The BCAUSE Fund has just released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to interested organizations for breast cancer education, awareness, support and prevention programs targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

BCAUSE, a “field of interest fund” at the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, will be awarding up to $20,000 for grants ranging from $500 to $10,000 to eligible non-profit organizations serving the San Diego region.

“We are thrilled to be in a position to make these grants,” said Peggy Walkush, a founder of the fund and 7 year breast cancer survivor. “A lot of people in our community have donated to the fund over the years by attending our annual Wigfest event or by writing checks so it will be very rewarding to hand out checks for deserving programs.”

The BCAUSE Fund was formed in 2004 by Walkush and her now 14-year partner Jan Tisdale. Peggy is a breast cancer survivor and was on the board of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation at that time. Several of her female colleagues on the Board contributed time and money to help get the fund started. The goal was always for the fund to be guided by people passionate about ending breast cancer with the fund raising money over time and making grants to support breast cancer programs in the LGBT community. Over the past 6 years, many people have joined the fund’s Board of Advisors by contributing $500 or more per year to the fund.

The deadline for grant requests is April 5, 2010. Applications will be reviewed by the BCAUSE Grants Committee, which consists of Walkush, Kay Coleman, Laura Mustari, Carolina Shreve and Mel Merrill.

The Committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the SDHDF Board of Directors for final approval. Grants are expected to be announced in late May.

Grants will be made for programs focusing on breast cancer education, awareness, support and prevention programs targeting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community in San Diego County (organizations that are not LGBT organizations or not based in San Diego County may request funding for programs meeting this criteria).

For more information on the BCAUSE Fund or this grant round please contact Peggy Walkush at peggywalkush@cox.net or visit www.mylgbtfoundation.org.

San Diego LGBT Pride has announced the return of two-day festival passes while also extending the deadline for purchasing tickets at reduced, early-bird rates. This year’s festival will be held July 17 and 18 at Marston Point in Balboa Park. The 2010 theme is: “One World, One Heart, One Pride.”

Tickets purchased between now and 11:59 p.m., July 16, are priced at $15 per day or $25 for a two-day pass. Those rates are the same as in 2008, noted Pride organizers. In addition, festival goers this year are afforded a longer period of time to purchase tickets at discounted rates, right up until one day before the festival. For those purchasing tickets at the gate, the cost is $20 per day or $30 for both days.

“Especially when most of us are carefully watching our budgets, the two-day passes allow visitors to enjoy a broader range of entertainment and other festival highlights over the course of Pride weekend. And by extending the deadline for early-bird rates, it provides the community ample opportunity to take advantage of prices that existed two years ago,” said Pride Board Co-chair Larry Ramey.

Festival tickets are available online at www.SanDiegoPride.org. Pride weekend will also feature a mile-long parade along University Avenue, at 11 a.m., July 17. For more information about Pride events and volunteer opportunities, call 619-297-7683 or visit the Web site.

In order to be eligible to vote in the June 8 primary and November 2 general elections, you must register no later than May 24 and October 18, 2010 respectively. Applications to vote by mail are due by the same dates. Election materials are typically mailed out 29 days before an election so if you wish to vote by mail, registering early is best. To download a voter registration form, visit www.sdcounty.ca.gov/voters/Eng/eng_vote.pdf. To check your voter registration status, visit www2.sdcounty.ca.gov/rov/Eng/Evoter_query.asp. For more information, visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm.

San Diego Latino Film Festival continues its mission to help correct the often distorted images seen on television and in movies by presenting another year of the Cine Gay Showcase. Challenging the historical exclusion of under-represented communities in the media, the festival takes advantage of the opportunity of this showcase to highlight experiences of gay life in different corners of the world, underlining the universal experience as well as the unique expressions of the Latin GLBT community. The following is a listing of this year’s Cine Gay gala events and film screenings.

Gala Events

Opening Night Gala: Thursday, March 11, from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the SE San Diego Hotel at 1047 5th Ave. in Downtown

Cine Mujer Party (this year the festival is honoring women filmmakers): Saturday, March 13, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the US Grant Grill at 326 Broadway in Downtown

Closing Night Gala: Saturday, March 20, from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the US Grant Grill at 326 Broadway in Downtown

Cine Gay Screenings (All films will be screened at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center in Mission Valley)

‘Ander’: preview screening on Thursday, March 11 at 10:15 p.m. and main screening with hostess Franceska on Thursday, March 18 at 8 p.m.

‘Chica Busca Chica’ (Girl Seeks Girl): Saturday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, March 19 at 10:30 p.m.

‘Contracorriente’ (Undertow): Wednesday, March 17 at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 21 at 1:30 p.m.

‘Dzi Croquette’: Saturday, March 13 at 5 p.m.

‘La Mission’: Saturday, March 20 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 21 at 10:15 p.m.

‘Cine Gay Shorts’: Saturday, March 20 at 3 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.sdlatinofilm.com or www.mediaartscenter.org.