San Diego LGBT Pride will present an expanded Art of Pride exhibit at this summer’s two-day festival in Balboa Park, taking place July 30 and 31. The juried exhibit, coordinated by San Diego LGBT Pride and local artist Jeane, will showcase works in various media by local artists. Also included in the exhibit this year is an area that will feature exotic works of art for visitors 18 years and older. All proceeds from sales will go directly to Art of Pride participants.

The deadline to submit artwork is July 1. Artists must email four photographs of their work in three-inch jpeg files to director@sdpride.org. And they are required to donate one of their pieces for a silent auction, which will be held during the festival.

The exhibit and sale is designed to give artists in the GLBT community an opportunity to expose their talents to an estimated crowd of nearly 40,000 festival attendees. Last year’s exhibit attracted more than 30 artists skilled in oil painting, pottery, sculpture and jewelry making.

An artist reception will be held Pride weekend on the festival grounds. The time will be announced soon.

For more information, call the San Diego LGBT Pride office at (619) 297-7683.

The Center’s next Community Coalition Lunch takes place Friday, April 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in The Center’s auditorium.

A modest admission charge includes lunch catered by The Abbey Café, networking and an information session.

For the past two years, the meeting has been a monthly staple for members of San Diego’s GLBT leadership, politicians and candidates, and for organizations collaborating with The Center. Information presented at the Community Coalition breakfasts over the past year has made audiences aware of important issues affecting San Diego’s GLBT community.

The Community Coalition Lunch takes place on the third Friday of every month. 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) 692-2077 ext. 212 for more information.

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s Spring Brunch April 16 kicks off Momentum on the Midway, the nonprofit legal organization’s annual fundraiser party aboard the USS Midway Carrier Museum. Former Navy Petty Officer First Class Derek Sparks, a former service member discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” will speak at the brunch. Sparks is one of 12 plaintiffs in Cook V. Rumsfeld, a federal lawsuit filed by SLDN seeking an end to the military’s ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. Sparks served in the United States Navy for more than 14 years and is a veteran of both the first Gulf War and the war in Afghanistan.

The brunch takes place Saturday, April 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 4494 Tivoli St. Contact Jacob Lilien at jlilien@sldn.org or (202) 328-3244 ext. 102 to RSVP.

Immigration Equality San Diego is co-sponsoring an immigration workshop on Saturday, April 16, at the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UCSD from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The workshop will focus on self-petitioning, which enables foreign-born researchers, scientists and technical professionals the opportunity to petition for permanent residency (green card) in the United States. The workshop will provide the necessary tools and accurate information from experienced immigration attorneys.

The workshop is free of charge but space is limited. RSVP to jkp135@att.net.

Immigration Equality San Diego meets the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at The Center, 3909 Centre St.

On Monday, April 18, they we will be having a discussion with an immigration attorney on GLBT and HIV-positive asylum and deportation issues, followed by a social get-together. Bring finger foods or dessert. For more information, email Sam at mactoba@yahoo.com.

NAMI, the Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness, hosts their annual walk Saturday, April 16, starting at 9:00 a.m. in Balboa Park between Quince and Laurel streets. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. Walkers can choose a 2K or 5K walk, and a festival featuring refreshments and music will follow.

NAMI works with national, state and local leadership in areas of education, law enforcement, business and healthcare to ensure access to mental health treatment, services and support for all Americans living with serious mental disorders.

Walk takes place rain or shine. Call (951) 894-4182 for more information.

The San Diego LGBT Community Leadership Council presents renowned GLBT leader Evan Wolfson from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, at The Center.

The executive director of Freedom to Marry, Wolfson has been at the forefront of the national fight for marriage equality. During his time with Lambda Legal, he served as co-counsel in the historic Hawaii same-sex marriage case and appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court in Lambda’s discrimination case, Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale. Additionally, Wolfson was listed on Time magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential People in the World” list in 2004.

“Evan Wolfson is a true leader whose work has had a dramatic impact on our collective efforts to secure LGBT equal rights,” said Dr. Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center. “I have tremendous respect for his vision and courageous legal work on behalf of our community.”

Immediately following his speech, Wolfson will be available to sign his book, Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People’s Right to Marry.

The April 21 event is free and open to the public. A private reception with Wolfson will take place prior to the event. Call Zac Mikles at (619) 692-2077 ext. 246 or email zmikles@thecentersd.org for more information.

The fifth anniversary of the Tijuana police raid on Sam Warren’s Villa Playas bed and breakfast, in which eight men were arrested and imprisoned on trumped-up charges after police seized pornographic videos and photographs of nude men, takes place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, at Casa Machado Mexican Bar & Grill, located at 3750 John J. Montgomery Dr. The event will feature a book signing by Sam Warren, who wrote Tales from Tijuana Jails, and guest speakers, including human rights activist Emilio Velàsques and Mexican attorney Francisco Bazàn.

Admission is $25. All proceeds go towards attorney fees to release Richard Wilson, the last of the group still imprisoned in Mexico. Call (619) 531-0765 to RSVP and obtain further information.

The next San Diego PFLAG meeting takes place Monday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 4190 Front St. in Hillcrest.

The San Diego meeting will consist of support groups followed by a cookie social. George (Jorge) Carnes, an administrative account representative for Kaiser in Southern California and a Pride co-chair, will speak following the cookie social.

His talk, “Being Jorge,” will center on his experience of coming out at 19, and his young adult life afterwards. Carnes was born in Managua, Nicaragua, and grew up with his mother and two older brothers.

The next Carlsbad PFLAG meeting takes place at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at Pilgrim United Church of Christ/Pilgrim Hall, located at 2020 Chestnut St. Carlsbad PFLAG meetings are always held on the fourth Sunday of the month.

Call PFLAG’s San Diego office at (619) 5797640 for more information.