SAN FRANCISCO -- Executive Director Roland Palencia has chosen to step down as of Oct. 14, Equality California (EQCA) announced on Monday.

Palencia had been selected to succeed long-time Executive Director Geoff Kors in May. No word yet on a replacement for Palencia, but EQCA says they will release transition plan by the end of this week.

"During his tenure with Equality California, Roland Palencia did important work to build diverse and inclusive coalitions and engage and reconnect our movement," said Cathy Schwamberger, Equality California Institute Board Chair.

SAN DIEGO -- With the passage of SB 48 in July making headlines after anti-gay conservative groups launched a campaign to overturn the new law, the San Diego Democratic Club (SDDC) will discuss threats to the FAIR Education Act at its next monthly meeting on Thursday, Aug. 25.

Upon signing the act on July 13, Gov. Jerry Brown said, “History should be honest. This bill revises existing laws that prohibit discrimination in education and ensures that the important contributions of Americans from all backgrounds and walks of life are included in our history books.”

SACRAMENTO -- The anti-gay Capitol Resource Institute received approval Tuesday from the State of California to circulate petitions for a referendum on the June 2012 ballot that asks voters to overturn SB 48, the FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful) Education Act, which was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown this month.

The anti-equality group has until mid-October to collect more than 504,000 signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.

LOS ANGELES -- Equality California will honor singer and songwriter Adam Lambert, a San Diego native, and Facebook at this year’s annual Los Angeles Equality Awards.

Presented by AT&T, the awards will take place Saturday, Aug. 13, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.