District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will speak at The Center’s next Community Coalition Lunch, which takes place this Friday, Aug. 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in The Center’s auditorium.

The nation’s first openly GLBT district attorney, Dumanis is San Diego’s highest-ranking law enforcement officer.

A full lunch catered by The Abbey Café is available for a $10 donation.

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 (619) 692-2077 ext. 212 at least seven working days before the event.

The Center’s Living With HIV Groups are designed to provide HIV/AIDS-infected community members with free counseling and support group services to help manage the challenges of surviving, and help participants begin living fuller, more enriched lives.

Groups are held Mondays and Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., and, beginning Sept. 2, on Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All groups are ongoing – new members are admitted after a brief initial interview with the facilitator. One-on-one counseling services are also available for those who desire them.

For more information or to schedule an initial appointment, stop by The Center’s Health Services Building, located at 2313 El Cajon Blvd., or call (619) 260-6380.

Fraternity House, Inc., San Diego County’s only non-profit organization licensed to provide residential care facilities for the chronically ill, hosts their sixth annual Fraternity Feasts dinner series, which is designed to raise funds for Fraternity House in Escondido and Michaelle House in Vista.

These small, private parties offer guests an opportunity to support Fraternity House’s programs while enjoying fine food and entertainment in a relaxed, friendly environment. Each feast has its own theme and flavor.

The first feast, “Le Feast Francais in La Costa” will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6:00 p.m. at the home of Elaine and Tom Brammell. There is room for 10 guests at $65 per person.

Appetizers, wines and cocktails by the Brammells’ pool will be served. A French feast from the recipes of Wolfgang Puck for Ma Maison restaurant will be served, featuring trout fillets in puff pastry and chicken in petit sirah. A guest pianist will perform on a century-old grand piano throughout the evening. All guests will be given a personalized wine glass to bring home as a memento of the evening.

The second dinner, “Soul Food & Sea Views in Carlsbad” will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 6:00 p.m. There is room for 18 guests at $100 per person.

The dinner’s hosts are the Reverend Madison Shockley, a local religious leader, op-ed writer and radio personality, and his wife, Gayle. The feast will include Southern fried chicken, candied yams, mustard greens and macaroni and cheese.

To make reservations for a Fraternity Feast or to request an event brochure, contact Abby Schwartz at (760) 736-0292 ext.103.

Hillcrest-based law firm Grace Hollis Lowe Hanson and Schaeffer LLP is hosting a free seminar to explain the individual rights under the new Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities Act, known as AB 205. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 6:00 p.m. at the firm’s offices at 3555 Fifth Ave. Refreshments will be served.

AB 205 went into effect Jan. 1, and provides legal rights and obligations for individuals registered as domestic partners under California state law. These rights and obligations are intended to mirror those given to married couples.

Grace Hollis attorney April Ball, who focuses her practice on domestic partnership issues, estate planning and asset protection, will help participants become more familiar with the new legislation and will explain how it affects them and their families.

“The Domestic Partnership Act includes a lot of information and can be confusing,” Ball said. “I help my clients understand how it affects their individual situations, and how it protects their rights: at home, at work and for their financial future. This seminar gives me the opportunity to share this information with other who can benefit from this act.”

Register for the free seminar by calling (619) 692-0800, or send and e-mail to info@gracehollis.com.

Lambda Biotechnology Association (LBA) will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, Aug. 27, in Balboa Park from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. The meeting will take place just west of the intersection of President’s Way and Park Boulevard, and will include a picnic lunch. Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community who are involved in life sciences or the biotechnology field are invited to attend.

The business before the membership is the election of members of the board of directors. The rest of the event will be networking and socializing. This event is free for LBA members and costs $5 for non-members. All food and drinks will be provided by LBA. RSVP to info@lambdabiotech.org by Friday, Aug. 26, for more information.

LBA is a San Diego-based non-profit organization dedicated to building a network and social group for GLBT members in the field of biotechnology and life sciences. The association is open to all men and women either currently in the field or who are interested in pursuing a career in biotechnology or life sciences in the future, including students. The organization focuses on sharing information about new careers, research, marketing, business development, science, industry and culture. Its monthly meetings help to plan social mixers, dinner events, lectures and other events.

For more information, visit this article online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the LBA Web site.

Yolanda King, daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., will be presenting the Gavin Newsom Visionary Award at Equality California’s fourth annual Equality Awards and Gala on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. This year’s award recipient is the California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The award is given to honor the NAACP for their historic support of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, a bill pending in the Legislature that seeks to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

The award is given annually to select individuals and organizations that have been critical to the advancement of GLBT equality, and was named after the San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Newsom issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples last year, citing authority of the Equal Protection Clause of the California Constitution.

“We are fortunate to have Yolanda King join Equality California in honoring the NAACP for their courage to push the envelope and move the issue of marriage equality one major step forward,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoffrey Kors. “By standing with the LGBT community at our time of need, the NAACP has once again demonstrated that their historic vision of equality and inclusiveness is one all should aspire to follow. The NAACP’s support is nothing short of true commitment and dedication to social justice and equality. This is a great milestone as our organizations stand together to support equality for all Californians.”

The 2005 Equality Awards and Gala will also honor Brian Graden, president of entertainment for MTV Networks’ Music Group and president of Logo, and Marina Gatto, a 17-year-old activist and a champion for the rights of GLBT people and their families in California.

The black-tie optional event will be hosted by Michelle Clunie from Showtime’s “Queer As Folk” and Michael Corbett, host of the entertainment magazine show “Extra!.”

A VIP reception and silent auction begins at 6:30 p.m., and the general reception begins at 7:00 p.m. The awards and gala commences at 8:00 p.m.

The Beverly Hilton Hotel is located at 9876 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Tickets are $250 and $350 VIP. Call (310) 284-8566 for tickets, or visit this article online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to Equality California’s Web site.