By Neal Putnam   Listen to this article.Hate crimes up in San Diego Hate crimes rose by 73% in 2023 over 2022, according to the San Diego Police Chief’s yearly crime statistics report, which will be discussed in April by the full San Diego City Council. The report was released March 26 by Police Chief David Nisleit, who held a press conference with Mayor Todd Gloria to announce that most crimes actually went down by 3% overall. There were 66 hate crimes in 2023, for which sexual orientation was believed a factor in 21 incidents or 32% in 2023, the report said. Race/Ethnicity was a fa ..read more

Photo reconstructions may offer hope in identifying San Diego John Doe By Morgan M. Hurley Listen to this article. An organization that helps with unsolved murders and the search for missing persons is urging San Diegans to look at reconstructed photos to see if they recognize a man who was killed in San Diego over 20 years ago. “John Doe” was a Hispanic male, 5 foot 5 inches tall, approximately 130 lbs, and he was stabbed to death on April 20, 1993, in Balboa Park. He has never been identified.  Because this man’s death occurred close to our neighborhood, and because, especially in the 1 ..read more

By Benny Cartwright Listen to this article. As California’s primary election was held just over a month ago, one local race that may have slipped under the radar was for members of the San Diego County Republican Central Committee. North Park resident Matthew Phy, 34, thinks the election is one for the history books, though, as it is believed that he is the first openly bisexual person to be elected to that body. A Southern California native, Phy said he has worked in politics for more than 15 years. In his current full time job, he works as a policy advisor for San Diego County Supervisor Joe ..read more

By LGBTQ SDC Staff Listen to this article. For the last several years, the Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) has hosted banners on street light poles throughout Hillcrest honoring national LGBTQ icons and celebrities, such as Ellen Degeneres, Laverne Cox, Wanda Sykes, and Elton John. Now, through a partnership with the San Diego GLBTQ Historic Task Force, the HBA soon plans to spotlight local LGBTQA+ heroes and leaders in place of the existing banners. The project – first announced in January by Nicole Murray Ramirez in his monthly LGBTQ San Diego County News column – is now accepting nomin ..read more

By Veronica Zerrer Editor’s Note: Connor Maddocks has taken a leave of absence for personal reasons, but in his stead will be local trans community leader, Veronica “Ronnie” Zerrer. Listen to this narrated article. I’ve only ever been fired from one job, and that was for telling customers to eat at a competitor’s diner after being ordered to change the roadside marquee to read “2 Pork Fritters for a $1.” Meh, that time didn’t bother me. I was going to quit anyway. Yet being thrown out of a writer’s group once did hurt. Aspiring novelists, poets, and other interdisciplinary creatives often com ..read more

As our mission grew, so did the hearts of our community The Shoulders I Stand UponBy Big Mike Phillips [Continued from “The Shoulders I Stand Upon,” March 2024, Volume 4, Issue 35] Listen to this article. After we renamed our first charity event from “Bartender’s Christmas Charity” to “Ordinary Miracles,” Bobby Haas (board president for Special Delivery at that time) shared with Nigel and I the excitement they felt over how wonderful our first event went. He especially loved how we were able to bring all the bartenders and LGBTQ bars together to participate on behalf of Special Delivery. He as ..read more

Driver who fled accident that killed Cheers bartender ordered to stand trial By Neal Putnam Listen to this article. A hit-and-run driver has been ordered to stand trial for second-degree murder in the death of a local beloved bartender, Joshua “Josh” Gilliland, who was fatally injured while walking to work last year. Gilliland, 47, had worked at Cheers, a local LGBT bar located on Adams Avenue in University Heights, for 20 years when he was struck on June 10, 2023, at the southeast corner of El Cajon and Park boulevards. He died four days later in a hospital. Brandon Allen Janik, 37, of North ..read more

Erica Miranda FloresDec. 29, 1977 – March 14, 2024 by Eddie Reynoso & Nadia Nouvelle Our friend, sister, cousin, and mother to Keanu – Erica Miranda Flores – died on March 14, at her home in Hillcrest, following a brief and unexpected illness. A celebration of life was held on Sunday, April 7,  at Urban MO’s in Hillcrest. Born in Los Angeles, Erica was known in the San Diego and Hillcrest communities as more than just a jester in the crowd, but also as the life of the party, a shoulder to lean on, an elaborate storyteller, and a selfless giver who was in constant support to those in n ..read more

by LGBTQ San Diego County News Staff In a proactive move to prioritize passenger safety and well-being, Southwest Airlines has announced the addition of Naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, to its onboard emergency medical kits. This initiative, which underscores the airline’s commitment to customer safety, aims to provide travelers with added reassurance and support in the event of a medical emergency while in flight. Naloxone, commonly sold in an over-the-counter nasal spray under the brand name Narcan, is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as ..read more

Brief and concise coverage of local, regional, and national news that impacts the lives of the southern California LGBTQIA community. By LGBTQ San Diego County News Staff SOUTH BAY YOUTH CENTER HITS MILESTONE Listen to this news brief. On April 6, the South Bay Youth Center (SBYC), part of the San Diego LGBT Community Center, celebrated its fifth anniversary with a celebration to not only commemorate the milestone but also honor its early steadfast supporters. The event was open to the public.  “The South Bay Youth Center’s fifth anniversary is a celebration of our incredible South Count ..read more