NEWS

Locally, SDGLN Visual Arts Critic Kurt Niece provides a tribute to Nick Hubbard, who died July 23. Many locals called Hubbard “The Mayor of Hillcrest” because of his long-time community involvement and love for the neighborhood.

This Sunday is one of the biggest community celebrations of the year in Hillcrest, CityFest, which SDGLN Staff Writer Ben Cartwright reports will expand this year with a “CityFest Night” party.

San Diego Uptown News reports that a beautification project will offer a welcoming entrance into North Park and City Heights.

Gay San Diego writes about the Lambda Archives’ new exhibit space, which opened last weekend.

SDGLN Editor in Chief Ken Williams reports on the Chick-fil-A “appreciation” video created by a San Marcos teen that has gone viral.

As the Chick-fil-A flap starts to quiet down, SDGLN readers weighed in on our weekly poll, which reveals that a supermajority of readers will boycott Chick-fil-A.

Statewide, EQCA loses another key staff member.

Proposition 8 supporters face fines for violating campaign disclosures.

Mormon Stories “Circling The Wagons” set this weekend in San Francisco.

Toni Atkins chosen as Majority Floor Leader of California Assembly.

Nationwide, U.S. scholar on LGBT film theory and gay culture dies after being struck by motorcycle.

LGBTQ Nation reports that Obama signs “Honoring America’s Veterans” act, which impacts anti-gay Westboro church.

 “Being gay is not a sin,” writes Ross Murray of GLAAD.

Also from GLAAD: President Obama joins Romney in opposing Boy Scouts’ ban on gays in Scouting.

In the driver’s seat: Openly gay CEO steers the DNC Committee on road toward inclusion. A report by SDGLN media partner QNotes.

Worldwide, Vietnam holds first gay pride parade.

Madonna supports gay rights in St. Petersburg with pink wristbands.

Saying no to hate: San Diegans stage kiss-in to protest Chick-fil-A

SAN DIEGO – Guys kissed guys and girls kissed girls outside the Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurants in San Diego and Oceanside on Friday afternoon in protest of the chain’s donations of millions of dollars to anti-gay causes.

The kiss-in, part of many demonstrations held Friday across the U.S., follows a Chick-fil-A “appreciation day” called Wednesday by anti-gay figures like Mike Huckabee and supported by the likes of Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum. The chain said Wednesday set a sales record, but declined to release figures.

Locally, Canvass For A Cause led the protest effort at the Chick-fil-A at 3570 Sports Arena Blvd. in San Diego and at 3475 Marron Road in Oceanside.

About 75 people rallied in at the Point Loma location. After brief speeches and the reading of a poem by Jose Medina of SAME, organizers at the San Diego location opened a kissing booth that was to be open until 5:30 pm.

Mitchel Sterling said he is inspired by all the people here wanting to stop the hate.

The Point Loma restaurant was half-full, a far cry from Wednesday’s “appreciation day” that somehow got framed into a First Amendment “free speech” issue. Gay activists and their allies said that nobody is asking Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy to stop speaking out against marriage equality, but to stop using corporate profits to help fund anti-gay causes that are leading to the deaths of LGBT people around the world.

Some customers on Friday afternoon looked baffled or annoyed by the protest.

San Diego police arrived around 20 minutes into the protest, moving people out of parking spaces that they were occupying. People peacefully complied with police requests.

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VIDEO: This weekend, 28th annual Hillcrest CityFest expands with "CityFest Night"

SAN DIEGO – Hillcrest’s annual community celebration, CityFest, will return for the 28th year this Sunday starting at noon.

On the outside, this street festival may look like one of the many other similar events that take place across the city year round – vendor booths, entertainment, fair food and beverages. But once at the event, one will see that CityFest has a character, spirit, flair and fabulousness that only Hillcrest can provide.

Organizers expect more than 150,000 people to descend upon Fifth and University avenues on the west end of Hillcrest for what many consider to be “the biggest Sunday Funday of the year.”

History

It all started with a sign. In the 1940s, a group of female shopkeepers in Hillcrest pooled theirmoney and had a sign installed over University Avenue proclaiming to passing motorists and pedestrians that they were indeed in Hillcrest. That original sign, which was located a few feet west of where the iconic Hillcrest sign hangs today, shined brightly over the neighborhood for many decades before going into disrepair and burning out.

Tired of seeing the dilapidated sign serve as the neighborhood’s showpiece, volunteers in the early 1980s worked to raised more than $4,000 to restore the sign, with the first fundraiser being held at The Brass Rail raising $670, according to HillQuest.com.

On Aug. 18, 1984 the restored sign was hung, with the official lighting held on a week later. This special event – which drew a crowd of nearly 3,000 people - turned into a big party with vendors setting up shop on the closed streets near Fifth and University, and revelers danced in the street until after 10 pm.

In May 1985, the Hillcrest Association sponsored the first “CityFest,” which drew a crowd of nearly 5,000 people. After the first event, the organization then decided to continue organizing CityFest – but in August to celebrate the anniversary of the relighting of the sign.

The event has continued year after year, and has continued to grow, reaching an estimated crowd of 150,000 in 2003.

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COMMENTARY

PFLAG shares a letter outlining where the organization takes issues with Chick-fil-A.

SDGLN Contributor Kit-Bacon Gressitt writes: Living on the dark side of the rainbow.

SDGLN Contributor The Rev. Irene Monroe writes: Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas faces that other n-word, nappy.

Gay parents: Right-winger compares your children to slaves, wants Underground Railroad to kidnap them from you.

COMMENTARY: Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas faces that other n-word, nappy

Gabrielle Christina Victoria "Gabby" Douglas is one of this year's Olympic darlings.

As a member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team, Gabby is the first African-American gymnast and woman of color, in Olympic history, to win gold medals in the individual all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics.

When she won the gold, the blogosphere blew up with a torrent of congratulations. But the blogosphere blew up unexpectedly with a deluge of condemnations, too.

Douglas's hair has been the topic of a ton of e-chatter since she stepped onto the Olympic world stage.

But in typical Gabby fashion, according to USA Today, Douglas simply responded asking, "What is the big deal?”

If Douglas wasn't privy to what the big deal was all about, the condemnations about it, she will quickly learn, lie at one of the roots of the universal denigration of black beauty.

This issue of black women's hair texture is inescapable and continues to dog us women allthroughout the African continent and African diaspora -- young and old. When a tsunami of criticisms poured in about Gabby’s over-gelled and under-tamed ponytail, and — yes, that very touchy subject for African-American women — her nappy edges, it dredges up and fosters the misperception of how could any put-together and accomplished black woman with fleecy-wooly-wild hair be happy being nappy.

“Gabby Douglas needs to tame the beady beads in the back of her hair, ” snipped one Twitter user.

Another outraged Twitter user huffed and wrote, "Jesus be a Hot Comb for Gabby Douglas Hair... Amen!"

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Gay parents: Right-winger compares your children to slaves, wants Underground Railroad to kidnap them from you

I couldn't believe it when I first heard him say it. It was Tuesday afternoon and I was monitoring Bryan Fischer's American Family Radio show, a chore I begrudingly take on far more frequently than any LGBT people should have to. There, after hearing the AFA's most visible figure opine about Chick-fil-A for the umpteenth time and dream up new ways to verbally bully anyone who doesn't shun equality, Fischer dropped one of the most culturally insensitive attack lines I've heard from anyone on the other side of this debate. To wit:

"The only way now in America's legal system that you can protect your child from being raised in a same-sex household is to get that kid into the Underground Railroad and get that child out of dodge."

Now, perhaps we should stop here and give a little historical perspective. In case you were asleep during American History class, let me remind you that the Underground Railroad was a system of escape routes that slaves of the 19th century used to flee oppressive torment. The network, aided by abolistionists who were on the right side of history, was used to free tens of thousands in the years before and even after the Civil War. The cause was freedom, and the risktakers were the long-persecuted.

So now let's jump back to Bryan Fischer's callous comments. He is quite literally comparing his desire to take children from homes with same-sex parents to the heroic events that led to the freeing of slaves. Let me say that again so it sinks in: Bryan Fischer, the man who spoke just minutes after Mitt Romney at the Family Research Council's 2011 Value Voters Summit, thinks that people who would take children away from their parents would be on par with people like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. He is suggesting that ripping kids out of LGBT-headed housesholds is the noble cause of our day.

Then, looking past just the brutally ahistorical component, consider the other part. Even though he began walking back his words a little bit once bloggers started bringing attention to his heinous suggestion, what Bryan is encouraging here is undeniable. The suggestion, in a word: kidnapping. That is not an overstatement. He is saying that we have a need in this country for a network of pathways and safe houses that would "rescue" kids from enivronments that he considers unsavory. The fact that he said this publicly is almost too chilling to even consider.

Read more ~ Watch the video

CAUSES

Help local charities on Chick-fer-gAy Appreciation Day on Aug. 20.

Highlights of educators conference in San Diego in support of LGBT youth (VIDEO)

Trevor Gear opens storefront and online purchasing.

Equality Forum selects 2012 LGBT History Month icons.

Tasmania hits gay marriage stumbling block.

HRC spending $1 million in marriage ballot measure states

Thomas Roberts to become first national cable news anchor to marry same-sex partner.

2000 Olympic medalist reveals he has HIV.

ACTION ALERT: Help elevate voices of MSM around the world.

Letter: Father says “goodbye” after gay son comes out.

Help local charities on Chick-fer-gAy Appreciation Day on Aug. 20

SAN DIEGO – Leave it to the LGBT community to find an innovative way to turn a chicken sandwich controversy into a celebrated cause.

With the fury over Chick-fil-A’s president Dan Cathy giving millions of dollars to anti-gay causes, LGBT Americans can fight back by donating cash to local charities that serve our community.

Chick-fer-gAy Appreciation Day has been set for Monday, Aug. 20, in San Diego and across the U.S. Locally, the event is spearheaded by the employees of Mo's Universe, a family of restaurants comprised of Urban Mo's Bar & Grill, Baja Betty's, Gossip Grill and Hillcrest Brewing Company.

“We didn’t invent the chicken sandwich. Just the cause. We have plucked this opportunity, to invite those who stand against us, to stand with us and to give our time and money to better the lives of everyone,” said Eddie Reynoso, an employee at Mo’s Universe.

“I challenge Mr. Dan Cathy and Mr. Mike Huckabee [who inspired the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day] to take a day and join us in sunny San Diego, where together we can volunteer our time and tour these three worthy organizations whose work only serves to uplift and give flight to humanity," he said.

Local organizers have chosen three charities to help: Being Alive San Diego, Family Matters at The San Diego LGBT Community Center and San Diego Remembers.

Representatives from each charity will be set up at each participating location to accept donations, which organizers say will be evenly divided.

Chris Shaw, president of Mo’s Universe, has agreed to match the contributions by his employees.

"Our 'family' values are also community values. We strive to be a welcoming and safe place for everyone- from any walk of life, as long as you are true to yourself and the best person you can be," Shaw said.

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Thomas Roberts to become first national cable news anchor to marry same-sex partner

MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts, who says he was the first cable news anchor to come out after making an appearance at a 2006 National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association event, is about to become the first national cable news anchor married to a same-sex partner.

Roberts plans to marry his partner of 12 years, Patrick Abner of Merck Pharmaceuticals’ HIV/AIDS division, in late September in New York in front of 150 guests. Roberts, who was this year nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in Outstanding TV Journalism Segment for “Children of LGBT Parents,” spoke with The New York Observer about whether or not his marriage will affect his career.

“I am not objective when it comes to equality. And that means for all. I want it for you, for me, for everybody … It’s written in our Constitution: life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, and what’s wrong with talking about that? Nothing. I think LGBT stories right now are newsmakers. So, no matter if you’re straight, gay or Martian, you’re going to be covering them. Because I am who I am, I can provide a different viewpoint, because people at home might know who I am or where I’ve come from—and that’s O.K.”

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ENTERTAINMENT

FilmOut San Diego: Documenting another history with screening of “Kink Crusaders.”

SDGLN’s Theater Critic Jean Lowerison shares two reviews this week:

•  “God of Carnage” (VIDEO)
• “La Cage Aux Folles”

Jim Winsor shares the details on all the Hillcrest CityFest activities taking place this Sunday. (VIDEO)

Anti-gay talk show “Jose Luis Sin Censura” dumped from airwaves.

FilmOut San Diego: Documenting another history with screening of "Kink Crusaders"

This article was originally published HERE by SDGLN media partner Gay San Diego.

SAN DIEGO -- For FilmOut San Diego’s August monthly screening, the LGBT film organization is partnering with FetishMen San Diego, in part to draw attention to and bring together a part of our community that is often marginalized.

Together they are screening the documentary “Kink Crusaders,” a 2011 film that delves into the world of the leather and kink communities while documenting the International Mr. Leather (IML) contest from 2008 to 2010. The screening takes place 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at the Birch North Park Theatre.

In addition to interviewing several past IML winners, Director Michael Skiff also interviewed and captured IML founder Chuck Renslow, who gave the OK for Skiff to make the film after Skiff worked on previous IML competitions.

Skiff is a reporter who has covered the LGBT civil rights movement on film for several years of his career – including extensive work on the Proposition 8 saga as well as reaction to the recent Chick-Fil-A boycott – and will be attending the Aug. 15 screening.

“One of the things I was very interested in was how the [IML] contest had evolved over the years,” Skiff said of making the film. “I wanted to see how different people of different demographics were actually coming together for this, and I wanted to give them all a place to possibly have a voice.”

In San Diego, the voice of the fetish community is steadily increasing, evidenced by a growing number of people attending social nights at local bars, monthly discussion groups and, for Tony Lindsey, new online members for FetishMen San Diego.

Lindsey, the group’s founder, said they have over 3,000 registered members, with more signing up each day. However, Lindsey said he wants to use partnerships like the one with FilmOut, for example, to expand that online presence outside of the home.

“In order to have people come away from the internet, you have to provide what the internet cannot and never will, such as community,” Lindsey said. “It’s a golden opportunity for us to just all be brothers together, with a shared interest and shared perspective.”

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Jim Winsor's Out & About: CityFest festivities this Sunday | VIDEO

The annual Hillcrest CityFest street festival is this Sunday. Known to many as "Pride Lite," it's another opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate in a relaxed atmosphere, on a typically sunny San Diego summer day.

Beside the official street festival (which this year includes, for the first time, an after-sundown "CityFest Night" party under the Hillcrest sign), immediately adjacent bars and clubs like Urban Mo's, Fiesta Cantina, #1 Fifth Avenue, Babycakes and Brass Rail should all be having some of their biggest non-Pride crowds of the year.aving a no-cover CityFest 2012 Party all day long, with DJ Shane Stiel, DJ Dirty Kurty and DJ Raji Rabbit, while Babycakes will be having CityFest Celebration on their patio starting at noon. Down the street, Top of the Park will be serving up an extra festive Tea Dance and BBQ from noon to 6 pm. And at Fiesta Cantina, DJ John Joseph will be spinning a Sunday Funday CityFest 2012 party from 3 pm to 8 pm.

DJ Alexander returns to Rich's

We got a big night at Rich's this Friday for Circuit Pop. International DJ/Producer Alexander is returning to Rich's after a bit of a hiatus (it's been three or four years I think). Indeed, it looks like this may be the beginning of a monthly Circuit Pop appearance at Rich's for DJ Alexander, a fact eagerly anticipated by many fans here in San Diego (I know Ray Trujillo, for example, is ready to serve and werk).

Joining him will be DJ Will Z in the front room; in fact, you can get in free before midnight by showing your "Z Pass" on your DJ Will Z mobile app.

Waterfight!

And this Saturday, we have a very unique and unusual event coming up: A midnight water gun fight in Balboa Park being organized by Ken St. Pierre and others. The idea is to "... meet at the large fountain in front of San Diego Natural History Museum at 11:45 pm (near Park Boulevard). First "squirt" will be at the stroke of midnight and then it is a free-for-all of water gun madness!!!"

The event is BYOWG (bring your own water gun) and pool attire is suggested, as everyone will be getting soaking wet. The fascinating thing is, this event has already generated LOTS of attention; as I write this over 900 people have already indicated themselves as "Going" on Facebook, and organizers are hoping the event will continue to go viral and attract over 1,000 potential attendees. So yeah, this should be interesting!

"So You Think You Can Drag" at Lips

After CityFest, I'll be heading over to Lips for "So You Think You Can Drag," their monthly amateur drag contest that has become quite the popular night there as of late.

Hosted by the fabulous Disco Dollie, the evening features not only the contest (with a $100 first prize ... call 619-295-7900 to sign up), but drink specials all night long as well.

Dinner starts at 7 pm, the show at 8 pm, and the contest at 9 pm. Cover is only $5 ($2.50 for industry) plus a $15 food minimum.

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UPCOMING FEATURED EVENTS

Visit www.sdgln.com/events for a complete list of events

• San Diego American Flag Football League Launch Party at The Range
• “Altar Boyz” at Diversionary Theatre
• “Bears Care” Rummage Sale to benefit HIV/AIDS services
• Servicemembers United presents S.U. Second Saturdays at Bourbon Street
• Hillcrest CityFest 2012
• Hillcrest Town Council Monthly Meeting
• FilmOut San Diego Presents “Kink Crusaders”
• “Let’s Misbehave! The Music and Wit of Cole Porter,” presented by the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus
• PFLAG San Diego Monthly Meeting

SOCIAL

BUSINESS PROFILE of The French Gourmet: Dining in, taking out and catering all culinary genres.

BUSINESS PROFILE of Ivan Stewart’s Electric Bike Center: Revolutionizing personal transportation.

SDGLN Contributor The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle’s RGOD2: The state of equality is unequal.

San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus releases “Call Me Maybe” parody VIDEO.

Once upon a time in North Park: A brief history of Bird Park.

A tale of two swimming holes.

Uptown Community Parking District seeks board members.

Mitt Romney stands by 1994 statement supporting end to Boy Scouts’ ban on gay Americans.

Gay men, straight women: enduring bonds.

Ivan Stewart’s Electric Bike Center revolutionizing personal transportation

SAN DIEGO -- “You’re really not going to understand it until you get on it,” Gary Stewart, co-owner of Ivan Stewart’s Electric Bike Center, said about an electric bicycle.

I wasn’t necessarily a believer of that statement. I spent the better part of my childhood on a bike. I’d hit trails, construct jumps with wood pieces and cinderblocks, and up until I got my driver’s license, it was how I got from point A to point B. I was hard pressed to think a bicycle with a 20 mph electric motor would provide a markedly different experience than I was used to. But, it was a sunny day, the temperature was perfect and I didn’t have anything else on my plate that afternoon.

“OK, Gary,” I said. “I’ll bite. I’ll see you at 4 pm.”

When you first encounter an electric bike, you’ll notice it doesn’t look much different than most others. They have two wheels and an adjustable seat. And many have shiftable gears to assist riders navigate hills. Yet that’s not to say they don’t have their differences.

The most obvious is the 20 mph motor.

The right handle serves both as a grip and as a throttle. If you want to pedal on your own, you’re good. If you’re biking uphill into Hillcrest from Little Italy and don’t want to break a sweat, the motor will do the work for you.

“They just did a huge study in Australia where they found people who own electric bikes experience greater health benefits and lose more weight than people who own regular bikes,” he said. “It’s because they’re on theirs more, and when you’re on a bike you have a tendency to pedal.”

I was starting to become intrigued, and wanted to learn more.

Ivan Stewart’s Electric Bike Center opened three years ago, he said, and the demographic of customers has changed markedly since then.

“Initially it started out as a novelty. It was a fun thing that people with lots of money would buy as a toy,” he said. “Now it’s just the opposite. Now our most common customers are young couples in their 30s who say they can’t afford a second car.”

A notable selling point of the bikes is they don’t need to be registered, they don’t require oil changes or ongoing maintenance in the same way a vehicle does, and that their riders don’t need to be licensed. They are also an extremely convenient means of transportation when you take things like rush-hour traffic and ease-of-parking into consideration.

“I live in North Park and I can get from [Little Italy] to there in 14 minutes,” he said “This trip takes me more than 20 minutes during the week if I take my truck. It’s also great if I need to run to Ralph’s or Trader Joes to pick up a bag of groceries. In most cases I can get in and out of there on the bike during the time someone else is still looking for a parking spot.”

When it came time for me to actually hop on one of these bad boys, I was reluctant. I was still hard-pressed to think I’d find it to be the greatest thing since the sliced bread. I’m also not exactly the most, shall we say, coordinated person on the planet; walking and chewing gum at the time can be a challenge.

Truth be told, I was half terrified I’d fly over the handle bars, fracture a wrist and be unable to write for six weeks. Still, I gave my word. I decided to put my big-girl pants on and give it a whirl.

What did I learn? Well, for as articulate as I am, it’s really difficult to translate into words. But yes, you really can’t actually understand the inherent awesomeness of an electric bike until you actually get on it. They’re easy to use, incredibly fun and pretty much the most amazing form of personal transportation I’ve ever encountered.

The experience was so cool, in fact, that several days later when I had family in visiting from the East Coast, the three of us went to the shop and got rentals. When they departed, they commented as to how the electric bike tour we took through Balboa Park was indeed the highlight of their trip.

At the end of the day, it’s an experience everyone should allow themselves to have. You won’t regret it.

The details

Ivan Stewart’s Electric Bike Center is located at 2021 India St. in Little Italy, just north of the intersection of India at Grape. You can also check out the bikes every Saturday at the Little Italy Farmers Market. For more information, call 619-564-7028 or visit their website.

The French Gourmet: Dining in, taking out and catering all culinary genres

SAN DIEGO -- Don’t let the “French” in The French Gourmet scare you.

So says Michel Malecot, owner and chef.

If you take a moment to glance over the menu, you’ll quickly learn why. The current breakfast and lunch offerings include Eggs Benedict, Sweet and Savory Crêpes, Chicken Pot Pie and Shrimp Scampi. You may also be pleasantly surprised to learn their three-course $25.95 prix fixe dinner comes with options like filet mignon, fresh catch of the day, and even some vegetarian dishes.

“We offer many types of food,” Malecot said. “Our restaurant offers more than just French cuisine. The same is true for when we cater. We have done everything from Mexican fiestas, to Asian cuisine, to contemporary American. It’s our goal to exceed the expectations of our customers when they come to our restaurant or when we provide service at a party.”

What started off in 1979 as a bakery and full-service catering business on Pearl Street in La Jolla has grown markedly over the years. Since that time The French Gourmet has moved to its current 15,000-square-foot facility on Turquoise Street that houses their quaint restaurant, bakery, catering commissary and wine boutique.

Throughout the years, Malecot has discovered the benefits and conveniences for his customers of catering-to-go, whether it’s picked up at their bakery or delivered by one of their friendly staff. “If someone is having a dinner for eight at their house, for example, we can prepare hors d'oeuvres, a salad, a main course, two side dishes and even a dessert,” Malecot said.

This can be especially helpful during the holidays.

“During the holidays we offer free-range turkeys and all of the trimmings,” he said. “We like to say ‘We do the cooking, you take the credit!’ If it’s a pot luck you need something for, we can do finger foods and appetizers or entrees, side dishes, desserts and cakes. Our customers like the ease of our pick up or delivered catering because they can pick and choose items that will allow them to get some of what they need to complement their own holiday specialties.”

If you’re looking to have an event fully catered, they can help with that as well.

“We can do everything from small parties and weddings, to corporate events and black tie galas with hundreds of people,” Malecot said. “We can provide all the tables and chairs, linens and place settings. We have all of the equipment for setting up an off-site kitchen, as needed. We also have everything we need to keep the food temperatures safe, and we can pace everything out into courses. We make sure our clients have nothing to worry about and can ensure that everything goes smoothly.”

The French Gourmet also has a full alcoholic beverage license, which adds to the convenience of their service. Malecot said he personally tastes all the wine he purchases to ensure his customers are offered the highest quality selections.

“We take our work very seriously,” Malecot said. “Most of our food is made from scratch and we always try to use local products as much as we can. We use fish and vegetables that are in season and I’ve trained my staff to cook our food in a way that is healthy yet tastes delicious.”

The details

Whether you’re planning an event for two or 500, The French Gourmet can help. No matter your budget, location or size of your party, they will work with you to create a menu and style that complements both your event and your checkbook. Or, if you’d simply like to stop by and grab a bite, you can always visit their Restaurant and Bakery at 960 Turquoise St. in North Pacific Beach. For more information, call 858-488-1725 or visit their website.

HEALTH, WELLNESS & SPORTS

Williams continues his Gay Watch at the Olympics coverage:

• Saturday, Aug. 4: Doubles star Lisa Raymond goes to two bronze medals on Sunday.
• Sunday, Aug. 5: Lisa Raymond wins bronze in mixed doubles with teammate Mike Bryan.
• Monday, Aug. 6: U.S. women’s soccer team to play for the gold.
• Tuesday, Aug. 7: U.S. women advance to semifinals in basketball.
• Thursday, Aug. 9: U.S. women win gold medal in soccer thriller.

Scott Herman’s Getting Fit: The “UPPER” Muscle Activator is the ultimate warm-up! (VIDEO)

HHS affirms health care discrimination law protects LGBT people.

Color Me Rad to bring a “blitzkrieg of color” to runners and Downtown this weekend.

Gay Watch at the Olympics: U.S. women win gold medal in soccer thriller

Playing like heavyweight champions, the United States won the gold medal in women’s soccer with a hard-fought 2-1 thriller over Japan on Thursday at the London 2012 Olympics.

A total of 80,203 people packed London’s historic Wimbley Stadium, the hallowed home of British football, and loudly cheered for the two best teams in soccer. It was the biggest crowd to ever see a woman’s soccer match in Olympic history.

The Americans won their third consecutive gold medal at the Olympics and their fourth overall since 1996. The U.S. won the silver medal in 2000.

Japan won the silver and Canada, which beat France 1-0, took home the bronze.

For the Americans, the victory was sweet redemption after losing a heartbreaker to Japan on penalty kicks in the 2011 World Cup championship.

Carli Lloyd scored both goals for the U.S., in the 8th minute and the 54th minute, to power the Americans to a 2-0 lead. Yuki Ogima scored in the 63rd minute for the only other goal.

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo was sensational in the game, making three spectacular saves against Japan. Two of her saves came in the first half after the U.S. had taken a one-goal lead, when Japan put intense pressure on the net. Both shots were deflected by a leaping Solo, hitting the crossbar and bounding away.

Megan Rapinoe, the lesbian who started as a midfielder, was shifted to the left side in this game and seemed out of her element. She played solidly, but didn’t collect any statistics in the box score. U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who is also a lesbian, substituted for Rapinoe with the fresh legs of Lauren Cheney in the 57th minute. Rapinoe cheered her mates from the sideline seats.

After the game, Rapinoe wrapped herself in the U.S. flag and wept tears of joy.

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Color Me Rad to bring a "blitzkrieg of color" to runners and Downtown this weekend

This 5K taking the country by storm will raise money for Deaf Community Services

(Morgan M. Hurley is a Contributing Editor of San Diego Gay & Lesbian News, Editor of San Diego Downtown News, and Assistant Editor of Gay San Diego and San Diego Uptown News.)

For those who don’t mind getting a little messy during their workout, the Color Me Rad 5K race event will paint a rainbow of color through the streets of Downtown on Aug. 11.

About 5,000 pounds of colored cornstarch will fly through the air, turning runners into works of art as they make their way through the last half of the course. This untimed event has less emphasis on competition and much more focus on fun.

“Every Color Me Rad race has a fun, party atmosphere, with music throughout the entire course,” said Gretchen Willard, director of public relations. “This is the race you’ll remember with fondness instead of soreness,” she said.

Read the full story at San Diego Downtown News, part of SDGLN's media partner SDCNN, here.