The Asian Pacific Islander Community AIDS Project (APICAP), the Latino Services Program at The Center and Umoja have come together to present a series of workshops focusing on people of color in the GLBT community. The next workshop, entitled “LGBT Human Sexuality – Lets Talk About Sex,” for men and women, takes place Saturday, Oct. 1, at 11:00 a.m. at the Latino Services Center at The Center, located at 3909 Centre St.

This interactive workshop will feature a separate group for men and women, and will provide a safe forum for honest and open dialogue regarding sex and sexuality. Talking about these topics may help participants feel more comfortable in addressing seldom-discussed issues of sexual identity with their respective communities, organizers said.

These workshops run through Oct. 23 and address the unique needs of people of color in the GLBT community. Everyone is welcome. Additional resources are available from APICAP on the Web, at www.APICAP.org; the Latino Services Program, www.thecentersd .org; and Umoja, www.umojaprojects.com. Information can also be obtained by calling Sandra at (619) 269-3245.

The Park Manor Hotel Suites hosts a Hurricane Katrina fund-raising party to benefit the Tulane University Adolescent Drop-In Center of New Orleans on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The drop-in center, which was heavily damaged in Hurricane Katrina, receives 2,500 client visits per year, all youths between the ages of 11-23.

New Orleans-style music will be provided at the fund-raiser by Sue Palmer and the Motel Swing Band, Kenny Ard and Etouffee, Coral McFarland-Thuitt, Nathan Fry, Andy Anderson, Carol Curtis, Ria Carey, Janice Edwards and Janet Hammer.

Complimentary food will be donated by area restaurants including the Park Manor. Arrive with checks (suggested minimum $25) made out to Tulane University Adolescent Youth Center. There will be raffles throughout the day for items donated by local restaurants and vendors.

The Park Manor Suites is located at 525 Spruce St. For more information, call Kenny Ard at (619) 696-5369

As part of its response to Hurricane Katrina, the San Diego Food Bank has opened a food pantry for the evacuees that are now living in San Diego. The pantry is open for all evacuees with a referral from the American Red Cross, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The pantry is set up on a “client choice” model, where evacuees are able to pick out the items they need.

“Our original thought was to enroll the evacuees in one of our food programs,” said Darrell Watkins, SDFB acting general manager. “Then we realized that these people lost everything, and they need more than just food. They need items like shampoo, laundry soap and other personal items.”

The pantry opened last week, and served more than 100 evacuees in the first few days. “We are working with the local Red Cross to ensure that the evacuees know that they can get food and supplies from the Food Bank,” said Watkins.

Besides helping the local victims, SDFB has sent more than 9,000 pounds of food and supplies to the Gulf Coast so far. As the San Diego County affiliate of America’s Second Harvest, SDFB is part of a network of more than 200 food banks that has sent more than 29 million pounds of food and products to the affected region to date.

Food and supplies can be donated at the SDFB. The types of donations needed are: diapers; household supplies like toilet paper and paper towels; single-serving snacks like granola bars; peanut butter; beef jerky; paper plates; paper bowls; eating utensils; hearty heat-and-eat foods in pop-top containers such as chili, stew, soup, canned pasta and canned vegetables; and any single-serving foods that do not require refrigeration.

The pantry is located at the San Diego Food Bank, at 9850 Distribution Ave. For more information about the Hurricane Katrina Food Pantry or the SDFB, call (866) 350-FOOD (3663), or visit www.sandiegofoodbank.org.

Momentum on the Midway, a military-themed dance party benefiting Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s efforts to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel, takes place on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 6:30 p.m. on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier.

More than 1,000 SLDN supporters are expected to dance the night away with DJ David Knapp, named one of America’s six top and most influential DJs by GQ magazine. The Momentum VIP reception also includes keynote speaker and former Air Force staff sergeant David Hall, who is one of 12 plaintiffs in Cook v. Rumsfeld, SLDN’s constitutional challenge to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Since 1993, the Pentagon has fired 10,000 men and women under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban. SLDN is the only national legal aid and advocacy group working to repeal the ban. SLDN has answered more than 7,000 requests for assistance, supported introduction of the first Congressional bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and filed a federal court challenge to the military’s ban. SLDN’s legal team has stopped witch hunts, investigated anti-gay harassment and fought alongside men and women who want to save their military careers.

The USS Midway Aircraft Carrier is located at 910 N. Harbor Dr. For more information, call (202) 328-3244.

The San Diego Men’s Chorus moved into the newly completed Stephen & Mary Birch North Park Theater office suite on Sept. 18, making it their new home.

“After all of the work of many chorus members and leadership, our dream is coming true,” said Joy Galloway, co-chair of SDMC’s North Park Theater Committee.

“Our move into the North Park Theater will promote SDMC to a higher level of production and creativity,” said Jamie Royak, president of SDMC’s board of directors. “It will also provide the public with a consistent venue in which to see the chorus’ productions.”

To celebrate the opening of the theater, Lyric Opera San Diego and the other partners in the renovation of the facility will hold a dedication ceremony featuring local dignitaries on Friday, Sept. 30, at 12:00 noon at the theater. At this event, SDMC will present a check for $16,000, representing their pledge to help restore the 1920s chandeliers to their original condition. The chandelier restoration was made possible through donations from individual and corporate sponsors.

The SDMC is dedicated to excellence in the performance of a broad spectrum of men’s choral music, and strives to build a sense of community and positive self-image among gay men and lesbians, providing important bridges of understanding to the public through enjoyable music. The first concert of the SDMC 20th anniversary season, entitled “Our New Home for the Holidays,” takes place on Dec. 10 and 11.

For more information, call (619) 296-SONG, or visit their Web site at www.sdmc.org.

Shawn Ingram, development director of The Center, announced the addition of Michael J. Horvat to The Center’s development team.

Horvat will serve as The Center’s annual fund manager, strengthening the organizations fund-raising program by increasing annual donations from its members. He will also work to expand the membership program through outreach to new individuals, families and businesses.

“Michael brings a strong and impressive background in fund-raising and program management,” Ingram said. “He’s raised millions of dollars for literacy programs in Los Angeles and San Diego, and is excited to put his skills to work to benefit San Diego’s LGBT community. We’re happy to have him join our team.”

In addition to his work with the Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles and Rolling Readers in San Diego, Horvat has also held professional positions with the Corporation for National Service in San Francisco and the Montrose Counseling Center in Houston.

Horvat received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Calgary. He also holds a master’s degree in organizational development and leadership from Chapman University.

The organization is searching for a development director to replace Ingram, who has announced he will leave the organization in December, after nearly six years of service. A full job description for that position is available online at www.thecentersd.org.