Hard to believe it’s already November, the start of holiday season, with turkey day, Christhanukkwanzastice & New Year’s right around the bend. It’s also the time of year, each year, when we start caring a little more about one and other. We come together, united as a community – a human community – with admiration, compassion and a generous spirit for those less fortunate and privileged than ourselves. Gay, straight, trans, black, brown, handicapped, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, rich, poor…it doesn’t matter. This is the time of year when we tend to think about those things that unite us, not divide us. I love it, but I wish it wasn’t something so seasonal, like a change in the weather. That compassion, that caring, that humanity shouldn’t be sentiments we only choose to validate during the holidays. We should care every day. We should want to be better than we are, reach out and do good every day. It’s never too late to do the right thing. Think about that the next time you walk by a homeless man sitting on a sidewalk asking for change, or see a woman in line at the grocery store buying diapers and baby formula with food stamps, or stand next to a senior citizen ready to cross a busy intersection with bags too heavy to carry, or breeze past a donation container for the homebound elderly and ill on your way to buy yet another six pack and bag of chips. Read More
(image courtesy www.gaylesbiantimes.com)
Since Friday evening, friends & colleagues have been blowing up my iPhone with all sorts of “have you heard” texts surrounding the Gay & Lesbian Times, and more specifically, the lack of its printed publication this week. Word is circulating fast that the GLT has ceased printing, though this week’s issue is up on its website. Lots of stories and speculation as to what happened, why and everything in between. Because no one on the outside really knows what exactly is going on over at Uptown Publications (GLT’s parent company,) this stirs the rumor mill even further with the kind of hear-say that gossip mongers itching for a fix of juicy ‘news’ feed off of like fiends. And sadly, gossip like this negatively affects not just our local community as a whole, but most importantly, those who are (were) employed by the magazine that may now be in limbo and quite possibly out of a job. Read More
I’ve been so emotionally whooped trying to wrap my head around the recent suicides of LGBT youth, the hate crimes still plaguing our cities and towns and the rash of bullies surfacing both online and in our schools that I’ve not been able to even start my regular monthly Haute Lot of activities and events in San Diego. I sit in front of my computer, staring at a blank open blog post thinking ‘why should I write about events & activities so people can celebrate whatever the fuck it is they want to celebrate…for whatever reason on whatever occasion…when there are many more important matters in front of me that need focus?’ I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that sharing a blog post about this month’s Halloween Scary-oke competition, celebrity chef event or charity fundraiser will permanently brand me as insensitive or out of touch, I just feel there’s got to be something more purposeful, in the present, that I can write about…even if only one person reads it or pays attention. Then it hit me, ‘you’re here, staring at this open blog post – make your words matter.’
It’s easy to get comfortable in the Hillcrest bubble. Often, we get trapped by our environment and tend to frequent those places we are familiar with simply because they’re safe, convenient and we always know what to expect. I get this way sometimes too and I’m definitely about supporting my local community establishments. But, I’m also one who likes options and I value being ‘in the know.’ I like to experience and explore the new shops, restaurants, events and activities all over the city so I’m informed and, more importantly, able to be a legit resource for friends, family and others who ask. Because they do ask…a lot. And, let’s face it, going out out is fun because it’s like an adventure – you never know what will happen. Read More
It’s the end of summer and seriously, it doesn’t really feel like we’ve had one. Maybe I’ve just been so busy that it’s completely crept by me. But, I already feel the season changing – we’re moving into shorter days, longer nights and the homestretch to the holidays. Unreal. This summer has been a blast though. We’ve had parties and festivals galore, some DVR worthy off-season TV like Top Chef, True Blood, Real Housewives of New Jersey, Big Brother and Whale Wars and several major events that draw seemingly everyone from Sausalito to South Africa to our little slice of west coast paradise. But, don’t think we’re done yet. September is another month full of parties, events, festivals and fundraisers that, if you’re smart, you’ll enjoy before you break out the boxes of gaudy bobbles and settle in for the holiday hibernation. Oh, and don’t forget, this year especially, EVERY vote couts. If you’re not registered to vote, do it now! You can even vote by mail from the comfort of your own home. I don’t care how you do it, just make sure you do. VOTING MATTERS.
