Every semester, SDSU’s LGBT Student Union and LGBT Resource Center hang the rainbow flag from the school’s student union building, Aztec Center. They also hang the flag each October, to recognize National Coming Out Day, and each April to celebrate SDSU’s LGBT Pride Month. In 2002, 2003 and 2006, thieves stole the flags. They stole them again this year on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 10.

In response to this, and a number of other reported hate-related incidents, campus GLBT groups are organizing a Rally Against Hate to speak out against the homophobic, sexist, anti-GLBT culture that the groups believe permeates the campus. GLBT-identified student leaders, faculty/staff, supportive student organizations and allies will come together on the Free Speech Steps of the Aztec Center on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from noon to 1 p.m. to speak out and bring visibility to the vibrant GLBT community that exists on the campus.

Community members are encouraged to come to campus to participate in the rally. More information is available online at www.PrideAtState.org or by calling the LGBT Resource Center of SDSU at 619-594-2737.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Senior Services will present a workshop titled “Take Charge: How to Prevent Identity Theft.” The workshop, presented by Mike Gassway, MSW, SRES, and Ed Sopher of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, will give participants tools and information needed to learn how to protect them from identity theft.

The event will take place on Monday, Oct. 29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Community Resource Room at the Center, located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest. Contact 619-692-2077 for more information.

The San Diego Armada Rugby Football Club (SDARFC) is a 3-year-old men’s Division III team, currently the only team in that division in San Diego. The SDARFC welcomes all players regardless of previous experience, physical ability, race, national origin, sexual orientation or fitness level. The Armada is dedicated to promoting the sport of rugby within Southern California by providing a safe and supportive environment where novice-level players can learn the game or improve their skills. The club focuses on welcoming underrepresented groups, including the gay and minority communities, and on fostering the social and community interactions that are a natural outgrowth of team sports.

The SDARFC plays in the Southern California Rugby Union, which gives it the opportunity to play against 10 other men’s Division III teams across Southern California during the regular season. Players range from age 18 to their mid 40s. Many join the club with little to no experience playing rugby, or any other team sports, while others have been playing for 20-plus years. The team is comprised of men who come from a variety of different backgrounds and lifestyles, including gay, straight, military, parents, professionals, and students, who come together as a team with one unified goal – to play rugby.

The Bingham Cup is an international gay rugby tournament inspired by and named in honor of Mark Kendall Bingham who died on United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. Bingham was an openly gay man who was a founding member of the International Gay Rugby Association and Board and played on the San Francisco Fog team. SDARFC has held the tournament every two years since 2002. In its first year, the tournament hosted just eight teams, but two years later, held in London, the tournament included 20 teams from four different countries.

In 2006, SDARFC held the Bingham Cup in New York, with more than 30 teams represented and a women’s division added.

The Bingham Cup is set to be held in Dublin, Ireland in 2008 and is expected to see an even greater number of participating teams with fiercer competition. The San Diego Armada is planning to send a full team to the Bingham Cup next year and fund-raising efforts will help the group offset travel and logistical costs.

The first such fund-raiser for the 2008 trip will be held this weekend at The Hole in Point Loma. The SDARFC is hosting “Burgers, Balls & Buns,” which will include a bachelor auction, raffle, burgers prepared and served by team members, and entertainment by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Everyone 21 years and older is invited to attend the fund-raiser, which runs from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20. The Hole is located at 2820 Lytton St. in Point Loma.

More information about the fund-raiser and the SDARFC is available online at www.sdarmada.org.

The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (The Center) has announced that the October LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast will feature City Councilmembers Toni Atkins and Jim Madaffer. The LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast will take place on Friday, Oct. 19, from 7:30-9 a.m. at The Center, 3909 Centre St.

The councilmembers will discuss the recent council resolution adding the City of San Diego to the friend-of-the-court (amicus) briefs in the marriage equality case currently before the California Supreme Court. The emcee will be Richard Valdez, chair of The Center’s Board of Directors.

Councilmember Atkins will discuss the process of getting the resolution supported by the City Council and its significance, and will address the bigger issue of marriage equality in California beyond the courts, including possible ballot initiatives, Assembly Bill 43 (the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act) and public education campaigns designed to increase the number of supporters of marriage equality. Councilmember Madaffer will also discuss his own path to voting in favor of the resolution.

The Community Coalition Breakfast takes place the third Friday of each month. Its mission is to bring together fair-minded individuals to network, educate and discuss the diverse issues of concern to GLBT and allied neighbors and citizens of San Diego. A full breakfast is available for a $10 donation; coffee and tea are complimentary. RSVPs are not required. ASL interpretation will be provided upon request, and must be sent to Caroline Dessert at cdessert@thecentersd.org at least seven working days before the event.

The LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast is sponsored by Wells Fargo, the Gay & Lesbian Times and San Diego LGBT Pride.

Family Matters invites singles and couples who are exploring creating or adding to their families to a bi-monthly support group. The group meets every other month to educate members about adoption, surrogacy, insemination or co-parenting. According to the group facilitators, many of the group’s members have successfully “graduated” and are now parents.

Meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday, every other month, from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at The Center, which is located at 3909 Centre St. in San Diego. The next group meeting is Sat., Nov. 17. More information is available on the Family Matters Web site, at www.thecentersd.org/familymatters.

The San Diego HIV Health Services Planning Council helps allocate Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act 2006 funds to provide services to people in San Diego living with HIV/AIDS. The Planning Council is particularly interested in involving people living with HIV/AIDS in its committee work and as members of the Council itself.

“The Planning Council is a wonderful opportunity for consumers to help design services for the HIV community, and to help allocate funds for those services and programs,” said Ken Riley, lead health planner.

For more information on the Planning Council, or to inquire about joining, please contact Riley at 619-293-4711 or via e-mail at Kenneth.Riley@sdcounty.ca.gov.

A number of events are being planned this year to commemorate Veterans Day in San Diego, primarily to honor GLBT veterans. The “Honor Every Veteran” campaign will include a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rally, designed to help end discrimination in the military, at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, at the Federal Building in downtown San Diego. Following the rally, there will be a Kick-Off Reception at The Caliph at 8 p.m. which will include food and drinks.

On Saturday, Nov. 10, the San Diego Veterans’ Day Parade will step-off at 11 a.m. from the San Diego County Administration Building downtown. A GLBT community contingent will be represented in the parade. Later that evening, the San Diego LGBT Center in Hillcrest will host a Military Ball Cocktail Reception. The honorary chairs of the event are Congressmembers Bob Filner and Susan Davis. Filner is the chair of the House of Representatives Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Davis is chair of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel. Tickets to the 6 p.m. reception are $20 at the door. Dress uniform or business casual attire are requested. There will be an after-party at Bourbon St. in University Heights starting at 10 p.m.

Finally, on Sunday, Nov. 11, the “Stand Down Draft Party” will be held at The Hole in Point Loma starting at 2 p.m, and the “Take No Prisoners Final Assault” party will be held at Pecs in North Park starting at 7 p.m.

All proceeds from the weekend’s event will be donated to American Veterans for Equal Rights, and the San Diego LGBT Center’s Public Policy Department. All events are open to the public, with the events held at bars being open only to those 21 years and older.

More information is available by calling 619-459-1019 or visit www.honoreveryveteran.org.