To honor Memorial Day, the San Diego Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) will host two events this weekend. On Saturday, May 24 at 6 p.m., the first-ever Military Haircut Party will be held at The Hole. Stylists will be on hand to provide military style haircuts for $15. All proceeds will be split between the San Diego AVER Chapter and the San Diego LGBT Center’s Public Policy Department to assist in their work to overturn the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy.

On Monday, May 26, a wreath will be presented on behalf of LGBT veterans at the Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery. The short presentation will begin at 10 a.m.

AVER is a non-profit, chapter-based association of active, reserve and veteran service members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

For more information about these events or the San Diego AVER Chapter, contact chapter president Ben Gomez at 619-459-1019.

San Diego LGBT Pride has partnered with America’s Finest City Softball League and the San Diego Padres to present the annual Out at the Park event at Petco Park. The event gives recognition to the GLBT community as well as a combined group of choruses scheduled to sing the national anthem at the summer game.

Out at the Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., Friday, July 11, at downtown’s Petco Park, where the Padres will take on the Atlanta Braves. Discounted tickets have been made available on Pride’s Web site, www.sandiegopride.org.

In the weeks leading up to last year’s Out at the Park, various conservative groups organized protests claiming the presence of GLBT individuals at the game would be inappropriate for children as well as for adult baseball fans.

“The game last summer generated national, increased awareness of the challenges the LGBT equal rights movement still faces in America. This is a great opportunity to celebrate Pride while enjoying a fun night of baseball in the heart of downtown San Diego,” said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride.

For this year’s game, The San Diego Men’s Chorus is organizing a group of combined choruses from within the GLBT community to sing the National Anthem on game night.

This year’s 34th annual Pride celebration, titled “Live, Love, Be,” is scheduled for July 19-20. The festivities include a Human Rights Vigil in Balboa Park on July 18, a mile-long parade down University Avenue in Hillcrest at 11 a.m., July 19, and a two-day festival on July 19-20 featuring multiple performance stages, 70 nonprofit organizations, the Wine Steals Grotto, expanded beverage gardens, free Ferris Wheel rides, a bloody Mary gospel brunch, and multiple dance areas.

In partnership with Prudential, the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation and the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute are sponsoring a luncheon seminar focused on the financial planning and retirement needs of GLBT individuals and families. The seminar will focus on providing information on what individuals can do to provide for the future and protect their loved ones.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 29 from 12-1:30 p.m. at Zocalo Grill in Old Town. The luncheon is free, but space is limited so RSVPs are necessary.

For more information or to RSVP contact Stacie Frasier at stacie@sdhdf.org or 619-291-3383.

Zocalo Grill is located at 2444 San Diego Ave.

South Bay Pride, formerly Gay Day in South Bay, is scheduled for Aug. 24 from 1-5 p.m. at Memorial Park in Chula Vista. The event is organized by the South Bay Alliance to celebrate the vibrant GLBT community that exists in San Diego’s South Bay Region.

The event was moved this year to the park in downtown Chula Vista for the anticipated larger crowd. South Bay Pride will include food, vendors and an amphitheater that will accommodate scheduled entertainment such as Rhythm and the Method and the Latin Rhythm Creations.

Event organizers are still accepting sponsorships, exhibitors, vendors and food vendors. For more information about these opportunities or the event, contact Marci Bair at 619-815-3468 or e-mail marci@bairfinancial.com.

The San Diego Chapter of The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) will host a fund-raiser benefiting the organization on Sunday, June 1 from 4-6 p.m. at The Tractor Room.

Tickets are $35 for members and teachers, $50 for non-members and $60 at the door. The event is sponsored by Johnny Rivera and The Tractor Room.

The GLSEN strives to assure each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

To RSVP, contact Brett Peterson at bpeterson@hightechhigh.org or call 619-818-1235.

The Women’s Resource Center at the Center is seeking committee members to help plan the second annual Women’s Fest, scheduled for Aug. 9.

Women’s Fest is a day-long festival of workshops, entertainment and resources lesbian, bisexual and transgender women. The goal of the free event is to empower LBT women to learn new skills, celebrate women’s creativity, build a stronger and more diverse community, and gain access to essential health resources.

The Women’s Fest Committee will meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Carmen Chavez at 619-692-2077, ext. 212.

Only a few days remain to request a California Vote-By-Mail Ballot for the June 3 primary election. Voters must request a mail-in ballot before 5 p.m. on May 27 to be able to vote by mail.

Voting by mail provides many conveniences to voters such as voting from the comfort of home, and avoiding lines at polling places. The Vote-By-Mail application gives the voter the option to permanently vote by mail.

According to The League of Women Voters, 42 percent of votes cast nationwide were submitted by mail.

For more information or to download a Vote-By-Mail application, visit the County of San Diego’s Registrar of Voters online at www.co.san-diego.ca.us/voters.

Pop icon Boy George will appear in concert as an official pre-Pride event at 8 p.m., July 12, at Viejas Concerts in the Park series. The outdoor show is being presented by Viejas Entertainment and Production, which is owned and operated by the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.

“Pride’s partnership with Viejas is providing the LGBT community with a greater variety of entertainment in the months leading up to Pride weekend,” says Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride. Appearances by Margaret Cho at Viejas on May 16 and 17, for instance, also support the recently formed alliance between the two organizations.

A portion of concert proceeds will benefit San Diego Pride. The general-admission concert is geared for all ages. Tickets are $35. They can be purchased at the Viejas Gift Shop, through all Ticketmaster locations or online at www.ticketmaster.com as well as www.sandiegopride.org. To purchase by phone, call 619-220-8497.

The Lambda Archives of San Diego has announced a fund-raising challenge the organization has received from a long time member and supporter. The community leader has pledged $20,000 to the organization if a matching amount can be raised by Lambda by the end of November 2008.

Also, once the Lambda Archives succeeds in the $20,000 challenge, the same donor will donate an additional $250,000-$500,000 from his trust to the Lambda Archives Endowment at The San Diego Foundation.

Community members interested in helping to preserve San Diego’s GLBT history may donate funds to the Lambda Archives account at The San Diego Foundation. All donations are tax deductible.

Founded in 1987, the Lambda Archives’ primary focus is GLBT history and culture in the San Diego County/Tijuana) Region. It is an all-volunteer, nonprofit governed by a volunteer board of directors.

For more information about the Lambda Archives or to make a contribution, visit www.lambdaarchives.org.