Bruce M. Abrams, well-known San Diego attorney and a commissioner with the San Diego Human Relations Commission, will serve as grand marshal in this year’s 33rd annual San Diego LGBT Pride parade, scheduled for 11a.m., July 21.

Abrams’ professional counsel extends deep into the GLBT community. Abrams worked pro bono for the San Diego AIDS Foundation and the San Diego Foundation for Change before serving five years as a board member for the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force as well as Equality California.

Currently a sole practitioner in estate planning and probate, his volunteerism has been far reaching. He is active with the San Diego Democratic Club’s LGBT Political Group and the Tom Homann Bar Association for local GLBT attorneys, and he served last year as co-chair for the San Diego Democratic Club’s Freedom Banquet. He also devoted several years to the Gala Committee for The Center’s major fund-raising dinner and is a past treasurer and board member of the San Diego Foundation for Change and a past member of U.S. Congressmember Lynn Schenk’s Gay & Lesbian Advisory Committee.

“I strive to live life with dignity and honor each day and to celebrate life as a Jew and a gay man. As we celebrate Pride 2007, let’s remember that as LGBT people we must reach out to others who share our values – communities of color, labor unions, women’s groups, groups who support a woman’s right to choose, religious institutions – all of it. We must come together to work efficiently and effectively. The days of issue segregation are over. We cannot become invisible. Together we will succeed. It’s the least we can do for future generations,” he said.

Abrams has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career from organizations such as the San Diego Democratic Club, The Center, the Imperial Court de San Diego and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund of Los Angeles, to name a few.

The 2007 San Diego Pride Celebration’s theme is “United for Equality.” This year’s festivities include a Spirit of Stonewall celebration at 3:30 p.m. on July 15 at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park (after the organ concert); a mile-long parade at 11 a.m. on July 21, starting on University Avenue at Normal Street, and a two-day festival on July 21-22 in Marston Point at Balboa Park. More information about Pride is available online at www.sdpride.org or by calling 619-297-7683.

The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (The Center) has announced the 2007 inductees for the San Diego LGBT Community Wall of Honor. The fourth annual official induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Aug. 10, from 6 - 8 p.m. at The Center, 3909 Centre St. The Wall of Honor is located in The Center’s auditorium.

“The San Diego LGBT Community Wall of Honor allows us to truly acknowledge some of the pioneers and leaders within our community. It is amazing what these inductees have accomplished,” said Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center. “This permanent exhibit gives us the opportunity not only to honor their contributions, but also to provide a sense of history and pride for all those who follow them.”

The 2007 Wall of Honor inductees include Lou and Carol Arko, Dr. Al Best, Gloria Johnson, Drs. David McWhirter and Drew Mattison (deceased), Bernard Michels, Frederick Scholl and Jim Woodward.

There is no cost to attend this event, although an RSVP is requested. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Sarafina Scapicchio at 619-692-2077, ext. 247, or at sscapicchio@thecentersd.org.

Andrew Printer, a local photographer and artist, will be conducting an interactive photo event at the San Diego Pride festival on the lower loop of Balboa Park’s Marston Point during Pride weekend from approximately noon to 6 p.m., on Saturday July 21 and Sunday, July 22.

The theme of Printer’s project, “Pride, USA,” is to compare and contrast the evolving variations of the “all-American GLBT family” using festival attendees as models. Singles, couples, groups and families are encouraged to take part in the project.

“If you have ever wanted to have your face exhibited in a gallery, then this is your time to shine,” Printer says. Although the project is in its early stages, it has been designed for public exhibition at local, national and international galleries. Participants will be required to sign model release forms, and an authorized guardian must accompany those under the age of 18.

“With our concentrated effort to promote arts and culture programs in our community during Pride month, we are especially pleased to have Andrew participating in and capturing our community through his lens. Providing this interactive project is a creative and fun method of documenting the Pride experience,” said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride.

Printer is a photographer based in San Diego. His work has appeared locally at various venues including Limbo Gallery in Hillcrest and the San Diego Art Institute. His recent works draw upon various traditions of still and moving imagery to comment on current GLBT identity and popular representations of gay men. His “Tomorrowland” installation has won awards in Europe, been profiled in Czech publications, and has been showcased at galleries in Glasgow, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.

For more information, contact Andrew Printer at 619-252-9711 or by e-mail andrew@andrewprinter.com.

Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) Gay Men’s Health Program recently launched a campaign designed to increase awareness of the impact methamphetamine (meth) is having on San Diego’s gay community.

The Meth Free Life campaign features two messages, “Out of Control” and “Proud N Powerful.” They will appear on billboards, bus shelters and displays in businesses throughout Hillcrest and North Park, as well as ads in local gay papers and banner ads on www.gay.com and www.planetout.com.

The “Out Of Control” portion of the campaign targets recreational users. The goal is to encourage them to consider the potential negative ramifications of using meth by highlighting the ways that meth use can undermine the most stable life.

“Focus groups of ex-meth users said that they liked the ads because they were so real. The scenarios in the ads reflect their lifestyles in San Diego while using meth and, even though they were sure they could control their use, the negative outcomes still really did happen to them,” said Victoriano Diaz, program manager of FHCSD’s marketing services.

The “Proud N Powerful” message targets individuals who do not use meth or are in recovery from meth use. These images are a series of personal profiles, like the ones you would see at Web sites frequented by San Diego gay men. However, in these profiles, PNP, often used to designate “party and play,” takes on a new meaning – Proud N Powerful. The ads highlight the fact that gay men can choose to either not begin or stop using meth and still have very happy and healthy lives and relationships.

FHCSD is currently looking for community members seeking to get involved. To learn more about meth or the Meth Free Life the campaign, or to get involved in the planning process, individuals can visit the campaign Web site at www.methfreelife.com.

Stephen Whitburn recently filed papers with the San Diego City Clerk, launching his campaign for the Council District 3 seat. The seat is currently held by Councilmember Toni Atkins, who will be termed out in 2008.

“It would be an honor to serve the residents of District 3 on the City Council,” Whitburn said. “From fighting crime to affordable housing, our area faces many important challenges. I look forward to building on the accomplishments of Councilmember Atkins to move our city forward.”

Whitburn has been a leader in community organizations throughout District 3. He is past president of the San Diego Democratic Club and is on the board of the Greater North Park Community Planning Committee. After a career in journalism, Whitburn now serves as spokesperson for the American Red Cross in San Diego.

Whitburn has begun assembling his campaign team, which will include Tim Orozco as campaign manager, Xavier Martinez as the campaign’s treasurer and Progressive Strategy Partners as the campaign’s general consultant. “I plan to run an energetic grassroots campaign to reach out to the voters,” Whitburn noted. “With this experienced team in place, we are ready for the campaign ahead.”

The primary for the District 3 seat will be held in June 2008.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is thrilled to announce that artistic director Jack O’Brien received the 2007 Tony Award for his direction of the acclaimed Broadway production The Coast of Utopia, by Tom Stoppard, at the 61st annual Tony Awards ceremony held at Radio City Music Hall. The award marks O’Brien’s third win, having taken home this top award in 2004 for his direction of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, and in 2003 for the mega-hit musical Hairspray.