LGBT POV

(Editor’s note: Dana Miller is my colleague at Frontiers In LA, where he is a popular columnist who often raises controversial issues. He also lives in and loves West Hollywood where he has produced successful AIDS fundraisers and challenged the LGBT community and WeHo public officials to do better. This post is intended to spark civic discussion well in advance of the next city election – March 2011 – to hopefully increase the usually low voter turnout. Of particular interest to a national audience is that John D’Amico, a respected WeHo politico, calls for the ouster of longtime gay politico John Heilman, past co-chair of the International Network of Lesbian and Gay Officials, in this email interview with Dana. – Karen Ocamb)

JOHN D’AMICO – DISSIDENT, CHALLENGER OR BOTH?

By: Dana Miller

A sleepy West Hollywood City Council meeting woke with a jolt during public comments the other day. John D’Amico, who sat on the West Hollywood Planning Commission for five years, took to the stage to declare it was high time for Mayor Abbe Land and Mayor Pro Tem John Heilman to go. This isn’t some kook rattling about. D’Amico is a well-respected, highly credible gent who has fired a shot heard round the hamlet. I caught up with John D’Amico a few days after his assault.

Dana Miller: Why did you specifically focus on Heilman and Land for ouster?

John D’Amico: Mayor Land and Councilmember John Heilman as 16 and 25 year incumbents [respectively], are regarded by nearly everyone as having a complete lock on power and by direct extension, most critical decision making…..

Please click inside to read the rest of Dana’s interview with John D’Amico.

Dana Miller, a former chair of AIDS Project Los Angeles and producer of their annual Commitment to Life awards, is a columnist for Frontiers In LA, where this piece originally appeared. As this column indicates, he has proposed re-shaping AIDS Inc in the past to make it more efficient. But given this dire economy and the loss of more funding, this might be a good time to jump-start the discussion.

Longtime HIV/AIDS Activist Howard Jacobs Dies

Startling and sad news: longtime HIV/AIDS, youth, disability and social services activist and all-around good guy Howard Jacobs died from liver cancer this morning. He was 45, with a birthday coming up. Please click inside for an interview with his former boss West Hollywood City Councilmember Jeff Prang on the circumstances surrounding Howard’s unexpected death and the legacy Howard leaves. UPDATE: A MEMORIAL FOR HOWARD JACOBS WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, NOV. 15, AT 1:30PM AT CONGREGATION KOL AMI, 1200 N. LA BREA AVE., WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90038.

On Monday, Miss California state director Keith Lewis and K2 Productions filed a cross-complaint and demurrer in Los Angeles Superior Court against former Miss California, Carrie Prejean. In an interview with LGBT POV, Lewis talks about the lawsuit, Carrie, wanting her ill-gotten profits, more explicit pictures to come, the National Organization for Marriage, Carrie’s pastor Miles McPherson, and oh, yeah – Mr. Trump who taped promos for a Nov. 22 televised Miss California pageant. Click inside for the scoop.