South Bay LGBT Get Connected!

There’s a new kid on the LGBT block and its name is South Bay Alliance! After being told by local politicians and organizers that there isn’t a LGBT community in the South Bay, Michelle Doty Cabrera (Mitch) decided it was time to take action. She has lived in the South Bay most of her life and knew that was just not so! Last fall, she organized a mixer to see if there was interest in a South Bay LGBT network. It was more successful than even Mitch expected. Along with local candidates such as Steve Padilla, Rudy Ramirez, and Mary Salas who spoke to the guests, many business owners and local residents showed up and expressed their enthusiasm for the idea.
In December, the founding board was formed. The board itself reflects the diversity of south San Diego county. Business owners such as Marci Bair (Bair Financial), Craig Knudson (BancForce Financial Staffing), and Rhonda Mack (Wyrd Sisters Embroidery Designs) are involved in the local business community. Michelle Doty Cabrera (Senator Duchevny’s legislative aid), John Acosta (Azteca Project), Carolina Ramos (The Center), and Michelle Krug (San Diego Democratic Party) have been active participants in the local political scene. “Each of them brings their own flavor to table,” stated Dae Elliott (co-chair and SDSU Sociologist). “Our intent is to build a coalition of LGBT residents and our allies in order to create a connected community. During the last months, we’ve been laying the ground work.”
Indeed they have! If you visit their new web site at SouthBayAlliance.net, you will find both political and news resources, as well as a community calendar for local LGBT to post events and network socially. In addition, South Bay Alliance is constructing a business listing called “Friends of the Community,” so that the LGBT residents, their friends, and families can easily locate and patronize local gay-friendly businesses.
South Bay Alliance is also planning two mixer events. There is the upcoming “Brunch by the Bay” at South Bay Fish and Grill on Sunday, May 20th between 11 & 1. This champagne brunch is the official kick off of South Bay Alliance to the public. A second event this summer is an addition to the August Pride festivities - “Gay Family Day” at Heritage Park on Sunday, August 19th between 12 – 3 pm. “Marci Bair, in conjunction with Family Matters of San Diego, has previously organized this very successful event. People missed having it, so we decided to bring it back. It seemed right to make this one of our first events. A conservative estimate of adult LGBT South Bay residents is over 17,000. These residents, their friends, and their families are eager to support their community – both LGBT and South Bay. This is currently an untapped segment of the South Bay area that our local businesses and politicians need to reach out to.” (Dae)
Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of every month at 6:30pm. This month’s meeting is at the Living Room in National City. All are welcome to participate in connecting the LGBT community of South Bay.