This weekend, Stepping Stone will go where no GLBT organization has gone before; onto the U.S.S. Midway, with its third annual Living Out Loud fundraiser. The aircraft carrier museum made its home in San Diego this past spring, and draws 5,000 visitors a day. Stepping Stone was one of 300 organizations who attempted to book the ship for this weekend for its annual gala fundraiser. Organizers hope the prime location combined with the star power of comedian Kathy Griffin will make for a winning combination for the organization that has suffered from funding cuts at the state level this past year.

“It’s especially vital this year because of the state budget cuts,” said Kurt Carlson, co-chair of Living Out Loud, regarding funding cuts. “They’ve been dramatic and in excess of $80,000 already, with a potential for more by year-end. You can imagine what that does to a state and county funded drug and alcohol rehab budget when you’re trying to manage that for helping people.”

Cheryl Houk, the executive director of Stepping Stone San Diego, said that the money will go to support programs specifically targeted toward the GLBT community.

“We were funded for $160,000 to do day treatments out of that facility,” Houk said. “Really, we have had to fight all along to keep our population separate because when they were cutting funding, other programs would say they serve the GLBT population… and that they could absorb the people that we would not be serving.”

However, Houk points out that even though other programs may have staff and counselors who are trained to deal with members of the GLBT community, Stepping Stone is able to provide them with a higher level of care.

“The biggest thing is they can come in as whoever they are and be who they are when they come in the door and feel safe being so,” Houk adds. “Other programs, even though we have come a long way, cannot boast of being gay and lesbian sensitive… their staff members may be, but it’s their other clients in the program that really affect the individual coming out… They can say they are gay and lesbian friendly all they want, but when the rubber meets the road, they can’t control what happens client to client and the peer pressure in there.”

More than 400 individuals, including local elected officials and San Diego community leaders, are expected to attend on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Midway. The evening will begin with a VIP reception where guests will mingle with Griffin, along with access to flight simulators and private docent-led tours of the bridge.

Griffin was a late addition to the program after the original comedian, Caroline Rhea, had to cancel her appearance at the event due to a prior commitment. Best known for her roles on “Suddenly Susan” and the reality TV hit, “Average Joe”, Griffin struck gold this year with her comedy special on Bravo, “The D List”, in which she pokes fun at Hollywood and celebrities.

“She’s been doing fundraisers both in the gay community and the recovery community, so she really has an understanding and empathy for this kind of charity,” Carlson said. “She is going to make her comedy act talk about the necessity and the importance of what we are doing…. Otherwise she’s just going to be being her funny self, but she does understand out cause and she also understands how vital it is in lieu of the state situation. She’s pretty angry and vehement about it.”

Carlson added, “Last year we had Paula Poundstone and that was awesome because she certainly had a sensitivity to what we were doing from her own experience. I think Kathy will be the same way. I think she will really understand her audience and cater to it.”

In a statement for the Gay and Lesbian Times, Griffin said, “I’m so looking forward to literally making a shipload of gay people laugh because God knows they have given me an aircraft full of love.”

In addition to the live entertainment, the event will feature food by Peartrees Catering and desserts donated by Clair de Lune. As with previous years, there will also be a silent auction to raise additional funds for Stepping Stone. David Maddy, who has worked on the auction for the last two years, is chairing the auction featuring over $60,000 worth of gifts.

“We’re worried that we have enough people to buy all of the stuff,” Carlson said. “Our chair, who has been doing this for a couple of years, and he’s just really phenomenal at coercing people to support us. We’ve got awesome gifts, we’ve got amazing trips, packaged fun and entertainment, so I really want people to come and buy.”

Highlights of the spectacular silent and live auctions include a collection of fine bedroom, living room and occasional furniture along with, fine art, vacation condos and unique gifts for every taste and budget. There will also be a live auction of two first-class tickets to Boston courtesy of Delta airlines along with accommodations at a superb Provincetown resort.