Equality California (EQCA) will host a reception with Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), on Thursday, June 5 from 6-8 p.m. Minter argued the recent case before the California Supreme Court which overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

The reception, which will be held at Top of the Park, will include a special debrief on the California marriage case by Minter and an update on the constitutional amendment initiative to ban same-sex marriage in California by EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors.

The event is free, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The event is hosted by Tom Maddox and Randy Clark, Jim Abbott and Michael Molina, and Top of the Park.

To RSVP contact Clarence Williams at 323-661-2071, ext. 204 or e-mail clarence@eqca.org.

Top of the Park is located on the top level of the Park Manor Suites Hotel at 525 Spruce St. in Hillcrest.

Guys Like Us (GLU), a local gay, Asian organization, will be awarding two students with $1,000 college scholarships.

Scholarship recipients must be either a graduating high school senior in San Diego County or currently enrolled at a San Diego college, university or trade/vocational institution. The student must be attending college or trade school in the Fall of 2008 and must meet academic requirements as listed on the scholarship application.

GLU’s mission is to introduce, promote and raise awareness of the gay Asian experience in the GLBT community by bringing members together to share and experience gay Asian culture.

Completed application packets are due by June 20. Applications are available online at www.glusd.org. For more information, e-mail guyslikeus_sd@hotmail.com.

San Diego LGBT Pride will honor Wells Fargo with this year’s Stonewall Service Award, given to a group or organization that has supported the LGBT community during an extended period of years and/or has made exceptional contributions in the past year.

The North American financial institution has donated more than $15 million to LGBT nonprofits and has been recognized for six years in a row by Diversity Inc. as one of the top 50 companies for diversity.

In 1998 the company extended its employee benefits package to domestic partners. During the years, it has also supported AIDS Walk San Diego, Mama’s Kitchen, The San Diego LGBT Community Center and San Diego LGBT Pride. Wells Fargo has earned also earned a 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.

The Stonewall Service Award will be presented at a ceremony on July 14, at the W Hotel in downtown San Diego. Each year the Pride organization invites the community to submit nominations for the community awards, which are presented in four categories for individual, group or organization services to the community that also include “Champion of Pride,” “Friend of the Year” and “Community Service.”

San Diego LGBT Pride weekend is scheduled for July 19-20. This year’s theme is: “Live, Love, Be.” To sign up for Pride’s e-newsletter or inquire about special Pride events and volunteer opportunities, call 619-297-7683, ext. 101, or visit the web site at: www.sandiegopride.org.

The community is invited to purchase tickets to P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Wonderful Support) San Diego’s annual gala event, FIESTA, on Sunday, June 1 from 3-6 p.m. The event will be held at the garden estate of Bobbie Bohannan in Mission Hills.

P.A.W.S. is a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization that provides services to assist the low-income elderly, chronically ill and disabled in keeping their companion animals. The organization provides a number of services, including veterinary assistance, pet food and supplies, in-home pet care, animal transportation and foster care, and other community programs. The annual gala is a fund-raiser for the programs and services of P.A.W.S.

The event will include a silent auction, raffle prizes, food, drinks and entertainment. Margaret Radford of NBC 7/39 will serve as the gala’s mistress of ceremonies and will be joined by a number guests special to the organization.

Tickets are $85 and “well-behaved pets” are welcome to attend with their owners. For tickets or more information visit www.pawssdc.org.

Volunteers are also needed to help staff the event. Contact Lisa at lisathegrantwriter@yahoo.com to participate as a volunteer.

The Hillcrest Wind Ensemble has two performances coming up as part of its summer schedule. The group will perform a free concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion on July 16 at 6:15 p.m. as part of Balboa Park’s Twilight in the Park concert series.

The group will also perform “A Night on the Town: A Summer Pops Concert” on Saturday, July 26 at 8 p.m. in the Mississippi Room of the Lafayette Hotel. A cocktail reception will be held at 7 p.m., and the concert will be followed by dancing to recorded tunes of the last century. Tickets for this event are $15, with a VIP option available for $30. Discounts are available for seniors and children.

The Spreckels Organ Pavilion is located at 1549 El Prado in the heart of Balboa Park. The Lafayette Hotel is located at 2223 El Cajon Blvd. in North Park. For more information, e-mail janinedonston@sbcglobal.net.

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 Live and Let Live Alano Club Celebrates its 25th anniversary

The Live and Let Live Alano Club was founded in 1983 by a small group of lesbian and gay recovering alcoholics. Dedicated to serving their community by funding and establishing a safe, non judgmental and supportive place for Twelve Step meetings and fellowship for the LGBT community.

Since its inception, the Live and Let Live Alano Club has been open 365 days a year for 25 years continuously serving and growing clientele which has grown from hundreds a month in 1983 to thousands a month today. And by continuing to include and reach out to other 12 step groups, the Live and Let Live Alano Club has over 25 years, helped countless individuals find their way from addictions to sobriety and lives of hope, purpose, renewed citizenship and service.

The Live and let Live Alano Club has for 25 years, fostered and provided hope, inspiration, friendship and fellowship, and has set an example of service and compassion in the San Diego community. And with the ever present issues of alcohol and substance abuse problems in our community and society in general the continued example and existence of the Live and Let Live Alano Club is of paramount importance to the San Diego Community.

The Live and Let Live Alano Club kicked off a year long Silver Anniversary Celebration at The Center on May 2 with a benefit dinner and concert. The club will commemorate its 25th anniversary of service and hope on Saturday, May 31, with many more events to be announced throughout the year.

For more information, contact 619-298-8008 or visit www.lllac.org.

Art Around Adams will celebrate a day of San Diego’s creative talent along Adams Avenue on Saturday, June 7.

The event festivities will include a

The event will showcase the diverse talents of numerous visual and performance artists, Stretching from Hamilton Street in Normal Heights to Vista Street in Kensington, bringing together art, culture and commerce into a unique community revitalization event.

Art Around Adams began in 2004 with Normal Heights’ artists and business owners getting together at a local coffee house to create an event that would focus on the exhibition of local art in business storefronts. They discovered that there were a number of art studios comprised of very talented and internationally known artists, a framing shop, coffee houses, antique stores, and gift shops within walking distance.

Today the event has grown into a 1.5 mile art walk spanning Adams Avenue, in which more than 75 businesses will convert into art galleries and performance spaces for the day.

For more information, call 858-342-7496 or visit www.artaroundadams.com.