Is it just me or has San Diego’s “June gloom” been especially brutal this year? Not to worry ladies because San Diego Dyke March and Festival is right around the corner and promises to be bigger and better than ever. The planning committee, dedicated to dykes and those who love them, has been working on the event for months. Here is all you need to know to navigate this year’s Day of the Dyke in style:

Logistics: Dykes and friends will meet and rally at the Balboa Park fountain on Sunday, July 12, at 11 a.m. The crowd will head to North Park at 11:30 a.m., sharp. Shuttles will be available for those who can’t make the trek. The March will end at the Festival site at 8Teen Art & Cultural Center, on the corner of Ohio Street and University Avenue.

The Mission: Dyke March is a national movement that fosters a sense of community and celebration for dykes and the people who love them. According to the Dyke March Web site, “The mission of the San Diego Dyke March Planning Committee is to inspire the people of San Diego and to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors through advocacy, volunteer commitment and celebration.”

Festival Entertainment: This year’s festival has a lot of queer entertainment that you won’t want to miss. The lineup includes Angie Evans (folk/funk/soul), Bitter Sober (indie pop), Jenn-Jenn (hip-hop/rap), Mary Dolan (folk/acoustic), Nicole Torres (pop), Rhythm & The Method (rock/blues/funk) and MC Laura Jane (everyone’s favorite hilarious host). The entertainment is really diverse and guaranteed to have something for everyone.

Dress Code: Of course, there is no real dress code for Dyke March, but dress for the heat and wear sunscreen. Sport a fashionable mullet for extra dyke credibility. And remember, if you plan to take your top off, make sure to cover those areolas!

The San Diego Dyke March Festival is aimed at increasing dyke/queer visibility. July 12 is not a day to stay home and watch old “L-Word” DVDs; it is a day to be out and proud, to take to the streets and demand equality, the same way we march peacefully against Proposition 8. Now more than ever, it is important for us to be visible, and it is important for us to come together as a community. All are welcome at the march and festival, so grab your friends and family members, and I’ll see you on the streets of North Park! For more information on the San Diego Dyke March and Festival, visit www.dykemarchsd.org.

Do you want change in your life? Do you want to feel the freedom and flow that comes with simplicity? Do you need some help to make these changes come about in an easier way? Join the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) at the San Diego LGBT Community Center for Clear Your Clutter, Change Your Life on Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m. Wenndi Freer will address why clutter is so hard to get rid of and give practical tips to make the process easier. She will also cover how our emotions and beliefs make us more or less effective at clearing clutter. There is a $5 suggested donation for the workshop, and please RSVP. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest. For more information and to RSVP, call 619-692-2077, ext. 212 or e-mail aschwartz@thecentersd.org.

WRC is pleased to announce another installment of its popular series, Coffee & Conversation with Cool Women at The Center on Tuesday, July 7, at 7 p.m. Coffee & Conversation is a cozy event where hostess Tryce Czyczynska interviews notable women from the women’s community. We are very excited to announce that our July “cool woman” is local author Shirley Hall. Shirley’s book, Shirley and Pipsi … In Their Own Words, documents the trans-continental lesbian romance between Shirley and Pipsi through the publication of their intimate letters to one another. Please join us for an inspiring conversation about Shirley’s world travels, her experience compiling the book and her lasting and unique love affair with Pipsi. Coffee and light dessert will be available. This event is free, open to all and will take place in The Center’s library. For more information and to RSVP, call 619-692-2077, ext. 212 or e-mail aschwartz@thecentersd.org.

Summer brings lots of great live music to San Diego, so get ready to call Ticketmaster! Joan Jett and the Blackhearts come to Del Mar Fairground on July 3 – see the real thing before the movie about her life comes out! Ani DiFranco visits Humphrey’s By the Bay on June 28, followed by the Indigo Girls on July 12, and Tori Amos on July 16. I wonder if they have a ‘lesbian group discount rate.’

It’s time to clean out all of your closets, kitchen cabinets, garage and attic, and donate the reusable items to the San Diego LGBT Community Center. The Center will be holding another amazing “Go Green for The Center yard sale on August 14 and 15. Turn your old treasures into green cash for Family Matters programming at The Center. Please bring only items that are in good working condition: clothing, small household appliances, toys, games, bikes, bedding, dishes, small household accessories/furnishings, tools and yard equipment. Sorry, but no large appliances or large furniture can be accepted. Donations will be accepted at The Center beginning on Monday, June 22. For additional information, call 619-692-2077, ext. 121 or e-mail jschmoll@thecentersd.org.

U*NI*TY is the night that brings the queer community together, no matter how you identify! On Friday, June 20, U*NI*TY hits The Flame with live music from L.A. artist, Karma, DJ Nickelback and DJ Lil Chris and the Body Poets Dance Crew at midnight. DJ Nickelback and DJ Lil Chris will be spinning hip-hop, house, electro, rock and pop. Cover is $5 before 10:30 p.m., $10 after. The Flame is located at 3780 Park Blvd. in Hillcrest. For more information, e-mail in2uevents@gmail.com or call 619-295-4163.

Check out Pride Pool Party, taking place at the Sheraton Mission Valley Sunday, June 21, at 2 p.m. For $20 per person, you can enjoy the music of DJ Michael Carrera, appetizers by the Sheraton, a cash bar and plenty of lesbians in bikinis. All proceeds go to San Diego Pride. Sheraton Mission Valley is located at 1433 Camino del Rio South in Mission Valley. For more information, visit www.sdpride.org or call 619-297-7683.

607 Productions presents the ‘deadly sin’ of Greed at The Brass Rail on Friday, June 26, at 9 p.m. Jump in the money blow machine for your chance to win $100. DJ Dirty Kurty is on the turntables, with $3 money shots all night. The Brass Rail is located at 3796 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest. For more information, visit www.607events.com or e-mail 607events@gmail.com.

Ready to kick off Pride a little bit early? Red Hot Pride is an early evening dance for women and will take place at The Center on Saturday, July 11, at 6 p.m. Join DJ Laura Jane for an evening of dancing, mingling, snacks, a no-host bar and door prizes for $10 per person. Red Hot Pride will take place the night before San Diego Dyke March and Festival. It’s a great opportunity to get amped up and kick off Pride in style! If you’re a night owl, swing by on your way out and think of it as an extended community happy hour. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest. For more information and to RSVP, call 619-692-2077 ext. 212 or e-mail aschwartz@thecentersd.org.

That’s it for this month. Next month is San Diego LGBT Pride, so stay tuned for Queer Abby’s Annual Women’s Pride Guide!