The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego has announced that it will be singing the National Anthem at “Out At The Park-San Diego Pride Night at PETCO PARK” on Sunday, July 8, 2007. Just before the San Diego Padres take on the Atlanta Braves for the 5:05 p.m. game, the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego will perform the “Star Spangled Banner” to kick off the game. “What’s more American than baseball and a rousing rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’?” asks Gary Holt, artistic director of The Gay Men’s Chorus. “As proud San Diegans and loyal Padres fans, the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego is honored to sing the national anthem at this game.”

The game, which is an official event of San Diego GLBT Pride, was created as an opportunity for San Diegans to come together to celebrate Pride and enjoy a Padres ballgame. Those who buy tickets through the Pride promotion will be seated in a special reserved section. Discount tickets are $16. To buy tickets for the Pride section, you must enter the promotional code “PRIDE” when ordering online. Visit San Diego LGBT Pride’s Web site at www.sandiegopride.org and follow the “Out at the Park” link.

The American Cancer Society, in conjunction with The Center, conducts a cancer support group for gay men. The group, which is for gay men of any age or any type of cancer, is conducted by a licensed marriage/family therapist who is also a cancer survivor. The meetings are for cancer patients, partners, family and/or caregivers.

The next meeting will be held on Saturday, July 14, from 1-2 p.m. at The Center, 3909 Centre St., in Hillcrest. Please contact David Van Gilder at 619-692-2077 or e-mail Kay Clark kay.clark@cancer.org to register or for more information. For cancer information seven days a week, 24 hours a day, log on to the American Cancer Society’s Web site www.cancer.org or call 800-ACS-2345.

The California Medical Association, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Health Officers Association of California, joined by elected leaders, community organizations and minority groups, announced the formation of Test for Life California, as a kick-off to National HIV Testing Day, which was June 27. The press conference was held on the North Steps of the Capitol on June 26.

Test for Life California is a state-based coalition made up of health/medical professionals, HIV/AIDS and minority advocacy groups, and other community leaders united by one goal: educating the public on the importance of HIV screening. The members of the coalition were announced and the group officially launched its grassroots effort to educate the public about HIV testing and support of routine testing based on the CDC recommendations. Additionally, as part of the education effort, the coalition announced its initiatives, including town hall events to be held throughout the state to bring community leaders together to learn about the importance of HIV screening.

In California, Latinos account for 25 percent of all reported HIV cases and black women account for 37 percent of reported HIV infections among women. More than 40,000 Californians are infected with HIV/AIDS and many won’t learn about their status until it’s too late to make a difference.

Nationally, the Test for Life campaign kicked off in September 2006 with the release of the Center for Disease Control recommendations calling for HIV testing as part of routine medical care. The Test for Life campaign is strictly a public awareness effort hoping to provide educational opportunities that will stimulate an open dialogue on the need to increase HIV screening in communities in California and across the country. Knowledge of one’s HIV status is a critical first step toward getting the proper care and treatment to stay healthy and will help to limit the spread of HIV. Test for Life is a project of The National Minority Quality Forum. For more information please visit www.testforlife.org.

Point Foundation, the nation’s largest publicly supported organization granting scholarships to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, recently announced the 2007 Point Scholars. The average annual award is $13,600, and will be renewed annually for the remainder of the scholar’s degree program as long as the student maintains academic standards. The foundation runs a formal mentoring program that matches each scholar with a successful professional in a field related to that particular scholar’s area of interest. Also, the Point Foundation hosts a leadership conference each year for all current scholars.

San Diego county resident, Allan Acevedo, is one of the 2007 scholars. Born in Mexico and raised in south San Diego, Acevedo grew up surrounded by a predominantly conservative Latino community. In high school, he was a cross-country runner, president of the campus Gay-Straight Alliance, French Club and founder of the Amnesty International Club. As a student coordinator for the GLSEN Jumpstart Leadership Team, a trainer for GSA Network and most recently as a leader of the Stonewall Young Democrats, Acevedo has traveled the country, advocating and promoting youth involvement in social justice issues. He plans to attend San Diego State University in the fall, and aspires to go to law school and pursue public office.

More information about the Point Foundation Scholars Program is available online at www.thepointfoundation.org/scholars.

Adoption Alliance, a non-profit adoption agency licensed by the state of California, has several upcoming programs, including a series of Parent Education Workshops beginning on July 19. As a program of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Adoption Alliance provides programs and services that facilitate, support and celebrate adoption. The program serves individuals and couples who are seeking to expand and enhance their family through adoption, regardless of their age, religion, culture, ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Four Parent Education Workshops will be offered during the months of July and August. Programs include topics such as international adoptions, parenting, trauma and loss, and the lifelong development process of adoption. The workshops will be held on July 19, 26 and Aug. 2 and 9 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Jewish Family Service Turk Family center at 8804 Balboa Ave., in Clairemont.

Individual workshops are $25, with the complete series offered at $100 for individuals or $150 for couples. All courses are required for Adoption Alliance clients and a certificate of completion will be provided to each participant. Reservations must be made no later than July 12, 2007.

Adoption Alliance is aimed at making the adoption process as smooth and effortless as possible by offering home studies, pre-adoption counseling, parent education workshops, post-placement services, support groups, infertility support, a resource lending library, adoption conferences and seminars, post-adoption support and licensed counselors specializing in the adoption process. For more information about Adoption Alliance, programs offered or to register, contact Adoption Alliance Program Coordinator Michelle Greenberg, MSW, at 858-637-3060 or visit www.jfssd.org.

San Diego POZabilities, a social group for HIV-positive men, will host its seventh annual dinner on Saturday, July 14, at the Doubletree Club Hotel in Mission Valley. This year’s theme will be “Rims and Brims: A Celebration with Hats.”

The evening will begin at 5:45 p.m. with a reception and hat contest. The group will award cash prizes for the “most original,” “most outrageous” and “most macho” hats. Dinner will follow, with a hat blessing offered byThe Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and entertainment provided by Eddie Green and his Diva Puppets. A raffle drawing will also be held throughout the program.

Tickets are $27 and can be purchased at any San Diego POZabilities event through July 7. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.sandiegopozabilities.net. The Doubletree Club Hotel is located at 1515 Hotel Circle South. For more information, call 619-282-1866.

City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has appointed Krishna Haney and Richard Valdez, and reappointed Larry Westfall to the Ethics Commission, subject to City Council confirmation.

Krishna Haney is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and practiced law as an associate attorney at LaBella & McNamara, primarily focused on civil litigation, white collar criminal defense, receiverships, corporate compliance and internal investigations. She also practiced law at Simpson & Brenner, a plaintiffs’ personal injury firm.

Haney has also received various awards and honors as a law student and within the legal arena. She is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Haney’s current community involvement includes volunteer service with the American Red Cross and San Diego’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). She is a resident of Council District 2 and registered as a “Declined-to- State” voter. Haney will replace Karen Thomas, who does not wish to seek reappointment, for a term expiring June 30, 2011.

Richard Valdez is a partner at Sandler Lasry Laube Byer & Valdez LLP, specializing in general civil litigation, complex commercial litigation, disability access laws and disability discrimination. In his 15 years in practice, Valdez has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of business disputes, product liability litigation and civil rights litigation. He served on the Judicial Evaluation Committee for the

San Diego County Bar Association and the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union, San Diego Imperial Counties.