The 14th annual Miss Gay International Pageant comes to The Center on Saturday, May 27, at 7:00 p.m. This pageant has come to be known as one of the best produced events not only in San Diego but throughout California and imitates the Miss Universe Pageant. The only difference is that this is for both female and transgender individuals. The pageant consists of three categories: national costume of the country of choice, entertainment and evening gown. There will be a question and answer session from a panel of judges. For information and applications, call Franceska at (619) 294-8430 or e-mail frankog27@hotmail.com. Tickets are $10. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

The Health and Human Services Agency has launched the Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Access and Crisis Line to help county residents seeking assistance with alcohol and drug or mental health issues. Professional counselors answer the calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist callers through their crises and refer them to appropriate services. Assistance is available in Spanish and other languages.

The BHS Access and Crisis Line is operated through a contract by United Behavioral Health, which has operated the line for Mental Health Services for the past eight and a half years. To better address the needs of the community, the line was expanded to incorporate local alcohol and drug services.

The toll-free phone number for the BHS Access and Crisis Line is (800) 479-3339.

San Diego LGBT Pride has appointed January Riddle to its board of directors.

Riddle is a longtime activist for women’s and GLBT rights and returned to San Diego recently after serving 28 months as an educational resource specialist in South Africa for the U.S. Peace Corps. While there, she worked with teachers in rural schools throughout the Mpumalanga Province and established the first library in the village of Kameelrivier, where she was based.

Prior to her Peace Corps service, Riddle was an associate professor of communication at Bethany College in West Virginia and served on the West Virginia State Board of the ACLU. She also taught at two California universities and is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who of American Women.

Riddle is a past president of the San Diego County chapter of the National Organization for Women and is a past executive vice president of the San Diego Democratic Club. She currently teaches part time at San Diego State University and is a realtor with Century 21 in San Carlos.

The 2006 San Diego Pride celebration is scheduled for July 28-30. This year’s theme is “Equality! No Turning Back!” The festivities include art shows, concerts and theater productions, along with a kick-off rally on July 28, a mile-long parade with giant balloons on July 29 and a two-day festival on July 29 and 30, which will feature 10 entertainment stages, more than 70 live performances, special attractions, food and beer gardens.

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.

For more information about upcoming Pride events or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, call (619) 297-7683 or visit www.sdpride.org.

The Center’s Latino/a Services presents the Latin LGBT Pride music fest, Pachanga de Orgullo, on Saturday, June 10.

This special event, for those 21 years of age and older, will take place at the Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight, and will feature dancing and live music, including performances by the B-Side Players and guest DJ Alex “El Heavy,” who will spin salsa, meringue and other Latin dance music.

“This Latin Music Fest will celebrate the diversity and influence of San Diego’s international LGBT Latino/a community,” said Carolina Ramos, coordinator of The Center’s Latino/a Services. “We’ve listened to community feedback and changed the format to enhance the event. Our goal is to continue to bring together Latinos and Latinas from all backgrounds for this special celebration.”

A limited number of tickets are available for Pachanga de Orgullo. Tickets are $15 and are available for purchase online at http://latinpride06.kintera.org or at the door. Proceeds will support The Center’s Latino/a Services, which provides coordinated case management, counseling and support groups to help hundreds of individuals and families each year. Food and beverage tickets will be sold separately.

Sponsors for Pachanga de Orgullo include Citibank, Corazon de Agave and Miller Lite (Mesa Distributing).

For more information on the event or to volunteer, call Carolina Ramos at (619) 692-2077 ext. 116 or e-mail cramos@thecentersd.org.

Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) has named longtime GLBT rights leader Michael Adams as the organization’s new executive director.

Adams is part of the senior management team of Lambda Legal, where he is director of education and public affairs. He is widely known in the GLBT community and has been named one of the country’s 100 most influential GLBT people by Out magazine.

“I am thrilled and honored to accept the position of executive director of SAGE,” Adams said. “Never have aging issues been more important in our community, and SAGE’s long and successful history makes it the perfect organization to provide leadership on those issues.”

Adams is replacing Terry Kaelber as executive director. Kaelber has successfully led the organization for almost a decade. “SAGE means so much to me, and the organization couldn’t be left in better hands than Michael’s,” Kaelber said.

Adams was chosen in a unanimous vote by SAGE’s board.

“We were fortunate to have a number of strong candidates competing to be SAGE’s new leader, but even in this strong field Michael stood out as the clear right choice for SAGE’s future,” said SAGE board president Howard Leifman.

SAGE is the world’s oldest and largest social service and advocacy organization dedicated to serving GLBT senior citizens.

Nationally, SAGE serves as a resource on GLBT aging, educates professionals in the field of aging, hosts national conferences on GLBT aging and conducts advocacy work on behalf of GLBT seniors.

Prior to his work at Lambda Legal, Adams was the associate director of the Lesbian & Gay Rights Project of the ACLU. He has been a leader and strategist on GLBT issues for more than a decade. Adams is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School. He takes up his duties as SAGE’s new executive director on June 12.

The Greater San Diego Business Association’s newest corporate underwriting sponsors include: Jeff Wergeles of KPBS, GSDBA media sponsor; Cindy Lehman of California Bank & Trust – Hillcrest, GSDBA member welcoming sponsor; and Jeff Hugger of the Handlery Hotel and Resort, GSDBA member welcoming sponsor.

As the media sponsor, KPBS underwrites GSDBA marketing and advertising promotions in the mainstream San Diego radio market, including promotion of the GSDBA, its members, events and programs. As member welcoming sponsors, California Bank & Trust – Hillcrest and the Handlery Hotel and Resort underwrite GDSBA new member orientation events and products. In exchange for their support, each receives a package of additional benefits exclusive to GSDBA corporate underwriting sponsors.

The GSDBA is San Diego’s gay and lesbian chamber of commerce. In its 27th year, the GSDBA is the second largest gay and lesbian chamber of commerce in the U.S. and the second largest minority/specialty chamber of commerce in San Diego. The GSDBA advocates on behalf of the GLBT business community and provides business assistance programs for companies wishing to reach the growing gay and lesbian market.

For more information on the GSDBA, call (619) 296-4543 or visit www.gsdba.org.