The fourth annual WeHo Awards takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, in West Hollywood.

The awards recognize outstanding achievements in the greater Los Angeles area’s GLBT community. There are 34 categories, each honoring organizations, businesses, events and individuals for their commitment to excellence.

The volunteer board of governors announced that this year they will designate 100 percent of the net proceeds to L.A. Shanti, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals of diverse communities affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life threatening illnesses through emotional support, prevention and education services.

“Our goal this year was to bring the community together on this very important day, to send a clear message to the world, that while the fight against AIDS is far from over, we stand together stronger than ever,” said Anthony Cortez, co-chair of the event. “Unfortunately due to government cutbacks, many community-led organizations, including the first ever in Los Angeles to provide direct services to those affected by HIV/AIDS, L.A. Shanti, is in trouble and we are asking for support by participating in this years event.”

For more information, contact Gina Waddell at (310) 657-1005 or email her at Gwaddell@wehoawards.org.

In the upcoming special, “Are You Positive?”, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes an eye-opening look at the changing face of HIV and AIDS in the United States and around the world. The one-hour documentary, airing Sunday and Monday, Nov. 28-29, and again on Wednesday, Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, explores the next generation of the epidemic and its effect on a new population of victims.

“Are You Positive?” features interviews, profiles and revelations, exploring the possibility that crystal meth, an iinexpensive drug widely popular in the club scene, may be undoing more than 20 years of work combating HIV and AIDS; taking a look at the increasing numbers of children living in the United States with HIV/AIDS; “down-low” men who have sex with men; and new data revealing that in Florida, one in six people over the age of 50 is HIV positive. Miriam Schiller (a.k.a. “Condom Grandma”), a South Florida native and retiree, is profiled in this segment for spreading the word about prevention to her peers. For a generation that did not grow up with the message of safe sex and condom usage, the threat of HIV and AIDS is real, as a growing number of seniors are now infected with the disease.

Gupta gets an inside look at the outreach efforts of Magic Johnson, Richard Gere and Ashley Judd, including Judd’s role as a YouthAIDS global ambassador, Gere’s work with the Naz Orphanage and HIV-infected children and Johnson’s personal struggle with the disease.

“Are You Positive?” airs at 10:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Nov. 28, with a rebroadcast at 1:00 a.m. (ET) on Monday, Nov. 29, and encore broadcasts on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 3:00 and 11:00 p.m. (ET).

A Cal State University San Bernardino master’s study seeks to understand how gay and lesbian parents are treated and perceived in their children’s schools. Gay and lesbian parents are still needed for the research study, which is anonymous. The study aims to understand the complexities that gays and lesbians experience as parents with children in the public or private school systems and to explore areas in which the current system does not meet their unique needs. The more responses they get, the better the data will be and the better the study can draw conclusions on how best to improve conditions for gay and lesbian parents.

Link to the brief online questionnaire via San Diego News Briefs at www.gaylesbiantimes.com, or call Dr. Brian Heisterkamp at (909) 880-7665.

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.

Gay Men’s Chorus San Diego rings in its 13th season with its annual holiday concert, “An Evening in December — American Highlights”, taking place at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-4. The concert will be held at University Christian Church, located at 3900 Cleveland Ave. in Hillcrest.

Audience members can also participate in a silent auction featuring dozens of wreaths hand-made by chorus members, as well as other items donated by local merchants, including hotel packages and spa, facial and massage treatments. Bids will be accepted Friday evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday beginning at 12:00 noon. General admission tickets for “An Evening in December” are $25 and can be purchased from any GMCSD member, at Obelisk the Bookstore, or via the chorus’ website.

For more information about “An Evening in December – American Highlights” call the chorus hotline at (619) 275-2787.

The deadline to register for the Greater San Diego Business Association holiday mixer cruise is Dec. 1. The event will be held aboard the Spirit of San Diego, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Dec. 7. Boarding begins at 5:30 p.m. from the South Broadway Pier, located at 1050 N. Harbor Island Drive.

“We’re using a bigger boat this year, which holds 500 people,” said Joyce Marieb, executive director of the GSDBA. “And we’re inviting our small businesses and their staff to make this their holiday party.”

The two-hour cruise, sponsored in part by Scot Rockman of San Diego Harbor Excursion and Priority Pharmacy, includes an open bar, along with various food stations stocked with turkey, pasta, salad and desserts. Guests are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy or blanket for the Imperial Court de San Diego’s annual toy drive.

Tickets are $35 for members; $35 for their first guest; and $45 for each additional guest. To obtain tickets and further information, call the GSDBA office at (619) 296-4543.

San Diego LGBT Pride has selected a theme for its 2005 celebration, which was adopted from the recent InterPride conference in Reykjavik, Iceland.

“Equal Rights! No More, No Less!” was first voted upon at the Iceland conference by approximately 100 delegates from around the world, including San Diego LGBT Pride Executive Director Suanne Pauley, who serves as InterPride’s treasurer. At a recent San Diego LGBT board meeting, the theme was selected to represent next year’s Pride weekend in San Diego, scheduled for July 29-31.

“The global theme very much reflects the political climate in the U.S. and the new struggles the LGBT community now faces,” Pauley said. “It sends out a strong message at a time when our voices need to be heard.”

The announcement of a new theme also marks the start of Pride’s annual logo contest, open to everyone in the community. “We’re looking for all types of color designs that exemplify the message,” said Pauley. The winning artist will receive $500, and both the logo and theme will appear throughout Pride’s marketing materials and line of merchandise in 2005.

Entries must be received at the Pride office by Jan. 19. Submission guidelines can be obtained by calling the Pride office at (619) 297-7683.