S.A.M.E. & Centro Cultural Present Joint Event on Queer Immigrants (tags)
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality (S.A.M.E.) and the Centro Cultural de la Raza are presenting their first joint event on immigration issues and the Queer community Saturday, September 29, 6 to 9 p.m., at the Centro Cultural, 2004 Park Boulevard in Balboa Park.
Human Trafficking: The Crime That Dares Not Speak Its Name (tags)
On March 14 the members of Canvass for a Cause, a San Diego-based organization formed to raise money and awareness for marriage equality, heard a chilling presentation by San Diego County Youth Services social worker Michelle Atkins on human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children and young women. She critiqued the myth that so-called "sex work" is ever a legitimate self-actualizing career path and described her own work helping young women who've been kidnapped or lured into selling their bodies for someone else's profit.
Queer-Oriented Obelisk Store Shut Down by Hellish Fire (tags)
Obelisk Bookstore, a major Queer-oriented business on University Avenue in Hillcrest, burned on Wednesday, July 6. Three other businesses in the building were burned out, as were 15 apartments on the second and third floors. Miraculously, none of the residents were injured because none of them were home at the time. Leo E. Laurence, J.D., associate editor of Zenger's Newsmagazine and a former volunteer firefighter in Tijuana, got photos of firefighters containing the blaze (they weren't able to save the Obelisk building but WERE miraculously able to keep the fire from spreading to the rest of the block), the true extent of the damage (visible only from the alley behind the building) and the condition of Obelisk's stock after the fire.
UFCW Local 135 Union Stores Not Facing a Strike (tags)
Facing a strike at the three largest grocery chains in southern California ? Ralph's, Albertson's and Vons ? the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135 prepared this list of stores in San Diego County which they represent and which will NOT be involved in the likely upcoming strike. Since at this time they have not posted this list on their own Web site, http://www.ufcw135.org, Mark Gabrish Conlan and Zenger's Newsmagazine are making it available as a public service. Please help support this action by reposting this list and spreading it far and wide on the Web, and hopefully this will give the union leadership the message that they need to join the 21st century and promote this list on their own Web site.
Two Openly Gay Councilmembers Debate Sales-Tax Increase (tags)
Rival City Councilmembers Todd Gloria and Carl DeMaio — the first two openly Gay men elected to the San Diego City Council — spoke at the Hillcrest Town Council September 14 and debated Proposition D on the November 2 ballot. This would allow the city to raise its sales tax one-half cent for five years to plug the $72 billion hole in its current budget — but only after the city implements 10 “reforms” reducing its pension obligations to workers and making it easier to privatize city jobs. But even in Gloria’s relatively liberal district, the polite but hostile response from the audience made it clear the measure will be a tough sell to city voters.
PANAWAGAN SA LAHAT NG MAMAMAYAN-TAYO NA SA SAN DIEGO! (tags)
Building on its recent success in Los Angeles - The Bantay Pilipinas Forum is going south to San Diego County. Invited by a group of concerned Pilipinos the second "Debate sa P'Town" will be held at the heart of National City a heavily Pilipino populated community. The Bantay forum will be held on May 2, Sunday in Zarlitos Family Restaurant at 505 E. 8th St. National City, CA from 4:00 PM to 6;00 PM
Queer Democrats Split on Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, School Board (tags)
The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club strongly supported Hector de la Torre for insurance commissioner, Tom Torklason for state superintendent of education and Mona Rios for National City city council — but they were unable to reach consensus on lieutenant governor and attorney general. Faced with two weak Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor — a Los Angeles city councilmember and a state legislator with a long voting record against marriage equality — the club held off in hopes San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will run.
Fernando Lopez: Marriage Equality Activist Looks to the Future (tags)
San Diego marriage equality activist Fernando Lopez discusses his own relationship history, his involvement with Marriage Equality USA, the heartbreak of the Proposition 8 defeat and his own critique of the No on 8 strategy, the current Perry v. Schwarzenegger case and his outlook for the future of same-sex marriage in the U.S. A longer version of the interview published in the February-March 2010 issue of Zenger's Newsmagazine.
Queer Democrats Endorse Alvarez, Wayne for City Council (tags)
The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club took two different tacks in its endorsements in City Council races at its regular meeting October 22. In District 6 they endorsed veteran politician Howard Wayne over Steve Hadley, chief of staff to incumbent Councilmember Donna Frye. In District 8 they endorsed the grass-roots Latino candidate, David Alvarez, over two better connected candidates from established local Latino political families: Felipe Hueso, older brother of incumbent Councilmember Ben Hueso; and Nick Inzunza, uncle of former Councilmember Ralph Inzunza.
Celebrating Philippine Independence Day (tags)
The Philippine flag acquires added prominence these days on the occasion of the observance of the Declacration of Philippine Independence.
Worse Than the Great Depression? (tags)
a distinct possibility
San Diego Queer Democrats Endorse Beach Booze Ban (tags)
The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club voted September 25 to endorse Proposition 4 on the November 4 ballot in the city of San Diego, which would make the temporary ban on alcohol consumption at city beaches permanent. Opponents have argued that the ban is an attack on individual freedom, but the club rejected that argument and instead supported beach-area residents who say the ban has improved their quality of life.
Sanctuary City, National City (tags)
Hundreds of residents of the small community of National City outside San Diego proudly celebrated their new sanctury city, a refuge for the foreign-born, free from profiling and discrimination.
Below is a shout out from San Diego area activists to join them at 12:00 p.m. this Saturday, as the mayor of National City proclaims that immigrants are welcome in their city. The organizers of the sanctuary movement have asked that all supporters of immigrants' rights come to National City and defend the right of people to live without harrassment and fear of police interference in their daily lives. The Minutemen, led by Jim Gilchrist, have vowed to protest this event with a major Southern California mobilization of 400 Minutemen to the streets of little National City. Their intent, as always, is to provoke hatred and racism through the media; if human rights supporters can mobilize to defend National City, the Minutemen will be exposed.
NEW LEAD IN KEVIN COOPER CASE (tags)
Attorneys for Kevin Cooper report that an ex-reporter told them that an ex-SBSD deputy said that he and others were ordered to plant evidence in this case.
SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE STUDENT REMEMBERED (tags)
An October 25th, 2001 Rally and Demonstration in National City organized by the American Friends Service Committee, Raza Rights Coalition and San Diego State University MeChA questioned the latest police shooting and death of 19 year old Southwestern College Student Emmanuel Sotelo.