The San Diego County Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is accepting applications for the 2007-2008 PFLAG scholarship.

San Diego County GLBT students pursuing a post-secondary education are invited to apply for the $1,000 scholarship. Several scholarships will be awarded for the 2007-2008 academic year.

GLBT students of strong academic standing who have made significant contributions to the community are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Monday, April 16.

For more information and a scholarship application, visit www.pflag.com.

Applications for this summer’s 33rd annual San Diego Pride parade are now available online and through the Pride office in Hillcrest. The parade is scheduled for July 21 at 11 a.m., starting from University Avenue at Normal Street. It continues west to Sixth Avenue, then south to Ivy Lane. The 2007 theme is: “United for Equality.”

The new online process allows participants to fill out applications and pay their entry fees electronically by visiting www.sandiegopride.org.

Additionally, non-profit organizations facing financial hardship are encouraged to apply, as this year San Diego Pride is offering discounted entry fees through its Parade Scholarship program on a space-available basis. Those organizations are asked to write a letter explaining their situations and what fees they can afford.

“We don’t want to leave anyone out of the process,” said Pride executive director Ron deHarte. “We encourage all noncommercial groups who normally can’t afford the entry fee to contact us.”

Also new to the parade are cash awards ranging from $150 to $1,000 for “best entries” in several categories, which include those that best represent this year’s theme, most entertaining, most creative from a local business, best musical float and a mayor’s award for the best out-of-town entry. All entries this year must be decorated and incorporate the theme on signage or through more elaborate ornamentation.

Pride is also adding more reviewing stands along the parade route, which brings the total number to five. They will be emceed by community leaders and entertainers, such as Babette Schwartz and Nicole Murray-Ramirez. Special sections will be reserved for baby strollers as well as an expanded, tented area for seniors.

The annual Pride parade last year attracted 150,000 spectators along its “rainbow mile” route that included nearly 200 floats and contingents. It remains the largest civic event in San Diego.

The Pride office is located at 1807 Robinson St., Suite 106. For more information about parade applications, fees and 2007 events, call 619-297-7683, ext. 5 or visit www.sandiegopride.org.

San Diego City Councilmember Toni Atkins will lead a community planning meeting to discuss methods to counter the recent spike in street crimes in Hillcrest and surrounding areas. Spearheaded by the San Diego Tavern Guild, the meeting will take place at The Center on Thursday, March 29, starting at 5 p.m. It is co-sponsored by the Guild, The Center, the Greater San Diego Business Association and Atkins’ District 3 City Council office.

Ideas for a public education campaign will be discussed in an informal and interactive style, and San Diego Police Department representatives will be present to share the facts about the recent robberies and assaults in the area.

For more information, call 619-236-6633.

Applications are now being accepted for the Gay Men’s Relationships and Empowerment Retreat. The free event is set to take place at Angel’s Landing April 27-29.

Activities, discussions and presentations will be led by staff from the Gay Men’s Health Program at Family Health Centers of San Diego.

The retreat is aimed at providing a forum that allows gay men to begin positive changes for themselves through personal and community empowerment. The retreat focuses on the dynamics of romance, socializing and partnering. It will also demonstrate different types of relationships gay men have with each other, along with health concerns, communication skills and other tools that can lead to more positive and healthy relationships.

Angel’s Landing is a two-hour drive from San Diego. Carpooling may be available. Participants are guaranteed their own bed, but will share a room with one other person. Spaces are limited and all applications will be considered. For an application, contact the Gay Men’s Health Program at 619-515-2446 or e-mail gmhp@fhcsd.org.

The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians will be presenting the ninth annual Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Breakfast at the San Diego Convention Center on Monday, April 2, from 7-9 a.m. The purpose of the breakfast is to commemorate the spirit, values and legacy of Cesar E. Chavez in San Diego and to engage diversity and youth involvement.

The San Diego Convention Center is located at 111 Harbor Drive.

The breakfast will feature the 2007 Cesar E. Chavez Visionary Award recipient, as well as the winners of the San Diego, Imperial and Orange counties high school Cesar E. Chavez Essay Contest.

Tickets for the event are $30 each for adults and $20 for students with valid student identification.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Veronica Serrano or JoAnn Fields at 619-808-1624 or e-mail info@sdchavezcommittee.org.

Ten California lawmakers are urging the federal government to abandon its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that prohibits GLBT servicemembers from serving openly in the military.

Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, recently introduced Senate Joint Resolution 6, sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), which calls on Congress and President George W. Bush to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, sponsored by Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass. The measure would replace “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” with a new, nondiscrimination policy regarding sexual orientation. SJR 6 is co-authored by nine California senators and assemblymembers.

“It is time to end this discriminatory government policy, a policy that has resulted in the shameful dismissal of thousands of American servicemembers who are able and willing to serve,” said EQCA executive director Geoff Kors. “This policy impedes our military readiness and denies GLBT individuals the opportunity to defend their country.”

Since 1994, nearly 10,000 servicemembers have been discharged because of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” according to a 2005 government audit. About 8 percent of those discharged servicemembers held critical occupations in the military or possessed essential foreign language skills.

“At a time when troop levels are escalating in Iraq, we continue to discharge some of our most talented military personnel who want nothing more than to honorably serve their country,” Sen. Kehoe said. “It is time for Congress to do away with this draconian policy that condones discrimination against GLBT people within the military. Doing so will help strengthen our defenses and allow all American servicemembers to serve openly, regardless of sexual orientation.”

Last week, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, came under fire after he defended the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. Many organizations, including a group of retired GLBT servicemembers, have called for Pace to apologize for his homophobic remarks, including his statement that government policy should not support “immoral” behavior. Those same organizations have also urged Congress to repeal the discriminatory military policy.

The UCSD HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC) is looking for men and women of Mexican descent for participation in a research study.

Dr. Mariana Cherner is conducting this study in order to collect information about how Spanish speakers perform daily routine activities, such as managing finances, going shopping and driving automobiles.

The study, called the Spanish Functional Impact Study (SFIS), is currently recruiting both HIV-negative and HIV-positive men and women who are 18 to 65 years old.

The researchers are particularly in need of bilingual persons who are equally proficient in both Spanish and English. Compensation is available to all eligible participants.

For more information, contact Crossby Vargas at 619-543-5098 or e-mail cvargas@ucsd.edu.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego (GMCSD) will commemorate its 15th anniversary season with the inaugural concert “Watch Me Fly!” Tickets are now on sale for the concert, which is set for Saturday, April 14, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 15, at 7 p.m. It is the first time that the chorus will perform at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Hillcrest.

“Watch Me Fly!” will feature the California premiere of “Metamorphosis,” written by Robert Seeley and Robert Espindola. “Metamorphosis” is an uplifting piece with a universal message about the soaring of the human spirit. Through its music, the multi-movement work for the men’s chorus and full orchestra relates the story of the journey many gay men have through self-discovery, acceptance and triumph as a member of our proud community.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is located at 3505 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 619-57-GMCSD or visit www.gmcsd.com.