Hi friends! Welcome to another installment from your local Sapphic columnist! This month’s topic is one that is very close to my heart…World AIDS Day. That’s right, folks – World AIDS Day is approaching fast and will take place on Dec. 1. Why am I choosing to write about it here, you ask? Well, let me give you a little background…

The truth is that when I am not writing sassy commentary on the latest girl-on-girl action on “America’s Next Top Model,” I actually do have a real job. For about a year and a half, I’ve been working at Fraternity House, Inc., a nonprofit that provides caring homes for people with HIV/AIDS in North County. Although I am on the administrative side and not the care-giving side, I still have a lot of interaction with the residents, as well as even more interaction with the greater HIV/AIDS community. Working at Fraternity House has taught me a lot about the state of AIDS locally, nationally and internationally. And here’s the main message I take away from my job daily – HIV/AIDS is still a pressing issue!!! Yes, it is true that new treatment options and medications have changed the face of AIDS considerably. But people are still dying from this disease. Families are still suffering. Prejudice against people with AIDS still exists. And as attention to the epidemic fades, so does funding. I attend a lot of HIV/AIDS-related meeting locally, and I see that money is dwindling. Programming, on the other hand, is not because there is still is a huge need for services. HIV/AIDS is still a critical issue for our community, and it is not going away any time soon.

That’s why I feel it’s fitting that the theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Stop AIDS. Keep the promise.” The theme is meant to be a challenge to the nations of the world to make good on the fiscal promises they’ve made in terms of eradicating AIDS. But it also urges individuals like you and me to make good on our own personal promises and ask ourselves, “What am I doing to help in the fight against this disease?” If you are not already involved in the local HIV/AIDS community, I invite you to attend one of the many events taking place on Dec. 1 in honor of World AIDS Day. For your convenience, I’ve listed them below! Please join me in making the promise to make our world a better, safer and more peaceful home for all.

The World AIDS Day African American HIV/AIDS Conference will take place at the Handlery Hotel and Resort (1450 Hotel Circle North) at 8:00 am. For more information, call (858) 277-6090.

A Border HIV/AIDS Awareness Event will take place at the San Ysidro and Otay Ports of Entry at 8:00 a.m. For more information, contact Victor Pereda at (619) 295-2192.

The first HIV/AIDS Film Festival will take place at Being Alive (4070 Centre St.) at 2:30 p.m. for The Smith Family and 5:30 p.m. for One + One. These two films address HIV/AIDS issues. For more information, call (619) 291-1400.

The A. Brad Truax Award Ceremony will take place at Continental Rehab Hospital (555 Washington St.) at 4:00 p.m. A fun-filled reception with entertainment will follow. For more information, contact Shannon Hansen at (619) 293-4726.

The Spanish Memorial Service and Procession to the Tree of Life Ceremony will take place at The Center at 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Carolina Ramos at (619) 692-2077.

Mama’s Kitchen Tree of Life Ceremony will take place at Village Hillcrest (3975 Fifth Ave.) at 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact Richard at (619) 233-6262.

Pilgrim United Church of Christ (2020 Chestnut Ave, Carlsbad) will host a World AIDS Day program featuring speakers, music, poetry, candle-light vigil and reception. For more information, call (760) 729-6311.

Trinity Episcopal Church (845 Chestnut, Escondido) will host a communion service and display panels from the Names Project at 7:00 p.m. A reception will follow. For more information, call (760) 743-1629.

CURVE returns to The Flame, Saturday, Nov. 19, with Lesley Beverly and Kimberly S. Don’t miss these details: $5 before 10:00 p.m., $8 after. San Diego’s own DJ KiKi and L.A.’s DJ Jessica Vasconez will be spinnin’ hip-hop, house and other dance tracks that will keep your ass shakin’ all night! Outrageous drink specials all night long! For more information, call the Curve Hotline at (310) 497-0826 or (310) 927-5658.

Looking for something to do on Wednesday, everyone’s favorite “hump day”? Why not roll down to Six Degrees for “Drag It Out,” the SD Kings Club’s revue and weekly Open Drag Platform. What’s an Open Drag Platform? Well…if you ever wanted to try your hand at being a Drag King, here’s your chance! Get gussied up, bring down some music, sign up by 9:00 p.m. with one of the Kings and you’ll take center Drag King stage. It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss. The night also features $3 drafts and $3 shots of Jäger. There’s a $3 cover starting at 9:00 with the show starting at 10:30 p.m.

Come Home for the Holidays is an annual GLBT community holiday party open to all. The event is co-hosted by a number of community agencies including APICAP, Ebony Pride, Bienestar, the Imperial Court de San Diego and The Center along with many others. Share in the holiday spirit with your community on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Center. Admission is free!

The Women Surf Group meets every Saturday at the beach for a surf session together. All levels are encouraged. The group is steadily growing and there are socials too! For more information, e-mail sdwaves@cox.net.

Join the trans community for San Diego’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event, taking place on Nov. 20. Gather in front of The Center at 5:15 p.m. for a Unity March (bring a candle or flashlight). The Day of Remembrance Program will take place at The Center at 6:00 p.m. There will be a reception with refreshments immediately following. For more info, contact AJ Davis at (619) 692-2077 ext 212.

Mango Much is a womyn, genderqueer music and events session, brought to you by DJ Phoenix. Tune in Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The show is part of RadioActive radio. RadioActive SanDiego is a collective, non-hierarchical organization formed to pioneer a new Internet radio station. We plan to build a model for the post-corporate, autonomous, community media of the future by offering revolutionary media production and distribution that creates positive social and economic change.

Game Girl, the new ladies night at Bacchus House, will be donating a portion of November’s proceeds to the Toni Atking’s Lesbian Health Fund. So be sure to come out and support a good cause. This ladies night has a lot of offer with only $2 cover, domestic beers and Bacardi cocktails. There’s no way you could afford to miss this! Kick off your Thanksgiving weekend with the premiere of Game Girl’s Boo’tae contest. Shake and make $100 cash! Wear your best boo’tae shorts.

That’s it for this month. See you in December!