130 Same-Sex Marriage Appointments Made

Mari Payton, NBC 7/39 Reporter
NBCSanDiego.com

SAN DIEGO -- There are only about 20 appointments left for same-sex couples looking to tie the knot at the San Diego County clerk's office next week.

County clerk Gregory Smith said, "There's going to be a lot of media here. There's going to be a lot of crowds. If you don't have an appointment, it's going to be a long wait."

In preparation, the office has opened up four extra license windows to accommodate walk-ins.

full article

Jimmy James: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

By Tim Parks
Gay & Lesbian Times

When renowned vocal impressionist and performance artist Jimmy James returns to San Diego May 4 for the first time in 16 years, he’s not coming alone – he’s bringing Cher, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Billie Holiday, Bette Davis, Eartha Kitt, Patsy Cline and Macy Gray along for his fun-filled show, The One & Many Voices of Jimmy James, at Martinis Above Fourth.

Fortunately for James, who has the uncanny ability to mimic each of the women, all the divas reside inside his head, and he won’t have to pony up any extra airfare.

The Gay & Lesbian Times caught up with James, as himself, to ask how he stumbled on his talent.

Read the interview here

Gay rights group leaves Manchester Hyatt event

view backstory here

from the Union-Tribune newsroom

SACRAMENTO - A gay rights organization that's upset by Doug Manchester's funding of a same-sex marriage ban has withdrawn from an event scheduled for the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced that it has withdrawn from a "Pride Rocks" event scheduled for the summer at the Hyatt owned by Doug Manchester. The event celebrates gay pride.

Manchester, a local developer, contributed $125,000 to a drive to put a same-sex marriage ban before voters in November. Backers of the ban have said this week that they have gathered enough signatures to qualify the proposed constitutional amendment for the ballot.

The president of the gay and lesbian alliance , Neil Giuliano, said in a news release that Manchester's decision to fund an initiative that would "hurt loving, committed gay couples makes it impossible for us" to take part in an event that promotes his hotel.

full article

2008 Log Cabin Republicans National Convention in San Diego

When:

April 10-13, 2008

Where:

San Diego, California
Town & Country Resort & Convention Center

Some of the featured speakers:

John Bolton - Former UN Ambassador
Jerry Sanders - Mayor of San Diego
Mark Dybul - U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
Terry Nelson - GOP strategist & McCain senior advisor
Bonnie Dumanis - San Diego District Attorney
Eric Alva - 1st American Wounded in Iraq War

website

Call to Boycott San Diego Marriott, Hyatt

UPDATE:Gay rights group leaves Manchester Hyatt event

view backstory here
Developer Doug Manchester and other prominent San Diego County businessmen have given significant financial support to an initiative that would ban same-sex marriage targeted for the November statewide ballot.

In addition to Manchester, Mission Valley developer Terry Caster has donated $162,500; Robert Hoehn, owner of Hoehn Motors in Carlsbad, has given $25,000; and La Jolla businessman Roger Benson has given $50,000, state records show.
Manchester said he was motivated by his strong Catholic faith.

“I personally believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman,” he said.

Caster, who heads Caster Cos., which owns A-1 Self-Storage and other commercial properties, said he believes that marriage between a man and a woman is fundamental to society.

“Without solid marriage, you are going to have a sick society,” he said.

full article