The American Foundation for AIDS Research will honor two local fundraisers at its 11th annual San Francisco fall gala on Friday, November 6.

Stephen Brady, visual creative director for the Gap, and Peter Poulos, who founded amFAR's San Francisco gala, will receive awards at the event, which takes place at the Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market Street. A reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a special performance by Martha Wash.

Host for the evening will be Rex Lee, who plays a gay assistant on HBO's Entourage. Also scheduled to be in attendance are amFAR Chairman Kenneth Cole and special guests Maggie Rizer and Sebastian Siegel.

AmFAR's San Francisco event pays tribute to Bay Area residents who have made significant contributions of their time, talents, and resources to benefit the local community and to help advance the global battle against AIDS. The foundation was established in 1985 and since then has invested more than $290 million in its programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide.

Tickets for the gala are $250. For more information, visit www.amfar.org.

Planning meeting today for HIV, aging forum

A group of people from the HIV/AIDS, senior, and disabilities communities will meet today (Thursday November 5) to plan a forum for January about aging with HIV/AIDS.

Karen Rosen, MSW, with the city's Department of Aging and Adult Services, said that interested people are welcome to attend the planning meeting, which takes place at 3 p.m. at the department's offices, 1650 Mission Street, fifth floor.

Rosen said that the January forum will include presentations by HIV/AIDS service providers, long term survivors living with AIDS, people with disabilities who are HIV-positive, and newly infected older adults. The forum will explore the medical and psychosocial issues of aging with HIV/AIDS and associated disabilities, as well as the disproportionate impact the disease has on communities of color and other minority groups.

For more information, contact Rosen at mailto:karenrosen@sfgov.org.

Peaceful protest planned at Catholic cathedral

Catholics for Marriage Equality will hold an action on Saturday, November 7 at 1 p.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the Light Catholic Church, 2121 Harrison Street in Oakland (at 21st Street).

In addition to Catholics for Marriage Equality, the Graduate Theological Union Student Movement and New Spirit Community Church are co-sponsors.

Eugene McMullan, of Catholics for Marriage Equality, said that there is strong support for marriage equality among Catholics and the general population in Alameda County. He said that the ecumenical demonstration comes in advance of a meeting of U.S. Catholic bishops in Baltimore. Participants will be asking the bishop of Oakland, who backed Proposition 8 last year, and all bishops to be gentle, loving shepherds to all Catholics, including LGBT Catholics and their families.

McMullan said that there would be an opportunity to pray the rosary for those that are so inclined. People can also hold signs or pass out fliers.

Workshop for LGBT parents offered

Parents Place, a program of Jewish Family and Children's Services, will offer a workshop for LGBT parents on Tuesday, November 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the program's offices, 1710 Scott Street in San Francisco.

Taught by Lesley Sternin, LCSW, the course will feature discussion, tips, resources, and more for LGBT parents and parents-to-be. The cost is $30 per person or $45 per couple. Preregistration is required and can be done online at www.parentsplaceonline.org or by calling (415) 359-2454.

Harm reduction forum

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation will present a forum on harm reduction Wednesday, November 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Women's Building, 3543 18th Street (between Guerrero and Valencia).

The forum is entitled, "Sex, Drugs, and HIV," and is part of SFAF's HIVision series. Harm reduction, designed to decrease negative consequences of high-risk behavior such as drug use and unprotected sex, was adopted as a model by San Francisco nearly 10 years ago but remains widely misunderstood.

Panelists – including Perry Rhodes of the UCSF AIDS Health Project and Dr. Grant Colfax, HIV prevention director for the city – will explore the philosophy behind harm reduction and its capacity to bring positive change to people's lives.

To RSVP for the forum, e-mail hivision@sfaf.org.

Radical Women meet on health care

Members of Radical Women will meet Thursday, November 12 and hold a discussion entitled, "Feminists Turn Up the Heat for Health Care." The roundtable will look at ways to build a grassroots movement to guarantee universal coverage for everyone.

The meeting takes place at 7 p.m. New Valencia Hall, 625 Larkin Street, Suite 202 in San Francisco. A buffet with vegetarian entree will be served at 6:15 p.m. for a cost of $7.50. For more information, contact (415) 864-1278 or baradicalwomen@earthlink.net, or visit www.radicalwomen.org.