Actual evidence of actual weather taking place in San Diego (photo: mine)
UPDATE (20 January 4:40pm): The San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality rally, originally scheduled for 20 January, has been rescheduled for Saturday, 30 January.
UPDATE (21 January 3:00pm): The Community Coalition Breakfast featuring Speaker-Elect John Pérez has been cancelled due to weather.
In other developments, actual weather led to actual power outages in formerly sunny, formerly conservative San Diego. And, here I thought that whole in and out like a lion thing wasn’t scheduled to take place until March! In any event, so to speak, here’s a calendar of what’s happening in the next few weeks in San Diego.
Reminder: If your organization has a non-commercial, public event of interest to local community or political activists, drop me an email with the particulars and (oh please, please, please) a link to a proper Facebook event page if at all possible.
Tuesday, 19 January:
Two Cents with Aaron Heier at The Center
featuring Joseph Christopher RochaDon’t miss Two Cents with Aaron Heier, a new Men @ The Center monthly event debuting Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7 pm in the Center’s Community Resource Room. Two Cents is an entertaining, informative and interactive social event featuring Aaron Heier interviewing the men who move San Diego’s LGBT community. Attendees will enjoy an informal talk show-style format followed by a mix and mingle cocktail hour featuring tasty nosh from Gossip Grill. Two Cents’ inaugural special guest will be Joseph Christopher Rocha, the gay Navy veteran whose horrific story of hazing, harassment and abuse while serving as a dog handler in the Middle East has made international news. For more information, contact Jeffrey Wergeles at jwergeles@thecentersd.org.
Wednesday, 20 January:
Lunch & Learn – Navigating Your Medicare Options
Confused and overwhelmed by the Medicare system? The Medicare Annual Election period is January 1 through March 31, so this is a great time to sit down and explore your personal insurance options. Join insurance agent Kevin Childers on Wednesday, January 20 at 11:30am, in the library at The Center for a lunchtime workshop and Q&A session. Light lunchtime fare will be provided by The Center. For more information, contact Abby Schwartz at (619) 692-2077, ext. 212, or seniors@thecentersd.org.
Thursday, 21 January:
Drop in Writers Group
A 5:00pm drop-in writers group is held at Lestat’s Coffeehouse every Thursday. The group is hosted by San Diego Writers, Ink., whose mission is to nurture writers and those wishing to explore the craft of writing, foster a literary community, promote literature and celebrate artistic diversity. Writers of all levels are welcome to “drop-in” and join the group to discuss work. Sandwiches, pastries, coffee, tea and other specialty drinks are available for purchase. Lestat’s is located at 3343 Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.
Friday, 22 January:
UPDATE (21 January 3:00pm): Event has been cancelled due to weather
Speaker-Elect John Pérez at Community Coalition Breakfast
The San Diego LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast scheduled for tomorrow (January 22 at 7:30 am) with the newly elected Speaker of the California Assembly, Speaker John Pérez, has been cancelled. The weather is disrupting many Sacramento flights. Please circulate this message to anyone you know who may have been planning to attend so that no one has to brave the weather tomorrow morning!
Assemblymember John Pérez made history recently when his colleagues elected him Speaker of the California Assembly, making him the third most powerful officeholder in California and the first gay man to assume the Speakership. The Center will host the Speaker-elect at our 2010 kick-off of the Quarterly Community Coalition Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, January 22. Come meet Pérez and hear about his plan for addressing California’s perennial budget crisis, how he made history and the importance of coalition- building. A full breakfast is available for $10; coffee and tea are complimentary. RSVPs are not required. For more information, contact Carlos Marquez at cmarquez@thecentersd.org.
Saturday, 23 January:
Walt G. Meyer reading Rounding Third
Local author Walt G. Meyer will read from his Lambda Literary Award nominated book, Rounding Third, on Saturday, January 23 at 11am at The San Diego LGBT Community Center (3909 Centre St., Hillcrest). Rounding Third is not your average baseball novel. Instead it tells the suspenseful tale of two teens falling in love on a high school baseball team in a small Ohio town and the secrets that plague them. Meyer will read from his book in the library at The Center. The event is free; coffee and bagels will be available for a small donation. For more information, contact Abby Schwartz at (619) 692-2077, ext. 212, or aschwartz@thecentersd.org.
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MEUSA-SD Canvass OUT-Reach for Equality!
Project OUT-Reach – is a campaign by Marriage Equality USA -San Diego where we are going into neighborhoods around San Diego County talking to voters, asking them how they feel about marriage equality, educating the community about what’s happening around the issue, and getting them involved in the next steps towards equality. Even by starting right now we still need to open 300,000 Californian hearts and minds by using earned media, demonstrations, public outreach and education.
To be successful we cannot just organize in areas that are supportive. We must also reach out to communities that have not traditionally been our allies in this fight to bridge the gap in understanding. We will have conversations with people, both at their doors and in busy public spaces to raise consciousness about the issue as well as funds for the cause. We will keep our community energized and engaged as activists, fighting to win back our fundamental right to marry.
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Location: Lips Restaurant
Street: 3036 El Cajon Blvd
City: San Diego, CA
Email: volunteer [at sign] marriageequalitysd [dot] org
Tuesday, 26 January:
San Diego Alliance for Marriage meeting
The San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality (SAME) is a grass roots, democratically-run organization committed to fighting for LGBT rights including marriage equality. SAME meetings are open to the public. For more information please visit the SAME website.
As the movement continues we encourage everyone with an idea, a hope, a voice, to join us in this struggle. in numbers there is strength, in unity there is hope, and together we WILL realize our goal: equality.
We want to invite LGBTQIQAA activists to become NEW members and NEW organizations to join us in coalition at this SAME membership meeting. Please join our membership meetings the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month. SAME meetings are open to the public. For more info visit SAME online.
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: At a Residential Building on the SE Corner of 4th & Walnut (street parking after 6pm is FREE.) Signs at the gate will guide you to the meeting space which is UPSTAIRS on the 2nd floor. If you need directions contact Cecile: 858 335 6615.
Wednesday, 27 January:
Annual Community Volunteer Fair
The Community Volunteer Fair was established in 2005 by the San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council and is designed to make gathering information about organizations easy and painless for the hundreds of community members who make New Year’s “resolutions” to volunteer. The fifth annual event will be held Wednesday, January 27, 2010 from 5:30pm-7:30 pm at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre Street. For more information or to receive an application for your organization to participate, please contact Amanda Bejarano-Ligato at amandab@thecentersd.org.
Thursday, 28 January:
Drop in Writers Group
A 5:00pm drop-in writers group is held at Lestat’s Coffeehouse every Thursday. The group is hosted by San Diego Writers, Ink., whose mission is to nurture writers and those wishing to explore the craft of writing, foster a literary community, promote literature and celebrate artistic diversity. Writers of all levels are welcome to “drop-in” and join the group to discuss work. Sandwiches, pastries, coffee, tea and other specialty drinks are available for purchase. Lestat’s is located at 3343 Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.
Saturday, 30 January:
SAME Protest Rally
One year anniversary of Obama administration[ This event was rescheduled from 20 January ]
We will be having the S.A.M.E. Rally ‘ONE YEAR LATER’ on SATURDAY, JANUARY 30th from 1:00 – 3:00pm on the corner of Centre St. and University Ave. in Hillcrest. S.A.M.E. is demanding action from our Federal Representatives to pass full equality for LGBT people in matters governed by Federal Law. Our demands include though are not limited to a repeal of DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell), DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), ENDA (Employee Non-Discrimination Act), and UAFA (Uniting American Families Act). This ‘ONE YEAR LATER’ S.A.M.E. rally is also the culmination of efforts to gain commitments from our federal representatives to pass Federal Equality for LGBT people, and we will be announcing progress of commitments from Federal Representatives on these issues at the rally.
For more information check out samealliance.com, or contact Wendy Sue at WSUEB@aol.com.
Time: 1-3:00 pm
Address: The corner of Centre St. and University Ave
City: San Diego
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MEUSA-SD Canvass OUT-Reach for Equality!
Project OUT-Reach – is a campaign by Marriage Equality USA -San Diego where we are going into neighborhoods around San Diego County talking to voters, asking them how they feel about marriage equality, educating the community about what’s happening around the issue, and getting them involved in the next steps towards equality. Even by starting right now we still need to open 300,000 Californian hearts and minds by using earned media, demonstrations, public outreach and education.
To be successful we cannot just organize in areas that are supportive. We must also reach out to communities that have not traditionally been our allies in this fight to bridge the gap in understanding. We will have conversations with people, both at their doors and in busy public spaces to raise consciousness about the issue as well as funds for the cause. We will keep our community energized and engaged as activists, fighting to win back our fundamental right to marry.
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Location: Lips Restaurant
Street: 3036 El Cajon Blvd
City: San Diego, CA
Email: volunteer [at sign] marriageequalitysd [dot] org
Tuesday, 16 February:
Hillcrest Mardi Gras
Hillcrest Mardi Gras has become one of Hillcrest’s most exciting events showcasing our neighborhood and raising money for neighborhood improvements and youth scholarships
Hillcrest Mardi Gras is an age 21 and over event that closes University Avenue from Fourth to First streets. The event consists of entertainment, live bands, dancing, DJ’s, laser light shows, rides, games, street performers, beer and liquor, and lots of beads. This event has grown to over 3,000 people in attendance, all of which have an amazing night. We also pride ourselves that over the years we have thrown a safe event for our patrons.
The Hillcrest Mardi Gras is a 21 and over event. The cost for the event is $15 pre-sale (till the day of the event) and $20 at the door.
Location: University Avenue between 1st & 4th
City: San Diego, CA, 92103
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Save the dates in 2010!
Via the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center. Check The Center website for information as it becomes available.
29 April: Dining Out for Life®
21 May: Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
26 June: Happy Birthday Frida
26 September: AIDS Walk San Diego
23 October: 37th Anniversary Center Gala
30 October: Nightmare on Normal Street
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Additions and/or corrections to calendar items are welcomed. Drop me an email or add a comment below.
(note: event descriptions are usually provided by the event’s organizers)
