As part of The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Marriage Equality and Education Project’s “Get Engaged by Valentine’s Day!” campaign, which aims to open the hearts and minds of San Diegans to the Freedom to Marry, Bourbon Street hosted a Freedom to Marry Engagement on Dec. 2.

The goal of the campaign is to have 40 Freedom to Marry Engagements in San Diego by Feb. 14, 2008.

This engagement, which drew approximately 200 people, featured local singer and songwriter Ashley Matte, who regularly performs at Bourbon Street on Sunday nights. The engagement was also an opportunity to promote “Let California Ring,” a statewide public education campaign designed to reach out to people across the state about the importance of the freedom to marry.

The night featured a short presentation by The Center’s Marriage Equality and Education Project coordinator Kristi Shaw, a screening of the groundbreaking “Let California Ring” video and Ashley Matte’s “Something Better,” a song written to reflect the significance of the freedom to marry.

Anyone interested in getting involved in the campaign is invited to attend the next public Freedom to Marry Engagement, hosted in Latino Services at The Center on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

Also, engagement hosts are being sought. Contact Kristi Shaw at 619-692-2077, ext. 206 or kshaw@thecentersd.org for more information.

The Zoological Society of San Diego is grateful for the work of firefighters and other first responders who helped San Diego during the recent wildfires. To express thanks, the Zoological Society is offering a special admission package to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park during December and January.

“The Zoological Society of San Diego is an integral part of the San Diego community and we are affected by anything which threatens our members, supporters and employees,” said Doug Myers, chief executive officer for the Zoological Society. “The recent wildfire crisis impacted people throughout San Diego. We know that all of these people would like to say ‘thank you’ but may not have the means. We wanted to offer complimentary admission to first responders as a way of saying ‘thank you’ from the entire San Diego community.”

To thank people who worked to control and extinguish the fires and support fire victims, the San Diego Zoo is offering complimentary general admission to the first responder and up to three immediate family members. First responders include firefighters, law enforcement and emergency medical officials, 9-1-1 dispatchers, Cal Fire, California Department of Forestry, and U.S. Forest Department personnel who worked during the recent Southern California wildfires. In addition, first responders also will receive a 20-percent discount for single-day tickets for up to six additional guests. The offer runs through Jan. 31, 2008.

The October wildfires had a catastrophic effect on many neighborhoods and businesses. The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park was affected by the wildfires of October 2007, losing more than 600 acres and two structures to the fire. In addition to the special admission offer, the Wild Animal Park will include elements in its annual Festival of Lights holiday event, held Dec. 26-30, to thank first responders. This special event will include special light displays (replacing those that were lost in the wildfires), crafts, a snow hill and animal encounters.

More information about the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park is available online at www.sdzoo.com.

The Martinis Above Fourth Wreath Auction on Dec. 10 raised $28,156 for the Queen Eddie Conlon Youth Fund.

Named in honor of the GLBT community leader, army veteran, columnist and entertainer Eddie Conlon, the fund provides assistance to San Diego youth, ages 13-18, for education-related expenses, books, supplies and clothing. The fund was established by City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez, co-founder and Imperial Court Board Member Nathan Garcia, and the Imperial Court de San Diego in conjunction with The San Diego LGBT Center.

San Diego’s only GLBT film festival, FilmOut San Diego, is gearing up for its 2008 event. FilmOut San Diego is quickly becoming one of the premiere GLBT film festivals, with filmmakers eager to take part.

The 10th annual festival will be April 11-17, 2008 at Landmark’s Ken Cinema. The expanded seven-day event will include more than 50 international, short and feature films. FilmOut San Diego strives to show the best of the newest GLBT-themed film and video selections available.

The festival is currently seeking sponsorships. Many sponsorship levels are available, each with an array of visibility benefits and ticket packages. Interested parties should contact Ivan Solis, sponsorship coordinator, at ivan@filmoutsandiego.com.

More information about FilmOut San Diego is available online at www.filmoutsanidego.com.

The San Diego Men’s Chorus announced auditions for its 2008 season.

Meet the Chorus receptions will be held on Monday, Jan. 7, and Monday, Jan. 14.

Prospective members will attend an informal reception with refreshments, followed by a presentation of the music and calendar for the 2008 season and a short interview and audition with the leadership team and artistic director Jerry R. Foust.

Interested men should arrive on either night by 8 p.m. Each reception will last 90 minutes. No prepared music selection is required.

The Meet the Chorus receptions are held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church at Sixth and Pennsylvania avenues in Hillcrest.

In 2008, the chorus will be the first singing group to perform in the newly renovated Balboa Theatre at Horton Plaza. The Chorus will also welcome American Idol and Broadway star Frenchie Davis to its Spring concert in April. And in July, the Chorus will travel to Miami to represent San Diego at the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses international festival.

Artistic director Jerry R. Foust, who recently completed his second year as leader of the group, said, “The San Diego Men’s Chorus is the city’s original gay men’s singing group. In our 23-year history, we’ve accomplished so much. But we’re just beginning. The next year will take us to new heights musically, while we explore new venues like the magnificent Balboa Theatre. We’ll also travel to destinations far and near – representing the city and its gay community with the class and musical excellence that we are known for. We’d love to have new voices join us, and we’re also extending open arms to past members who have been away for a while.”

To find out more about the Meet the Chorus events, or to RSVP for either night, visit the chorus’s Web site at www.sdmc.org or phone: 619-296-SONG.

The San Diego Men’s Chorus was founded in 1985. The ensemble was the first gay chorus to perform at the White House, the Super Bowl, and aboard a major oceanliner last fall.

The Hillcrest Clean T.E.A.M. and the Hillcrest Town Council will host another community cleanup on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Founded in November 2005, the Hillcrest Clean T.E.A.M. committed to clean the streets of the neighborhood every first and third Sunday in 2006. The group successfully completed that goal, and now hosts quarterly clean-ups.

A dumpster, furnished by Allied Waste, will be located in the parking lot of Numbers at 3811 Park Blvd. for neighbors to discard large items, although refrigerators, paint, oil and electronics will not be accepted.

Those interested in volunteering should meet at The Egyptian on Park Boulevard, south of University Avenue. Brooms and supplies will be available for volunteers.

Visit www.hillquest.com for more information.

The “Save Hillcrest” group, working with the non-profit organization Friends of San Diego, scored another victory in its year-old lawsuit against the 301 University project.

On Dec. 7, the Superior Court awarded the group 80 percent of the legal costs incurred from last August’s win when the judge agreed that the project violated the law in seven ways.

Friends president Tom Mullaney said this award was made under California laws that recognize the public benefit received when a citizens’ group sues to uphold state and local laws.

However, the 148-foot building planned for 301 University Ave. is coming back for another legal challenge. For more information or to help, contact Friends of San Diego at 619-795-1753.

Is getting more involved in your community one of your New Year’s resolutions? Then join The San Diego LGBT Community Center on Wednesday, Jan. 9, in its auditorium for the Third Annual San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council’s Community Volunteer Fair.

More than 30 GLBT and progressive organizations will be represented, providing information about their organizations and volunteering with them. The Volunteer Recruitment Fair is designed to reduce the barriers to becoming a volunteer by inviting community members to stop by, find out a little about opportunities for volunteering in the community, and sign-up if an organization sounds like a good fit. For more information, please contact Amanda Bejarano-Ligato at 619-692-2077 or at amandab@thecentersd.org.