Free “safety whistles” are available through the Stonewall Citizens Patrol, a new group formed in response to the anti-gay assaults that took place during Pride weekend last summer.

With recent reports of assaults in Hillcrest and surrounding neighborhoods, one way to remain safer when walking is to carry a whistle, organizers said. These devices emit a high-pitched wail each time they’re used, and may help deter possible attacks.

The whistles are available at the front desk of The Center, located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

For more information about the Stonewall Citizens Patrol, call Bob Lehman at (619) 850-8698 or e-mail marineguy@aol.com.

Family Health Centers of San Diego invites the public to participate in their annual “Adopt-A-Family” program, in which clinic staff nominates families in need and participants donate gifts to help these families celebrate a more enjoyable holiday season.

Participants will be matched with a family and contacted the week of Nov. 20 with family profiles. Participants will then be asked to deliver gifts to the Family Health Centers offices no later than Dec. 13.

For more information, contact Louise Nutt at (619) 515-2562 or e-mail louisen@fhcsd.org.

California Senator Christine Kehoe will be the guest speaker at The Center’s Men’s Coming Out Group on Thursday, Nov. 16, from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.

Kehoe, the first openly GLBT elected official in San Diego, will share her own coming out story and talk about her experiences being an “out” elected official. Following her remarks, there will be time for questions from the audience pertaining to the issues of coming out and being out.

Prior to being elected to serve California’s 39th Senate District, Kehoe served two terms in the California Assembly and seven years as a member of the San Diego City Council. As District 3 councilmember, Kehoe served as chair of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee and led efforts to improve and beautify San Diego, reduce street crime and improve recreational opportunities for San Diego families.

Kehoe chairs the state Senate’s Local Government Committee and the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and previously served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission. She is the first legislator to chair the California Legislature’s official Legislative LGBT Caucus.

The Nov. 16 event is free, open to the public and will take place at The Center, located at 3909 Centre St.

For more information on this event or the Men’s Coming Out Group, contact Lea Burgess-Carland at (619) 692-2077 ext. 111 or e-mail lburgess-carland@thecentersd.org.

Thousands of tobacco users across America commit to giving up tobacco for one day on Nov. 16 as part of the Great American Smokeout.

In honor of their dedication to a healthier lifestyle, licensed acupuncturist Jocelyn Joy and Lauren Smith of Bodywork Massage and Spa Center are offering Smokeout participants a free acupuncture session. Several people will also receive a five-minute chair massage.

“We decided to help others because we both know how hard it is to quit,” Smith said.

The sessions will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 2602 First Ave, Suite 103, located at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Maple Street.

Participants will be treated on a first-come, first-serve basis with no appointment required. The 30-minute treatment will be conducted with the patient sitting in relaxed position. There are a limited number of chair massages available.

For more information, contact Joy at (619) 672-6285 or e-mail jocelyn@joyacupuncture.com. Smith can be reached at (619) 233-0035.

The Center will host San Diego’s fifth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance on Monday, Nov. 20, at 7:00 p.m. at The Center, located at 3909 Centre St.

This annual event is organized in cities across the country to commemorate the lives and mourn the losses of those killed due to anti-transgender violence.

This year, participants are invited to gather at The Center for a candlelight march and a remembrance ceremony at The Center. This ceremony features a reading of the names of transgender people who have died due to violence.

This year’s guest speakers will be Belinda and Tony Flynn, San Diego parents who advocate for their transgender child. Nationally-known transgender activist Monica Helms will be the keynote speaker.

“This event is all about standing up to the violence that too many transgender people experience on a daily basis,” said Connor Maddocks, member of the event planning committee. “This is a day to come together and remember all those we’ve lost to hate-based violence, but also to renew our commitment to the ending the discrimination that is the root cause of that violence.”

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is part a national effort to bring attention to anti-transgender violence. The event was established to honor Rita Hester, whose murder in November 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” Web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Hester’s murder has yet to be solved.

This San Diego event is sponsored by the Transgender Advisory and Services Center, the Imperial Court de San Diego, San Diego LGBT Pride, Project S.T.A.R. and Family Health Centers of San Diego.

For more information, contact Sean Wherley, The Center’s director of public policy, at (619) 692-2077 ext. 212 or at swherley@thecentersd.org.

The San Diego Women’s Chorus will present their holiday concert, “Voices Ringing Out,” on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at University Christian Church, located at 3900 Cleveland Ave.

The annual winter concert features a selection of both classic and contemporary pieces from Leslie Bricusse’s “Christmas Children” to “Alleluia” by Naomi Stephan.

Visit www.sdwc.org to buy tickets. Prices are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors, military and students. Call (619) 291-FEMM for more information.

The Save Hillcrest Committee will hold a “Special Tribute to Donna Frye” on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Britt-Scripps Inn, located at 405 Maple St. in the Park West neighborhood.

“She [Frye] has been one of the only leaders on our city council who has voted consistently in favor of protecting our Hillcrest community character,” said John Taylor, a leader of the Save Hillcrest Committee, which is part of Friends of San Diego, a nonprofit in Hillcrest.

The Save Hillcrest Committee is opposed to the 301 University project, 12-story, mixed-use condominium complex to be built on University Avenue that was approved by the City Council on Sept. 12. Frye was the only councilmember to vote against the proposed development.

On Oct. 18, the Save Hillcrest Committee filed a civil lawsuit against the city to stop all work on the 301 University project until their litigation is settled.

The tribute to Frye will benefit the Save Hillcrest Committee, the sponsoring organization in the lawsuit.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, coffee and tea will be served at the event. Tickets are $35 per person on the day of the event and are available for purchase online at http://members.cox.net/no301/index.shtml for $25 prior to Nov. 14.

For more information, contact John Taylor at (619) 997-5299.