The Center will host a workshop on enhancing intimacy in relationships between men on Saturday, June 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The workshop, entitled “The Nine Intimacies for Enhancing Relationships,” will be presented by Kurt R. Buis at The Center, located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

“This workshop will be an interesting opportunity for men to learn what the nine different types of intimacy are so they can use that information to enhance a relationship or partnership,” said Buis, a clinical psychologist with The Center’s Health Services. “We will also address ‘The Four Horsemen’ of negative communications that can be damaging to relationships.”

This workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Buis at (619) 260-6380 ext. 115 or e-mail kbuis@thecentersd.org.

The University Heights Art Association is seeking artists to participate in the first annual University Heights Arts Open, scheduled for Sept. 16-17. Local visual and performing artists, musicians and writers will present or perform their work in University Heights area businesses, restaurants, community centers and private studios.

There is no entry fee and the deadline is June 15. Visual artists need to contact Judy Riffle at (619) 508-4075 or e-mail judy@uharts.org. Performers, writers and musicians need to contact Dorothy Annette at (619) 299-0754 or e-mail dorothyannette@sbcglobal.net. For more information on Arts Open, visit www.uharts.org.

The Center will host its monthly LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast on Friday, May 19, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. The topic will be immigration and the featured speakers will include Richard Valdez and Alberto Cortés.

“As the issue of immigration continues to make national headlines, I think this community breakfast provides us with an opportune moment to come together and discuss the impact of the proposed immigration policies on our community,” said AJ Davis, public policy director for The Center. “It is absolutely clear that LGBT San Diegans will be both directly and indirectly affected by these critical policies. We are grateful that we will have the expertise of Richard Valdez and Alberto Cortés to help us review and further understand this issue at our May breakfast.”

The Community Coalition Breakfast takes place on the third Friday of each month. Its mission is to bring together fair-minded individuals to network, educate and discuss the diverse issues of concern to GLBT and allied neighbors and citizens of San Diego. A full breakfast is available for a $10 donation; coffee and tea are complimentary. RSVPs are not required.

The LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast is sponsored by Wells Fargo and the Gay & Lesbian Times. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. Call (619) 692-2077 for more information.

A program of speeches, art and entertainment is planned for this year’s Spirit of Stonewall Rally, to be presented by San Diego LGBT Pride on Friday, July 28, at the festival grounds in Balboa Park’s Marston Point.

Musical entertainment and a reception for the juried exhibit, Art of Pride, will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by a round of guest speakers fueling the rally stage from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The lineup includes the Rev. Troy D. Perry, founder of Metropolitan Community Church, and Bixi B. Craig, publisher of San Diego’s Lavender Lens.

The roster also features Neil Giuliano, who served four terms as an openly gay mayor of Tempe, Ariz., and is currently the president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Giuliano helped implement numerous nondiscrimination policies based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Arizona, and is profiled in the book Trailblazers: Stories of America’s Openly Gay Officials.

Recording artist Juba Kalamka (a.k.a., Pointfivefag) will also share the podium. Recognized nationally for his recent work as a founding member of the “homo-hop” crew Deep Dickollective, he is lauded for his dialogues on issues of race, class and sexuality in pop culture. Kalamka also served as festival director for East Bay Park in Oakland, and is the curator for the PeaceOUT World HomoHop Festival in the Bay Area.

“People will come away realizing that this is a whole different rally than what we’ve presented in past years,” San Diego LGBT Pride executive director Ron deHarte said. “The program is designed to motivate, inform and inspire. There will be minimal presentations, allowing us to focus on the speakers. It’ll be a rally that celebrates our shared vision of freedom and equality.”

The rally is free and will be held within the festival grounds, located at Balboa Drive and Juniper Street in Balboa Park. All ages are welcome.

San Diego LGBT Pride produces an annual, all-inclusive public celebration that provides a safe environment for the communities of San Diego. Since 1996, it has donated more than $1 million to various organizations within the GLBT community.

San Diego Pride weekend takes place July 28-30. For more information about upcoming events or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, call (619) 297-7683 or visit www.sdpride.org.

National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day will take place at the Asian Pacific Islander Community AIDS Project’s (APICAP) office on Friday, May 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

APICAP, an HIV/AIDS service organizations serving San Diego County for the past decade, will hold an informational meeting to acknowledge the impact of HIV/AIDS in San Diego. Past and present challenges will be addressed, and solutions and action steps necessary to continue fighting this disease will be discussed.

APICAP staff and volunteers as well as individuals living with HIV/AIDS will sound the alarm that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is far from over and there is still much local work to be done in battling the disease. An agency open house will take place immediately followed by a question-and-answer session regarding HIV/AIDS in the API community.

Light refreshments will be provided. APICAP is located at 4776 El Cajon Blvd., suite 205. Call (619) 229-2822 for more information.

Fiesta Del PAWS will take place at an estate adjoining Balboa Park to celebrate and raise funds for P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Wonderful Support) on Sunday, June 4, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The fiesta will feature live entertainment by the Remembrance Group and The Players. Appetizers, drinks, main courses and desserts will be on the menu.

Fiesta Del PAWS 2006 will be co-chaired by Midge Costanza and Elisabeth Bergan along with Benji who will serve as chair-dog. Honorary chairs are Dr. Peter Baram and Les Cohen. The event will feature both a silent and live auction, along with a raffle.

“We are extremely excited for Fiesta Del PAWS because over the years we have seen how important this event is to the organization,” said P.A.W.S. president Kathryn Cooney. “This is a great way to show the community of San Diego what the P.A.W.S. organization is about, and that we are committed to lending a helping hand to the people and pets that need us most.”

This year’s masters of ceremonies will be NBC 7/39 news reporter Margaret Radford along with FOX 6 news reporter Eric Collins. Award recipients Stefanie Powers and Joan Embery will be in attendance as well. The San Diego Humane Society will also be on site with puppies, kittens, cats and dogs that are up for adoption.

Ticket prices range from $75 for general admission to $150 for VIP-level. The Pedigree VIP reception will take place from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., and will offer champagne and hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and a silent auction preview. General admission will begin at 3:00 p.m. and continue until 7:00 p.m.

Well behaved dogs on leashes are welcome to attend the event. Dress is classy, casual outdoor attire. Valet parking will be provided free of charge for all guests.

P.A.W.S. is a grassroots, volunteer driven organization providing low-income elderly, disabled and chronically-ill individuals with essential services that enable them to keep their companion animals in their homes.

P.A.W.S. services include distribution of monthly food and supplies, veterinary subsidies, assistance with litter boxes and dog walking, transportation to and from veterinary appointments, flea medications and more.

P.A.W.S. is a countywide organization and currently serves more than 450 clients and more than 670 companion animals.

The Fiesta Del PAWS event will take place at a historic Marston Hills estate located at 1048 Myrtle Way. For more information, call (619) 297-7297 or visit www.pawssdc.org.