The Center and Heads On Fire will host two workshops that focus on documenting, celebrating and sharing stories of local GLBT couples.

The workshops will kick off with a special presentation and book signing by well-known and respected author and historian Lillian Faderman on Thursday, July 15, at 7:00 p.m. at The Center. Faderman has long been an advocate for preserving GLBT history and has authored several works, including some that document her own life. Faderman’s works include Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers; To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done for America – A History; and Naked in the Promised Land: A Memoir, which received the 2004 Lambda Literary Award for best LGBT Memoir/Autobiography.

The workshops will take place on Saturday, July 17, and Saturday, July 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Center. Interested participants should gather any pictures, videos, journals, music, poetry or other artifacts significant to themselves and/or their relationship. Fees for the workshops are $80 for couples and $60 for individuals. The workshops will feature state-of-the-art technology and participants will leave with their own DVD of their story. Checks should be made payable to Heads on Fire, and all proceeds will go toward establishing a digital storytelling workshop series for youth at The Center’s Hillcrest Youth Center.

Registration forms are available by contacting Lindsay Sullivan at (619) 692-2077, ext. 107.

The LGBT San Diego Delivers the Vote campaign is the topic at The Center’s Community Coalition Breakfast taking place from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 16. Admission is $6 and includes beverages and a full breakfast catered by The Abbey. City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez, Ebony Pride Co-Chair Ken Riley, Bienestar Regional Director Carolina Ramos and Family Matters Board of Directors member Lisa Bagot will speak. Call (619) 692-2077 ext. 212 for more information.

It’s here, and The Center has it, the only live talk show dedicated to celebrating amazing women in the diverse LBT community. Once a month they will feature a different inspiring woman and get to know her. This month’s special guest is Danielle Lo Presti, musician and founder of Say It Records. Complimentary coffee is provided by Marie from the woman-owned coffee shop Sip This. Any donations will benefit the Women’s Resource Center. To find out more or to suggest a “cool woman” to profile, contact Claudia Lucero at clucero@thecentersd.org or by phone at (619) 692-2077 ext. 206.

Coffee and conversation with cool women is regularly held on the second Wednesday of each month, but this month’s special event will be on Friday, July 16.

On Thursday, July 22, Siren Open Mic for Women will celebrate its first anniversary at David’s Coffeehouse, with a night of spoken-word, music, comedy, activism and more. Fulfilling Siren’s mission “to provide a safe space in which female artists may inspire and support one another via the expression of the creative arts,” the night will include open-mic sessions as well as featured performances from Lynn Breedlove (author of Godspeed and front-woman of Tribe 8) and Sherilyn Connelly (author of Substance and Sublimation).

Siren was founded in July 2003 by Abby Schwartz and Taylor, two local performers who felt San Diego was in need of an open mic specifically geared towards women. In a year’s time, Siren has featured many distinctive performers, writers and activists, including Eileen Myles, Danielle LoPresti and the Masses, Saba, Lauren DeRose and Steph Johnson.

The anniversary festivities kick off at David’s Coffeehouse (3766 5th Ave.) at 8:00 p.m. Sign-up for the open mic will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission to Siren’s First Anniversary She-Bang is free, and will include snacks, drinks and plenty of top-notch female entertainment.

Ever wanted to dance with a partner to the wonderful strains of beautiful waltz, fox trot, tango or rumba? Join Rosemary Ward at The Center for lessons in International Latin and Standard styles at The Ballroom Dance Experience. Class will be held at The Center on Saturday, July 24, starting at 12:00 noon. There will be a $10 fee collected at the door and all proceeds will benefit The Center. No partner is necessary to participate. Call (619) 692-2077 for more information.

On Bingo nights, the doors of the auditorium at The Center open at 6:15 p.m. and the first game starts at 7:00 p.m. Admission for 10 games is $10 for a six-card game pad. Additional pads can be purchased for $5 each. Prizes for the first nine games are $50 and the last game played is $100.

As if all this wasn’t enough to fill your evening, there is also a Door Prize Dash, where 10 lucky attendees can win non-cash prizes, from free bingo games to items donated by various Bingo sponsor merchants in the community.

If you would like more information, call The Center at (619) 692-2077 ext. 247.

Local Eagle Scouts and community leaders will be staffing an information booth at the San Diego LGBT Pride festival to provide information to the public about the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) discriminatory policies, on Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, Aug. 1.

San Diego Scouting for All, Alliance for Human Rights will provide information to the public about the Boy Scouts’ current policies of exclusion against the GLBT and atheist communities. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who would like to help stop discrimination in the Boy Scouts of America.

Additionally, San Diego Scouting For All will be inviting people to sign petitions to change the national Scouting exclusionary policies, send postcards to President Bush imploring him to step down as the honorary president of the BSA, enlist the help of more local volunteers and promote attendance at the upcoming protest rally on Sunday, Aug. 22, in front of the local BSA headquarters in Balboa Park.

For more information, call Howard Menzer at (858) 268-2853.

Suanne Pauley, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride, will speak at the next PFLAG meeting, taking place July 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, about all the wonderful things that happen during the community’s largest celebration of the year. Pride is also the largest civic event for the City of San Diego with over 150,000 spectators. Pauley will share information about what is new with this year’s festivities and for newcomers to Pride, a taste of what it will be like.

Come to this meeting to share your pride for your GLBT loved ones and find out how you can be part of the experience by walking in the parade with the PFLAG contingent.

The First Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 4190 Front St. in Hillcrest. For more information, call (619) 579-7640.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) has announced a “signature weekend event in San Diego,” with the historic USS Midway aircraft carrier as the backdrop, to raise funds for SLDN’s national operations. The SLDN is a national nonprofit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and related forms of intolerance.

The weekend of military-themed events is scheduled for Sept. 16-19 and will include an opening party hosted by Bourbon Street, men’s and women’s parties hosted by Rich’s and Numbers, a special VIP reception on the flight deck of the USS Midway and a dance party on the hanger deck of the ship.

For more information about sponsorships, contact Michael Magee at (619) 291-4837 or Shana McBean at (202) 328-3244, ext. 105.