A nationwide protest against Proposition 8 called Join the Impact is being held this Saturday, Nov. 15, with protest locations in all 50 States. San Diego will be participating with 2 coordinated events.

The first event is a protest march that will start at Sixth Avenue and Upas Street in Balboa Park at 10 a.m. This march will go through downtown and will end at the rally site at the County Administration Building at 1600 N. Harbor Drive.

The second event is a protest rally which will be held on the lawn of the County Administration Building at 1 p.m. following the march. There will be a program of speakers to spread a message of hope and equality and to discuss the fight against Proposition 8 and what we can do to ensure equal rights for everyone.

This is a peaceful and positive protest. The organizers respectfully ask participants to keep all signs positive and to not engage any opposition.

The San Diego LGBT Pride board of directors presented The San Diego LGBT Community Center with a check for $40,000 at The Center’s gala in October, and an additional $25,000 check was presented the following week to support The Center’s efforts to retain same-sex marriage rights. The donations, made in part from Pride’s 2008 festival funds, were earmarked to support more than a dozen programs and events conducted through The Center. Since 1995, Pride has given to The Center $606,046.

Remaining funds from the 2008 donation are designated for the Ziegler Endowment Building Challenge, which philanthropist Jim Ziegler matches with $1.50 for every dollar that is donated. In addition, monies will go to the annual Family Matters’ barbecue, The Center’s “Equality Wall,” the Youth Housing Project and a tribute fund honoring the late Lovel Waiters, who helped develop Ebony Pride and played a significant role in presenting a stage at the annual Pride festival.

Since 1996, San Diego Pride has given more than $1.3 million to a host of community organizations and charities. Pride’s 2009 celebration is scheduled for July 18-19. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.

Lambda Archives of San Diego, the GLBT community’s primary keeper of historical records, has announced its 21st anniversary gala celebration entitled Heroes, Pioneers and Trailblazers. The gala will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, at The San Diego LGBT Community Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the program will begin at 6 p.m. Lambda Archives’ purpose is to collect, preserve and teach the San Diego community and region’s GLBT history. It is a non-profit organization.

“Lambda Archives is very pleased to be hosting its second annual gala on Dec. 13. It offers us the opportunity to honor another group of heroes, adding pioneers and trailblazers, people who have helped create San Diego’s LGBT history,” said the archives’ president, Frank Nobiletti.

Nobiletti announced the Dec. 13 event’s co-chairs are City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez and Lisa Sanders. In celebrating its 21st anniversary, Lambda Archives will be honoring 12 heroes, trailblazers and pioneers in the GLBT community. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.

San Diego feminist and political activist Gloria Johnson was elected Vice President Action for the California State National Organization for Women (CANOW). It is the second highest office in CANOW, next only to the state president, Attorney Patricia Bellasalma of Los Angeles. Johnson will oversee CANOW’s political program which includes endorsing candidates who stand for women’s rights, organizing NOW political action committees, lobbying, legislation and fund-raising. Also elected was another San Diego activist Kate Lyon. Lyon was elected Young Feminists Vice-President. She will direct the Outreach Program for young women under 30. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego will get animated at its holiday concert, “Holiday Toons.” The show will take place at the restored Birch North Park Theatre. Performances will be held on Saturday, Dec.13, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.

San Diego LGBT Pride recently awarded several volunteers at an appreciation event for their outstanding, longtime service to the organization, while extending its gratitude to the nearly 700 other volunteers who contributed their efforts to this summer’s Pride weekend. The honorees were: Jeremy Farner (festival safety); Mike Sparaco (signage crew); Esteban M. Durate (parade); Angella Barrett (exhibitor relations); Karrie Kabat (beverage coordinator); Kris Tebbetts and Tonya Tronvig (crew central); Kelly Ranashingne (parade safety); and general support volunteers Eddie Proudfoot and Ray Lucero, as well as Eve and Simone van Eik, who visited from Amsterdam to participate. Special recognition was given to Araceli “Cheli” Mohamed for 15 years of outstanding service to San Diego Pride. “We offer our deepest thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who give their time and talent to organizing, planning and managing all of the events that make our Pride celebrations possible,” said Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte.

The San Diego Women’s Chorus announced dates for its 21st annual holiday concert entitled, “WomanSong.” This wide-ranging show of songs written by women composers from various time periods will take place inside Mission Hills United Church of Christ, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Hot Flash Dances are coming to town with a dance designed just for you! Popular across the Pacific Northwest, Hot Flash Dances are monthly retro dances for lesbians who love to dance to a little doo-wop, fly to a little hip hop and boogie to a whole lot of everything in between. San Diego Hot Flash is open to all women 21 and older, but caters to “seasoned” lesbians in their mid-30s and up with great classics from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s as well as today’s best dance music.

Hot Flash is more than a dance though; it’s a place for connecting, meeting, playing, finding friends, making alliances and providing a sense of community. Women ask each other to dance, old/new friendships are ignited and single women leave with dates lined up. The parties are good places to socialize, network, let your hair down and have a great time!

Hot Flash dances will be held in San Diego on the first Saturday of each month at The Flame beginning Dec. 6. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.

Tickets are still available for the Greater San Diego Business Association’s annual Holiday Cruise aboard the California Spirit, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3. The boat leaves dock promptly at 6 p.m. and returns to port at 8 p.m.

DJ Laura Jane will keep the party in high gear. Participants are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys and blankets for the Imperial Court’s toy drive. Tickets are $50 for members, $50 for first guests and $60 for each additional guest. Pre-registration is required. Nonrefundable payment is required by Tuesday, Nov. 25. For more information, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com/links/1090.