Patti Boman is an active member of San Diego's chapter of PFLAG - Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, a group that she credits with helping her become engaged in the LGBT community after her son came out.

Boman can be regularly seen around town representing PFLAG at various community events and meetings, and enjoys being involved with PFLAG and other community organizations to increase visibility.

Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Boman is 55 years old, and has been married for 37 years. She moved to San Diego in the late 1970's.

SAN DIEGO -- Plans are in the works for the 11th annual Hillcrest Mardi Gras, to be held on "Fat Tuesday" - Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 6-11 pm.

The popular event will transform three block of Hillcrest's University Avenue into "eccentric wonder" for "the street party of the decade."

The event will include dancing, entertainment, food, drink, games, costumes and other surprises, benefiting the GSDBA Charitable Foundation's student scholarship programs and the Hillcrest Business Association's community improvements.

Even in death, LGBT people remain controversial. David Kato’s funeral in Uganda and the refusal by the Catholic Diocese of San Diego to offer funeral rites to a dead local gay man several years ago are two memorable examples when some churches fails us.

In both cases, this tragic situation was saved by holy men and women and holy communities who stepped forward to offer the “last word.”

In the eight years that Connor Maddocks has been in San Diego, he has become a well known figure around town. Aside from the volunteer work he does for the transgender community, and organizations like San Diego LGBT Pride, he also works full time at The Center.

Maddocks is 58 years old, single, and hails from Natick, Mass.

What organization(s) do you volunteer for, and why?

I volunteer for The Center mainly, because the work we do here is so important and helpful to the entire community.