Prestigious lesbian and bisexual women were honored for their work in the community on Saturday, May 7, at The Center’s glitzy annual Women’s Night, held at the El Cortez Hotel.

Champagne flowed and roulette wheels spun at the Monte Carlo-themed event, which raised funds through ticket sales and a silent auction.

Auction items included an Olivia Cruise, which sold at $3,500 and a signed Melissa Etheridge guitar, which sold for $2,000.

The net total raised is still being calculated. All proceeds will help to fund women-specific programming at The Center.

Dr. Jacquelyn Wilson was honored in the health/medicine category, Elaine Graybill for philanthropy, Cindy Uybungco for business, Sue Gonda, Ph.D., for education, Mindy Watrose for social service, Gina Angelique and Eveoke Dance Theatre for arts, Vertez Burks for politics and the late Maria Elena Plasencia for politics.

Dr. Jacquelyn Wilson has been a holistic medicine practitioner for more than 25 years and been

involved with San Diego Cancer Research Institute, The Center’s LGBT Senior Health Care Project, Diversionary Theater and an active board member of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation.

Elaine Graybill has contributed personally to and raised funds for The Center, Equality California, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Diversionary Theatre and the San Diego Democratic Club, and has been involved with many progressive political campaigns.

A successful graphic designer and longtime volunteer in the San Diego GLBT and Hillcrest communities, Cindy Uybungco has been involved with San Diego LGBT Pride, the Greater San Diego Business Association, AIDS Walk, Being Alive, Special Delivery and the Azteca Project.

Sue Gonda, a history professor at Grossmont College, is the executive director of the Women’s History Reclamation Project and an adjunct professor at SDSU’s Women’s Studies Department.

Mindy Watrose was instrumental in creating the LGBTQ Foster Care Network within Walden Family Services, expanded Walden’s efforts to actively recruit GLBT foster parents, and worked to find homes for abused children with significant behavioral and emotional problems.

Co-founder and artistic director of the Eveoke Dance Theatre, Gina Angelique produces the annual Celebrate Dance Festival, the largest celebration of its kind, which displays over 70 dance troupes for free to 12,000 patrons. Eveoke offers over 30 classes a week to diverse, low-income communities.

Vertez Burks, a member of The Center who volunteers with the Speakers Bureau and serves on the Women’s Advisory Council, has served as co-chair of San Diego LGBT Pride and worked with California’s LIFE Lobby. Burks has contributed to The Names Project National, Slightly

Older Lesbians, SPECTRUM, Lesbian Community Cultural Arts, and Lesbians and Gays of African Descent United (LAGADU). She is also a member of the City Heights Planning Committee.

A special award was given to commemorate Maria Elena Plasencia, who died earlier this year, for her dedication as a feminist and community activist. Plasencia represented her Assembly district at California Democratic Party conventions and was involved in numerous political campaigns, including those of Councilmembers Donna Frye and Toni Atkins, Congressmember Bob Filner and Christine Kehoe, now a state senator. In addition, Plasencia volunteered for a variety of community groups, including Lesbian Community Cultural Arts, The Names Project National, Slightly Older Lesbians and LAGADU.