“American Idol” alum and beatboxing artist Blake Lewis will take to the Cox Communications main stage at this year’s San Diego Pride festival, scheduled for July 17 and 18 at Marston Point in Balboa Park.

Lewis, who made a name for himself as the unconventional and charming beatboxer on season six of “American Idol” (2007), was selected as first runner-up on the show for his season’s performances. Among them was a performance of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name,” which became the biggest-selling download of the season on iTunes, with more than 190,000 downloads.

He followed that success with a breakthrough debut album, Audio Daydream, which hit # 10 on the Billboard charts. More recently, Lewis released his sophomore album Heartbreak on Vinyl, featuring electronic, pop and dance productions. His current single, the title track, “Heartbreak on Vinyl,” topped the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay Chart at #1, and just last month, the song topped Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart at #1. Lewis is the first former “American Idol” contestant to score #1 hits on both of those charts.

Just last week, Lewis joined fellow Idol alumni on the season finale for a special tribute to host Simon Cowell. He was also a guest blogger for both USA Today and HollywoodLife.com for the duration of the season, imparting his experience and knowledge on the wider viewing audience. He has several appearances scheduled across the country and is already a touring veteran, having joined the likes of Lady Gaga, Estelle, Katy Perry, Leona Lewis, Gavin Rossdale, and fellow “American Idol” contestant Kelly Clarkson on the 2008 T-mobile Grammy Celebration Concert Tour.

He also performed for Michelle Obama at the Congressional Club’s First Lady’s Luncheon, where he taught the first lady how to beatbox. As a singer, songwriter, beatboxer and DJ, Lewis continues drawing fans of all ages to his shows. His appearance at the San Diego Pride festival is scheduled for 6:10 p.m., Sunday, July 18, along with other soon-to-be-announced headline acts.

For more information about this year’s Pride celebration and other official events, call 619-925-3794 or visit the website at: www.SanDiegoPride.org. For more information on Blake Lewis, please visit www.blakelewisofficial.com or follow him at www.facebook.com/blakelewis or www.twitter.com/blakelewis.

Join the Hillcrest Town Council at the Joyce Beers Community Center from 6:30 – 8 p.m., on Tuesday, June 8, for a panel discussion with Leo Wilson from the Uptown Planners and David Gatzke from the Uptown Partnership on whether parking should be paid or free. The panel will discuss whether meter prices should be raised, lowered or removed.

The Hillcrest Town Council encourages everyone to show up, speak up, get involved!

For more information, visit: www.hillcresttowncouncil.com.

Patriot’s Day is a Veterans Day celebration in honor of all Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders (GLBT) and other sexual minorities who have served their country honorably yet have never throughout the history of the United States of America been treated equally.

We seek to remember our proud tradition across America, in small towns and big cities alike. Now more than ever it is important to take a stand to end the horrific discrimination that continues to be encouraged by prejudiced legislation that governs our Armed Forces. As patriots we know our America can do better!

Come together Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 at noon for a march and rally in honor of GLBT veterans across America near you.

The AIDS/LifeCycle Ride to End AIDS this June 6-12 is a seven-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that raises money and awareness for the HIV and AIDS services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. This marks the ninth year for AIDS/LifeCycle and the 17th for the event overall. More than 2,500 bicyclists and volunteer “roadies” from nearly every state and eight countries will set out from San Francisco on June 6. AIDS/LifeCycle is the world’s largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraising event, and this year it is expected to raise more than $11 million to care for those living with HIV/AIDS and to prevent new infections. In the seven days it takes to ride to Los Angeles, more than 1,000 people in the United States and 50,000 people around the world will be infected with HIV. AIDS/LifeCycle helps anyone interested in joining the ride to train and fundraise. Visit www.aidslifecycle.org for more information.

World famous drag queen RuPaul will visit Obelisk Shoppe (aka Obelisk Bookstore) on Thursday, June 17, at 7 p.m. to sign copies of her new book, Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (It Books).

RuPaul skyrocketed to international fame with the CD release of Supermodel of the World, which she followed with roles in several feature films, “The RuPaul Show” on VH1, many high-profile endorsement deals (including a beauty contract with M.A.C. Cosmetics), a wax portrait at Madame Tussaud’s Museum in Times Square, a best-selling autobiography and fund raising worldwide for people living with HIV/AIDS. RuPaul’s latest book is titled Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Style, and the second season of the global phenomenon “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will premiere on LOGO February 1, 2010.

Obelisk Shoppe, San Diego’s LGBT bookstore since 1993, is located in the Hillcrest community at 1029 University Ave., between 10th and Vermont, across from the Ralph’s shopping center. (619) 297-4171.

This is a Line Ticketed Event. Tickets are provided free with the purchase of a book. RuPaul will only sign books purchased at Obelisk Shoppe during this event.

The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park has invited San Diego Pride and its supporters to take part in a presidential letter-writing exhibit titled, “I Wish to Say,” from 5 to 9 p.m., June 10.

The event, part of the museum’s Summer Salon Series, features artist Sheryl Oring, who will accept dictated letters to President Barak Obama from a manual typewriter. Oring will keep carbon copies of the letters for her records and send the originals to the White House.

San Diego Pride organizers invite the community to take part by choosing a GLBT topic that Oring will type, which can include opinions on current political issues such as marriage equality or the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“San Diego Pride has a long history of supporting the local arts scene, and we are honored to be taking part in this unique exhibit, which gives the LGBT community an opportunity to express itself through the work of a museum artist,” says Judi Schaim, San Diego Pride co-chair.

The museum is located at 1450 El Prado Way in Balboa Park. For more information, call 619-232-7931.

The print edition of last week’s news story “GLBT San Diegans weigh in on AZ immigration law” stated that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed its new immigration bill on May 20 and that it will take effect in August 2010. The governor actually signed the bill on April 23 and it will take effect at the end of July. We apologize for any inconvenience these errors may have caused.