The Center’s Marriage Equality & Education Project and San Diegans Against Marriage Discrimination are seeking GLBT couples for the Marriage Equality Digital Storytelling Project.

The project gives same-sex couples the opportunity to tell their story in a way that will help Californians understand the importance of ending marriage discrimination. The Marriage Equality Digital Storytelling Project is a medium for marriage equality advocates to tell their love stories to inspire, educate and advocate for equality in this digital era.

For more information, contact Eddie Valtierra, the Marriage Equality & Education Project coordinator, at (619) 692-2077 ext. 111, or e-mail evaltierra@thecentersd.org.

The Center and The Center’s Transgender Community Advisory Committee are hosting a series of workshops designed to offer information and support to members of the transgender community. This month’s workshop, which takes place on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7:00 p.m., will focus on legal issues.

The workshop will be facilitated by Shane Caya, director of family law at the Transgender Law Center, and will include information on family law issues, legal name and gender changes and a review of legal documents.

This workshop series takes place on the third Thursday of each month through March at The Center. There is no cost to attend. For more information on the workshop series, contact AJ Davis at (619) 692-2077 ext. 212, or e-mail adavis@thecentersd.org.

The decorated Christmas tree has been common in American homes since the mid-1800s, and for the last 30 years San Diegans have been recycling their trees after the holidays.

Thousands of San Diego County residents make the environmentally friendly choice to recycle their Christmas trees every year. Recycled trees are made into high quality mulch and compost.

“During the holiday season, people tend to forget about how much waste is created and where that waste is going,” said Dr. Wayne Williams, County of San Diego recycling program coordinator for the Department of Public Works. “We invite residents with Christmas trees to participate in local tree recycling programs.”

Residents with yard waste collection service from their trash company can place their Christmas trees at the curb along with their regular yard waste. Trees longer than four feet should be cut in half, and all tree stands, nails and tree decorations must be removed. Additionally, I Love A Clean San Diego’s Recycling Hotline can help residents learn how to dispose of items ranging from last year’s electronics and unwanted clothes to gift packaging. The hotline is designed to provide people with easy solutions to recycling, keeping reusable and recyclable items out of landfills.

To learn more about recycling programs throughout San Diego County, including those for Christmas trees, residents can call I Love A Clean San Diego at (800) 237-BLUE.

City of San Diego residents can call the City of San Diego Recycling Hotline at (858) 694-7000 for additional information about tree drop-off site locations.

I Love A Clean San Diego also operates the county of San Diego’s Recycling Hotline, (877) R-1-EARTH that provides information for residents and businesses residing in San Diego’s unincorporated communities.

The Red Hot Party starts at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, at The Flame, and cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The event, which benefits The Center’s youth programs, is sponsored by Lennie Alickman, Richard Britton, Jennifer Flynn and Richard Valdez. The dress code is festive red and the cost is $20 a person to support youth programs and services. For more information, call (619) 295-6534. The Flame is located at 3780 Park Blvd.

Animal lovers who want to share the holiday spirit of giving are invited to donate food, toys and treats for dogs and cats at animal shelters this month through a special program organized by Best Friends Pet Care.

The staff there has set up an Angel Tree with cards providing information about needy dogs and cats at Central County Animal Shelter, Gaines Street and Lab Rescuers.

“The holiday season can be a difficult time for animal shelters,” said Erin Dunne, manager of Best Friends San Diego. “Donations of food and funds decline at this time of year. What’s more, few animals find homes during the holidays, so many shelters are at capacity and need donations more than ever.”

Pet lovers can support the program by visiting any Best Friends and selecting a homeless animal from the Angel Tree.

“Each shelter has specific needs at this time of year, so we’ve included items from their wish list on our Angel Tree cards,” Dunne said.

Best Friends stocks the gifts, treats and supplies on each shelter’s wish list. Donations will be accepted through Jan. 5. Only new items still in the package will be accepted. To donate by phone, call (858) 565-8455.

Best Friends Angel Tree Program is in its fifth year. In 2004, more than 50 shelters and rescue groups across the U.S. received food, toys, treats and pet care products for the homeless pets in their care. Best Friends offers pet boarding, grooming, training and retail products at 42 locations in 18 states. Their San Diego office is located at 8020 Ronson Rd. For more information or directions, visit www.bestfriendspetcare.com.

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.