Openly Gay Fort Worth City Councilmember Headlines Queer Democrats' Freedom Awards (tags)
As a boy, openly Gay Fort Worth City Councilmember Joel Burns was bullied by schoolmates and driven to thoughts of suicide. One of his friends, a boy from Oklahoma, actually did kill himself. As an elected official, Burns spoke October 12 in the Fort Worth City Council chambers and talked about his past in a speech that was heard 'round the world through YouTube and the power of the Internet. On November 13 Burns came to San Diego as the keynote speaker for the 35th Annual Freedom Awards of the predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club and talked about teen suicide and the need for renewed commitment on the part of Queer Democrats and progressives to elect officials whose actions will make Queer teens safer.
Queer Democrats Oppose Strong-Mayor Proposition (tags)
The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club overwhelmingly opposed continuing San Diego's experiment with strong-mayor government. At their April 22 meeting they voted to oppose Proposition D on the June 8 ballot, which would make strong-mayor permanent, add a ninth seat to the City Councll and raise the threshold to override a mayoral veto of a Council action from a simple majority to two-thirds. City Councilmember Donna Frye led the debate against strong-mayor; having served under both strong-mayor and San Diego's previous city-manager system, she said it's been harder for her as a Councilmember to hold the mayor accountable and get information she needs to make responsible decisions, to the point where she's had to sue the city, or threaten to, to get needed data from the mayor's office.
Over 500 Turn Out for Marriage Equality Demonstration (tags)
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and his Lesbian daughter Lisa (pictured) led off the San Diego installment of "March Forth on March Fourth," a series of rallies and demonstrations held statewide on the eve of the California Supreme Court's oral hearings on the legal challenges to Proposition 8. Mayor Sanders endorsed same-sex marriage equality last year after deciding he couldn't tell his daughter that her relationship was less important than his.
Queer Democrats Endorse Block, Pettis for Assembly (tags)
The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club endorsed Marty Block, San Diego Community College board member, over more grass-roots candidates Arlie Ricasa and Auday Arabo for an open Assembly seat at its September 27 meeting. The club also endorsed openly Gay candidate Greg Pettis for another Assembly seat in Palm Springs and Riverside County.
Energy Solution Up to You, Speakers Say (tags)
Though three of the speakers at San Diego's Energy Independence Day rally July 4 were elected officials — U.S. Congressmember Bob Filner, San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye and Chula Vista City Councilmember Mary Salas — all of them stressed the need for strong grass-roots lobbying efforts to win publicly owned power and maximum use of efficiency and renewable energy sources to solve the California energy crisis.
Open Mike at Energy Independence Day July 4 (tags)
Add YOUR opinions on the California energy/electricity rate crisis and the harm it's done you or your business as part of the Coalition for Affordable Public Power's (CAPP) "Energy Independence Day" rally July 4. Congressmember Bob Filner, San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye, Chula Vista City Councilmember Mary Salas and representatives of grass-roots organizations will also speak.
Make July 4 Energy Independence Day in San Diego! (tags)
U.S. Congressmember Bob Filner, San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye and Chula Vista City Councilmember Mary Salas are joining other speakers and grass-roots activists in an "Energy Independence Day" rally in San Diego on the Fourth of July.