By Ramy Eletreby

C.I.T.Y. x1's First ThanXgiving Youth Social Turnout a Success

On Nov. 19, C.I.T.Y. x1 hosted their first ever event at the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC/LA) in West Hollywood geared toward LGBTQ youth ages 14-24 and their allies, in support of youth empowerment. The free event, called the ThanXgiving Youth Social, brought a remarkable 75 youth from all across Southern California (and even as far as Fresno) to come together in solidarity and rejoice in their youth. The publicized "mystery guest" was revealed to be West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land who presented C.I.T.Y. x1 with a special proclamation signed by all five West Hollywood City Councilmembers congratulating them on their commitment to youth empowerment and their achievements after being disenfranchised by L.A. Shanti.

Rev. Neil Thomas of MCC/LA and Jimmy Palmieri of the West Hollywood Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board and Chair of the LGBTQ Youth Sub Committee both spoke about the importance of youth empowerment and the impressive turnout. C.I.T.Y. x1 expressed deep gratitude to the event's key sponsor, Wells Fargo, for their donation of $1,000, and closed the event by announcing another youth social set to occur in December called The Egg Nog Social. For more information or to read the youth's account of the ThanXgiving Social, see www.cityx1.com.

Chula Vista Mayor Receives Death Threats

Steve Padilla, the openly gay mayor of San Diego's largest suburb, Chula Vista, has been receiving threatening phone calls and letters since taking office in 2002. It is unknown at this time if these threats are related to Padilla's being gay, or simply his being mayor. Padilla did not make any sort of public announcement regarding his sexual identity until this past July 29 at a gay pride rally, just a few days after San Diego got its first lesbian mayor, making San Diego and Chula Vista the two largest municipalities in the United States with openly gay mayors.

In response to the threats, the city of Chula Vista has hired Dave Kanter to guard Padilla for $10,000 per month, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The paper reports that Kanter is a former Marine Corps captain, former police officer, has been trained as a sniper by the FBI in special weapons and tactics, and has a black belt in Shotokan karate.

Bienestar Launches New Spanish Language HIV Campaign

Bienestar Human Services announced a new Spanish language HIV social marketing campaign at a luncheon on Nov. 19 at St. Anne's in L.A. during Bienestar's Women's Conference. According to Bienestar, the campaign will be tailored both in format and content to speak to women and families about the facts and risks associated with HIV infection. One of the key elements of the campaign will be the fotonovela, an intense and graphic novel that addresses the issues of HIV, sex, and sexual orientation, while targeting information to specific age groups.

The luncheon featured several Latina community leaders including Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Sophia Rumanes of the Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP), Bienestar board members Blanca Corea-London and Rita Gonzales, and Mario Ceballos, co-creator of the fotonovela.

Bienestar Human Services is a non-profit organization that is committed to enhancing the health and well being of the Latino community through community education, prevention, mobilization, advocacy, and the provision of direct social support services. For more information, go to www.bienestar.org.

Asian and Pacific Islander Community Launch Coalition for Marriage Equality

At a press conference on Nov. 17 at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in downtown L.A., it was announced that API Equality-LA, a new coalition of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) individuals and organizations, has formed in response to attacks on domestic partnerships and restrictions on same-sex marriage. Actor and community activist George Takei, who publicly stated that he was gay just a few weeks ago, and California State Assemblymember Judy Chu were both on hand to lend their voices to the cause. Both joined Rev. Lisa Gay Santiago and Pastor Nestor Gerente in publicly speaking out in favor of equal rights for all members of the API community.

API Equality-LA includes LGBT organizations as well as groups that serve the API community in general, including civil rights, advocacy and social service agencies. Endorsers include the ACLU of Southern California, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian Pacific Islander Pride Council, plus several other organizations and individuals. For more information, go to www.apgf.org.

Gay Marine Comes Out Against War

Though "at ease," United States Marine and Iraq war veteran Lance Cpl. Jeff Key's back and bearing were ramrod straight as he told Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) supporters stories of how he came out to his fellow Marines.

"SLDN really went to bat for me," Key told the crowd Nov. 12 during a Veteran's Day celebration. Key's unit is scheduled to be re-deployed back to Iraq in January, but he expects to be discharged under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy before then.

But as troubling to Key as the dishonorable "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was the Bush administration's prosecution of the war in Iraq. He came out March 31, 2004, on CNN's Paul Zahn Show "because I wouldn't kill a child for oil," Key told IN. He now intends to tour with his one-man play, The Eyes of Babylon, in which he discusses combat in Iraq, coming out, and his growing anti-war sentiment.

Key is not the only Marine to come out against the war. On Nov. 17, highly decorated 37-year Marine veteran and Democratic Pennsylvania Congressmember John Murtha created a national uproar by calling for a pull out of U.S. troops from Iraq over six months to be re-deployed in nearby countries. "Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency," Murtha said. "We have become a catalyst for violence ... it's time to bring them home."

Reaction from Republicans was swift, including later-withdrawn comments from Rep. Jean Schmidt on the House floor who said she'd received a call from a Marine colonel."He asked me to send Congress a message -- stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message -- that cowards cut and run, Marines never do,'' Schmidt said.

In Asia for an economic summit, President Bush said withdrawal would be "a recipe for disaster.'' -- Karen Ocamb

Serra Project Honors Community Spirit

Dave Walsh, recipient of the Hope Award (right), Sister M. Carolita, Hart recipient of the Compassion Award, and Michael Feeley of Latham & Watkins LLP, recipients of the Community Spirit Award, at the 16th annual A Faire of the Heart on Nov. 9 at the California Club. The annual event raised funds for The Serra Project, one of the largest providers of low-cost housing to men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County. For more information, go to www.serraproject.org.