LGBTQ San Diego County News October 2 2020 Volume 1 Issue 26

lgbtqsd.news

OctOber 2020 vOlume 1 issue 26

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OcTOBEr 2020 vOLumE 1 iSSuE 26

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aRtiSt pRoFile: Winona Cookie p11

conveRSationS with nicole 2020 Mayoral Campaign Update; Race Tightens p7

coUncilMan chRiS waRd p4 a note FRoM toni Register to Vote p6 city attoRney newS Dependent Elders Need Our Help Now More Than Ever p14

Sd pRide newS p4

Reba, Still Fancy Country Legend Talks 30 years of Drag Queens Doing ‘Fancy’, Gay Country Stars and Ripping Off Barbra Streisand p12

liFe beyond theRapy TamingS elf-Doubt: What Would Stacy Do? p8

big Mike & FRiendS tRanS talk with connoR Leah Bassett p9 VOTING! p10

nc lgbtQ ReSoURce centeR gala p5 coURt newS La Mesa Murder Suspect Arrested p15

Melissa and Shannon Dove (courtesy photo)

The Candy PusheRs

Take OveR OwneRshiP Of

caNdY dePot By cesar a. reyes

S Artwork by Mel Marcelo facebook.com/melmarceloart

‘Justice, Justice, You shall Pursue’

ometimes we take for granted a sweet thing until it’s gone! I remember going to the Landmark Theater and always stopping at the Candy Depot to pick up an assortment of sugar and chocolates to enjoy with my movie. That has become such a routine that I can’t imagine a movie at the Landmark without it! I’m so glad that a new crew is keeping that tasty enjoyment alive.

We had a sweet chat with the new owners of the Candy Depot. A lovely couple that is ready to help you out with your sugar rushes. Come meet the “Candy Pushers” Shannon and Melissa Dove.

RemembeRing

ruTh BaDEr GiNSBurG

rEaD ON paGE 3 The delicious assortment of homemade fudge (courtesy photo)

By Eddie reynoso

or the better part of six decades, Ruth Bader Ginsburg championed women’s rights, first as a top law student in a male-dominated field, and then as a respected attorney arguing six cases at the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1970s, effectively becoming an architect of the women’s civil rights movement. rEaD ON paGE 2

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remembering ruth Bader Ginsburg continued from page 1

Photo by Eddie Reynoso

Photo by Eddie Reynoso

On Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was the second woman to serve as a Court Justice and will perhaps go down in history as one of the court’s most well-known figures.

I made the journey to Washington, D.C. to honor her life, mourn her loss, witness history unfold, but most importantly, to surround myself with others who also had a need and desire to mourn her death on the same marble steps that have been the foundation of law, equality, and justice for millions of Americans.

Her death dealt a blow to those who admired her. As a cultural icon and liberal vote on the Supreme Court during the current political climate, she gave hope to millennials, young women and minorities who could count on her vote as fair and just in a wide range of cases, most notably health care, abortion, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and minority rights.

And although she was considered a solid liberal vote, it was people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds, from all around the world who paid tribute to her as she lay in repose for two days under the Portico of the U.S.

Supreme Court, and later honored as the first woman and first Jewish individual to lie in State at the United States Capitol.

Thato Majola, a 30-year-old law student visiting Boston from South Africa, decided to extend his visit to the United States and took a train to Washington, D.C. in order to get a chance of viewing her casket.

“Justice Ginsburg is well known in law circles around the world. Her interpretations of U.S. law have undoubtedly shaped millions of lives in America, but they have also impacted how other nations view and implement their own laws, specifically women’s rights.”

Laura Carina, a 26-year-old student from Chicago, made the trip to Washington, D.C. because she “felt an urgent and necessary need to mourn her death, and pay tribute to the most powerful and underestimated woman in our history.”

Carina, who also describes herself as a Queer feminist, borrowed money from her parents to pay for the flight and hotel, adding, “When I told my parents what I needed the money for, they said, ‘Of course you have to be there. It’s totally you. Go!’” Carina says, “It’s been so emotional to be here. She was like a rock star — every young person cherished her as someone who fought for people who didn’t have a voice. She will be missed terribly, and the thought of not having her as our nation navigates President Trump frightens me.”

As an activist, I made the journey for similar reasons. It’s a journey I had made on several occasions. First, as a young man in high school to study how our government works, and then later to witness oral arguments on cases being argued at the court — including Obergefell and the recent LGBTQ+ employment discrimination cases.

When visiting the court chambers, it was difficult not to be starstruck by Ginsburg’s pretense. But I was also mesmerized by her ability to make her point across her colleagues, by asking questions to the attorneys who were arguing a case before her.

I, like the thousands of others who made the journey to D.C., admired her as a judge and as a beacon of hope during troubling times.

When her death was announced, my

Photo by Rena Schild / Shutterstock.com

heart sunk in sadness for her loss and for the sudden realization that our lives would most certainly be affected for generations to come by her successor.

In D.C., I spoke with dozens of people who all shared similar sentiments as Thato and Laura. But I also spoke with members of conservative religious groups, who told me they respected her as a “fair and educated judge that devoted her utmost attention to law and the constitution.”

Person after person, story after story, everyone I spoke to had only good things to say about Justice Ginsburg. But they also shared that same dreadful feeling for the future.

In remembering Justice Ginsburg’s long career, and in reading some of her most memorable dissents and opinions, I gained a little bit of peace — recognizing that this titan of justice, known as “The Great Dissenter,” had in a way gone full circle in her career fighting for gender equality.

In case after case, Ginsburg chipped away at the notion that men were superior to women. And in 2020, she used some of her earlier arguments and wins to expand the definition of sex and gender to also include LGBTQ+ individuals ensuring our equality under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Sadly however, it’s important to recognize that even in 2020, we must still acknowledge that in death, Ginsburg became the first woman to lie in State at the U.S. Capitol. It is rare honor that has been granted to just 36 individuals in U.S. history, including 12 presidents, four unknown soldiers and a number of Congressmen.

In that fact, at least for me, is a sad reminder that the ultimate glass ceiling still remains unbroken. Until we have a woman as vice president and president, we will only have had Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion for women everywhere and a true friend of our cause as LGBTQ+ activists.

May she rest in power, she certainly deserves it. Her long career and fight for equality, and justice under law is finally over. “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof — justice, justice you shall pursue.”

Eddie Reynoso is the executive director of the Equality Business Alliance, and founder of the San Diego LGBT Visitors Center. He is also an LGBTQ+ civil rights activist.

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candy Depot continued from page 1

A sneak peek at the new Candy Depot (courtesy photo)

Shannon and Melissa Dove (courtesy photo)

Cesar A. Reyes (CAR): Tell us about you guys, your individual stories and the story of how you met and how long you’ve been together.

The Candy Pushers (TCP): Shannon Dove was born in Bakersfield, California; grew up in the Woodland and Sacramento area until moving to San Diego in 2009 where she fell in love with the city. Her first job was at a frozen yogurt and candy shop at the age of 14. Over the years, she has done almost everything you can do in the customer service field, from retail to a veterinary technician to a founding member of a local LGBTQ nonprofit, Canvass for a Cause, until it closed its doors in December of 2015.

Melissa was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She attended California State University, Chico and earned her degree in Public Relations and Marketing in 2001. She moved to San Diego in 2011. Over the years, she has held several

positions in sales, marketing, merchandising, grocery, retail and customer service.

The two met at the popular Lesbian bar Gossip Grill in 2012, and Shannon knew immediately that Melissa was her soulmate. While they were courting each other, they enjoyed going to karaoke nights and singing their hearts out. In 2014, Shannon asked Melissa to marry her at a surprise proposal on a karaoke night at Gossip Grill with all their friends surrounding them and Melissa said yes! They were married on their 5-year anniversary in 2017 at Sunset Cliffs and celebrated their reception at Gossip Grill. They have been together for eight years and married for three.

In 2015, the couple started working part-time doing security at The Observatory in North Park and discovered that they worked well together. They combined their skill sets and became the Dynamic Dove Duo by providing security, door and catering services for special

events. They also ran their own house-cleaning business, White Dove Cleaning.

CAR: What motivated you guys to take over Candy Depot?

TCP: One day in 2016, Melissa was having a rough day, so Shannon went to Candy Depot to buy her some truffles to bring a smile to her face. She met the owner Kathy that day, who proceeded to tell her she had the perfect candy store personality and asked if she was interested in a part-time job. Shannon started working for Kathy and Doug just a few days later and spent three years helping them build the business. Shannon loved her job so much that she told Melissa that she wanted to own a candy business of her own and Melissa was totally onboard with the idea. They founded the Candy Pushers in 2018, a mobile candy business where they pushed a cart full of candy around at various events throughout San Diego.

In June of 2020, Doug called Shannon and said they decided to leave the candy business. Since Candy Depot had been operating in the heart of Hillcrest for almost 26 years, they could not bear to just close the doors. He explained to Shannon that she had been the heart and soul of the candy shop and he knew that her passion for the business would enable Candy Depot to thrive and grow. Shannon and Melissa knew they had to say yes and on July 1, became The Candy Pushers of Candy Depot. They are the first LGBTQ+ owner/operators of the “old school” candy shop.

CAR: What can customers discover from the new Candy Depot?

TCP: Since taking over the business on July 1, Shannon and Melissa have added to the 500-plus varieties of candy, freshly made fudge and specialty chocolates by introducing a line of CBD fudge, a delicious vegan line of candy, and specialty soda ice-cream floats. All the sodas are made with pure cane sugar and they have a dairy-free option of vanilla ice cream. They are working on bringing in more sugarfree, sugar-substitute and no-sugar-added items for diabetics and folks who cannot have sugar. Their petite shop will bring you back to your childhood with candy that spans decades.

CAR: What are your hours of operation? And can people pre-order for pick up or delivery?

TCP: [Candy Depot hours are] Monday, 10:30 a.m.3 p.m.; Tuesday closed; Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Thursday-Friday.

10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. They offer pre-order for pickup and delivery. Melissa will deliver within a 12-mile radius of Candy Depot. Customers can go to the website www. candydepotusa.com and

check out the menu, it has been updated. They recently added an online store to the website, and they are working on adding all the inventory. Customers can send an email of what they would like and either Shannon or Melissa will respond and get the order together and ready for pick up, delivery or shipping.

CAR: How has the pandemic affected the launch of the business?

TCP: Candy Depot has been able to be open by following and surpassing Health Department guidelines. Before the pandemic, the shop was open seven days a week and had late-night hours, now they are open six days a week and have limited hours.

CAR: What would you like the community to know?

TCP: Shannon and Melissa are the first LGBTQ+ owner/ operators of Candy Depot and are proud to serve their community. They are aware these are trying times for people and are here for everyone’s sweet treat needs. Customers can come in and create their own bag of goodies, they can get as little or as much as their heart desires, there is no judgement in their candy shop. Their motto is, “Treat yourself…you deserve it!” The Candy Pushers of Candy Depot look forward to providing their customers with a fun, friendly and flavorful

experience. They have given the inside of the candy shop a little facelift with new paint, new flooring and have changed the window displays as well as worked to make the outside inviting and more visible by adding a Pride flag to the neon sign on Fifth Avenue and brought bistro seating and umbrellas for our customers to enjoy their treats.

CAR: How can the community show support?

TCP: Come and visit Shannon and Melissa to purchase some candy, fudge or specialty soda ice-cream floats. Have a seat outside, enjoy your sweet treats and watch the world go by.

CAR: What are your hopes for the future?

TCP: Shannon and Melissa look forward to serving up sweet treats for many years to come. They would like to eventually expand to a larger space while staying in the heart of Hillcrest. In the future when large gatherings, events and music festivals are allowed again, they would like to get their candy truck and bring The Candy Pushers to an event near you.

Candy Depot 3955 Fifth Ave # 110 San Diego, CA 92103 candydepotusa.com

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Public service /News

lgbtqsd.news Pride Youth Leadership (courtesy picture)

Chris Ward and his family (courtesy picture)

FroM saN dieGo couNcilMaN chris ward

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or the past four years, it has been an honor and privilege to represent District 3 on the San Diego City Council. The foundation of my service as your Councilmember is to do everything I can to ensure the community receives the responsive and efficient city services we expect. Our team has always been the most effective when working closely with the community to identify needs and respond to issues that arise, and some of our best work comes out of close collaboration between my office and you.

It’s never been lost on me that our district has a special role for LGBTQ representation and civil rights. After all, our city council district has been represented by an out member of our community for almost 27 consecutive years – a record for any elected office in the United States.

Together we’ve worked hard for our neighborhoods and built on our legacy as the most dynamic, vibrant, and inclusive district in the City of San Diego. We opened North Park Seniors, San Diego’s first affordable LGBTQ affirming housing opportunity for those who paved the way for our civil rights. We took a stand against the Trump’s administration’s cruel transgender military ban by passing a City of San Diego resolution in opposition to make our feeling on the matter clear. We displayed, for the first time in our City’s history, the transgender pride flag at City Hall in honor of Trans Week of Visibility. And this past January, hundreds of community members came together to celebrate our City’s first rainbow crosswalk in the heart of Hillcrest. The crosswalk explicitly includes black and brown stripes and the trans pride flag in its inclusive design.

We have launched the Hillcrest Focused Plan effort for the Uptown Community Plan, to strengthen the community and bring neighborhood benefits where they are needed most.

With an ever-growing housing crisis and a changing climate, more is needed to enhance housing of all affordability levels, access, use of transit, and provide public spaces for all to use. This effort will further memorialize our community’s unique LGBTQ+ history to ensure Hillcrest thrives into the future.

In the last few months, the global COVID-19 crisis challenged our ability to maintain the health and safety of the public, forcing a series of lockdown and quarantine measures to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. I introduced a series of policies to shape San Diego’s local recovery and provide real relief to working San Diegans struggling under the financial weight of the pandemic. I

introduced, and passed, San Diego’s first Emergency Rental Assistance Program to meet our obligations to the renters of this city. Because of this program, over $18 million in assistance will be directly available to thousands of individuals and families struggling to make rent.

We have moved small business relief out to the community in two direct allocations, supported childcare for our essential workers, and more in motion.

With 40% of homeless youth identifying as LGBTQ, my office will continue to aggressively advocate for additional resources and outreach to assist these young members of our LGBTQ+ community. Currently, I am working with the San Diego LGBT Community Center through our expanded youth programs I fought for as Chair of the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, including additional shelter and service opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth.

The City’s ongoing response to protect our homeless neighbors from COVID-19 has been intentional and prioritized. In the last few months we have acted to ensure the safety of our unsheltered population during the pandemic. Public health nurses and workers are deployed with teams conducting outreach in our streets and shelters, hundreds of hand washing stations are now installed throughout the region, motel rooms were secured, and hundreds of new shelter beds are now available through the utilization of the Convention Center as a temporary shelter.

And we have improved our housing navigation to get hundreds into permanent housing rapidly, opening up more beds to get people off the street.

2020 has been a pivotal year: testing us with a global pandemic and calling on us to participate in a mass movement against systemic racism. Both have been tiring endeavors, but both have also brought out some of our greatest strengths as a community. Non-profits, community organizations, and everyday San Diegans have gone out of their way to support those most in need. Together, we have worked to protect and recognize our LGBTQ seniors, fight this administration’s attack on civil rights, and push for greater visibility in our city.

It has made me proud, and I look forward to serving you in greater ways through a new opportunity as your next State Assemblymember.

If you need any assistance with city services or have ideas you’d like to share, please contact my office at (619) 236-6633 or email my office at christopherward@sandiego.gov.

autuMN

wiTh san diegO PRide! alex c. villafuerte [pronouns: he/him/his] alexv@sdpride.org marketing & communications manager San Diego pride

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or many in our community, there is the perception that San Diego Pride goes into hibernation during the autumn and winter months but as we grow into a yearround education and advocacy organization that could not be further from the truth. Many of our programs and yearround events happen during these “slower” months, so there are options for community members to get involved with San Diego Pride! Here is a brief rundown of events happening in the next few weeks that you can engage in! #MeTooLGBTQ – October 15 – 17 Our annual #MeTooLGBTQ conference was set to happen in May of this year but as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, the planning committee had no other option but to cancel the in-person event and begin planning a virtual conference.

As they finalize the details of this event, the goal remains the same. The conference hopes to increase culturally competent services for victims and survivors of sexual violence and relationship violence that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and to create space for LGBTQ+ survivors to connect with each other and community resources. This three-day conference is the only conference of its kind in the country outside of higher education settings, and is the first step in a long-term solution, aiming to bridge the gaps between the LGBTQIA+ communities and spaces of healing and care for sexual and relationship violence.

This year’s theme focuses on resiliency and thriving, centering intersectional identities and approaches. The 2020 conference will filter its content through the dual lenses of anti-racism/racial justice and working with trauma during a pandemic.

To learn more and register,

visit our website at www. sdpride.org/metoolgbtq Pride Stride – October 31 San Diego Pride is one of over 30 Prides taking part in Pride Stride! It’s the first-ever nationwide LGBTQ+ virtual 5k/10k event to commemorate National Coming Out Day! It’s not a race meaning everyone can do it! Choose 5k or 10k and then run, walk, dance, prance, or stride at your own pace, anytime from now until October 31. Join us on National Coming Out Day, Sunday, October 11 as Pride leadership and volunteer celebrate virtually by posting their best #PrideStride selfies and interact with the nationwide Pride movement.

A portion of your Pride Stride registration fee will help support San Diego Pride and our mission to create safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ communities in the San Diego area.

Register at www.pridestride. org/san-diego and get your official Pride Stride race bib, swag bag, and other cool stuff!

Get OUT the Vote The election is just around the corner and it is more important than ever that LGBTQ+ people and our allies show up to the election polls on November 3rd. Every voice and every vote matters. Since it is election season, San Diego Pride is ramping up “Get Out The Vote” efforts by hosting virtual phone banks and we need volunteers; there’s even fundraising opportunities for organizations and groups. Learn more at www. sdpride.org/vote Youth Leadership Academy - November 14 – 15 Much like our other programs, our annual Pride Youth Leadership Academy has turned virtual so we can connect with LGBTQ youth safely. The youth leadership academy was created to bring youth together from across the region to engage, educate, and

inspire our next generation of leaders. Youth who attend the weekend academy will come away with the practical skills and committed passion to become agents of change within their own schools and communities. It is a fun and inclusive academy that includes historic context, LGBTQ resource education, organizing skills, panel discussions, and team-building activities that inform and motivate participants to be successful in all they do.

New this year is a parent and caregiver track that happens on November 7th where parents and caregivers can learn tools and ways to better support and affirm our LGBTQIA youth.

This program is free and open to junior-high and highschool aged youth.

The youth leadership academy is just one of a slate of youth programs run by San Diego Pride to ensure LGBTQ youth and allies have the resources to be effective in installing change and progress in their communities and throughout their lives.

If you’re a high-school aged youth and would like to attend the academy, register at www. sdpride.org/yla To learn more about San Diego Pride’s youth programs, visit our website at www. sdpride.org/youth These four events are just some of the many options community members have to get involved or engage with San Diego Pride. We still have robust affinity groups like the San Diego Queer APIMEDA Coalition, San Diego Latinx Coalition, Pride Military Department, and more. We also have a great lineup of panel discussions and LGBT Q&As for the remainder of the year where we’ll be discussing topics like Spirit Day, supporting local queer businesses, and Veteran’s Day. You can find more information on our website at www.sdpride.org.

Happy (year-round) Pride San Diego!

News

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Randy Rainbow (courtesy picture)

nORTh COunTy LgbTQ ResOuRCe CenTeR

the PalM sPriNGs iNterNatioNal coMedY Festival

ReTuRns viRTuaLLy OCTObeR 11Th – 18Th

hONOrS raNDY raiNBOW & JuDY TENuTa and CeLebRaTes wiTh an amazing Line-uP Of LgbTQ+ TaLenT

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he Palm Springs International Comedy Festival kicks off on Sunday October 11th, which not only happens to be ‘National Coming Out Day,’ but LGBTQ+ History Month as well, and this year’s fest offers quite a few of your favorite LGBTQ+ Stars that you won’t want to miss!

Starting on Monday October 12th at 7:30pm PT, the PSICF ‘Pioneer in Comedy Award’ will be presented to Author, Comedian, YouTube sensation and Two-Time Emmy Nominee Randy Rainbow.

On Tuesday, October 13th, the one and only Bianca Del Rio, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner season 6, is set to receive the PSICF ‘Trailblazer in Comedy Award’ from the Palm Springs International Comedy Festival. As a famous Drag Queen Comedian, Bianca’s stand up shows have sold out around the world and she was the first drag queen to headline Wembley Stadium!

The gala, usually done live at their annual Black Tie, Red Carpet, Dinner Awards event in Palm Springs, where tickets are usually quite pricey, are doing their awards live this year due to the pandemic. Festival viewers will get to see all PSICF Gala Award Honorees accept live, for free, during the festival’s regularly scheduled programming, including Bianca.

Wednesday, October 14th has Gay Icon, Comedienne, Author, Two-Time Grammy Nominee, Love Goddess, and Officiant of Gay Weddings everywhere, Judy Tenuta, receiving the PSICF ‘Lifetime Achievement Award.’ Judy has long entertained LGBTQ+ Fans at Pride shows everywhere and was last ‘Queen of the Palm Springs

Pride Parade.’

Comedian, Actress and LGBTQ+ Political Activist - Selene Luna of Disney/Pixar’s ‘Coco,’ ‘The Cho Show,’ ‘Selene Luna Live: Short Stories,’ hosts an LGBTQ+ star-studded special event on Tuesday, October with PSICF Presents: ‘Selene Luna and Friends – ‘Taste the Rainbow!’ The Line-up includes the Iconic Lady Bunny - Dragtime (HBO), The OutList (HBO), Wigstock, ‘RuPaul’s Drag U; Murray Hill - ‘Logo’s New Now Next and Cocktails & Classic and Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live; Alec Mapa - ABC’s Ugly Betty & Desperate Housewives; Zach Noe Towers - seen on E!’s ‘Dating: No Filter,’ as well as season three of Netflix’s Dear White People; ’ Roz Drezfalez - seen on Buzzfeed, Bravo, Hey Qween TV & Three Queens; Sarah Hyland - creator of LaSarah, Kentucky Lightning, Gail, Martha Owens, The Influencer, and more; Sherry Vine - has earned the title of Drag Legend. ‘She’s Living For This’ (Hulu), The OG Queen of YouTube, where her video parodies have been viewed over 19,000,000 times; Ian Harvie - NBC’s ‘Will & Grace, Amazon’s Transparent and his own Stand-up special, Ian Harvie: Superhero’ and Max Ziegfeld – ‘Porn Awards the Musical’ as seen in LA/NY, many comedy clubs and the Inaugural PSICF. Streaming in the film festival portion, you can catch Michael Cimino, star of the Hulu series Love Victor based on the hit film Love Simon and from the New Line Cinema film Annabelle Comes Home with Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.

Michael has a PSICF Official Selection short film titled No Child Left Behind in the fest,

Judy Tenuta (courtesy picture)

directed by Benjamin South.

Thorgy Thor & Phi Phi O’Hara of RuPaul’s Drag Race can also be seen in the hilarious TV Pilot A Sip with Vodka: The Russian Guide to Becoming A Real Housewife & Making It in America.

And well-known gay comedian Tony Tripoli debuts his hilarious world premiere comedy special Tony Tripoli: LIVE from Palm Springs! on Saturday October 17th. Tony was the writer and producer of E!’s Fashion Police with Joan Rivers and was also recurring on Life on the D List with Kathy Griffin.

Returning Judge Anne Ramsay – Actress Mad About You, Bombshell, The L Word & Planet of the Apes, is back again this year. She helped select last year’s PSICF Standup fest winner, Renaldo Evan’s, whose one-hour comedy special also premieres at the festival on opening day. New PSICF Judge Jai Rodriguez – Host, Singer, Actor of Malibu Country & Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, is also on the panel helping to look for the next funniest comic.

Additionally, the festival features their famous stand up competition with over 100 comedians, which also has fantastic LGBTQ+ talent in it, all vying for the $1,000 Cash Prize, the coveted ‘Best in Fest Award,’ and a chance to have their own comedy special produced (pandemic restrictions pending). This is looking like the LGBTQ+ Celebration of the month! More celebrities and events are being added daily.

Part of the festival’s proceeds will go to benefit various pandemic related charities. For tickets and more information go to www.psicf.org.

autuMN oF abuNdaNce aNNual Gala a virtual FuNdraiser

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he North County LGBTQ Resource Center is holding a virtual fundraiser—Autumn of Abundance—on Sunday, November 15th. Will you will be able to tune in with us virtually to help raise support for North County’s LGBTQ community?

Pre-Show begins at 1:30PM - Program goes live at 2:00PM At Autumn of Abundance, we’ll enjoy a livestream program filled with musical performances, fun mystery boxes and a message from Executive Director Max Disposti about how the Center is responding to the pandemic and continuing to

provide services during this time of critical need.

There will also be opportunities for you to support North County’s LGBTQ community directly.

How to RSVP? Add To My Calendar or SPONSOR? https://www.avstream. me/northcounty The Center is building a community in North County San Diego where everyone lives in equality, feels accepted and free from social stigma.

Check out our latest video on the work the Center is doing. https://www. youtube.com/ watch?v=Gu6gVJJCaNo

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OctOber 2020 vOlume 1 issue 26

a Note FroM toNi toni G. atkins —Toni G. Atkins represents the 39th District in the California Senate. Follow her on Twitter @SenToniAtkins.

Public service / oPiNioN to pay their respects. Social media has also been filled with posts in her honor—including some of my favorites, the ones pointing out that the best way for us to pay tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg is to vote. One of the reasons it is so important for us to vote is to counter the misinformation and intimidation that we are seeing deployed against people who are simply seeking to exercise this most basic right.

With the election fast approaching, there are several things we can do to make sure our vote is counted. First, of course, is registering. The deadline to register for the November election is October 19. California law does allow voting by provisional ballot for people who register after that deadline, but there’s no time like the present to sign up and get it done. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters website has a lot of

someone you know is part of California’s confidential address program, Safe at Home, or you know someone who should be, please share with them that there are ways to register to vote confidentially. The Safe At Home program has a toll-free hotline (877) 3225227 for more information about registering and about this important program in general. I think Justice Ginsburg herself would be pleased at this ability of survivors to reclaim and exercise rights that others would have denied them.

And that reminds me of maybe my favorite post that I’ve seen about her: When you vote, tell them Ruth sent you!

Toni

lgbtqsd.news

LGBTQ San Diego County News PO Box 34664 San Diego, CA 92163 858.886.9458 PUBLISHER Terry Sidie ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Nicole Murray Ramirez nicolemrsd1@gmail.com 619.241.5672 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cesar A. Reyes creativedirector@lgbtqsd.news EDITOR editor@lgbtqsd.news SALES sales@lgbtqsd.news Mike Rosensteel 619.865.2220 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Big Mike Phillips Bmsd1957@gmail.com 619.807.7324 COPY EDITOR Dustin Lothspeich WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA info@lgbtq.news CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Big Mike Phillips Chris Ward Connor Maddocks Eddie Reynoso Chris Azzopardi Mara W. Elliott Michael Kimmel Neal Putnam Toni G. Atkins

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ver since we lost our national treasure, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I have been touched and moved by the tributes that have come her way: the flowers from ordinary citizens that have piled up outside the Supreme Court. The stories from fellow judges and clerks about her diligence and compassion in approaching the law. The people lined up for hours just

valuable information on how to vote safely and securely, including the latest word on County ballot dropoff locations, and how to track your ballot to make sure it has been recorded.

California has also taken steps to protect survivors of domestic violence and stalking who want to register to vote, but need to keep their home addresses hidden. If

P.S. Looking for even more ways to honor all that RBG stood for?

Volunteer to be a poll worker this year—there are ways to serve safely even during this pandemic, and you can help ensure the rights of others are being upheld at this critical time in our nation’s history.

You can sign up here.

DISTRIBUTION LGBTQ San Diego County News is distributed free every first Friday of the month. © 2020. All rights reserved.

OPINION/LETTERS LGBTQ San Diego County News encourages letters to the editor and guest editorials. Please email them directly to editor@lgbtqsd.news and include your name, phone number and address for verification. We reserve the right to edit letters for brevity and accuracy. Letters and guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers or staff.

SUBMISSION/NEWS TIPS Press releases and story ideas are welcomed. Send press releases, tips, photos or story ideas to editor@lgbtqsd.news. For breaking news and Investigative story ideas, contact the editor by phone or email.

Copyright © 2020 LGBTQ San Diego County News Editor’s Note: The opinions written in this publication’s editorial and opinion pages are the author’s own and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff and/or publisher of LGBTQ San Diego County News. The newspaper and its staff should be held harmless of liability or damages.

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conversations with Nicole Nicole Murray ramirez —Nicole Murray Ramirez has been writing a column since 1973. He has been a Latino/gay activist for almost half a century and has advised and served the last seven mayors of San Diego. Named the ‘Honorary Mayor of Hillcrest’ by a city proclamation, he has received many media awards including from the prestigious San Diego Press Club. Reach Nicole at Nicolemrsd1@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Nmrsd2.

Stephen Whitburn (courtesy image)

whitburn leads for city council!

Todd Gloria (courtesy image)

2020 Mayoral

campaign update; race tightens

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illionaire Barbara Bry and supporters have been urging a dirty campaign lately and she has now become the candidate Republican Party leaders are supporting (along with major Trump supporters), who prefer her over Todd Gloria, who has been endorsed by the Democratic Party, Governor Gavin Newsom and our two U.S. Senators. Todd’s parents have been attacked and there is certainly a homophobic smear campaign being waged quietly behind the scenes by Barbara Bry’s supporters. She has hired a well-known campaign consultant who has a long record of using homophobic tactics against LGBTQ+ candidates.

While most still think Todd will win, some believe it will be much closer than expected. Let’s make San Diego history on Nov. 3, by electing our first Mayor of Color and first Gay Mayor!

Our city needs Stephen Whitburn’s working experience at the American Red Cross and American Cancer Society, not another bureaucrat like his opponent. Whitburn beat out four opponents and came out on top at June’s primary election and it was at almost 10% over the other four candidates.

Whitburn has been endorsed by about 95% of state and local public officials and the Democratic Party. He has won every debate and community forum he has attended while everyone agrees his opponent has done very poorly and does not articulate well on the issues.

Let me make it very clear; Stephen Whitburn’s opponent is a very nice person and we all like her, but she simply isn’t ready to be a City Council member, period!

chris ward for state assembly City Councilman Chris Ward is ready to return to Sacramento, where he once served as chief of staff to state Senator Marty Block. Chris, who is married and a father of two children, is one of San Diego’s most hard-working public servants with an outstanding staff that has served the 3rd District well these last four years. His past experience and connections in our State Capitol will serve San Diego well and he remains the clear front-runner to be our next State Assemblyman.

san diego city endorsements Mayor: Todd Gloria City Attorney: Mara Elliott City Council District 1: Joe LaCava City Council District 3: Stephen Whitburn City Council District 5: Marni Von Wilpert City Council District 7: Raul Campillo

(image by shutterstock.com)

$4 Million against Gomez The U.S. Congress badly needs a public servant like Georgette Gomez. She is the daughter of immigrants, Latina, Lesbian and one of San Diego’s most hard-working City Council presidents. She is one of the most down-to-earth and caring public officials I have ever gotten to know, and she has always been a voice for the voiceless and would also make history with her election. Congress has enough wealthy members who were born with silver spoons in their mouths and once again, a millionaire is trying to buy a San Diego Congressional seat. And this time, Gomez’s opponent has spent over $4 million dollars — let’s send a message and elect Georgette to Congress!

Georgette Gomez (courtesy image)

Chris Ward (courtesy image)

Nora Vargas (courtesy image)

Terra Lawson-Remer (courtesy image)

vargas and lawson-remer for county supervisors The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has been controlled by Republicans for the last 100 years...the last 10 years by conservative Republicans. There are two outstanding women running and their election would make it the first time that we have a Democratic majority (and Nathan Fletcher could become chairman). For too long, this board has not cared about the average San Diegan and working families. Nora Vargas and Terra LawsonRemer’s election will make the San Diego County Board of Supervisors finally work for all the people in our fastgrowing community.

Nathan Fletcher (courtesy image)

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liFe beYoNd theraPY Michael Kimmel —Michael Kimmel is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in helping LGBT clients achieve their goals and deal with anxiety, depression, grief, sexually addictive behavior, coming out, relationship challenges and homophobia.

Contact him at 619-955-3311 or visit lifebeyondtherapy.com.

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have long admired Stacey Abrams.

When she lost the Georgia governor’s race to a very unethical election supervised by her opponent, Brian Kemp, she decided to fight back by founding multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training and hiring young people of color.

Ms. Abrams has a fascinating background: a writer of romance novels, graduate of Harvard Law School, for seven years she was the Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives, as well as being the first black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party. She co-founded Nourish, Inc., a beverage company with a focus on infants and toddlers, and is CEO of Sage Works, a legal consulting firm that has represented clients including the Atlanta Dream of the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Her book, “Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change” is a handbook for outsiders.

Abrams says that many of us are plagued with self-doubt: we play down our capacities, pretending that we’re being humble.

(Image courtesy of Team Abrams)

Taming seLf-dOubT:

what would staceY do?

We pretend not to be interested when we’re really scared as shit to try something new.

As sexual, ethnic and gender-based minorities, we grow up in a world that tells us to doubt ourselves: “You don’t have the qualifications” or “Do you really

The Center is here for you during COVID-19, offering Emergency Services: • Emergency Resource & Referral Phone Line • Behavioral Health Services by Zoom Health Care • Individual Program Meetings & Check-Ins via Zoom • Virtual Support Groups • Critical Housing Needs • HIV Testing by Appointment • Food Resources The Center knows that food security is critical to our LGBTQ community, especially during COVID-19. The Center hosts two Food Banks per month to distribute nutritious and healthy food.

Neighborhood Food Distribution

Tuesday, Oct. 6 / 7:30am – 10:30am

Senior Food Bank Tuesday, Oct. 27/ 12noon – 3pm

If you need Emergency Services, please call 619.692.2077 x211

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

think you have what it takes?”

As queer people, we sometimes feel like we have to “prove” we are as good as heterosexuals. We come from a one-down position. As a cis, white male, I grew up with plenty of privilege until – finally - in my thirties, I came out as a gay man. Then, I plummeted in status, fast and furious.

Unless you’re a cis, straight, white man, you’re not playing on a level field. If you don’t come from privilege, you’re taught to be humble in a way that privileged folks are not. I went to an East Coast graduate school where, during the day, I sat next to Jackie Kennedy’s niece and the actress/writer Carrie Fisher. In the evenings, I worked the night shift at a word processing center and, on weekends, cleaned houses for rich folks.

In her early days as a politician, Ms. Abrams deflected compliments, saying, “Anyone can do it” until a colleague told her, “Don’t give your power away. If you keep telling people that you’re nothing special, they’ll start to believe you.”

We make fun of our ambitions before someone else does. We are uncomfortable with success because other people may be jealous. We say we’re “lucky”, not that we studied and worked hard for years to get where we are.

Believing in yourself can be scary: you may have dreams unlike anyone you’ve ever met. You doubt yourself and feel paralyzed: it all seems too hard. And then comes a wakeup call: a friend achieves his dreams while you sit there in shock, having hidden yours. A colleague gets your promotion.

What’s the cure for selfdoubt? There’s an inner

component (changing our selftalk) and an outer component (creating a support network to drown us in praise and encouragement).

Pay attention to how you talk to yourself. Notice the parts of you that are afraid and insecure. Instead of condemning them, help, comfort and encourage them. They’re like frightened little children; they need the support of a strong, smart adult: that’s you. You are the one they’ve been waiting for.

When you start to believe in yourself, you attract people who believe in you. Creating a community of friends and colleagues who reality-check you when you’re playing and feeling small. You can’t change yourself all by yourself. My grandma used to say, “You can’t get to heaven all by yourself.” Well, you can’t “get” self-confidence all by yourself either.

Have you ever set yourself an ambitious goal, found yourself full of self-doubt and ended up lying awake in the early hours of the morning, wondering: “Can I really do this?”

Well, if Stacey Abrams and I have our way: “Yes, you can.”

Stop playing small and putting yourself down. Start to encourage yourself when times get scary and surround yourself with others who believe in you too.

Self-doubt CAN be tamed.

Start now.

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biG MiKe aNd FrieNds big Mike Phillips —Big Mike Phillips is an activist, fundraiser, bartender and photographer who has lived in San Diego for 30 years. He has helped create two nonprofits and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. He has been a photographer for more than 25 years and has recorded our LGBTQ history not only in San Diego but around the country, including three LGBTQ marches on Washington D.C. Contact Big Mike at 619-8077324, or bmsd1957@gmail.com.

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an Diego has always been a great destination place to visit, but it’s not uncommon to find those who visit then decide to stay or move to San Diego after they’ve experienced our beautiful city. As a bartender, for the first 20 (or so) years living in this amazing city (which I proudly call paradise), I know this to be the case with many people. I know it is not the most affordable place to live, but like anything in life you do, we do our best to make our lives happy and our dreams a reality.

I love the arts and supporting local artists in our city. As a photographer myself, I know how hard it is to get your talents noticed and your name out there in order for others to support your creativity and hard work. It is even harder if you are one of the thousands of people who have just moved here to start a new life and don’t know anyone to help you get noticed. Luckily, we do have an amazing art studio (The Studio Door owned by Patric Stillman), who has opened his doors to many new individuals who have landed on our shores. I have met a handful of extraordinarily talented artists who have passed through those doors, which has introduced San Diego to many new artists. Recently, I have become friends with a beautiful, soft-spoken, extremely talented young lady named Leah, who I am excited to introduce to you.

Leah Sarah Bassett is a transplant from the East Coast, along with her partner Shaka Wood, and originally from Massachusetts. Both of Leah’s parents were artists early on in her childhood. Her parents split when she was young and due to health issues, they were no longer able to teach her their method and style of art that they themselves created. For the most part, she has been self-taught; exploring her own talents and fine-tuning her craft to become the amazing artist she is today, but Leah has always believed it has been in her genes! She started college, worked hard, and realized that she was just piling up debt, even though she did pay through most of her college but never got to finish.

Leah figured she would rather start her career in art than go completely in debt forever. After high school, she decided to become a makeup artist as a steady way to earn income and worked for more than 15 years in the industry on the East Coast.

Building up her reputation with clients including celebrities and politicians and getting booked for commercials, fashion, corporate and bridal events (just to name a few), she made a name for herself and was doing great in Baltimore, with opportunities to travel for her work. Meanwhile, she was showing her art regularly in local galleries. Then she and Shaka just up and decided to start all over again — it was time for a clean slate! It has been a struggle, but for both, it was a decision they agree has been well worth it. Leah told me, “I love it here! I love our new life together and there’s so much more to explore!”

With excitement in their hearts, they moved here from Baltimore a year and a half ago. Their original plan was that they were supposed to just go on a vacation for Shaka’s birthday in April 2019 and something just kept calling “San Diego.” It seemed like there were signs everywhere they went and around every corner, it never stopped. It was as if the universe was guiding them to move here.

It was on people’s clothing, in conversa-

leah bassett big mike and Leah Bassett

tions — Leah said to me, “it just kept popping up nearly every day.” So one day out of the blue, her partner Shaka said to her, “Fuck it! I’d rather live in paradise than visit it!” And she said, “You’re crazy! Have you ever been?” He said, “No, but I know it’ll be awesome!” Leah just so happened to have extra flight points on her credit card, so they took a long weekend to visit in early March. They happened to find themselves staying in Hillcrest across from the farmer’s market and fell in love immediately! While here, they started checking out apartments but it just seemed as if they were not going to be able to find a place that they liked or could afford. Finally, just hours before their flight home, they were able find a great place with just enough cash on hand for the application. The great news was they were approved when their flight landed back home and on top of that, were given one-month free rent to move in (great landlord). Three weeks later, they jumped in their car and drove across country. Both thinking (at the time) this was absolute insanity! Oh yeah, to add to all this craziness when the two of them arrived, it just so happened to be their 11th-month anniversary. What a great gift to them both: new beginnings and new adventures in a new town.

Growing up and realizing that she had feelings for women made her coming-out process a bit of a challenge. Leah has always been honest her whole life about her sexuality.

Her first crushes on girls and boys were early on, maybe since kindergarten and first grade she said to me.

She has been attracted to all sorts of people; it did not matter what race, man, woman, Trans, androgynous, it just does not matter — she falls in love with their soul. In high school, it became much more apparent but “no dating was allowed” whatsoever.

Her mother was in major denial and often would try and confront Leah because she feared that her daughter liked girls. Later, when she did mention a girlfriend she had, her mother and sister ganged up on her and told her how disgusting she was. She did not talk to them for a long time after that. More and more over the years, they’ve worked toward accepting her, but they have never really approved of any part of her lifestyle and Leah is super OK with it. She’s always been the black sheep in her family, she likes being different from them. She

admits to the fact that she has a lot more fun. So she was happy to get out of the house and move on with living her truth. Leah’s partner, Shaka, is her best friend; they have learned so much from each other, and it has been a roller coaster ride for them both.

Leah told me a sweet story about the two of them: “It was so adorable when we figured out that he used to come to my house to hang out with my roommates over 10 years ago. I remembered his eyes and how he looked at me so sweetly. Unfortunately, at the time I was in a relationship and he was six years younger than me.” The great news is, he still looks at her with those sweet eyes, but now it is every day. They are so happy together and love the fact that they are taking this journey together, which has brought them even closer as a couple.

Shaka is also a talented and phenomenal guitarist and drummer; he has often been compared to Jimi Hendrix; he is the smartest and most clever person Leah has ever known and in her own words, “I like to say I’m ‘Shaka-sexual’ now. I have found my partner for life!”

Leah is still doing makeup to help pay bills, but since moving to San Diego and especially since COVID-19, it has not been a viable source of income for her. Her passion as a freelance visual artist has been more of her focus, while also building her art career and creating music with her beloved Shaka. Leah has always relied on her friends as her mentors; she has made some of the greatest friends through her journey, who have always been supportive. She talked about one woman, Susan, who used to spray tan at the salon when she was 18 years old. Susan got her involved and learned how to do makeup after seeing her art. Leah helped her with her portfolio and she brought her on some pretty amazing first-time gigs!

The first shoot Leah did with Susan was for Vanity Fair and Leah did Ted Kennedy’s makeup with her most favorite photographer at the time, Mark Seliger. That career really helped Leah gain a lot of life and travel experience. Leah often calls Susan her guardian angel: “I will be forever grateful for [Susan] taking me under her wings; it has helped me to be able to fly.” As for heroes when Leah was growing up, she was obsessed with Michael and Janet Jackson, David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin.

She loved their androgyny, fabulous personalities, and performance. For her 12th birthday, Leah dressed as Michael Jackson and sang the song “Remember the Time” on her back porch for all her friends. She said she had Michael down perfectly: hat tilted, his dance moves, everything was simply perfect. Leah was in musical theater throughout high school and college. Her dream is to one day have a psychedelic band with Shaka, evoking those types of vibes, celebrating love together and sharing that love for those who are listening. If Leah is not painting, you can find her singing, dancing, playing ukulele and the flute, doing photography, hiking, yoga, taking long walks, hanging at the beach, and gardening. Her biggest love is spending free time just being silly with Shaka.

Leah is such a sweet and exceedingly kind person. As I have gotten to know her more, I see and feel the gentle soul she is and how much she genuinely loves people. She told me she loves learning about people and making new friends, especially starting over in a new city. She has utilized that energy to meet so many fascinating people. “We are all special, so alike and so different; we have so much to learn from one another.”

Leah is a giver and loves to give back to the community she lives and works in. She finds herself donating quite a few makeup shoots and art giveaways for charities. In the past, she has donated to Goodwill and local food banks to help raise money. She recently participated in a silent art auction that The Studio Door held to fundraise for Art + Culture Art Action. “If you do not have any money to spare, a genuine compliment to a friend or stranger can completely change the outlook in their day or overall life! Energy is currency.”

We love you being apart of our piece of paradise, Leah and Shaka, we look forward to seeing you around, enjoying your art and listening to your music as you change the world with your talents and love for your “fellow people.”

Leah’s contact info is: leahsarah.art@gmail.com Instagram: @LeahPiaaa www.LeahSBassett.com (art site) www.LeahSarahMakeup.com (makeup site) www.ShakaLeahPhoto.com (photography site)

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traNs talK with coNNor connor Maddocks —Connor Maddocks has been a civil rights advocate in the San Diego transgender community for years. He does trainings on legal and personal transition information. He continues his work, even though he is now retired. Contact Conner at Neon411@gmail.com.

S

o, what is happening in the Trans community these days? We are still witnessing the horrific murders of our Trans Women of Color here in the United States. We are witnessing an incredible surge in violence, racism and transphobia.

The current administration is doing all it can to take away our rights and discriminate against our community and make us invisible. There is a way to change at least some of these issues. Each one of us has to be committed to fight the evil and hate any way we can. All of us can do one big thing: VOTE! On Nov. 3, 2020, if everyone votes, we will all be part of the process to create a local, state and federal government with people who will fight for us. It starts with you and a commitment to engage other voters — then and only then can we move forward to living out and proud and safe.

I have heard many stories about Trans folks going to vote and being turned away due to non-matching IDs and how they look on the ID picture or the gender marker. Too often downright discrimination is the cause and so many people are unprepared to answer to that. I found a couple of good websites where you can hone up on your voting rights and how to deal with poll workers’ efforts to keep you from exercising your rights. Be prepared to answer any objections they pose. But don’t worry if your gender identity or gender presentation doesn’t match your name, photo, or gender marker, as that is not required by law. Consider signing up to vote by mail. In most cases, according to California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, California voters are not required to show identification to a poll worker before casting a ballot. Mr. Padilla has joined with Equality California to create, distribute and train poll workers across the state on how to interact respectfully with Transgender voters. Still, many Transgender and gender-nonconforming voters may be registered and appear on the voter roll under a name that does not appear to “match” their gender identity, expression or the name and pronouns that they use.

Bring a few different means of identification with you and remind the poll worker that in California your gender marker or presentation cannot be used as a means to disqualify you to vote. Legitimate items are California drivers license, California ID, utility bill, and/or passport. Find more information at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections for California, and from our friends at the National Center for Transgender Equality, this site has a downloadable Voter Rights page to take with you to the polls: https://static1.squarespace.com/ static/5b1afec2a2772c6f24e0ec84/t/5b90 9c270ebbe849fbdd1893/1536203815927/ voting+while+trans+c4+en.pdf. Another great idea is: Don’t go alone. Find a friend to go with you and be there to support you if you have trouble. Then you can go to their polling place with them. Educate yourself before the election on your rights, but also on the candidates and the issues.

As we approach the Nov. 3, 2020 election, here are some very important dates to keep in mind.

votiNG! REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Online: Oct. 19.

By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 19.

In person: Nov. 3 Absentee ballot deadlines: Request: Oct. 27.

Return by mail: Postmarked by Nov. 3.

Return in person: Nov. 3 by 8 p.m.

Early voting: Oct. 5-Nov. 2, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.

If you need help to register to vote, you can go to this site: https://registertovote.ca.gov/?t=s or email Naya Velazco at the LGBTQI Center at Trans@thecentersd.org. To check if you are registered, go here: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/ .

There is also a very real problem some of our community members have already experienced. They checked their voter registration and found out their registrations have been deleted.

So please make sure you are registered, and if not, do so right away.

That deadline is Oct. 19, 2020. Please check yours. I am going to check again by the 15th and Oct. 18.

How else can you help?? Join either The Center or San Diego Pride and help out with the Get Out the Vote Campaign. We are calling folks and just reminding them to vote. Contact Charles Enciso at cenciso@thecentersd.org or Bob Leyh at Pride bob. leyh@sdpride.org. This just may well be the most important election of our lifetime. Let’s get our rights back!

IN OTHER NEWS: During this time of quarantine, I am sure many of us feel the same: days of nothing to do, feeling lonely, isolated, bored and tired. I know that this can lead to depression, and if you are like me, you fight depression almost daily.

Feeling like you have no support, no one to talk to. Many of our community were already struggling and since COVID-19, it may have become worse. If you miss your peeps, or you want some real interaction with people, come to The LGBT Center’s Zoom meetings.

Most of the Trans groups participate on the same schedule as when we met in person. Monday Coming Out Trans, Wednesday Night Trans Masculine, Non-binary Discussion, Saturday Discussion and more meet weekly.

I attend the Monday night and the Wednesday Night Trans Masculine and we have such an amazing time, chatting, getting support, resources,

etc. Contact Naya Velazco at Trans@ thecentersd.org. for links and more information.

Join the ladies of the Diamonds in the Rough group as they honor some of their members. Of course, it will be virtual and lots of fun. Here is the Facebook link https://www.facebook. com/events/328072328461184. It’s on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. 6-7 p.m. on Zoom.

I also want to wish the folks at the LGBTQ San Diego County News a Happy 1-Year Anniversary and thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.

Sources: National Center for Transgender Equality: https://transequality.org California Secretary of State Alex Padilla official website: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections

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alancing the worlds of psychology and artistry, Dr. Ramona Szczerba, aka Winona Cookie, playfully creates inviting worlds filled with mystical goddesses, steampunk adventurers and vintage heroines. “Art is about connections. My art wants to be seen. When it’s received, the connection is complete. As the creator, it’s a nice place to be.”

Imagine. Under the waves of water-colored oceans, you can find a trio of women adventurers traveling across the jet stream in their fantastic swimming machines. With the knowing tumble of her auburn locks, The Magician prepares to cast a spell of Tarot wisdom in the springtime blooms of the universal forest. A pink balloon effortlessly floats from the hand of a birthday girl precociously sitting at a table set for tea as she faces social distancing thinking, “Well, this bites.”

These visual delights come from the unbridled imagination of Dr. Ramona Szczerba, who regularly reinvents herself as the artist known as Winona Cookie. She is a visionary creative whose collages and illustrations are celebrated by the Lesbian, Wiccan and steampunk communities.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Ramona’s grandfather predicted her future profession as an artist when she received her first oil painting kit. She recalls spending many hours of her childhood decorating delivery boxes in the storage room of the liquor store where her father worked.

She graduated from University of Delaware with a double major in Psychology and English with a minor in Art. This was followed by a master’s degree in Education in Counseling and Consulting Processes from Harvard University.

When she eventually settled into San Diego to get her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, the possibilities of life opened up for her. She rekindled her interest in art, studying with her dissertation chairperson and award-winning watercolor artist Dr. Mark Sherman in Del Mar. Ramona came out as a Lesbian and her research interests and dissertation focused on attitudes toward Gays and Lesbians and discriminatory behavior.

In 2005, she married Donna Roessler for the first time, and then again in 2008, when Gay marriage became legal in California. Ramona and Donna were traumatized when their union was revoked in California as Prop 8 passed. Fortunately, when the Supreme Court cleared the way for marriage equality, their marriage was reinstated.

During this unsettling period, Ramona found balance in her life by embracing a dual career as a clinical psychologist and a fine artist. Her body of work followed with a series of successful works including vintage collage and a female-centric Tarot.

The tactile and visual experience of collage work speaks to her as an artist. “I love the sensual feel of working with physical materials,” said Ramona. “I have such a love for handling paper, acrylic, art paper, charms and other elements that I use in my collage.”

What started as a playful experiment in collage with vintage imagery, Ramona saw her creative career take off. Under the nom de plume Winona Cookie, her small 2-by-3-inch canvases were quickly discovered on Etsy by fans of steampunk. “Steampunk” is a sub-genre of science fiction that mixes Victorian fashion with the Industrial Revolution of Europe in the 1800s.

A highlight came when she got to see her little canvases blown up 5 to 6 feet tall as banners at the San Diego

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Automotive Museum for an immersive San Diego Comic-Con event that included radio-controlled dirigibles flying around her art.

Her creations and short fiction have been published in a variety of publications, including the anthology short fiction “Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded” and “The Steampunk Bible” by novelist Jeff Vandermeer, the author of “Annihilation (Southern Reach Trilogy).”

After the 2016 election, Winona Cookie grounded herself by moving her art into themes of female spirituality, empowerment and Wiccan traditions. She began the challenge of creating an illustrated Tarot deck.

Still a work in progress, her artwork featuring strong diverse women has already captured the attention of old and new fans of her work. She even found herself in publishing talks with Llewellyn Worldwide, the independent publisher of Tarot decks and books dedicated to the body, mind and spirit.

“Trying to reimagine the Tarot into an all-women deck is a huge challenge,” said Winona Cookie. “I found my own way to correspond the traditional meaning of the cards with nature-based magical elements of direction, weather, plant life and stonework. The response from the public has been healing.”

All different kinds of women began to populate her doodling. Like most creatives, she found that through the physical process of creating the work, her imagination was filled with even more ideas outside of the Tarot tradition. Taking pen to paper, she has embraced this new series of black and white line art, which will become the basis for a self-published coloring book for adults, “Magical Women.”

Winona Cookie accepts the whims of her muse. For her, art tends to reveal itself in its own time and as an artist, she follows it. She found this true with collage where she played with the images until the composition came together. Once composed, she would even create short stories to bring additional life to the images. While the work is meticulous, she always allowed the process to be intuitive. She attributes this method to all of the art that came since.

Winona Cookie can be found online at winonacookieillustration.com.

Original artworks can be found on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ winonacookie/ and Redbubble at https://www.redbubble.com/people/ winonacookie/shop. As her art lends itself easily to merchandise, you can even find a variety of products with her art on Zazzle at https://www. zazzle.com/store/winonacookie.

Patric Stillman is a fine artist and gallery owner of The Studio Door. If you are an artist in San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community and would like to be featured in an artist profile, please contact Patric for consideration at patric@thestudiodoor.com.

Patric Stillman Gallery Director patric@TheStudioDoor.com Visit THE STUDIO DOOR @ www.TheStudioDoor.com #KeepArtistsWorking How you can help: • Shop THE STUDIO DOOR’s SPRING ART CATALOG 2020 • Shop 6th Annual THE CROW SHOW EXHIBITION CATALOG • facebook.com/thestudiodoor> Watch Facebook’s Story for the DAILY ART SALE • instagram.com/thestudiodoorWatch Instagram’s Story for the DAILY ART SALE • Become a Monthly Supporter on Patreon

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OctOber 2020 vOlume 1 issue 26

reba, still FaNcY

COunTRy Legend TaLks 30 yeaRs Of dRag Queens dOing ‘fanCy,’ gay COunTRy sTaRs and RiPPing Off baRbRa sTReisand By chris azzopardi

I

t was 30 years ago when Reba McEntire – music legend, gay icon, the epitome of country glamour – made Bobby Gentry’s “Fancy” her own. A feminist statement about a woman who turns to sex work to overcome childhood poverty, the story-song became synonymous with McEntire after her version surpassed the original on the country music charts. McEntire’s remake was featured on her 1990 album Rumor Has It, her 17th studio album. It has resurfaced three decades later in an anniversary edition, featuring two new versions of “Fancy.” One, a dance mix, was produced

by DJ Dave Audé; the other is an acoustic live version.

On Zoom from her home just outside Nashville, McEntire greets me on my computer screen with her signature Southern charm and a full-face smile. Strands of her fire-red hair are being repositioned by an assistant’s floating hand. “I’m never my own glam squad,” she says. “I have (makeup artist) Neil (Robison) here with me. We were up bright and early this morning gettin’ ready, and I have my team to make sure I am decent.”

Even amid a pandemic, the sight of an undone Reba is ... well, let’s just say there’s a better chance of getting a reboot of her hit TV series Reba (she’s on board). Because no-frills Reba? “I wouldn’t do that to ya,” she jokes.

During our conversation, the superstar reflected on how “Fancy” solidified her gay icon status, what impresses her most about drag queens who have performed the song, and why she doesn’t “judge the book by the cover” when it comes to the queerness of out country artists Orville Peck and Lil Nas X. What do you remember about the photoshoot and that whole look for the _Rumor Has It_ cover?

I don’t remember much about the photoshoot except (that) it

was Sandi Spika who did my clothes and my hair back in the, oh, late ’80s and ’90s, and then all the way up until I went to do Annie Get Your Gun in 2001. She did my clothes, my hair, and it was her idea to do the rip-off inspired by the Barbra Streisand photoshop album cover. So we did that and everybody loved it. Of course it was the last setup of the day because she had worked two hours on all this hair and then, of course, we had it underneath that little scarf and the hat.

When you go to Walmart like you did to show your Twitter followers the Rumor Has It vinyl – well, first of all, do you always go out to Walmart looking like yourself?

No! Ha! We just popped in to visit the record department and sign a few albums. They were rippin’ the plastic off the record cover and I was signin’ some. It was fun. It was fun just to pop in and kind of make a little surprise appearance and then leave.

So you went there expecting to be noticed as Reba.

Yeah, yeah. Well, I had my mask on.

When you go as yourself do people actually believe it’s you or do they think they’re getting a Reba look-alike?

No, pretty much they go right for it, especially when I talk.

It’s the voice.

If I say something, then they’re (like), “I knew it was you!”

Are you saying no drag queen could duplicate that voice?

Some have gotten real close!

It’s been 30 years since “Fancy” was released, and by the time it was released in 1990, you already had a fairly devoted LGBTQ following. But with “Fancy,” is that when you knew you were a gay icon?

If I wasn’t sure, I was definitely sure after I released “Fancy,” yes. I don’t have any reason to think that I had a big gay following

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before that, but I think I did.

But it just increased a lot by the time “Fancy” got out, and then the clothes changes and all that kind of stuff.

There was a whole drag explosion because of the song. Is that what you’re referring to?

Yeah.

For your gay fans, hearing “Fancy” at a gay bar after midnight was sort of just another day. Do you have any memories of hearing “Fancy” at a gay bar yourself?

No, no. Can’t say I have.

I feel like you’ve missed out. These 30 years have gone by and not one time have you stepped into a gay bar and heard “Fancy.”

I’m gonna have to make that happen!

What do the drag queens that have done “Fancy,” including Kennedy Davenport and Miz Cracker’s performance on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, get wrong and right when they’re performing that song?

Any time I have seen on television or YouTube anybody doing “Fancy” in drag I am in awe of their makeup and the time that they have spent to get all dolled up and just look fantastic. Anybody who can sing that whole song in heels and the outfits that they wear, hey, I’m applaudin’. There’s not gonna be any criticism from me at all.

I watched when you dropped the dress at the CMAs and a lot happens in the face. It’s a lot of acting.

Oh, attitude. Lots of attitude.

Well, drag queens have that.

You bet. I do know this: That they get my hand motions down pat, and the way I stand, and it’s just very flattering. I love it.

The “Fancy” remix on the anniversary reissue is produced by Dave Audé. What kind of input did you give Dave on what you wanted for the dance mix?

I didn’t. When a person knows how to do that, do a dance mix, I’m not one to give advice or say, “Do it this way or that way.” That’s their forte.

Let them do their job. I think he did a great job.

I’ve talked to you twice in the past about LGBTQ issues. One of our conversations was about marriage equality, and you came out in support of it. It was a big moment. I remember seeing the headlines: Reba McEntire says everybody deserves marriage rights no matter their sexual orientation. And you illustrated why with a couple of friends of yours. Do you think that you’ve been able to be a bridge between the LGBTQ community and the conservative community who had or have trouble embracing LGBTQ people?

Maybe. I haven’t asked. I’m not the type of person who forces my views and my opinions on other people when they are so adamant about it, but I am a person that will discuss it and say why I am the way that I am. I walked (my friends)

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Nathan and Justin down the aisle. It’s all because of love. It has nothing to do with anything except those two boys I love with all my heart and I wanted to be there for ’em.

And if we just love each other and quite judgin’, I think this world would be a lot better place. It’s not my job to judge.

I don’t want that job, at all. I just want to love people.

I wanted to know if you have heard Orville Peck’s version of “Fancy” and what you thought of it.

Also, what do you think of him and his contribution to country music as an out gay artist?

I loved his version of “Fancy.” I thought it was different.

I liked how he kept the music, the production, real low until the end of the song and then it got real big. I was expecting it earlier, so that was a great surprise. But I’ve just got introduced to him, because of his remake of “Fancy,” and so I’m not that familiar with him to answer the second part of the question.

What do you think is the significance of Lil Nas X being the first openly gay Black artist to win a CMA award for “Old Town Road”?

See, here’s the deal: You’re putting more emphasis on him being gay. To me, I looked right past that. I saw he was a very talented young man who had a vision about this song and he pursued it and it turned into a huge thing. I respected him for that. That he’s gay – that didn’t change my mind about how much I admired him for pursuing his dream.

Yeah. I guess in an industry where it has felt that it’s difficult for a gay person to breakthrough – and a Black person, for that matter – on my end, it seems like a big deal.

Yeah, I can see why. But it’s kind of like, I don’t judge the book by the cover; you gotta know the person, and if I don’t know the person, I’m taking the information I can get – talent, ambition, perseverance, a gift – and going with that.

Have you met Lil Nas? I haven’t. But I know Billy Ray (Cyrus, who appears on the “Old Town Road” remix with Lil Nas X). I’ve looked and seen a lot of things about (Lil Nas X) in different stories.

I think it was a Sunday morning program that I learned more about him. But admiration. Total admiration for him doing that.

How’s life in quarantine been for you? Is everybody healthy? Are you healthy?

All of my bunch are doing very well, thank you for asking. And I’ve really enjoyed the quarantine because I never had this much time off. I’m enjoyin’ it. I’m just relaxing.

I grew a garden this year and I’m cookin’ out of it. I’m lovin’ it. It was weird, the first two months. In March, April and May I was in Oklahoma after my mom passed and we were cleaning her house out and separating everything, and then I came back to Tennessee after Mother’s Day and just kind of stayed out in the coun-

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Q Puzzle

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try, so not around big crowds at all.

I know you’re an “everything happens for a reason” person, and I was thinking about that because of what is happening to all of us in some way, shape or form right now. We’re all going through our own challenges with the pandemic.

What do you believe is the reason for what is happening to us right now? Have you thought about that?

I’ve got different philosophies. Sometimes when things happen to me – like when I broke my leg skiing in ’96 – I always thought that was God’s way of saying, “Slow down, slow down, you’re going way too fast.” Not only skiing – but in life in general. So I see the good things that have come out of the pandemic and the quarantining, where families are sittin’ at the table again eating supper together and breakfast and being a unit instead of everybody going (in) different directions, running 100 miles per hour.

There are bad things that have happened because of people being sick and losing their lives and people losing their loved ones. That hurts my heart. But if I had to say the good parts about the quarantine, it’s that we’ve slowed down. Everybody goes too fast.

And if we can just focus on the good and not so much of the bad, I think we’ll just be better off. Just take the good out of every situation you can get and not just dwell on the bad.

How do you stay so optimistic through everything that’s been happening that has me all shook up?

It comes with age because you can’t do anything about it, one way or the other. So you can choose to dwell in the misery or you can just search with all your might to try to find the more positive things that are coming out of the

situation. That’s just what I try to do. I remember a long time ago, (I decided) to stay away from negative people because that’s infectious and it’s contagious and I try to stay and hang out with positive people. It just makes the day so much brighter and easier.

It just flows easier. Everything goes better.

To end, since we’re here for _Rumor Has It_, what have been some of the craziest rumors you’ve read about yourself?

There was one out just this past week about everybody up in arms about me investing in a CBD store or company or something. Well, I’ve never done that. And then somebody was telling me, “Well, I saw it; here it is,” and I said, “Well, I didn’t do that,” and then another friend in another part of the country sent it to me and said, “Did you do this?” I did not invest in a CBD company.

And then there was a lot of very famous entertainers in this article that said, “Reba’s turned me onto this CBD; I am just so thrilled.” Garth Brooks being one of them. I don’t see how they get away with it.

So, you’re not having CBD gummies with Garth?

That’s never happened?

No! Ha! Well, we’re gonna nip that one in the bud.

Thanks. I need all the help I can get. Ha! It was great to talk to you, Reba.

Good talkin’ to you too. Stay well, stay healthy and be safe and I hope we get to talk soon in person or over the phone.

I enjoy visitin’ with you.

As editor of Q Syndicate, the LGBTQ wire service, Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

acrOSS 1 Threesome answer to “which one?”

5 Loads 10 with your partner, at times 14 drag queen’s blade 15 City near Chicago 16 brazilian soccer great 17 _now and ___ _ 18 “Of course i ___ people...”

(Quentin Crisp) 19 dipstick wipers 20 start of a quote about damian 22 short Peter on the screen 23 L.a. galaxy’s org.

24 sappho’s b 25 Penetrating cavalryman 26 div. for Red sox waving their sticks 28 gooey stuff 30 what thespians do with each other 31 Use your fingers, with “off” 32 more of the quote 34 imL winner’s accessory 37 emulate the blob 38 end of the quote 41 Cries out loud 45 kevin bacon in _footloose_ 46 sexy guy 47 kind of column 49 said “ne’er,” e.g.

51 _Return of the Jedi_ creature 53 home state of J. nabors 54 Popular hero of Lorca’s land 55 2004 movie in which daniel franzese played damian 57 diva Celine 58 big, in _variety_ 59 enjoy some ladyfingers, e.g.

60 about, in memos 61 more like sex with condoms 62 hint in a nancy drew mystery 63 Cans, to auden 64 end of “end of” 65 _sound of music_ escape route

DOWN 1 where you can stand to be naked 2 moor drama 3 hair in _Tangled_. for example 4 mandlikova of tennis 5 gladiator’s headgear 6 george, who was mary ann 7 Quite a while back 8 The Panthers of the big east 9 Cone head?

10 Protection for Craig Claiborne 11 hairy gay guy that likes jazz?

12 mannerist painter rumored to be gay 13 _ ___ hearts_ 21 R. simmons helps you lose them 22 Capital of bolivia 25 gay cable network 27 The a of iLga (abbr.)

29 bird in a simile about being nuts 32 without much substance 33 melissa etheridge’s “ ___ am” 35 felt longing for 36 macho man 38 _La dolce vita_ director 39 horny one hung like a horse?

40 georgia, who has a museum in new mexico 42 hot, in vegas 43 Complete disaster 44 Cuts, as prices 45 go over proofs again 47 state of frida’s homeland 48 uPs delivery 50 enjoys a star Canyon restaurant 52 eucharist bread 55 express the success of a lover’s caress 56 Peruvian friend of maya angelou?

58 eagle’s org.

Solutions on page 15 QSyndicate.com

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OctOber Ober 2020 vOlume 1 issue 26

citY attorNeY News Mara w. elliott —Mara W. Elliott was elected City Attorney of San Diego in 2016 after serving as the chief deputy attorney for the Office’s Public Services Section and legal adviser to the city’s Independent Audit Committee and Environment Committee. Elliott and the lawyers in her section held polluters accountable, reformed city contracting, cut administrative red tape, and strengthened the city’s living wage and non-discrimination in contracting ordinances.

A

s City Attorney, I’ve made it a priority to protect the most vulnerable in our communities, especially children, domestic violence victims, and elderly and dependent adults.

Some of the most disturbing cases our office handles involve elderly and dependent adults who reside in Independent Living Facilities (ILFs) that do not comply with local and state laws intended to keep residents safe. An ILF offers rooms in a single-family home for rent to people who often have no other residential options because they do not have family or friends to look out for them and they lack financial resources. Most ILFs are responsible and law-abiding and are often the only housing option that keeps these renters from being on the streets.

Now, as the pandemic continues, our most vulnerable are especially at risk because many are completely isolated from outsiders, especially medical professionals.

Public service Routine interactions that might have raised a red flag about the treatment of a resident aren’t happening, and might not happen anytime soon.

Since ILFs aren’t nursing homes or assisted living facilities, they aren’t licensed or overseen by the County or the State, and this can lead to serious and potentially deadly problems for members of our communities. We’ve encountered ILFs that subject their tenants to truly deplorable conditions, including rodents, cockroaches, and bed bug infestations, and serious code violations including exposed electrical wiring and non-working carbon monoxide detectors. In one case, inspectors found the residents wearing filthy clothes, and the ILF operator admitted he’d unplugged the washer and dryer because he didn’t want the tenants wasting water.

In several cases, inspectors have arrived to find a tenant in such bad physical shape that they had to be immediately hospitalized.

City inspectors found one resident lying naked, disheveled, and unresponsive in a dirty, trash-strewn bedroom.

Our Office launched a concerted crackdown on substandard ILFs in 2018. In most cases, we file criminal charges, seek penalties against unscrupulous owners and operators, and shut them down.

Recently, our Office charged an ILF operator with 23 criminal counts, including willful cruelty to a dependent adult, theft, and embezzlement. A paraplegic man in his care had to be transported to the hospital after paramedics found him covered in feces, suffering from severe bedsores, and hooked to a catheter that hadn’t been changed in weeks. Another

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resident had his $800 Social Security check stolen by the operator.

When I realized a team approach was required to hold ILF operators accountable for abuse and exploitation, I established the Independent Living Facilities Vulnerable Victim Program in our Criminal and Community Justice Division. I’ve also hired a Victim Services Coordinator to work with prosecutors to ensure the safe relocation of residents. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, our investigators continue to conduct extensive site visits to build criminal cases against problem ILFs. Because the pandemic makes it more difficult to monitor ILFs, we need your help looking out for seniors and the medically fragile who have no family or friends checking in on them.

You can help us protect people from predatory ILF operators by keeping an eye out for them in your own neighborhood. Sometimes the residences that house these vulnerable individuals are the site of frequent disturbances, or so poorly kept that they are an eyesore in the community.

Please call the police if you see suspicious activity at homes where it appears vulnerable residents may be living in a group setting.

SDPD non-emergency lines: (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154.

Always call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

You can also contact the City Attorney’s Victim Services Coordinator at (619) 533-5678 or by emailing cityattorney@ sandiego.gov.

With your help, our work to protect San Diego’s most vulnerable residents will continue despite these challenging times.

dePeNdeNt elders Need our helP nOw mORe Than eveR

(image by shutterstock.com)

court News

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OctOber 2020 vOlume 1 issue 26

Daniel Scott Jordan

la Mesa Murder susPect arrested

in RenO fOR The kiLLing Of his husband

By Neal putnam

D

aniel Scott Jordan is accused of killing his husband, Kevin Powell, in August and has an extradition hearing Oct. 7 in Reno, Nevada, where a judge could decide to remand him to San Diego for trial.

The cause of death for Powell, 38, is sealed in court documents by a judge, but the murder charge alleges Jordan, 44, killed his husband with a knife in their La Mesa home on Aug. 10.

Jordan fled the area and was arrested in Reno, Nevada, on Aug. 20 on a no-bail murder warrant.

Jordan remains in the Washoe County Detention Facility pending the Oct. 7 hearing, which is his second extraditionrelated hearing.

Powell was a well-liked employee of the city of Chula Vista and he missed several online meetings on Aug. 11. Two sergeants with Chula Vista Police showed up at his home in the 4400 block of Carmen Drive to do a welfare check.

They found him dead, according to the Sheriff’s Department, which assumed jurisdiction because it was in an unincorporated part of La Mesa.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Groch issued the no-bail bench warrant for

Jordan’s arrest on Aug. 14. Judge Evan Kirvin sealed the arrest warrant declaration on Aug. 19.

A page in the criminal file says Kirvin sealed the contents of the declaration which includes the cause of death because there are confidential matters in it.

Tributes to Powell on his online obituary poured in from fellow and former workers in the human resources department for the city of Chula Vista.

Powell formerly worked for the County of San Diego and the city of Coronado.

He was a frequent participant in the annual AIDS Life Cycle event, his obituary says.

He is survived by his parents, Diane and Randy Powell, his brother Kyle and his wife Torey, along with nieces, a nephew, other relatives, and many friends.

“Kevin was a victim Kevin Powell of a senseless violent crime,” his obituary reads. “Kevin will be fondly remembered as a kindhearted adventurer who never let a good time pass by.”

By coincidence, another La Mesa man, Tommy Zupner, is awaiting trial on a murder charge in the alleged forced-feeding murder of his husband, Blake Synowski, in 2019. Zupner has pleaded not guilty.

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OctOber 2020 vOlume 1 issue 26

san

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diego

DEMOCRATS for

EQUALITY

2020 Voter Guide

Fighting for LGBTQ+ Equality Since 1975 For Members and Friends of the LGBTQ+ Community

www.democratsforequality.org @dems4equality

= Endorsed Candidates

= LGBTQ+ Candidates

VOTE EARLY! ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, NOV 3!

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS (vote for 1) District 52: Scott Peters District 53: Georgette Gomez Rated “QUALIFIED” OR Sara Jacobs Rated “QUALIFIED”

STATE SENATE DISTRICTS District 39: Toni Atkins

STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS District 78: Chris Ward District 80: Lorena Gonzalez

SUPERIOR COURT JUDICIAL OFFICES Office 30: Tim Nader

COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS District 1: Nora Vargas District 3: Terra Lawson-Remer

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION District 1: Gregg Robinson District 2: Guadalupe Gonzalez

SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD District B: Bernie Rhinerson District D: Mary Graham

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD District A: Sabrina Bazzo District D: Richard Barerra District D: No Endorsement

CITY OF SAN DIEGO Mayor: Todd Gloria City Attorney: Mara Elliott

SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL District 1: Joe LaCava Rated “QUALIFIED” OR Will Moore Rated “QUALIFIED” District 3: Stephen Whitburn District 5: Marni Von Wilpert District 7: Raul Campillo

STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES Proposition 14 YES Proposition 15 YES Proposition 16 YES Proposition 17 YES Proposition 18 YES Proposition 19 YES Proposition 20 NO Proposition 21 YES Proposition 22 NO Proposition 23 YES Proposition 24 No Official Position Proposition 25 YES

LOCAL BALLOT MEASURES Measure A YES Measure B YES Measure C YES Measure D YES Measure E YES

Full list of our endorsements can be found at www.democratsforequality.org

San Diego Democrats for Equality was founded in 1975, and has been at the forefront of local LGBTQ+ political activism by working to elect candidates who support LGBTQ+ equality, equity, and social justice. We have worked to support similar legislation to help achieve those goals.

Paid for by San Diego Democratic Club FPPC ID #861405 PO Box 33050, San Diego, CA 92163 FEC ID #C00428516

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