ SDCN] What do you see as the most important priorities/duties of the Board of Supervisors?

[Amy] A county supervisor has one job. Serve the people of San Diego, not special interests.

The organizational chart for the County clearly shows that it is the people at the top then the Board of Supervisors. But the reality is, special interests are at the top.

People do not feel seen, people do not feel heard.

As Supervisor, I will work regionally with stakeholders and people with lived experience to address homelessness, improve public health, foster economic development, lower the cost of living and ensure public safety.

I’ll also focus on promoting sustainability and environmental protection, which are vital in our region.

[Monica] Our first issue will be rebuilding trust in the County government. At City Hall, I have led the region toward equity in economic opportunity, public safety, and neighborhood services. I want to build on that work, but first we need to ensure and rebuild trust with the residents so that there is greater community participation and

Councilmember Montgomery-Steppe visits Babycakes in Hillcrest (Courtesy Monica4SanDiego campaign)

representation in the issues we face.

The major issues I will focus on initially are: Increasing economic opportunity for all, including the region’s most vulnerable; investment in neighborhoods and communities, from housing to healthcare resources; and, building a holistic public safety infrastructure that works to prevent crime and homelessness.

[LGBTQ SDCN] HIV still continues to be a health challenge for many, especially those in the LGBTQ community. How would you prioritize HIV funding and care in the region if elected?

[Amy] I’ll prioritize increased funding for prevention, education, and treatment programs. We must reduce stigma, provide accessible healthcare, and engage in public awareness campaigns to combat this health challenge effectively.

We need to protect vulnerable communities and ensure they are receiving a dignified, holistic approach to prevention and treatment.

Before making decisions regarding funding, I would consult with those directly affected by HIV to guarantee the decisions being made best serve the LGBTQ community. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the San Diego LGBT Community Center for making remarkable strides in this field, and I am dedicated to ensuring support for community based organizations who are doing great work for our LGBTQ community.

[Monica] San Diego has taken some proactive steps and had some early successes in addressing those affected by HIV. Like other public health issues, we can’t rest until everyone who needs help receives it. HIV can disproportionately affect disadvantaged groups more and inequities and discrimination can create barriers to care.

Public health is one of my biggest motivators for pursuing this role as County Supervisor.

As someone who has relied on public services for health reasons myself, I know firsthand how lifting folks up when they are in a time of need sets them up to succeed in the future. We need to increase access to affordable healthcare including HIV care,

especially for underserved communities, by making it accessible and ensuring it is funded.

[LGBTQ SDCN] Homelessness is considered by many to be one of the biggest issues currently facing our region.

How do you plan to address this crisis?

victims, foster care youth who age out of the system, for the elderly, the disabled and LGBTQ kids who are kicked out of their homes.

When it comes to the segment of the unhoused population that is severely mentally ill, struggling with severe addiction and committing crimes, there must be accountability, enforcement

homelessness, 13 experience homelessness for the first time.

Prevention is at the forefront of our region’s policy-making needs. The County needs to devote resources toward the issue, period. Criminalizing homelessness, without providing a sufficient amount of shelter, is not the solution. In fact, it exacerbates the problem by creating an endless cycle of poverty and preventing the vulnerable families and youth from finding stable housing.

Regional coordination is key, and requires an in-depth knowledge of how municipal government works. I am the candidate in this race with the proven expertise needed to facilitate the regional coordination necessary to solve these issues. At the County, I would continue championing tenant protections, subsidies, and other solutions.

We also need to push the state and federal governments to create a sustainable, on-going source of funding to increase the supply of shelter beds, permanent supportive housing, and case workers to assist the unsheltered population. I will continue working with my peers at the state and federal levels, and hold the region accountable for leveraging every tool in our toolbox.

Candidate Reichert greets a La Mesa Police Officer at “National Night Out,” an annual event where police officers meet with their communities. (Courtesy AmyForSanDiego campaign)

[Amy] Homelessness is indeed one of our most significant challenges for District Four and the humanitarian crisis is heartbreaking. I’ll advocate for a comprehensive approach that includes affordable housing initiatives, mental health services, and job training programs.

Collaboration with community organizations is key to providing long-term solutions.

I am the only candidate with a plan for homelessness and the only candidate that supports the Unsafe Camping Ordinance. It is not compassionate to allow people to sleep and die on our streets. It is not fair to the community that they do not feel safe walking across the Vermont Street Bridge.

We need to do better for those individuals who are ready for help - people who lost their housing because the rents are too damn high, domestic violence

and mandatory treatment so the cycle of arrest and return to the streets only to be arrested again is replaced with treatment, recovery and hope. With this population, my plan for the chronic homeless who are committing crimes, struggling with severe addiction and/or mental illness is shelter first with treatment.

We learned a lot from housing people in the Convention Center during the pandemic. We learned we need a regional response.

We have the resources to have enough shelters, mental health services, and tools necessary for recovery – we just need to allocate the budget with a proactive, comprehensive plan rather than the current piecemeal approaches.

[Monica] Data from the Regional Task Force on Homelessness shows for every 10 people who make it out of

Additionally, it is imperative the County review all opportunities of countyowned land that can be used for donations or subsidies, encouraging non-profit developers and housing service providers to provide low-cost to no-cost homelessness solutions.

[LGBTQ SDCN] We are currently experiencing a national blow back regarding LGBTQ rights and seeing growing attacks on trans rights, especially legislatively. California, and specifically San Diego County, is a bastion of support for these individuals. How do you plan to support these individuals?

[Amy] I am proudly endorsed

by Gina Roberts, a transgender woman and San Diego County Commissioner for Human

See SUP. Q&A page 16

LGBTQSD.NEWS

NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

5

‘Champion of Pride’ keeps on winning

supporters throughout the county, stood up to the hate and the girl later tearfully admitted to lying about what she saw.

“Please understand that the She said she was having a cup of words of a White girl are taken

by Morgan M. Hurley coffee when the call came. so seriously by our society that “It was a shock,” she told they have led to the beating and The local trans woman who LGBTQ San Diego County News lynching of people of color, such very publicly took on hate in her about the moment she learned as Emmett Till in 1955, and this community last January – first about her Diogenes Award. “You reality is always in the mind of by herself and then with the help could have knocked me off my people of color” she wrote on of the ACLU – continues to be chair.” the Union Tribune OpEd page in honored around the country.

She did admit to having to March of this year.

In July, Christynne Lilli look up the name of the award.

Christynne, a retired and Wrene Wood, 67, was selected as “At first I thought it was award-winning 29-year veteran San Diego Pride’s “Champion of named after a crab, but once I of the County Health and Human Pride.” realized it had to do with Plato Services Agency, officially On Thursday, Oct. 26, the and Athens, I thought, ‘I love transitioned “socially and Public Relations Society of you already.’ I was absolutely medically,” she said, on March America, San Diego and Imperial honored.”

25, 2016. That is the day she Counties Chapter (PRSA SD/IC), The PRSA SD/IC website Christynne gives a passionate speech after receiving her Diogenes Award. came out to her family, her work, presented Christynne with the (Courtesy PRSA - SD/IC) states, “The Diogenes Award is her doctor and her loved ones Diogenes Award at their annual named after the ancient Greek healing wound, the gym soon just “It was anti-vax, antiand she began taking hormones Bernays Mark of Excellence philosopher who carried a did away with the entire water education, religious bigots shortly thereafter.

She retired in Awards, held on the SDSU lantern through the streets of aerobics program, which she feels pretending to be churches” who 2018 and her vaginoplasty was campus.

Athens, searching for an honest was done to spite her. were putting the youngsters completed in 2020.

PRSA SD/IC has over man. This award recognizes Christynne and her aqua up to it, Christynne said. “It But this dustup in Santee was 200 paying members and a local newsmaker who has sisters were not deterred, was their 9/11 against the trans not her first rodeo. supports the entire public demonstrated a remarkable and however, and began hosting their community. But love and truth “I’ve been a devotee and relations industry within the commendable understanding own classes at the gym, since always wins out.” unabashed enthusiast of the two counties with guidance, of the need for candor when they knew all the routines and The Cameron Family YMCA health benefits of water aerobics career development and various dealing with the public and the had their own music.

But after has stood by Christynne since since 2007 and credit it with networking opportunities. The news media, regardless of any continued harassment, she and day one, and she’s become quite saving and adding extra years to awards are named after Edward potential negative outcome from a dozen other women quit Chuze a celebrity in the greater Santee my life,” she wrote in the UT. L. Bernay, considered by PRSA the resulting publicity.” and moved over to the Cameron and Lakeside area where she She and a group of women to be the “godfather of PR,” and Of course they are referring to Family YMCA. resides. She said she regularly she affectionately calls her “aqua the entries are judged by third events which took place back in “Why should we continue gets approached at Von’s and sisters” took classes together party PRSA chapters. This year’s January, when a young girl at the giving them our money?” the post office, and the younger at the local Chuze Fitness for nominees were reviewed by the Cameron Family YMCA in Santee Christynne said. “And we even women who belong to the Y years, where she admits to losing South Carolina Chapter, along crossed ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strippaths 2009 with Christynne got to bring our instructor with (whom she calls her surrogate over 130 lbs.

Unfortunately, with PRSA volunteers.

100 60 100 70 30 100 60 40 100 40 100 3 100 70 30 100 60 100 10 25 50 75 90 100 70 30 100 40 40 70 40 70 40 40 40 70 40 40 70 40 70 40 40 A in the bathroom and lied about us.” grandchildren) rush to hug her management of her long standing Christynne said she learned the experience. The young girl That was January of 2022 and whenever they see her. The gym were not supportive of of the award just two days prior accused Christynne of being “a the locker room incident occurred positive feedback she’s received her 2015 transition and began to the event. She normally would naked man in a women’s locker one year later. The ACLU got far outweighs the hate, she said. refusing her access to the have been at the YMCA for her room.”

A70media and community involved because it became clear more 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 100 10.2 7.4 7.4 25 19 19 50“I’ve 40 40 also 100 100 100 80 70 70 100 trans 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 70 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 70 70 40 70 40 40 0 0 0 0 3.1 2.2 2.2 75 66 66noticed women’s amenities. water aerobics class, but she firestorm ensued. this phenomenon -young girls people and more people of color She filed a lawsuit against decided to skip it that morning, But Christynne, the Cameron claiming “naked men” were in joining the Cameron YMCA,” she Chuze and eventually they offered preferring to relax with “Skippy,” YMCA and her many friends, women’s locker rooms, started added. to settle, which she said she her beloved Min-Pin instead. as well as hundreds of others happening across the country.

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NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

OPINION

LGBTQSD.NEWS

LGBTQ San Diego County News P.O. Box 34664 San Diego, CA 92163 858-886-9458 PUBLISHER Eddie Reynoso publisher@lgbtqsd.news EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Morgan M. Hurley editor@lgbtqsd.news GRAPHIC DESIGN Chad Bevan creative@lgbtqsd.news COMMUNITY EDITOR Benny Cartwright community@lgbtqsd.news STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Big Mike Phillips

OPINION

You didn’t ask, but I’m telling

By Morgan M. Hurley November is upon us and that means Veterans Day is near.

I’m a proud Navy veteran, who spent 7 years on active duty and another 15 years as a very active Naval Reservist. I retired from the Naval Reserves as a Chief Petty Officer (E-7) with a total of 22 years.

It wasn’t easy being in the reserves … keeping up with the military standards, juggling a full-time job that forced me to travel constantly, managing my mandatory commitment to monthly drill weekends and two or more weeks of active duty training every year, and later, balancing my choice to raise my two nephews on top of everything else. Many people don’t last -- because the reserves are hard to keep up with.

But active duty, even without all those other obligations and just myself and that one career to focus on, was even harder, because I was gay.

I loved the Navy so much, I would have stayed on active duty for 30 years and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer, but my active duty years were 1980-87, long before the policy called “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” (shortened to DADT for brevity) was even a thought.

In those years, there was a total ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military and the Naval Investigative Service actively pursued us every day of the week.

I was investigated three times in 7 years. Three times.

Each investigation got more challenging, more difficult, and more invasive; and each one damaged me a little deeper and a little differently.

But a bigger tragedy is what happened with our LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor right here at The San Diego LGBT Community Center.

There’s been a lot of talk on these pages in recent months about how The Center has been methodically erasing our elders and their history. They literally destroyed the tiles that many paid for with hard-earned money,

without notifying them; they recently had their last AIDS Walk; and more.

I’ve kept quiet about this the last few years, but the uproar over the tiles made me relive it all. The Veterans Wall of Honor has changed, too.

When DADT was officially repealed on Sept. 20, 2011, Nicole Murray Ramirez was quick to gather support to establish a Veterans Wall of Honor at The Center. He had it named after Ben Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson, both veterans whose careers deserved such an honor.

The Wall was meant to hold space for those LGBT veterans who had served in silence while enduring the ban and/or the DADT policy.

Many had perfect records but were discharged unjustly merely for being gay. Some even received bad conduct discharges and lost their veterans benefits for life.

Bridget Wilson has played a huge part in getting many of those discharges overturned.

Many, like myself, were pursued over and over and finally left the military, making us a statistic of our own. Some endured the pressure their entire career and made it to the very top of the enlisted ranks, suffering greatly every step of the way as they hid their true selves and their partners, unable to be considered their “next of kin.”

It was a horrific time for us.

Even if you never got “caught” (which in itself is a horrible thing to say, as if we were doing anything wrong other than trying to live our lives) you were constantly looking over your shoulder; using “they” pronouns to avoid missteps; never letting your straight coworkers to get too close, and if you did, you were always afraid, because if you ever crossed them, all they had to do was turn you in - it really was that simple; marrying other gays to keep from being suspected. It was awful.

I know there are many who lived straight lives while on active duty, only to come out afterward, and they don’t really understand what the rest of us went through, but I do know many of them are proudly on the wall, too.

Nicole, who never served but is a truly patriotic human who honors all veterans, had the foresight to understand that once the ban was finally over, a wall of honor needed to be established, so we could be seen and honored for what happened to us.

I joined the advisory council immediately after that first ceremony in 2011, which inducted Ben and Bridget. I was proudly inducted in 2013, and served on that advisory board for nearly 10 years, spending a great number of those years as chair or co-chair. We had the first – and for many years the only -- veterans wall of our kind in the nation. I was passionate about the inductees and hearing their stories. Many who were inducted had not been able to use the words “gay” and “military” in the same sentence, ever. I’ve watched our elder men and women cry as they told their stories at the induction ceremonies, so humbled at being honored for something that for so long they felt so much shame for.

I remember on several occasions when I was chair, we were asked to try to “diversify” our inductees more. Diversify?

The groups were apparently “too white.” I tried to explain that up until DADT was put into place, the majority of servicemembers in general were white; the number of LGBT folks was a small percentage of the service as a whole; POC were a small percentage of the service as a whole; and the intersection of LGBT and POC servicemembers was an even smaller percentage.

We did our best to uncover trans and POC folks every year, but we didn’t always meet that mark. The “marginalized” mark.

But damnit, all of us who served in silence were marginalized.

For decades! And all the people who were nominated and met the criteria still mattered, regardless of whether they are considered “marginalized” by today’s standards or not.

I stepped down as chair in early 2020 but stayed on the council. In 2021, the 10th anniversary of the wall, the co-chairs told us a change to the rules was pending. They wanted to open up the induction process to LGBT veterans who served after the ban. In other words, any LGBT service member who was able to serve openly could now be inducted to the wall, and they were doing it with a specific person in mind (who was serving on The Center’s board at the time).

I was shocked and angry. This couldn’t be possible. You would not put a gay man who died of cancer on an AIDS Memorial, I told them.

We moved forward with a virtual meeting to vote on this new rule, but there was very little debate, except what came from me. It was apparent the decision had been made and the vote was just a formality. I must admit, I held my head down and cried the entire meeting. Nothing I had to say mattered. I was the only advisory council member who voted NO. I was completely devastated and felt those many years of pain all over again.

I resigned the following Monday and have not had anything to do with the ceremony or the advisory council since.

For the first year and a half, I could not share this story without crying, it hurt me so deeply. Why honor an LGBT veteran who served openly? There are plenty of veterans organizations and walls for them.

I’ve thought long and hard about this since and I realized it all comes down to the almighty dollar. More diversity means more grants and more government funding. So our military veterans who were abused by our own government are now being overlooked by the nonprofit organizations who are scrambling for all that money being dished out by that same government for diversity programs. Touché.

Salute our Veterans There will be a free special advance screening of a DADTbased, hour-long documentary produced by Trevor Noah called “Serving in Secret: Love, Country, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” featuring Tom Carpenter, one of our local elder veterans (inducted 2018, along with his partner Courtland, posthumously). The film will screen Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 6 pm at Urban MO’s. Seating begins at 5 pm and Tom will be there! See our news briefs for more information.

In addition, if you’d like to hear me share about my three investigations, I’ve been asked to speak at the Kiwanis Hillcrest All-Inclusive meeting, Thursday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 pm at Uptown Tavern.

Oh and the LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor induction ceremony is that same night, Nov. 9, from 6-8 pm at The Center.

—Morgan can be reached at editor@lgbtqsd.news.

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LGBTQSD.NEWS

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

Designed to meet the healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ older adults.

SCAN Affirm partnered with Included LGBTQ+ Health (HMO) includes comprehensive medical, hospital and pharmacy coverage.

As a member, you have access to PrEP therapy, behavioral healthcare and concierge services to assist you in finding clinically competent and affirming LGBTQ+ providers.

Better Medicare for

For more info about SCAN: Visit www.scanhealthplan.com or give us a call at 1-855-845-7226 SCAN Affirm partnered with Included LGBTQ+ Health (HMO) is an HMO plan designed for LGBTQ+ beneficiaries but available to anyone who qualifies for Medicare. Please speak to a SCAN representative if you have questions about qualification. SCAN Affirm partnered with Included LGBTQ+ Health (HMO) is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract.

Enrollment in SCAN Health Plan depends on contract renewal.

Y0057_SCAN_20279_2023_M 09212022

S2610 8/23

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LGBTQSD.NEWS

COMMUNITY VOICES

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

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T H E L I F E O F S A N D I E G O ’S B AT H H O U S E S

How do I begin this article … hmmm, well as always, I am going to be honest and not ashamed, or will I be shamed because of how I have enjoyed my sex experiences over the last 48 years of my life.

You see, I am a gay man who loves to have sex with other gay men, and a lot of that sex was in bathhouses as I was growing up in the newfound gay world that I was exploring. Every single time I would visit another city, state, or country, the one place I always made a point to visit was the local gay bathhouse.

I Googled “gay bathhouse” for this column and it says: “... bathhouses offered a place where men could engage in anonymous sex, but they were much more than that. Some of the bathhouses offered a fullyequipped gym for working out, swimming pools, steam rooms, saunas; some offered living roomlike settings; some offered sodas and snacks while they spent time together or just hung out.”

As I was coming out as a gay man in 1975, a friend first introduced me to this place called “a bathhouse” and I was literally a kid in a candy store.

I felt I had gone to heaven and could not believe such a place even existed. Even then, I never allowed anyone to make me feel bad about going to a bathhouse.

Because for some reason, people have judged bathhouses as a bad place to go for sex, but I have always felt them to be a safer and cleaner place to go.

Gay men will have sex almost anywhere; the parks, in night clubs, public bathrooms, their cars, you name it, they would be there having sex. So, to me,

Amenities (Courtesy Club San Diego)

the bathhouse provided a safe place to have sex, offered a place to shower, provided condoms, and even a room for privacy if I chose to. Most of all, they provided education on sexuallytransmitted diseases (STDs), such as syphilis and gonorrhea, let us know the signs, where to go to get treated, and to make sure to report your sexual partner’s names (if you knew them), so they too could be notified.

All bathhouses have rules and regulations given to them by their local County Health Departments and they must abide by the laws, or they would and will be shut down. To keep from having their clubs closed, anyone who did not abide by the rules would be 86’d (meaning you were put on a list never to be allowed back in). All who enter must show a legal photo ID, be 18 or older, and sign a release that states they understand and will follow the rules and will let their guests know that they are entering a private, all men’s establishment that has nudity and men having sex with other men. This also gave the bathhouses a record of everyone who entered, as well as the date they were there.

If anyone reported to the Health Department that they may have caught a STD and mentioned they had been at the bathhouse, the Health Department would then notify the bathhouse and give them a list of names. Then the bathhouse could notify their guests very discreetly and ask them to report to the health clinic. I remember a couple of times in the 1970s and early ’80s getting notified and going to the clinic to find out I had caught an STD and then getting one of those penicillin shots in my ass. Boy those shots really hurt, though I did appreciate getting those notices.

The very first time I came to San Diego, I was so excited to finally come to the land where I believed had the best-looking men anywhere. Come to find out, there are gorgeous men everywhere you go. I had my friend Joe, who had a summer home in Mission Hills, just drop me off at the “tubs” (that’s what I have called the bathhouses from

Family Health Center providing free, anonymous HIV testing (Courtesy Club San Diego)

the very first time I ever went) straight from the airport. It just so happens it was Club San Diego and I had the time of my life. It’s funny now when I think back about how much I loved going to the baths, because I have only visited a few of the bathhouses that ever existed in San Diego in all the years I have lived here.

The bathhouses in San Diego have been around since the WWII era, starting as far back as the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Being that San Diego was such a huge military town, many military men were looking for places to have discreet sex, not necessarily gay sex. I could not find any factual dates, but it did mention the Seven Seas Locker Club and the YMCA downtown.

Over the years, many more gay baths started opening in the early 1970s, such as Atlas, Dave’s on the Beach, Gent’s Turkish baths, Glen’s, Plaza Baths at Fourth and E, Club Mustang, and Club San Diego. Many of these bathhouses were listed in the Damron Travel Guide (for gays and lesbians) and the International Guild Guide, which help gays find amenities all over the country and the world.

Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO)’s May/ June 2022 newsletter identified the building that housed the Vulcan Steam Room and Sauna, as potentially historical. Built in 1961 and previously located at 805 W. Cedar St. in Little Italy, “It provided a private and safe space for gay men to socialize

when physical and romantic relationships between men were stigmatized and illegal, until the law changed in 1976 … this bathhouse is a special element of the city’s historical, cultural, and social development for serving as a gathering space for gay men and as an informational and support center during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.” It also mentions Frank Stiriti, the owner and founder of the Vulcan.

Frank Stiriti, the owner and founder of the Vulcan. “Stiriti was an advocate and educator for the LGBTQ+ community, co-founder of the Gay [sic] San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) and recognized on The Center’s Wall of Honor in 2008, in addition to other leadership roles.”

None of these bathhouses exist today, except for Club San Diego, which opened in 1986. It was the early 1990s when I first met Darl Edwards, the owner of Club San Diego baths, because of his generosity to our community, especially during the AIDS crisis.

As a bathhouse owner, he and Frank Stiriti were huge angels in our community with their donations to so many HIV/ AIDS organizations. Darl was also the founder of the Imperial Court de San Diego, and he made sure that the court found ways to raise money and committed his life to supporting so many HIV/AIDS organizations.

Club San Diego, along with the Vulcan, made it a point to educate patrons, encouraging safe sex and having safe-sex materials and posters throughout their bath houses, a practice that still exists today. Once a month, Family Health Center, an HIV/AIDS organization,

See GAY BATHS page 11

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Managing these times we live in In the last edition of this paper, I wrote about a very important issue in the community: body shaming. I received a barrage of feedback -- more than I think I ever have over my 20 years of writing for the local LGBTQ press -- and I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who reached out, posted comments online or on the various social media that shared the column, sent me private messages, or spoke with me out and about.

By writing the column, I was not seeking any validation or fishing for comments, rather, I wanted to shine a light on the expectations we have for people’s bodies and the unwanted comments people make about bodies that don’t belong to them.

FROM PAGE 1

GOSSIP

The fire was set around 12:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, after the bar had already closed for the previous Thursday evening.

Gossip Grill reopened later that Friday as usual.

“We’re just grateful for the fire department getting here quickly and nobody was hurt,” said Girton to KPBS. “And the damage is, it’s manageable, you know.”

Police arrested Ryan Scott Habrel, 38, around 1:45 p.m.

Friday, shortly after KGTV (Channel 10) showed up to interview Girton. The channel’s TV camera captured the arrest.

Habrel pleaded not guilty to arson and possession of arson materials when he appeared via video from jail before San Diego Superior Court Judge Theodore Weathers.

Weathers ordered Habrel to stay 100 yards away from all businesses associated with Girton, who was in the audience but did not speak, in case Habrel happens to post bond.

Those businesses include “the conglomerate of MO’s Universe: Urban MO’s, Gossip Grill, InsideOUT, Hillcrest Brewing Company, Baja Betty’s, and Barrel & Board,” said District Attorney spokesperson Tanya Sierra.

Sierra said Judge Weathers “issued a criminal protective order for the owner of the establishment and the defendant was ordered to stay away from all of the other establishments.”

The prosecutor and defense attorney, who was beside Habrel in jail, did not discuss the facts of the case in court.

LGBTQSD.NEWS

COMMUNITY VOICES

While I appreciate everyone who did share with me that they think I look fine, great, handsome, etc., the comments and conversations that stood out to me most related to mental health struggles and the general discontent many people are feeling.

I’m not a mental health professional, so I don’t claim to have any special insight into any specific mental health issues people are facing. I can share, though, another reminder that we need to continue to do our best to be there for each other, in whatever way we have the ability to do so.

The world is really strange right now. And that strangeness is amplified on social media.

Many people are being exposed to things that they would have never been exposed to before the advent of social media and our brains are adapting. Beyond that, we just came out of a pandemic that changed life for so many people for such a long time – including job losses, changes of life routines, and for some, the loss of loved ones. Many people have still not recovered from this very strange time in our human history, and some may never bounce back to the person they were before it.

We have conflicts in the Middle East right now, particularly in Israel and Palestine. I can’t claim to know much of anything about these centuries-long conflicts, so it’s not my place to comment or really form much of an opinion on it, but I know the atrocities

that have happened across the world are weighing heavily on a lot of people. And some people, who are passionate about issues like this, are taking to social media to express their opinions, just to get into massive arguments with people who have differing opinions, and people online can be particularly cruel and cause some real trauma.

More locally, for those of us who live in San Diego, we are experiencing what has now been named the most expensive city in the nation to live in, with many of us – even those who work multiple jobs -- barely hanging on. I’ve never seen so many people I know talk about or post on social media pondering if they should move out of state because they just don’t think they can make it here financially.

And on top of that, the homelessness crisis in San Diego and really the entire nation, is one like it has never been before; at least it is more visible than it ever has been before. It can be really taxing to see so many people struggling on the streets, some of them dealing with addiction or severe mental health issues, others just down on their luck. Some people have even shared with me that it scares them to see people suffering on the streets because they feel like they are just one emergency or missed paycheck away from being in that same place.

Habrel currently has another case of felony vandalism and presenting false identification to police. He had been free on a $10,000 bond on that case, but that bail amount is added to the $150,000 on the new case, so his total bail figure is now $160,000.

On Oct. 25, his preliminary hearing was reset from Nov. 6 to Nov. 21, but the latter date is just two days before Thanksgiving, so they have since changed the date again to Dec. 6.

Habrel remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility.

The incident at Gossip Grill has been widely reported in all LGBTQ media. To read LGBTQ San Diego County News’ exclusive breaking news report about the fire, visit bit.ly/3skhVbN. –Neal Putnam is a local crime reporter. You can reach him at nealputnam@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: “MO’s Universe” is only a nickname and was never the name of a conglomerated business group. All the above mentioned restaurants are independently owned and operated. Moe Girton is not an owner, a manager, or shareholder of Urban MO’s.

See BENNY page 11

RUSTIN – a must-see movie!

This past Monday, I flew to San Francisco for a special pre-screening of the film, “RUSTIN,” about the life of civil rights icon Bayard Rustin. Every American, especially members of the African-American and LGBTQA+ communities, should see this movie.

I believe this is a movie that will bring out many emotions: pride, joy, tears and sadness, and laughter, and it will leave its mark in the history of films like “Milk” and “Philadelphia” did, educating the world that the man behind the March on Washington, its organizer and director, was a proud Black gay American.

Every aspect of Rustin’s life was covered, including his entrapment/arrest in Pasadena, California, which State Senator Scott Weiner, San Diego-based Assemblymember (and now Secretary of State) Shirley Weber and I worked together to petition Gov. Newsom, requesting that he pardon Rustin, which the governor did.

This film also tells of the deep friendship between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rustin, who was a mentor to King.

As President Barack Obama states at the beginning of the film, “There would not have been a March on Washington without Bayard Rustin.”

I was actually introduced to Rustin at the 1987 March on Washington and it was San Diego’s own Carolina Ramos who turned me on to this film.

Actor Colman Domingo, who portrays Rustin, absolutely

becomes a front-runner for an Oscar, as he delivers a Best Actor-worthy performance that I don’t think anyone will be able to beat. In fact, there are many outstanding performances in this outstanding ensemble that could be up for Best Supporting nominations.

I thought that actor Aml Ameen’s role as Martin Luther King, Jr. was on point and comedian Chris Rock gave a solid and serious performance as the head of the NAACP. But in this film, actor Domingo is Rustin.

Writer Dustin Lance Black (who also wrote “Milk”) may well be on his way to winning another Oscar.

For those of us who lived in the 1960s when homosexuality was illegal and we were considered “deviants,” seeing Rustin’s life portrayed during this time will bring back memories of those difficult times. This film is blunt and direct, especially when telling the story of Rustin and his fellow Black civil rights leaders, many who wanted him out of his positions because he was a homosexual.

The late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond, a bigoted homophobe, called Rustin a “communist” and “deviant” on the floor of the U.S. Senate. At the end of the film, I was so happy to see Rustin and his partner Walter Naegle’s relationship acknowledged. Naegle has devoted his life to Rustin’s legacy.

Most Americans -- and yes, even many Black and LGBTQ people -- do not know or have ever heard of Rustin. With this film, now the world will know about this great man and I am proud to announce that producer Bruce Cohen will be one of the honorees at the annual Bayard Rustin Honors that will be held at our San Diego City Hall as it was this past February. Stay tuned for more information.

–Nicole Murray Ramirez is a lifelong Latino and LGBT activist and advocate, a longtime city commissioner, and is the Queen Mother of the International Imperial Court of the Americas. He can be reached at nicolemrsd1@gmail.com.

Nicole and former San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty at the screening Images taken of the damage to Gossip Grill’s entrance and patio. (Courtesy Gossip Grill)

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FROM PAGE 9

GAY BATHS would come to the club and do free, anonymous HIV/AIDS testing, and Impulse San Diego provided free condoms to help ensure safe-sex practices. Just so you know, the Health Department still comes every six months to inspect the facilities.

By the 1990s, many bathhouses around the country closed because of the pressure of the LGBT community (and especially their greater surrounding communities), over fears that they were spreading AIDS even more. Darl believed if he closed the club, then gay men would be even more careless and not have opportunities to clean themselves, be provided with condoms, or have any helpful materials. Darl never did close his doors and chose to stay open, and he was a big help in so many ways with promoting safe sex and education. Without a doubt Darl knew he had a responsibility and always supported our community, especially financially, until his death in 2010.

Richard “Omar” Lowry, who owned #1 Fifth Avenue at the time, took over running the Club for several months before Darl died, then became the official owner. Omar was a beloved and highly respected businessman and member of our community. Like Darl, he too was a big supporter financially for so many causes. At some point Omar became sick, and Marc Birou and his husband Jerry Lyon began running Club San Diego, and after Omar’s death in May 2020, Marc and Jerry took over the club as the new owners. Right before Omar passed away, the club had

(l to r) Omar Lowry, a previous owner of Club San Diego, and Big Mike (Courtesy Big Mike)

a fire, in May of 2019. After an extensive remodel, they were able to reopen the club in October 2019. Then COVID happened, causing Marc and Jerry to once again close in March of 2020.

They were finally able to reopen in February 2021. The club has

People have judged bathhouses as a bad place to go for sex, but I have always felt them to be a safer and cleaner place to go. –Big Mike never stopped doing all the things needed to keep the place sanitary.

Marc even put in a UV air purifier on the A/C units to sanitize the air. They are constantly having improvements added and will continue to make sure that those who enter feel good, are safe, informed, and have a great time. I believe that Club San Diego is one of the more beautiful clubs in the entire U.S. Don’t just believe me, check it for yourself.

André Bowers, the current

general manager, told me he is proud of what the club has become. He also shared this with me: “Club San Diego is a self-care sanctuary where generations unite, welcoming all to explore, embrace, and evolve within a diverse and inclusive community.

Unwind, connect, and celebrate in our state-of-the-art amenities, making each visit an unforgettable journey of relaxation and self-discovery ...”

Club San Diego is located at 3955 Fourth Ave, in Hillcrest. For more information, check out their website clubsandiego.com.

A special thanks to Dana Wiegand, the archivist at Lambda Archives, and Chuck Kaminski, Lambda Archives board member emeritus and administrator of the Facebook page: San Diego LGBTQ Historic Sites Project, for all their help with information about the past bathhouses.

These are the shoulders I stand upon.

–Big Mike Phillips is a local photographer, bartender, and longtime LGBT activist and fundraiser. You can reach him at bmsd1957@gmail.com.

Former home of Vulcan Steam Baths and Sauna in Little Italy (Courtesy Save Our Heritage Organisation)

FROM PAGE 10

FROM PAGE 5

BENNY

CHRISTYNNE Her most steadfast supporter is Laura Newbre, a retired teacher who was the first to greet and welcome Christynne to the Cameron YMCA when she joined.

Laura, along with her husband, helped hand paint 26 signs for the city council meeting that was convened in the wake of the “naked man in the women’s restroom” hysteria.

Laura, who is white and taught in Compton and Watts in the many years when others would not, continues to accompany Christynne to public events where she’s been honored, including Dodger Stadium’s controversial Pride Night earlier this year, and the PSRA SD/ IC Bernays Awards last week.

Christynne and the PRSA chapter both made sure to recognize Laura in their remarks, and the PR team for the San Diego YMCA was also presented with a Silver Excellence Award for “Crisis Communication: Solving the YMCA Crisis: Controversy and Transgender Rights.”

When asked how she feels being so fully embraced by the national LGBTQ community at this stage in her life, Christynne grew quiet.

“I am still overwhelmed,” she said. “I just wanted to work out.”

She added that she does come from a long line of social activists, with relatives who worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King

Men mingle inside Club San Diego, the last bathhouse in the region (Courtesy Club San Diego)

Christynne Lili Wrene Wood, of Lakeside, California, speaks at a Trans Youth March in Central Florida last month. (Courtesy Christynne Wood)

and even helped arrange rides for the Freedom Riders. “I was called to advocate and this was my chance to do the same.”

Earlier in October, Christynne spoke in Central Florida at a march for trans youth organized by a 17-year old girl, where she said she got to meet Ms. Major Griffin-Garty, a Stonewall survivor. But she said her most important work was performed upon her arrival to the state.

“As soon as I landed in Miami, I went right over to the women’s restroom, to stall number four, and left my regards for Ron DeSantis.”

To read about the Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards, visit bit.ly/40mg5nF. —Morgan can be reached at editor@lgbtqsd.news.

“This year’s Diogenes Award submission shows that LGBTQ+ representation impacts us in many ways, and how we need our allies to stand up for all members of our community, personally and professionally.

It is part of our work to guide organizations through challenges like the one the YMCA of Santee faced, with Christynne embodying the definition of the special Diogenes Award. We are honored to have recognized her for being her amazing self, as it sends a larger message about the intersectionality of our work and our impacts to our community.”

--Board of Directors, PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter

There’s also community infighting, political bickering, real and perceived threats of violence and danger to the LGBTQ community, family issues, health concerns, and so much more. We are all going through a lot and it sometimes feels like things aren’t going to improve anytime soon.

As I mentioned in the beginning, not being a mental health professional, I don’t have any solutions or recommendations to help people deal with the many real life stressors they are dealing with.

What I can say is that, for those who have the capacity, we really need to be there for each other more than ever.

Be a shoulder to cry on, or lend your ear. Just listen without feeling the need to interject your own experiences or share advice.

Sometimes, people just need to vocalize what they’re going through. Encourage your friends to take social media breaks and lots of them. The tool we once thought would connect us in such great ways has done that, but also caused people to become more divided and angrier than ever.

Seek resources that already exist. If you are one of the lucky ones who has an employer that provides benefits and an employee assistance program – take advantage of it! Most of these programs offer access to a host of professionals who can help you with all sorts of life

challenges. Our local nonprofit service providers also offer many needed services that could be of help to you -- don’t ever be afraid to ask, there are people who have dedicated their lives to serving others and are waiting for you to reach out.

And finally, if you’re in a position to do so, stand up and put yourself at the table to make changes to our community or world. I write about this frequently, but I always want to remind people whenever possible that you -- yes you – can be on a community board of directors.

You can be our next city council member or senator.

There is a very small group of interconnected people who have been making decisions for us for far too long. I know that many of their decisions have made me very unhappy, which is why I have future plans to run for elected office. If that’s something that interests you, consider doing it, too!

It’s rough out there and I just want to make sure everyone can find ways to be ok. Please continue to look out for each other and never be afraid to ask for help!

Have a great November!

–Benny Cartwright is a longtime activist and community leader. Reach him at community@lgbtqsd.news.

Follow him on Instagram ww@BennyC80.

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Q-PUZZLE

from qsyndicate.com

FROM PAGE 1

BRIEFS

them filled with new housing units, and increase the population of the neighborhood by an additional 50,000 residents. A variety of new public transportation methods are suggested, as well, including an aerial tram into Mission Valley and streetcar lines.

More public parks, amenities, and bicycle lanes are also spelled out in the plan, including the addition of the already planned Normal Street Promenade, as well as newly proposed promenades on University Avenue and Robinson Avenue.

The creation of an LGBTQ+ historic district is also suggested

FROM PAGE 4

SUP. Q&A

LGBTQSD.NEWS

PUZZLE / NEWS

in the plan, which would be the first comprehensive effort to recognize and protect Hillcrest’s legacy as the center of San Diego’s LGBTQ community.

Community members are encouraged to view the plan in its entirety by visiting planhillcrest.org. City planners have also opened up a comment period on the first draft through Friday, Nov. 17, with additional opportunities to follow.

Comments should be sent to planhillcrest@sandiego.gov by the Nov. 17 deadline.

Local community organizations, including the Hillcrest Town Council, @

hillcrestsandiego, and the Kiwanis Club of Hillcrest All-Inclusive, have partnered with Vibrant Uptown to host a forum to discuss some elements of the plan, as well as the possibility of creating a Hillcrest Cultural & Entertainment District, separate from the proposed LGBTQ+ Historic District. The forum is open to everyone and will be held at Rich’s San Diego on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 6 pm, doors open at 5:30 pm. Rich’s is located at 1051 University Ave. in Hillcrest. ▼

Remembering Dianne ACROSS 1 Kind of dunk, to Sue Wicks 5 Split 9 Winona of “Girl Interrupted” 14 Prop for “Talking to My Angel”?

15 Nat. counterpart in MLB 16 Bone-chilling 17 Baldwin’s “The ___ Corner” 18 Japanese attack word 19 Burke of baseball 20 Start of what Sen. Feinstein said we do with the “dark patches in our past” 23 Locale of valuable stones 24 “Delta of Venus” author 25 Karen Walker, perhaps 28 Ruing the S&M 31 Musical Horne 32 B’way hit sign 33 “On the Beach” author Nevil 34 ’69 Series winner 35 Author Rednour 36 More of what she said 38 What gay porn may do 40 Segments of “Macbeth” 41 Estimating words 43 Mistake in Billy Bean’s sport 44 P on Socrates’ paper 45 Kitchen appliance brand 46 Like bell-bottom jeans 47 Tower of Rumi’s religion 49 Go smoothly 51 End of what she said 56 Houston athlete 59 “Brothers & Sisters” producer Ken 60 Eugene O’Neill’s daughter 61 Movie based on “The Price of Salt” 62 Sophie B. Hawkins’ “The Cream Will ___” 63 Novel idea 64 Harass relentlessly 65 Madeline of “Young Frankenstein” 66 Smart-ass output

DOWN 1 Peggy of Split Bitches 2 Material for a drag queen 3 Frequent Trump portrayer Baldwin 4 Uprights at Stonehenge, e.g.

5 Like “Finding Nemo” 6 Be a ham in “Hamlet”?

7 Burning software 8 Type of hosiery for men?

9 Ruler with a vagina 10 Fox’s cry 11 Unisex garment?

12 One to Ulrichs 13 Stimpy’s partner 21 Impressionist Claude 22 Hose down 26 One with a gifted tongue 27 Lord of the bullrings 28 Like angry bees 29 LaRue of gay porn 30 Timothy of “Kinsey” 31 Fruit in a slot machine 34 “Down Under” band 35 Some bottles, or what bottoms do 37 Targeted, with “in on” 39 Reproduce nonheterosexually 42 Like Errol Flynn 45 Harvey, in “Torch Song Trilogy” 48 Composer Copland 50 Stuff in a closet 52 Kazan, whose desire was a streetcar 53 “Hi” to Ricky Martin 54 Name that rhymes with phallus?

55 Floor coverings 56 Austrian exclamation 57 Word in Brazilian place names 58 Broadway bio

SOLUTION ON PAGE 15

WIN YOUR SHARE OF

IN CASH & PRIZES THROUGH NOVEMBER!

Visit Sycuan.com for full details.

GUESTS MUST BE 21+ TO ENTER THE CASINO. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY.

LGBTQSD.NEWS

DINING

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

13

Flappin’ for tenders in Hillcrest It’s a persistent food trend that shows no sign of waning anytime soon. Point in any direction and you’ll find a kitchen that largely slings fried chicken — or breaded, fried chicken tenders to be exact.

Joining such rivals as Main Chick in Linda Vista, Ali’s Chicken and Waffles in City Heights and downtown, Young Cluck in Normal Heights, and Chick ‘n Cone in the East Village, is Hillcrest newcomer Cluck N Sip. The eatery is located next door to Panda Express on Washington Street. It is owned by local business partners Echo Weng and Howe Yap, whose uncle owned the former Saigon on Fifth.

Cluck N Sip upholds the tradition of selling the tenders individually, in combo meals, or in sizable sandwiches. The chicken is marinated in salt water and vinegar and breaded with a combination of flour, corn starch and secret seasonings.

There is also a spicy version that isn’t as fierce compared to other places. In addition, several dipping sauces are in the offing. Among them is honey-mustard, barbecue, and “Hillcrest sauce,” which equates to spicy mayo.

Side dishes include the usual suspects: mac and cheese, coleslaw (think KFC-style), potato wedges, and instant mashed potatoes and gravy.

As for the “sip” part in the name, the shop makes its own fruit punch and lemonade.

Until supplies last, customers can grab a free T-shirt with the company’s logo while at the order counter. When worn to the store on a repeat visit, they will receive a 10-percent discount. 120 W. Washington St., Suite B, 619-228-9236, clucknsip.com

An interior wall inside Cluck N Sip pays tribute to its locale. (Photo by Frank Sabatini Jr.)

Did you know…

...that the upcoming, annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (Nov. 6-12) was recently named by USA Today as “the No. 1 wine festival in America?” Out of 10 well-known wine events in the nation, it beat out the Key West Food and Wine Festival (No. 2), the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta (No. 7) and the popular Taste of Sonoma in Santa Rosa, CA. Now in its 19th year, the extravaganza features more than 30 culinary events taking place over six days throughout San Diego County. Among them is the festival’s Grand Tasting from noon to 3 pm, Nov. 11, at the Embarcadero South in downtown San Diego. New to the grounds will be a Brandt Beef pavilion and “CohnChella,” an area operated by the Cohn Restaurant Group.

Recently added to the festival is the Grand Fiesta that will showcase the culinary talents and winemakers of Baja. It will be held in Liberty Station’s Ingram Plaza from noon to 3 pm, Nov. 12.

Individual tickets and event packages vary in price. For more information visit sandiegowineclassic.com Expect rivers of wine at this year’s San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. (Courtesy photo)

Step into the world of whiskey Distillations from Wyoming Whiskey, which operates throughout “the Equality State,” will be the focus of a tasting at 6 pm, Nov. 13, at San Diego’s under-the-radar Whiskey House in downtown’s Marina District.

The establishment was certified several years ago by Guinness World Records for housing the largest commercial inventory of whiskey in the world — about 2,800 labels when we last floated out of the place a few years back.

The tasting will be conducted by Wyoming Whiskey co-founder David DeFazio, who will oversee pourings of four whiskeys: small batch, double cask, single barrel, and Outryder. Munchies will include filet sliders, house-made sausages and a charcuterie board.

A limited number of tickets are available for $65 in advance and $75 at the door. 420 Third Ave., 619-546-6289, thewhiskeyhousesd.com

Charitable folk

As we enter the season of giving, we’re directing a few deserved shout-outs toward restaurants that are ahead of the game.

From now through Thanksgiving, the Sicilian-style RustiCucina in Hillcrest will donate $1 to Father Joe’s Village from the sale of each pasta serving tossed table-side in the restaurant’s giant cheese wheel. In addition, RustiCucina is the designated Toy For Tots drop-off location for Hillcrest. Unwrapped toys will be received there through Dec. 15.

3797 Park Blvd., 619-310-5291, rusticucina.com.

The Breakfast Company recently donated 50 percent of proceeds from five days of sales to Magic 92.5 Jagger and Christi’s Christmas Wish drive. The annual program provides necessities to families in need over the holidays. 8950 Rio San Diego Drive, 619-537-7166, breakfastcompany.com.

Down in the Gaslamp Quarter, El Chingon Bad Ass Mexican will donate an undisclosed percentage of profits from Thursday dinner sales in November and December to Love Thy Neighbor, which raises funds for under-served communities. Monies will also go to Border Angels, which defends the rights of migrants and refugees. 560 Fifth Ave., 619-501-1919, elchingon.com Cheese wheel with a good cause (Courtesy RustiCucina)

Lauded pizzeria debuts in San Diego County

▼

San Diego’s eminent whiskey lounge (Courtesy Alternative Strategies)

What has been all the rave in Los Angeles for 25 years is now testing its culinary prowess in Carlsbad.

Say hello to Pitfire Pizza, which is known for “fire singed” pies made with fermented sourdough crusts. As of Nov. 1, it began lunch and dinner service within a 3,500-square-foot space at the Beacon La Costa shopping and community center. The eatery also offers pick-up and delivery.

Pitfire’s menu starts out with appetizers such as roasted chicken meatballs and vegetarian white bean soup. There are several crafty salads available as well.

From the pizza selection you’ll find the PB&J topped with pineapple, bacon and fresh jalapeños. There is also pesto chicken, the “field mushroom,” and the “smashing pumpkin,” mantled with goat cheese, leafy greens, pumpkin oil and pepitas.

Organic vanilla soft serve and house-made chocolate chunk cookies are among the sweet endings.

The Carlsbad opening marks the company’s ninth location with most others scattered throughout California. 7720 El Camino Real, Suite A, Carlsbad, 760-203-6642, pitfirepizza.com

Pitfire Pizza enters the San Diego market.

(Facebook)

–Frank Sabatini Jr. has been writing about food in San Diego for over 35 years. He launched his own food blog during the pandemic, called, “The Hash Star,” which you can follow at thehashstar.com He can be reached at frank.sabatini92108@gmail.com ▼

14

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

Sentencing for man who vandalized MCC

by Neal Putnam

The vandal who caused $4,634 in damages to the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) was ordered to pay the church back and sentenced to 270 days in jail on Oct. 12.

Because Richard Meza, 29, has already served most of that amount in jail already, he was scheduled for release on Nov. 5, according to the Sheriff’s department website.

Video surveillance cameras showed Meza throwing rocks and a cinder block into a side entrance door and windows at the church at 2633 Denver Street in San Diego on Jan. 10 around 4 am.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Rachel Cano ordered Meza to stay away from MCC and placed him on terms of two years probation with a number of conditions, such as participating in a treatment or cognitive behavior program.

“We wish him well. We’re praying for him,” said Senior Pastor Dan Koeshall to LGBTQ San Diego County News. “I am satisfied with the sentence of Richard Meza. I pray for his well-being and for his physical and mental health.

“I pray he gets the resources and the help he needs to get a solid foundation to build his life upon,” Koeshall continued. “I will never forget the anger on his

face caught on camera as he was doing the vandalism. May he find healing, peace, and happiness.”

Meza was asked by a detective about the vandalism when shown a security picture of him outside the church. Meza said he only remembered “a second or two” of it, as he has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to his probation report. Meza added he was also diagnosed with being “bipolar.”

Meza said he was homeless at the time and had nowhere to sleep. He said he believed he suffered “a psychotic episode” at the time he damaged the church, according to the probation report.

“He would like to apologize to the court for his behavior and believes he would benefit from a mental health program,” wrote a probation officer after a video teleconference with Meza while in jail.

The probation officer reported that Meza said he started having “black out” periods of time and lack of recall when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2020, and does not remember the MCC vandalism.

Meza told police officers he often sleeps aboard a trolley.

The probation report said he has previously frequented the San Diego State University area and was involved in vandalism there.

San Diego’s Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) is located on Denver Street in the Bay Park area. A homeless man vandalized the church last year and was finally sentenced in October. (Google Maps)

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He is on standard probation conditions, such as a ban on possessing weapons and no marijuana use, even with a medical card. If he has a substantial violation of probation, he could face a two-year prison term, court records say.

Meza had been free on his own recognizance, even though he was homeless, but he failed to show up before Judge Cano during the summer for a hearing. Cano issued a warrant for his arrest and he was picked up a day later by police, which is why he had so many credits. He pleaded guilty to felony vandalism and a second vandalism count was dismissed.

Meza has had minor brushes with the law for several years, but the most serious offense occurred when he was 18 years old. He pleaded guilty to felony assault for stabbing someone, court records show.

Others were also involved in that same fight in downtown San Diego, but Meza was sentenced to two years in prison in 2012.

Records show he used the time to take college courses and obtained his GED degree while in prison.

After Meza was paroled, he worked for a moving company and also was a general laborer, according to the probation report.

He had no parole violations and never returned to prison.

He will leave the South Bay Detention Facility on Nov. 5.

–Neal Putnam is a local crime reporter. You can reach him at nealputnam@gmail.com▼

LGBTQSD.NEWS

CRIME

Convicted after 33 years

Shipmate of Navy sailor found guilty in his murder

by Neal Putnam

A jury convicted a man of second-degree murder Oct. 19, in the stabbing death of a gay sailor 33 years ago at his Point Loma home in a case solved by DNA. After 2 1/2 days of deliberations, the 10-man, two-woman jury filed in at 4:15 pm Oct. 19 and a clerk read their finding that Brian Scott Koehl, now 52, was guilty of killing Larry Joe Breen, 32, who was a Navy cook aboard the USS Fox (CG-33).

Koehl bowed his head and then turned around and looked at hhis wife, Elizabeth Koehl, in the audience, who was crying softly.

After several minutes passed, a sheriff’s deputy told Koehl to turn around and face San Diego Superior Court Judge Kimberlee Lagotta.

Koehl had been free on a $500,000 bond, but Lagotta remanded him to jail immediately after the jury was dismissed, without waiting for attorneys to address his custody status.

Koehl testified Oct. 13 that he had killed Breen. “I saw Larry giving me a blow job,” adding, “I got mad and kicked him off.”

Koehl said he recalled saying, “Get the f--- off me!”

He claimed Breen grabbed a knife in one hand and forcibly orally copulated Koehl, who

admitted both of them were naked after they had drank numerous beers. Koehl said he grabbed the knife from Breen, slicing his jugular vein, and stabbed him again in the neck.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 17. Koehl faces 15 years to life for the murder plus one year consecutively because the jury found he used a deadly weapon, a knife, in the attack.

“The jury worked really hard and did the right thing,” said Deputy District Attorney Lisa Fox afterward. “I’m so relieved.

“NCIS and San Diego Police never gave up on this case,” Fox said.

The prosecutor said Breen’s parents are deceased, but he has some sisters and other relatives who are alive and she called them about the verdict.

In her closing argument, Fox told jurors, “This is not a trial of whether he is homophobic – this is a trial of whether he killed Larry Breen.”

Fox did not make a motion to immediately remand Koehl into custody, saying, “If you’ve been convicted of second-degree murder, you don’t get out on bail.”

Koehl’s attorney, Alicia Freeze, who had argued for acquittal to jurors, said afterward

that she was surprised at the verdict.

“I’m shocked,” Freeze said.

“I think it was a pretty clear selfdefense case. My client’s a good guy. He has no record. I think he testified truthfully.

“I think he was very honest when he testified,” she added.

Freeze said she didn’t ask for her client to remain free on bond because it was clear the judge was going to remand him to jail.

All jurors left the courthouse immediately and no one stuck around to discuss their verdict.

Most of the jurors appeared to be in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Jurors had acquitted Koehl of first-degree murder on Oct. 19. They turned in a note on Oct. 18, saying they could not reach a unanimous guilty verdict on that charge, and the judge read an instruction that said they could consider second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.

Koehl was arrested in July, 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee, following a long investigation. He and his wife have three children.

Freeze told jurors he was 19 years old at the time and was a “small town boy from Ohio” when he arrived in San Diego as a young sailor. Koehl himself said he was flattered when Breen befriended him by having lunch with him at Horton Plaza and other places.

“I don’t have a problem with people being gay,” Koehl testified.

Koehl said he never perceived that Breen was gay until he woke up and discovered he was being orally copulated by him. Koehl said he had been drinking and tried to get up, but Breen pushed him down.

On cross examination, Fox displayed Koehl’s wrestling pictures from high school and college over 6-7 years and asked him if he used his wrestling skills to overcome Breen.

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27 “It may have saved my life,” replied Koehl, adding, “I didn’t use my wrestling skills. I used survival skills.”

Koehl testified that Breen produced a knife and continued to orally copulate him against his will, but Koehl overpowered him and grabbed the knife. He said he stabbed him and Breen escaped through a window.

Breen’s jugular vein was severed and the crime scene was very bloody, with Fox telling jurors, “Larry Breen left his story behind on those walls.” His nude, bloodied body was found lying next to the backyard fence at the apartment at the corner of Nimitz Boulevard and Locust Street on May 25, 1990.

Koehl said he remembered “that last stab” when Breen stopped fighting him outside. He claimed that Breen “was going to kill me.” Koehl’s attorney argued that he had suffered “a traumatic assault, a nightmare.”

“His eyes were so big, so animalistic. The sound he made, if you could imagine, the widest eyes possible,” described Koehl.

“He was fighting like a wounded animal. He was constantly reaching for the knife,” Koehl said. “I stabbed him. It haunts me to this day. I didn’t want to do it.”

Jurors re-heard the testimony of Douglas Jones, who was the best man at Koehl’s wedding, and testified that Koehl suddenly confessed to killing a man who had made a sexual pass at him years earlier. Jones did not know what state or city the event occurred in and testified that Koehl told him he stabbed the man 19 times--something that Koehl disputed when he testified.

The knife Koehl talked about was never found. Breen was in the process of moving into the apartment and had no silverware or furniture in the unit.

Deputy District Attorney Fox told jurors Koehl’s story was “made up” and that “he’s lying to you now.” She noted there was no trash found in the apartment and asked Koehl to describe the knife. He said he couldn’t after 33 years.

15

The prosecutor mentioned that Koehl weighed 150 pounds and was 5 feet 9 inches at age 19 and Breen was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 140 pounds at the time.

Koehl accidently cut himself with the knife and left his blood stains in several places. His blood was saved and a DNA profile was obtained. He also left his DNA on beer bottles. He testified he washed himself off in the shower, and his bare footprint was also preserved, which later matched his footprint.

Koehl’s DNA was found on the inside of one of Breen’s socks, the inside waistline of Breen’s pants, and his T-shirt, Fox said.

Koehl said he had no explanation for that, but he did find Breen’s car keys and drove himself back to his barracks in Coronado that night. He drove the car back to Point Loma and left it a mile from where Breen was killed, he said.

Elizabeth Koehl was called as a defense witness and she said her husband told her “a weirdo” came on to him sexually and “he pushed him away” some years ago, but that she didn’t know the full story.

When her husband was arrested, Elizabeth Koehl said she was astonished, and the prosecutor played a tape of what her husband first told her in jail about the incident.

“I was 19 years old. We had a little party,” said Brian Koehl in the 2022 tape recording from jail.

“I walked into a murder.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” asked his wife.

“I thought I did,” replied Koehl.

Elizabeth Koehl testified her husband was honorably discharged from the Navy and they had been married for 26 years.

Koehl remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility without bail.

–Neal Putnam is a local crime reporter. You can reach him at neal.putnam@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note: To read the original story about this case from LGBTQ San Diego County News, visit bit.ly/45Tx1mC ▼

Q-Puzzle solution from page 12

16

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 27

FROM PAGE 4

SUP. Q&A

Relations. No one should ever be discriminated against because of their gender or because of who they love. I will never tolerate any hateful language or harmful legislation that discriminates against the trans community and the LGBTQ community.

San Diego County is a beacon of support for LGBTQ individuals.

I’ll continue this legacy by advocating for inclusive policies and supporting legislation that safeguards LGBTQ constitutional rights. It’s essential to foster a welcoming and protective environment for everyone in our great community.

[Monica] I firmly stand in support of LGBTQ+ rights and safety, and use my platform to speak out on this topic, just like I have on other progressive issues.

I will take any opportunity to vote in support of protections the County can provide to ensure discrimination has no home here.

In my current capacity, I have used my platform to lift up and honor black trans lives, partnered with the Black LGBTQ Coalition, and provided discretionary funding from my District 4 office to various LGBTQ+ causes across the region.

Most recently, I have supported additional funding for an LGBTQ+ youth shelter run by the San Diego LGBT Community Center in my capacity as budget chair. I will continue this work, and even broaden it, at the County. For example, one of the most critical county services is youth services with foster youth and youth who come in contact with the criminal legal system.

These particular youth are often LGBTQ+, Black, Latino, and AAPI, and are systematically locked out of the economic systems that would allow them to thrive. I am committed to creating equitable economic access programs that allow these youth to have the same opportunities as their peers.

[LGBTQ SDCN] Fentanyl and opioid abuse/overdoses are another crisis the region is facing.

What would you do to tackle this issue if elected?

[Amy] Fentanyl is the number one killer of people 18 to 45 in San Diego County, The youngest victim so far in San Diego county has been just 13 years old. The County of San Diego will receive a $100 million dollar “opioid settlement.” With these funds we need to invest in Narcan, which reverses the effects of overdoses and saves lives. Shockingly, some of these funds are also allocated for “safer smoking supplies” – yes, crack pipes. It is cruel and inhumane to offer someone a crack pipe that they may later use to overdose on fentanyl. We need to make sure that money is going toward treatment. San Diego has prosecuted 503 fentanyl dealers and as a result, fentanyl deaths have leveled off, but the crisis has not been averted. As county supervisor I would work regionally with law enforcement as well as the federal government to support enforcement. Last week, I received the endorsement of the San Diego Police Officers Association. Protecting San Diego from fentanyl and supporting

evidence-based treatment programs will be my top priority.

[Monica] One of my top priorities for our region is to build a holistic public safety ecosystem that properly funds our first responders while also investing resources in our community to mitigate and prevent public health issues. That includes supporting a holistic and strategic regional plan to protect and support those who need it most.

Any death from fentanyl is one too many. And, support services for those seeking treatment and those at the highest risk of overdose are time-sensitive. The recent opioid settlement in which the County will receive a total of 17 annual payments should be used to address accessibility to these services. Specifically, I would focus on building capacity at existing facilities to ensure our services are timely and investing in services that meet people where they are.

Access to substance use disorder services is a literal matter of life or death, so supporting these services includes equipping them with adequate staffing to avoid burnout and turnover. To close these staffing gaps, I would advocate for collaboration with regional universities in social services and addiction treatment programs.

In addition, communitybased harm reduction methods must take part in the solution.

Settlement funds should be used to educate youth and others on the dangers of illicit fentanyl and the signs of an overdose through curriculum and campaigns. This means community education on the proper use of medicationassisted therapy, as well as drug disposal systems.

[LGBTQ SDCN] Twenty people died while in Sheriff’s custody in 2022, leading the San Diego County jail system to be considered one of the deadliest in the State of California. What ideas do you have to make our jail system safer?

[Amy] San Diego County’s jails have gained notoriety for having the highest rate of inmate deaths in the entire state, which is utterly unacceptable. Many individuals arrested on minor charges, clearly exhibiting signs of mental distress, have been placed in situations where they committed suicide, were murdered in jail, or did not get proper medical and mental care.

According to reporting by the Union Tribune, more than a third of people jailed in April were on psychotropic medication for a mental health disorder. Our local jails were not built – nor are they staffed – to deal with people who are struggling with severe mental illness.

From my own experience working at Juvenile Hall for the County of San Diego in the 1990s, I was surprised by the lack of mental health services for children in custody and I am concerned that in the past 25 years not much has changed.

We need significant changes in jail management, processes, and access to mental and medical care for inmates.

Our Sheriff’s Department is short staffed by 250 deputies.

We are now seeing dangerously low staffing levels, 16-18 hour work shifts, and the requirement to work on days off, leading to

LGBTQSD.NEWS

POLITICS

San Diego Supervisoral Map shows District 4 as smallest but most dense in the county. (Courtesy County of San Diego)

historically low staff morale, burnout, early retirements, and on-duty injuries. We must protect the mental health of our jail personnel so they can be equipped to handle the growing mental health crisis in our jails.

Immediate steps to curbing jail deaths must include promptly modifying booking criteria, exploring alternatives to custody, ensuring continuity of care, providing pre-release counseling, implementing opioid and alcohol withdrawal protocols, promoting restorative justice in corrections, immediately implementing suicide prevention protocols, and expanding the use of drug, homeless, and veteran courts.

[Monica] There are a variety of issues that need to be addressed to make our jail system safer. We need to approach this issue like all others — with humanity for the people we serve — and this includes those who are in jail. The County Supervisors do not have oversight of the jail system or the Sheriff because that is an elected position. Where they do have influence is over the budget. In the reports, the issues identified include mandatory overtime for sheriffs and lack of appropriate medical professionals and care for those in custody.

As an elected official, I expect to be held accountable, just as I hold others who are tasked with public service accountable.

Addressing the issue of jail deaths will require a strong Board of Supervisors who are willing to face the Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and county contractors, head on to make the change. I am the only candidate in this race and one of a handful in our region with a proven history of holding law enforcement accountable.

[LGBTQ SDCN] Why should you be elected the next Supervisor for District 4?

[Amy] I believe I’m the right choice for the next Supervisor for District 4 because I bring a pragmatic, inclusive, heart-centered approach above all. Everyone is welcome and everyone matters in District 4.

We cannot keep electing the same kind of leaders who receive

$1 million during this special election from special interests and expect things to change. I have received zero special interest money from PACs and when I become supervisor the only people I will be beholden to are the people. My experience and dedication to our community will enable us to address these critical issues on Day 1 to make positive changes, and build a stronger, more equitable San Diego County for all residents. I will be laser focused on local issues to get things done. I will never be partisan, I will be for the people.

San Diego deserves better.

Here is my word: How I have campaigned is how I will govern.

I made a vow to never name-call my opponent. As you read this, you probably have received several expensive decephtive hit pieces about me in your mailbox.

If you have any questions, I am here to serve. My email address is Amy@AmyforSanDiego. com and my website is AmyforSanDiego.com.

[Monica] As I’ve shared, I am experienced in governance and take an approach of an inclusive, community-governance model, which invites the people closest to the pain to the table where policy decisions are being made. I currently represent over 160,000 San Diegans and oversee the City Council process for the City’s $5.2 billion budget.

I am the only person in the race who has been in negotiations, managed budgets, passed laws, and created, reformed, or strengthened government programs. In short: I’m the only one who has taken a vote and had to stand by it.

As the largest government agency in San Diego with responsibility for human services, I am committed to changing the way that resources are delivered to those who need them most and ensuring all San Diegans are treated with dignity and respect.

To learn more, visit monica4sandiego.com or email team@monica4sandiego.com ▼