One of the oldest GLBT organizations in the city and the first to own property, Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego (MCCSD) will celebrate its 35th anniversary June 4-5. Their special guest will be the Reverend Elder Troy Perry, the famed founder and moderator of the denomination.

On Saturday, June 4, at 7:00 p.m. at The Center, the MCCSD Celebration Choir presents their annual “Best of the Best Concert,” featuring favorite upbeat inspirational music of the past year.

The 35th anniversary worship celebrations will be Sunday, June 5, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. at The Center. Rev. Perry, a powerful speaker, noted author and well-known activist for GLBT rights, will offer the sermon. Numerous local dignitaries including State Senator Christine Kehoe, Council-member Toni Atkins, Congressmember Bob Filner and City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez plan to be on hand at 11:00 a.m. to recognize the church’s ministry to the community.

Senior Pastor Tony Freeman commented that he is extremely proud of “the incredible testimony of a church founded and built on God’s inclusive love for all people.” He said that this anniversary is all about “celebrating our past, praising God for the joy of the present, and pursuing our future with boldness and excitement.”

The Rev. Perry will retire in July after leading the denomination for over 35 years.

For more information, contact the church offices at (619) 521-2222.

Get a crash-course review of the intensive training and action program that took place recently at Equality California’s Long Beach Power Summit. The review training takes place Saturday, June 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, located at 2696 Melbourne Dr. in San Diego.

California is facing a constitutional amendment that has been called the most extreme anti-gay, anti-single parent, anti-family amendment ever introduced in the nation. EQCA needs every person who opposes discrimination to get involved to help defeat the proposed amendment.

This crash course is designed to train the trainers of the movement. Participation in this training will be called upon to lead others in this effort and to train new volunteers. Since there are a limited number of spaces available for this training, potential participants are asked to contact them by phone prior to registering to discuss if this training will be a good fit.

Call Ron Eads at (619) 279-1270. The training fee is $25. There are a limited number of scholarships available. Transgender people, women and people of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Members of the Swedish military are traveling across the county conducting interviews of military personnel who are currently on active duty or were discharged due the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

They are studying lesbian, gay and bisexual rights within the U.S. armed forces. The issue is of interest from an international perspective, and the study will hopefully give more knowledge about the situation in the U.S. armed forces and how the Swedish armed forces can work in order to reduce the risk of tension in this matter when the two forces cooperate.

The Swedish military members will be in San Diego June 2-5. All interviews are anonymous.

Local American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) chapter members will assist hosting the Swedish military visitors as they conduct their interviews. Contact AVER representative Carl Moccafiche at (619) 291-7284 for details.

On Sunday, June 5, the Hillcrest Hair Salon will host a cut-a-thon with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the Latino/a Services Program at The Center. The cut-a-thon will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Hillcrest Hair Salon, located at 676 University Ave.

“We are grateful for the support of the Hillcrest Hair Salon,” said Carolina Ramos, program coordinator for The Center’s Latino/a Services Program. “It is vitally important that we continue to provide these targeted services for LGBT Latino/as, and community support such as this is both appreciated and necessary.”

For information about The Center’s Latino/a Services Program, call Ramos at (619) 692-2077 ext. 116.

The Center’s Positive Action program and Priority Pharmacy have teamed up with David’s Coffeehouse to host a reception to unveil the written and visual work of HIV-positive artists. The reception takes place on Sunday, June 5, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at David’s Coffeehouse, located at 3766 Fifth Ave.

The featured works were created as a result of two Positive Action workshops – “POZ Seminar Weekend” and “Write on Centre Creative Writing Group” for HIV-positive men. In response to the popularity and success of the workshops, The Center and Priority Pharmacy will support a monthly series of artist’s workshops for the HIV-positive community at David’s Coffeehouse.

There is no fee to attend. For more information on the reception or the Positive Action Program, contact Carolyn Hunt at (619) 692-2077 ext. 133.

Movie star and senior citizen Debbie Reynolds speaks at San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency’s Vital Aging Conference 2005, which is designed to help seniors gain insight into the elements of successful aging and staying healthy and active. The conference takes place Thursday, June 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Town & Country Convention Center, located at 500 Hotel Circle North.

Reynolds will keynote the event, sharing her experiences of aging, while maintaining an active personal and professional life, as well as being a caregiver to her own parents.

Call (800) 82-SHARP for more information about the conference, or to register. Admission is $5; parking is $4.

The Victory Fund, which trains and supports GLBT political candidates, is holding a luncheon Friday, June 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Bahia Resort Hotel, located at 998 West Mission Bay Dr. The luncheon, which will raise much-needed funds for the organization, features Massachusetts state Senator Jarret Barrios, Redondo Beach Mayor-elect Mike Gin and Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Victory Fund.

Tickets are $50 general admission, $100 for hosts ($150 per couple) and $250 for sponsors. Contact Robert Gleason at (858) 539-7610 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Stan Lawrence Portrait Art Photography is seeking couples interested in participating in the upcoming Gay and Lesbian Couples Exhibit. The portraits will be displayed in venues throughout Hillcrest. Couples wishing to participate should call (619) 465-2477.

The project began in 1996, and became a noted annual event for six years.

The Gay and Lesbian Couples Exhibit is committed to promoting awareness and celebrating the diversity of human love.

“The campaign is not about finding model-types,” said Stan Lawrence. “We’re looking for typical citizens who represent the true diversity of San Diego’s GLBT community. An accurate local representation comprises couples of all ages, shapes, sizes and ethnicities.”

Last year more than 200 couples participated. In addition to “showing what couples look like,” the exhibit will demonstrate the unique relationship of each couple.

Lawrence is an active member of the GSDBA and a past president of the Professional Photographers of San Diego. He holds a Photographic Craftsman degree from the Professional Photographers of America and is an educator under the auspices of various professional organizations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii.