The Gay and Lesbian Times will be holding a forum for directors and representatives of nonprofit organizations, Thursday, Jan. 15, at 12:00 noon in the Community Resource Room at The Center, 3909 Centre St. Find out how to get your story in the paper and what to do (or not do) when a reporter calls on a story, discuss coverage and community issues. For more information, call (619) 331-7108.

On Friday, Jan. 23, at 7:00 p.m. The Lesbian Connection (TLC) is kicking off the New Year with its premier speed-dating event, Quick Match. Quick Match is for single women who are looking to meet others for friendship or dating. There will be great conversation, ice-breaking games, music, and refreshments. Advanced registration fee is $10 and $15 at the door. For additional information, call Cindy Davis at (619) 379-8616. Tickets are also available at Obelisk Bookstore in Hillcrest.

The San Diego Men’s Vocal Ensemble, VOCE!, will hold open auditions for skilled and semi-skilled male singers on Jan. 13 and Jan. 20. Singers with choral experience in all voice ranges are encouraged to attend one of the two open auditions. No prepared material is necessary. Dr. David Rasmussen, music director of Voce! will run potential choristers through a series of vocal exercises.

Auditions start at 6:30 p.m., with the group’s regular rehearsal set for 7:00 p.m. at the Pioneer United Church of Christ, 2550 Fairfield St., in the Clairemont neighborhood.

Men of all ages are being sought and can simply show up at the church for auditions or contact David Lortie at (858) 361-7668 for further information.

The Scripteasers, a San Diego based playwrights development organization, is sponsoring a playwriting competition for new full-length plays. Cash prizes of $250, $150 and $75, and the promise of a public reading will be offered to three finalists.

Entries must be original full-length plays (90 minutes or more playing time), unpublished, unproduced and not currently under any option. They must be written in English and typed in proper playwriting format. The following are not eligible: musicals, short one-act plays, groups of short one-act plays (related or unrelated), plays for children, translations or adaptations, or plays that have won any other competition.

There is no entry fee. The deadline is Jan. 31, 2004. This is a national competition and entries will be accepted from across the country. To obtain a copy of the guidelines, write to The Scripteasers at 3404 Hawk Street, San Diego, CA 92103 or call (619) 295-4040.

World AIDS Day may have come and gone but Umoja reminds us that the pandemic is far from over. African-Americans, regardless of age, gender or socio-economic status, are showing higher incidence, prevalence and mortality rates from HIV infection than the general population.

Umoja is an organization that is dedicated to the well being of the African-American population and other people who may not have fully availed themselves of the HIV/AIDS resources in the San Diego area. Borrowing its name from the Swahili word for unity, Umoja plans to bring a vibrant community, composed of people identifying themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual, greater access to much needed services without judgment, fear or stigma.

Umoja is challenging you to take care of yourself and make your health your business; begin or continue to educate yourself and to practice preventative measures to avoid transmitting or contracting HIV and encourage your friends to do the same. Umoja also asks that you’d also consider doing three things during the next year. If you have an associate, friend of family member who has HIV or AIDS, let them know that you care about them. Make a donation of your time, expertise or money to an HIV/AIDS organization. Make the last action one of your own choosing, but if you can’t think of another, please consider assisting Umoja in reaching its goals and contact them at (619) 269-3245 and make some changes before next December.

tatiana de la tierra, Colombian lesbian, self-proclaimed hedonist, librarian and author, will read from her bilingual collection of lesbian poetic prose at Casa del Libro (1735 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 in Hillcrest) Saturday Jan. 10, at 7:00 p.m.

Hailed as a “Sapphic warrior” by Cuban lesbian writer Achy Obejas, tatiana de la tierra is the first time author of For the Hard Ones: A Lesbian Phenomenology / Para las duras: Una fenomenología lesbiana. A philosophical exploration of lesbianism in Spanish and English, the book reflects on coming out, the difference between a woman and a lesbian, and the significance of fingers and tongues. Her writings have been published in journals and anthologies since 1987 including the spoken word CD Raza Spoken Here 2 and La Calaca Review by Calaca Press. For more information, call Casa del Libro at (619) 299-9331.

Due to the terrible fire losses suffered among many families in October 2003, The Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA), located in Balboa Park, is hosting a day in which fire victims who lost all their family photos, can start to replace them. MoPA and co-sponsors R.S. Lawrence Development Inc., Greg Lambert of Lambert Photo, Delkin Devices and Jimmy Dorantes of Latin Focus Studios, will be joined by ten other photographers to take the photographs. The photographers will use Balboa Park’s beautiful backdrops as locations for the family portraits. The prints will be donated by George’s Camera of North Park, and mailed directly to each participating family. The event will take place on Jan. 17, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Advance reservations are required, and will be taken up until Jan. 9, 2003. Reservations can be made by calling (619) 238-7559, ext. 224.

The Queer Youth Fund is a donor initiated grant making program housed at the Liberty Hill Foundation. A group of committed donors developed the fund to provide large multi-year grants to groups that address the multitude of issues queer youth face as they “come out” celebrate their sexuality, and seek to become empowered leaders in their communities. The donors will make funding decisions with assistance from foundation staff and community representatives.

Four $100,000 grants will be pledged to nonprofit organizations, payable over three to five years. Funding in the second and succeeding years is conditional on compliance with reporting requirements, continued progress toward meeting stated goals and objectives, and demonstrated impact of activities.

For more information, contact the Liberty Hill Foundation at (310) 453-3611.

On Jan. 22, 2004, San Diegan’s are invited to ring in the year of the monkey with the 10th annual Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by the Asian Business Association of San Diego. It is said that those born under the sign of the monkey are social, witty and extremely inquisitive. Come and satisfy your curiosity and share this important cultural holiday with the Asian Business Association of San Diego.

For more information contact Yen Tu at (619) 417-5993.

The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus presents the largest international film festival in San Diego and one of the most popular Jewish film festivals in the country. Over 40-documentary and feature length films will be showcased in local San Diego theatres throughout the two-week festival, Feb. 5-15, 2004.

The festival will include a preview screening of “Yossi and Jagger” in conjunction with J*Pride on Saturday, Feb. 7, 9:00 p.m. at Madstone Hazard Center Theater. This acclaimed film is based on the true story of gay Israeli Officers who conceal their passion for one another while serving at a dangerous border outpost. Director Eytan Fox skillfully and subtly grounds this true-life romance in the context of social and political realities and pressures, and without flag-waving or ideological posturing, tells the story of young people trying to survive and find happiness in a troubled time and place.

For tickets call the Jewish Community Center (JCC) box office at (858) 362-1348. Tickets are $9 for JCC members and $11 for non-members.