The Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition (SCHAC) has announced the election of its executive officers and standing committee chairs for 2004. The new executive team to lead Southern California’s grass roots advocacy efforts are co-chairs Alberto Mendoza, Drug Policy Alliance, and Chris Perry, openly HIV-positive prevention educator from Tarzana Treatment Center; treasurer Doris WahlWhittier, Rio-Hondo AIDS Project; and secretary Daniel Rivas, Los Angeles County Dept. of Health Services.

New committee chairs include Public Policy Chair Jessie Gruttadauria of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Membership Chair Demetri Moshoyannis from Being Alive; and Governance Chair Tom Peterson of AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County. Ad Hoc Committee chairs were also named to focus on the current state budget crisis. Ruel Nolledo will lead the ADAP Crisis Response Team and Howard Jacobs will work with media relations to ensure SCHAC messages on budget negotiations are presented to media partners.

VaginaFest has the aim of providing a more than adequate education concerning free and low-cost health services available for women in San Diego. Lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons often do not have access to quality healthcare providers at an affordable rate. VaginaFest will feature free various workshops ranging from domestic violence prevention, acupuncture, artificial insemination and transgender health, to safe sex workshops.

The festival also includes a free musical lineup featuring San Diego favorites Danielle Lo Presti and the Masses, Lisa Sanders and Lauren DeRose. This year we are also providing an open mic, hosted by San Diego’s Siren, as well as excerpts from Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues to be performed by San Diego dignitaries, volunteers and community celebrities. The best feature of VaginaFest is the free pap smears given by health professionals.

There will be an art garden as well as a space for men who wish to participate and learn about women’s health and the feminist movement. This event is co-sponsored by the San Diego activist group, V.A.G.I.N.A., Vibrant Activist Girls Seeking National Attention, and Beinestar Community Center. Admission is free. Vagina Fest will be held in North Park at the corner of 30th street and North Park Way, in front of Beinestar Community Center, located at 3020 North Park Way.

Looking to meet new people? Friends, activity partners, dates, it’s all possible at “5 Minute Man”. Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Gay Men’s Health Program invites you to attend “5 Minute Man”, a fun and interactive alternative to meeting guys in San Diego. Events take place at the Joyce Beers Community Center (next to Trader Joe’s, in Hillcrest) at 7:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month. This is a free event, and refreshments will be served

For further information or questions, please contact Bailey Mitchell at (619) 515-2424 ext. 2913.

The Center has created a portal site to connect the community with the latest and most useful information from local, state and national sources on the marriage equality debate. The site will link to press releases and fact sheets from the American Civil Liberties Union, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality California, to name a few. Find out ways to help make a difference in the struggle for freedom. Visit this story online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the site.

Local activist record company Say It Records and Danielle Lo Presti and The Masses, in conjunction with The Center, will present “Celebrate Women’s History Month!” on Tues., Mar. 23.

In honor of March and Women’s History Month, this collaboration will present a funkified herstory lesson featuring some of the many heroines who have shaped the world for the better, even if their identities live buried in obscurity under the millions of names of their male counterparts. The event will feature live performances by Danielle LoPresti and the Masses, Alicia Champion and several other artists. Each performer will choose a heroine – past or present – and announce who she is and why the performer chose her as her heroine of the night. The event will also honor women, who have made the world a better place, with biographies and pictures.

The fun and enlightenment will start at 7:00 p.m. at The Center.

LLEGÓ, the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organization, is calling for proposals from community activists throughout the United States and Puerto Rico to host “El 11mo Encuentro”. Scheduled to take place in October 2006, “El 11mo Encuentro” will be organized and carried out as a joint effort between LLEGÓ and a local community coalition of activists, organizations, volunteers and sponsors. Currently, planning and coordination of “El 10mo Encuentro” in Seattle is underway in collaboration with their local partner and host, COSEA 2004. “El 10mo Encuentro” will take place October 7-10, at the Seattle Airport Hilton.

The following guidelines must be met in order for your proposal to be considered. A Latino/o LGBT organization or at least seven community members can submit a proposal to host El Encuentro. However, the host organization must commit to creating a coalition of individuals, organizations, community groups, businesses and corporations. The potential host city must have an established working relationship with its local convention bureau or chamber of commerce. A letter from the bureau or chamber of commerce will be required. The applicant must have a proven fundraising record in direct solicitation, including corporate, foundation and individual giving. For more information contact the LLEGÓ Development Department at (888) 633-8320.

A gay and lesbian beginner comedy improv class debuts Mon., Mar. 8, in Mission Valley, providing an opportunity to connect with others through the fun of improvisation games. Milo Shapiro, professional improv performer of San Diego’s IMPROVentures, teaches the class, which blends the craziness of improv with the special humor of the GLBT community.

The four-week class is conducted Monday evenings from 7:45 to 9:30 p.m., Mar. 8-29, at Pacific Church of Religious Science, 123 Camino de la Reina. Cost is $60 for all four sessions if registered by March 1, $65 after March 1 or $75 at the door. Participants who are “improv curious” can sample the first class for $20.

For more information, call (619) 542-0761.

San Diego will celebrate the first Community Unity Day Picnic on Sat., Mar. 6, in Balboa Park. The picnic will take place on the lawn between Upas and Quince streets to celebrate the community in the spirit of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Bring your own picnic lunch, chairs and blankets for the event. Open mic starts at 11:00 a.m. with sign-ups beginning at 10:00 a.m. Open mic session will last five minutes each and give individuals the opportunity to promote the work of an organization or to speak out on topics of importance.

The Community Unity Day Picnic is sponsored by Singingheart, Inc. Joe Mortz, the organizations’ president can be contacted by phone at (619) 233-9202 or by mail at 1010 University Ave., #336, San Diego, CA., 92103.