With flu season approaching and vaccine in short supply, The Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego is presenting a free seminar entitled “How to Avoid or Treat Colds and Flu with Chinese Medicine,” on Friday, Nov. 19, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The program will be presented by Bill Helm, TS, CI, Chinese herbalist and the director of The Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego. The sanctuary is located at 4229 Park Blvd. No reservations are necessary. Call (619) 692-1155 or for more information.

Education is the topic of the day at The Center’s next monthly Community Coalition Breakfast, taking place Friday, Nov. 19, from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. in The Center’s auditorium.

Featured speakers include Alan Bersin, superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, Barbara Rivas of San Diego County Safe Schools and Elaine Lewis, alumna of the University of San Diego.

Each attendee is asked for a $6 donation to cover the cost of the full breakfast provided by The Abbey Café. RSVPs are not required. ASL interpretation will be provided upon request. Requests must be sent to AJ Davis at adavis@thecentersd.org at least seven working days before the event. Call (619) 692-7022 ext. 212 for more information.

On Saturday, Nov. 20, the Transgender Community Coalition, The Center and the Imperial Court de San Diego, along with other local groups and individuals, will join over 60 other U.S. cities and eight countries in participating in the sixth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. A unity march and candlelight memorial service will commemorate those who have died due to anti-transgender violence in the past year.

The march begins at The Center at 6:30 p.m., and will proceed west on University Avenue, returning to The Center for a remembrance ceremony at 7:30 p.m., which features guest speakers, musical presentations and a reading of the names of those who have died due to anti-transgender violence.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance event continues to grow, with 110 locations in eight countries participating in 2003. Growth this year is already looking to eclipse that number. The coalition and participants hope to bring together the GLBT and allied communities and increase public awareness of the transgender community and the violence often perpetuated against them. This event will be ASL interpreted. Call (619) 692-2077 for more information.

On Nov. 17, UCSD marked the fifth anniversary of the opening of the LGBT Resource Center. In 1999, the center opened as the LGBT Resource Office. The name reflected the size and support the place originally received. Through persistent efforts of the UCSD GLBT community, the office expanded in size, scope and staffing. It now provides the full resources as one of UCSD’s Campus Community Centers, along with the Cross-Cultural Center and Women’s Center.

Some of UCSD’s achievements over the last several years include: celebration of an annual Rainbow Graduation, recognizing the success of UCSD’s graduating students as well as the achievements of other students, faculty, and staff; orientation of incoming students through UCSD’s “Q camp – An Orientation for incoming LGBT students”; presentation of an annual high school youth conference “Generation Q” by the student organization Queer People of Color to connect with queer and questioning high school youth from the San Diego area; hosting non-sexist dances by the student organization LGBTQIA – the largest gathering of LGBTQIA youth in San Diego County; serving as host campus for the University of California LGBTIA Conference in February 2004, with about 600 in attendance, which attracts students, staff, and faculty from throughout the western region; establishing four $1,000 undergraduate student scholarships for members of the GLBT community that are available each year; and inclusion of “gender identity” into the University of California’s nondiscrimination policy.

San Diego LGBT Pride doubled its 2004 donation to The Center compared to last year by giving the facility $55,000 last month. The donation was earmarked to offset The Center’s recent cutbacks in grants for major programs such as the Hillcrest Youth Center and Latino Services Project.

According to Joe Mayer, San Diego LGBT Pride Board co-chair, “The Center supports the entire community, and Pride wants to do the same by funding its programs, which benefit all of our community. Everyone looks to The Center in times of crisis and for the many LGBT services it provides.”

The donation includes $5,000 to maintain and complete the facility’s front room, known as the San Diego LGBT Pride Community Drop-in Center. The Pride board last year committed that amount for five years to the room, which is in addition to annual donations it has made to the facility for at least the past 10 years. To date, Pride has given $250,000 to The Center.

A free seminar addressing financial, tax and estate planning for domestic partners takes place Wednesday, Dec. 1, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Park Manor Suites. Group hosts Karen Mendez, Piper Jaffray and Nancy G. Henderson will lead a frank discussion on the unique opportunities and challenges facing financially successful gay and nontraditional couples. This seminar will benefit those who have a minimum of $500,000 of investable assets. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be provided. Space is limited; RSVP by Nov. 29 to Myrta at (858) 526-7411.

Mama’s Kitchen, a nonprofit meal delivery service dedicated to providing nutritious meals 365 days a year to San Diegans affected by AIDS, is hosting its 13th annual Tree of Life Tree Lighting Ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 1, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Village Hillcrest Retail Center located at 3965 Fifth Ave. The candlelight vigil honors those who have lost their life to AIDS and gives strength and hope to those currently affected. Personalized ornaments commemorating loved ones will be displayed throughout the month of December, and can be purchased for $10 each or two for $15 at the tree lighting ceremony or through Mama’s Kitchen. The event is free and open to the public. All proceeds benefit the clients of Mama’s Kitchen. Call (619) 233-MAMA (6262) for more information.

The Gay Men’s Relationship and Empowerment Retreat is designed to give gay men the chance to talk openly about gay relationships. The retreat breaks down stereotypes and opens up issues for discussion in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Their aim is to provide a forum that allows gay men to begin positive changes for themselves through personal and community empowerment.

The retreat focuses on dynamics of romance as well as dating and partnering issues, especially ways that the social environment plays a role in how gay men have relationships with other men. The retreat encourages honest communication, free of the fear of rejection or criticism.

The next retreat is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Dec. 10-12. Contact Tom Barnes at (619) 515-2446 ext. 2941 for further information.