The United Farm Workers of America (UFW) announced their support for marriage equality last week.

“This is about one civil rights movement joining forces with another to affirm shared values of social justice,” said UFW California political director Christine Chavez. “Our struggles are rightfully linked: from the farm workers current boycott of Gallo wine to the battle to achieve equality for all through marriage equality.”

“We are incredibly honored by the support of the United Farm Workers, whose long-standing commitment to fair and equal treatment for all hard-working families is a shining example of what family values is truly about,” said Equality California Executive Director Geoffrey Kors. “California is home to the largest population of Latino same-sex couples and their families in the country and the UFW honors those relationships by their endorsement of marriage equality. We stand tall with the United Farm Workers in support of equality and economic justice and look forward to our joint efforts to pass equal marriage rights legislation and secure economic justice for all Californians.”

Chavez’s grandfather was the legendary Cesar Chavez, who was a gay rights supporter.

“Beginning in the 1970s, before there was widespread public acceptance of gay people, especially among Latinos, my grandfather, Cesar Chavez, spoke out strongly for gay rights,” Chavez said. “He attended gay rights rallies and marches. He brought with him the UFW’s black-eagle flags and farm workers who wished to participate.

“You can’t champion equality for your own people when you tolerate discrimination against any people because of who they are. Also, leadership isn’t about following the crowd. It’s about getting out in front and leading people in the right direction. Because they have so often been the victims of discrimination, farm workers and Latinos of all ages have a strong affinity for equal rights and opportunities. Freedom is indivisible. You cannot grant it to some and deny it to others. It is either for everybody or it is for nobody,” she said.

Do you often find yourself in disagreement with your partner over day-to-day parenting issues? Do you wish you could both be “on the same page”?

Come discover the underlying causes for couple’s disagreements on parenting, and learn how to create peaceful resolutions and a more harmonious family environment at the Parenting as a Team Workshop taking place Thursday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m. at The Center, located at 3909 Centre St. The workshop is sponsored by Family Matters and The Center’s Women’s Resource Center.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. This is an adult-only event. RSVP by July 1 to Anna DiMartino at rcbsandiego@yahoo.com. Call (619) 692-2077 ext. 206 for further information.

An eclectic mix of local and national talent will hit the main stage at San Diego LGBT Pride’s two-day festival in Balboa Park, taking place Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31. The lineup features rock, pop, alternative, jazz, country and hip-hop.

Main-stage headliners for Saturday, July 30, feature vocalist and composer Cris Williamson as well as BETTY, a five-piece alternative rock ensemble from New York City that wrote the current theme song for Showtime’s “The L Word.” The group has appeared on MTV, The Food Network and Comedy Central.

Williamson, who ranks among the “mothers” of the women’s music scene, will share the festival stage with singer-songwriter Teresa Trull and pianist Barbara Higbie, critically acclaimed recording artists who released a duo CD called Playtime. Williamson will also appear at Pride’s Spirit on Stonewall rally, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at the festival grounds.

Main stage performers include Niki Haris, a former background singer for Madonna who moved on to record a gamut of CDs that cover jazz, gospel and dance-floor hits such as “Rhythm is a Dancer”; Bow Wow Wow, the British group known for top-10 hits such as “I Want Candy,” “Go Wild in the Country” and “Don’t Give Up”; Brian Grillo, front man for homo-rockers Extra Fancy; Kansas City-based solo acoustic artist Kristie Stremel; L.A.-based pop-funk band Peeping Niece; Corday; singer/songwriter Alicia Champion; San Diego-based Danielle LoPresti and the Masses; and blues singer/pianist Candye Kane.

The Ohio-based colorguard group The Flaggots will also make a stop at San Diego Pride, and will take part in the parade on July 30.

The drag king troupe San Diego Kings Club, a 2002 Nicky Award winner for Best Entertainer/Group, will also perform along with Mama’s Boys, a San Francisco drag king group.

The San Diego Men’s and Women’s Choruses will offer a prelude performance to Pride’s annual commitment ceremony, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 31. This year’s main stage emcees are noted comedians Matt Bragg and Carlease Burke.

Festival admission is $12 per day, or $20 for a two-day pass. Festival hours are from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m., July 30, and 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., July 31. For a detailed list of performance dates and times, call the Pride office at (619) 297-7683.

An ongoing counseling support program for both men and women who use crystal meth is available through marriage and family therapist intern Tom Wall and First Avenue Counseling Centre. The program offers an alternative harm-reduction approach for current substance users who have not been successful with other intervention options. Though abstinence is the eventual goal, the program is designed to meet crystal meth users with where they are at with stigma or shame.

The program offers one-on-one counseling support for men and women, as well as a group called Lifestyles in Transition for gay and bisexual men who use crystal meth.

For more information about the group or about individual counseling, contact Tom Wall, Marriage and Family Therapist Intern #43024 (Supervised by Daniel Carr MFCC #31037) at (619) 708-7126.

The Center hosts “Red Hot: A Women’s Nightclub,” on Saturday, July 16, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in their auditorium. The evening will provide San Diego women with an opportunity to socialize and dance in a fun and relaxing environment, and will feature music, door prizes and a no-host bar. Red attire is encouraged. Admission is $5.

The event is sponsored by The Center’s Women’s Resource Center, The Flame and Lavender Lens. The official after-party will take place at The Flame, located at 3780 Park Blvd.

No RSVP required. For more information about Red Hot or The Center’s Women’s Resource Center, contact Claudia Lucero at (619) 692-2077 ext. 206 or at clucero@thecentersd.org.

Enjoy an evening of summer theater by moonlight on Tuesday, July 19, at 8:00 p.m., when Fraternity House, Inc. and Moonlight Stage Productions of Vista collaborate to present The Pirates of Penzance, a new version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s original Broadway musical.

Since 1988, Fraternity House, Inc. has provided San Diego County’s only licensed homes dedicated to serving men and women with HIV/AIDS: Michaelle House in Vista and Fraternity House in Escondido. On July 19, all ticket proceeds from the Moonlight production of The Pirates of Penzance will go directly to fund resident care at Fraternity House and Michaelle House.

Orchestra tickets for the performance cost $25 and include entrance to a private wine and cheese reception that begins at 6:30 p.m. Standard tickets cost $15. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All attendees are invited to take part in a 50/50 raffle; the winning ticket will be drawn at intermission.

To purchase tickets to Pirates, call VisTix at (760) 724-2110. To purchase tickets in downtown San Diego, visit Obelisk Bookstore, located at 1029 University Ave. in Hillcrest. For questions pertaining to this event, contact Abby Schwartz at Fraternity House, at (760) 736-0292 ext. 103.