AIDS Walk San Diego supports more than 25 local HIV/AIDS service organizations, including Family Health Centers of San Diego. “Each year, we provide medical and supportive services to more than 1,400 individuals living with HIV, as well as a wide array of HIV prevention services to those at greatest risk,” said Fran Butler-Cohen, president and CEO of Family Health Centers of San Diego. “We depend on the resources from AIDS Walk and the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative to ensure we can provide these vital services and programs. This year, as we face substantial cuts in government funding, we are even more grateful to all those involved in making AIDS Walk San Diego such a success – they really do make a difference in the lives of our clients.”

The 20th annual AIDS Walk San Diego will take place on Sunday, Sept. 27 in Balboa Park. For more information or to register, visit www.aidswalksd.org.

In response to his history of violent homophobia, Buju Banton’s seven-city nationwide tour was cancelled just weeks ago by promoters, Live Nation and AEG Live. However, he is still scheduled to perform at Belly Up Tavern on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Buju Banton’s 1992 song “Boom Bye Bye” included lyrics encouraging violence against gays, and he is alleged to have participated in the beating of gay men. While Banton purportedly signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, pledging not to perform homophobic songs or make homophobic statements, he has since denied doing so.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center has written to Belly Up Tavern to express its disappointment in their decision to allow the Oct. 17 appearance of Buju Banton.

“As we approach the 11th anniversary of the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, it becomes clear that, although we have made progress, we still have a long way to go. Until the day arrives when no student has to hide who they are out of fear of being bullied and no human being has to be afraid to walk openly down the street out of fear of being attacked because they’re LGBT, ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of our community will, and should, continue to be a top priority for anyone who cares about basic human rights,” said Delores Jacobs, CEO of The Center.

The Center has encouraged community members to call Jeff Keeping, Belly Up general manager at 858-481-8040 or e-mail him at jkeeping@bellyup.com. For information on where Banton is scheduled to perform next, visit cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com.

The City of San Diego’s Small Business Enhancement Program (SBEP) has awarded the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) a grant of $20,835 in support of the organization’s new workshop and “webinar” series. According to Tom Luhnow, chief executive officer of GSDBA, it is the largest grant the 800-plus member chamber has ever received from SBEP.

The GSDBA currently ranks as the second largest gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and supportive chamber of commerce in the country. Monies from the grant are earmarked for the coming fiscal year to support a succession of business-related workshops and computer-hosted seminars.

“This generous grant enables us to provide essential tools for small businesses to succeed in a struggling economy,” Luhnow said. “Such support also allows us to recruit expert facilitators and extend our marketing outreach for the workshops, which will be presented both offline and online in the year ahead.”

Small Business Enhancement grants are awarded annually to nonprofit organizations that provide specialized services to small businesses citywide. The grant takes effect next month and runs through September 2010.

For information about GSDBA membership, workshops and events, call 619-296-4543 or visit www.gsdba.org.

Join The Center and 800 of our closest friends on Saturday, Oct. 10 for a delightful evening of dinner and dancing in support of our 40+ programs and services. The Center’s 36th Anniversary Gala will be held at Paradise Point Resort & Spa and will feature a fabulous cocktail hour in a piano lounge atmosphere, a silent auction, live entertainment by the legendary 12-piece band Haute Chile, gourmet dinner and an awards ceremony honoring community leaders who have made positive, lasting impacts in greater San Diego. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.thecentersd.kintera.org/gala09.

United For A Hate Free San Diego, a coalition of faith and community leaders, will host “Even One Is Too Many,” featuring James McElroy from the Southern Poverty Law Center, on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 6-8 p.m. The summit will be held at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Ave. in El Cajon. Although the event is free, advance registration is required. For more information or to RSVP, contact Crystal at 619-444-5700, ext. 310 or e-mail unitedforahatefreesandiego@gmail.com.

The Hillcrest Wind Ensemble, a program of The Center, will perform its first composition of contest-winning entries on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. in the Joan Kroc Center auditorium at 6945 University Ave. The ensemble considered 20 compositions from around the world for the contest. The ensemble will perform the top three, along with several other works. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door, at Obelisk Bookstore in Hillcrest and at The Windsmith in North Park. The Hillcrest Wind Ensemble is one of the longest-established gay bands in the nation, coming up on its 25th year. For more information, visit www.hillcrestwindensemble.com.

Join The Center as it partners with “Ya Es Hora – It Is Time!,” a historic campaign to build strategic alliances with the Latino/a community. The Center needs volunteers to assist legal permanent residents – individuals and families – in completing their applications to become U.S. citizens at MAAC Community Charter School on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spanish fluency is helpful but not necessary. Volunteers are required to attend a training at MAAC Project Charter School at 1385 Third Ave. in Chula Vista on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. For more information, e-mail Carlos Marquez at cmarquez@thecentersd.org.