PRIDE Season Round Up P3 MAY 2024 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 39
LGBTQSD.NEWS
>>> NEWS P40
LOCAL DEMS WIN BIG IN DELEGATE ELECTIONS
Cara expands her family
>> INTERVIEW P5
(l to r) Barrel & Board’s Executive Chef Mina Rosete and Owner/GM Moe Girton are launching a new menu and cocktail/ mocktail program this weekend. (Photo by Morgan M. Hurley)
Meeting the challenges of change
Barrel & Board adapts and uplifts in a safe space for our community 'Eating Out' with a filmmaker
> COMMUNITY P10
Posthumous National Award
>>> DINING P16
by Morgan M. Hurley | Editor Moe Girton still has days where she relives the 18 months that Gossip Grill was closed down during COVID. There are a thousand little triggers that can take her right back to those days in an instant. It was a time when she was doing whatever she could to stay sane, regardless of a loathsome landlord, thoughts of bankruptcy, employee troubles, managing government bailouts, and more. She kept her spirits up (no pun intended) by running the Hen House live stream, allowing viewers stuck at home to watch and learn while she made cocktails. Her own solace came from popular longtime local LGBT nightclub entertainer (and friend),
Don L, who was doing his own live streams. “Those got me through COVID,” she said. Today, things are much better for Girton, and it shows. When she thought Gossip was going to shut down permanently she was made an offer by the Cohen Group for a property down the street that held a trio of businesses: BoBeau/Tacos Libertad/and Cache. “They closed on Sunday, March 15, 2020, but California shut down on March 17 and they never came back,” she said. It was a turn-key operation and the restaurant was still even set for service when they got the keys. That meant quite a bit of dust and refrigerator cleanup a year later, but it was an exciting opportunity to have at such a difficult time.
Now, Gossip Grill is back to thriving and with the new operation, Girton was able to expand beyond Gossip into a space that she said is for those who have “outgrown” Gossip and want a break from a loud nightclub. “[Gossip] is what it is and we really need that, but we also needed something else for folks who actually wanted to have a conversation and not yell, or maybe have a great glass of wine, or a martini and be somewhere beautiful that our community deserves,” she said. She’s referring to the Boardroom, which is the “sexy speakeasy” part of Barrel & Board (B&B). It opens a bit earlier than the restaurant and you can still
See BARREL & BOARD page 19
In Memoriam: Phil Collum (1970 – 2024) A trailblazing officer with true ‘heart behind the badge’ by Morgan M. Hurley
Fair fare, retro style
C ONTAC T U US S 619 61 9 - 4 32 - L G B T
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Phil Collum, 54, a much heralded member of the San Diego LGBTQ community as well as the local community at large, passed away April 12 from cancer, with his husband William by his side. Collum had served with the Chula Vista Police Department for 29 years, attaining the rank of second in command. In January of 2023, this newspaper selected Collum as one of its “Persons of the Year.” In the article that accompanied the announcement, author Nicole Murray Ramirez wrote, “The city of Chula Vista recently appointed new Assistant Police Chief Phil Collum who is now the highest ranking openly LGBTQ+ law enforcement officer in San Diego County and rightfully is one of our Persons of the Year. “Though born in Washington DC, Phil was raised in San Diego and has lived here since he was six years old. He has been in law enforcement for almost 30 years. Phil Collum was a late bloomer and came out when he was 26 years old; his parents
See PHIL page 2
(l to r) Husbands William Lopez and Phil Collum march hand-in-hand during a San Diego Pride parade. (Courtesy photo)
(l to r) Husbands William Lopez and Phil Collum march hand-in-hand during a San Diego Pride parade (Courtesy photo)
In advance of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), taking place Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, the California Democratic Party recently elected 496 Biden-Harris delegates and 35 alternates to the convention. During the selection period, the San Diego Democrats for Equality organization had a large number of its members win delegate and alternate seats. According to Dems for Equality President Emeritus Doug Case, this is the first time the local political organization has elected LGBTQ+ delegates to the Democratic National Convention in every San Diego-area congressional district. The following Dems For Equality members were elected as delegates (and alternates) to the 2024 Democratic National Convention: District 48 (Rep. Darrell Issa, R): Ryan Darsey, Andi McNew; District 49 (Rep. Mike Levin): Kevin Sabellico; District 50 (Rep. Scott Peters): Shaina Tigar, Codi Vierra, Brian Polejes, and Gretchen Newsom (alternate); District 51 (Rep. Sara Jacobs): Nicole Crosby, Sabrina Bazzo, Ryan Trabuco; District 52 (Rep. Juan Vargas): Michelle Krug, Brenda Aguirre, Mike Thaller, James Moffatt. Learn more about the San Diego Democrats for Equality at democratsforequality.org.
HBA OPEN HOUSE MIXER
On Tuesday, May 21, from 5 - 7 pm, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) is hosting its annual open house and mixer event at AWOL Bar, located at 1475 University Ave., just one block west of the HBA’s administrative offices. Members of the community are invited to attend the mixer and enjoy drinks, bites, conversation, the opportunity to network, and most importantly, to hear about the projects the HBA has been up to so far and still plans for this year. The HBA provides security, marketing and beautification services, and encourages economic development, through events and promotions of Hillcrest businesses. For more information about the HBA, visit fabuloushillcrest.com.
WOMEN’S CHORUS ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT
The San Diego Women’s Chorus, under the artistic direction of Kathleen Hansen, will perform two shows for their spring concert series, “In Harmony” – one Saturday, May 18, at 7 pm, and a Sunday matinee on May 19 at 4 pm. Both concerts will be held at Herbert Hoover High School, located at 4474 El Cajon Blvd., in City Heights.
See BRIEFS page 4