Ottawa's Gender Mosaic, Canada's oldest transgender support group and an active participant in numerous Ottawa GLBT events, is celebrating its 20th anniversary!  Members of the Ottawa GLBT community are invited to join in the festivities at Jean Pigott Hall at the Ottawa City Hall (entrance via 110 Lisgar Street).  7:00 - 10:00 pm.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door; ticket prices include a $1 donation to Bruce House.  Non-alcoholic drinks and food are included in the ticket price. Tickets are available at Venus Envy, After Stonewall, mother tongue books and One-in-Ten.  For additional details about Gender Mosaic, go to www.gendermosaic.ca.

Ladyfest Ottawa, in collaboration with punkottawa.com, presents a craft sale like no other. Featuring the hip, unique work of local and national artists and crafters, Not Your Grandma's Craft Sale takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Jack Purcell Community Center.  More than 6 years since their inception, Ladyfest Ottawa craft sales have become one of the most anticipated events of the year for Ottawa’s growing DIY movement. Attracting more and more crafters of national repute, with exciting new crafters showcasing clothes, jewellery, paper goods, house wares and so much more.  Not Your Grandma's Craft Sale is an edgy, DIY twist on the traditional craft bazaar. From “cute but evil” accessories to recycled leather cuffs, belts and wallets, hand-painted shoes and purses to log-shaped pillows and retro wood-grain clocks, this craft sale is a great source for one-of-a-kind gifts.

Combine three of Canada’s funniest female comics – Debra DiGiovanni, Laurie Elliott and Kristeen Von Hagen – for one hot night of laughs and you’ll have a mother of a Girls Night Out!  If you can do without laughs, sugar, spice and everything nice – like a great evening in comfortable clothes – then stay away. But, say you do get a kick out of comics who are good at what they do – make you laugh out loud – and happen to smell good, THIS is for you.  Put your cats, babies, cigars, and yoga mats down and grab some friends to come with - or baby-sit - for you, while you go on a ‘GIRLS NIGHT OUT.’  Centrepointe Theatre.  For ticket information, go to www.centrepointetheatre.com.  For more information about the comics, go to www.girlsnightoutcomedy.ca. 

The professional friendship between artist Gertrude Jekyll and architect Edwin Lutyens spanned 30 years and produced over 100 distinctive properties; their collaboration proved larger than the sum of their individual talents. Influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement, this renowned pair developed ingenious yet handsome garden architecture coupled with planting schemes that are still imitated today. This lecture makes a chronological journey through seven horticultural masterpieces that stand as living monuments to their continued celebrity.  National Gallery Auditorium, 7:00 pm.  $35.00 cash at the door.  For more information visit the web site at www.paradisefoundlectures.ca.

The AIDS Committee of Ottawa invites you to a community panel discussion on homophobia to mark the International Day Against Homophobia.  Five individuals from Ottawa's diverse queer communities will respond from a personal perspective to the question, “What does homophobia mean in Ottawa in 2008?”.  The audience will then be invited to share their own responses or to offer the panel feedback.  Join us to celebrate our achievements and discuss together what comes next!  6:00 - 8:00 pm.  Ottawa Public Library, Main branch, 120 Metcalfe Street (corner of Laurier), basement auditorium.  For more information, contact Nicholas Little at (613) 238-5014 x229 or email him at mens.health@aco-cso.ca.

In support of International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia and in celebration of the project, community collaboration and our families, Around the Rainbow is hosting a Family Fun Day.  To enjoy a BBQ, a magician and the Herb Girls, come to Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre at 102 Greenview Avenue between 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.  The project team will be unveiling a life-size family tree and many community works of art.  For more information please contact Samantha Henrickson at shenrickson@familyservicesottawa.org or call (613) 725-3601 x164.

LIX Chick, Catherine Purdie, has organized another pool night at Dooly’s as a joint event of the women from LOG/Opale, SAGE, PTS Women's Group and LIX.  7:00 pm. to 9:30 pm.  2279 Gladwin Crescent (Just south of Queensway, near corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and Bourassa Street).  Dooly's is not a queer bar, but dykes have had quite a few successful events there and it’s a welcoming environment.  Pool is free for women on Tuesdays.  Catherine will be away this month so Helen is filling in as organizer.  Please RSVP by Sunday, May 18th to kiwihelen60@hotmail.com.  Dooly’s web site is www.doolysottawa.com.

Don't miss this cult classic porn-art documentary that is racy, educational and entertaining!  The film examines important cultural topics including censorship, controversial art, feminism, gender issues and sex education.  Adapted from Annie Sprinkle's touring show, the film takes us through a campy and honest history of Annie's pornographic films in a way that is almost Mystery Porn Theatre 3000.  Sponsored by Venus Envy.  Doors open at 7:00 pm; movie starts at 7:30.  FREE admission; $5 suggested donation.  Snacks for sale.  Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street.  For more information, visit the web site at http://DivergenceMovieNight.com.  NOTE: ALTHOUGH DIVERGENCE FILMS ARE USUALLY SCREENED ON TUESDAYS, THIS EVENT IS BEING HELD ON A WEDNESDAY.

Join your sisters (if there are any tickets left!) to see one of our favourite Canadian lesbian icons in concert at the NAC Southam Hall at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (613) 755-1111.  You can also order tickets online at www.ticketmaster.ca.

The Ottawa Children's Aid Society is actively recruiting adoptive and foster parents in the LGBT community.  They hold two information sessions a month.  The first Thursday of every month is for LGBT people interested in adoption.  The last Thursday of the month is for those interested in fostering.  Sessions take place at the CAS offices, 1602 Telesat Court, Gloucester from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. If you're interested in attending, please RSVP to Anik at (613) 747-7800 x2857.

A spring concert by The Ottawa Gay Men's Chorus.  First Baptist Church, 140 Laurier (at Elgin). 8:00 p.m.  The members of the chorus invite their sponsors, audience and supporters to a reception in the lower level hall following the concert.  Tickets are $12 in advance; $15 at the door.  Available at After Stonewall, The Leading Note, mother tongue books and Wilde's.  For more information go to www.gaycanada.com/ogmc/.

Meetings are held at Swizzles at 246B Queen Street (below the Green Papaya...entrance on the west side of the building) from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.  You don't have to be self-employed and/or promoting a business to attend...at least half of the gals come to check out lesbian businesses and to socialize.  If you have any interest in presenting a five-minute infomercial about your business/volunteer work/special interest group, etc. at one of the networking meetings, please contact Lucy at info@girlswanttoknow.com.

Minwaashin Lodge, the Aboriginal Women’s Support Centre, is hosting a Women’s Gathering at Waupoos Family Farm in Ottawa.  All women (16 and older) are invited to join in a healing weekend, featuring Traditional Native Teachings and alternative healing methods.  Take part in: Drum circles, Dance, Women’s Medicine, Stories, Song, Herbal Remedies, Sweat Lodge Ceremony, Sun Rise Ceremony, Pipe Ceremony, and receive teachings from Grandmothers and Elders.  Come share your gifts and learn from others.  The organizers ask each woman to contribute to the Gathering by offering to volunteer some of her time.  They need women for Security, Elders’ Helper, Mother Earth Keeper, Sacred Fire Keeper, Sweat Lodge Helper/Fire Keeper, Kitchen Helper, Registration, and Floater. Upon receipt of your registration form, a complete information package will be sent to you.  If you would like to offer a workshop, please indicate on the registration form and they will send you a workshop form to complete.  The weekend is all inclusive and costs $85.00.  To download the registration form, go to www.minlodge.com and check under Special Events.  For more information phone: (613) 741-5590 ext.258 or email: etroy@minlodge.com.

Art in the Park is Ottawa’s largest non-profit, non commercial, outdoor arts festival. Art in the Park features over 250 fine artists as well as entertainers. The event also features organic food providers from the community. Set in the park, this family event is free admission. Art in the Park is a place where you can see real art and talk to real artists.  Central Park, in the downtown Ottawa neighbourhood of the Glebe.  Bank Street and Clemow Avenue, just south of the Queensway.  Art in the Park begins at 10:00 am. on Saturday, June 7th and runs until Sunday, June 8th at 5:00 pm.  For more information, go to www.artinfoboy.org.

Five years have passed since its debut, and it's still FREE! To mark this achievement, WESTFEST has been extended to five days. The festival's prime focus this year will be "A Celebration of Canadian Aboriginal Women in Music." Starting on Wednesday, June 11 through Sunday, June 15 an estimated 50,000 people will stroll through the community of Westboro Village taking in music, visual art, theatre, literary readings, dance, spoken word, and performance art.  Richmond Road, between McRae and Golden Avenues.  See Buffy Saint-Marie, Lynn Miles, Sue Foley, Ivan Coyote and dozens of other fabulous artists!  For more information, visit the web site at www.westfest.ca.

Join community leaders and revelers at Pink Triangle Services' premier fundraising event, as they relaunch the PTS Gala.  Tabaret Hall’s stunning Chapel, at the University of Ottawa, plays host to this fundraising event in support of PTS, a charitable agency that fosters the health and wellness of all gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer and questioning (GLBTTQ) people in the Ottawa/Outaouais region. With catering by Edible Impressions and entertainment provided by DJ JamieC, this is an event you can’t miss!  Tickets are $75 and are available at After Stonewall, Venus Envy and the PTS offices at 251 Bank Street, Suite 301, (613) 563-4818.

Tone Cluster offers their last concert of the season.  This will be a concert of Latino vibes and greatest hits.  Glebe-St. James United Church, 650 Lyon Street South (at 1st Ave.).  Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door and are available at After Stonewall, Leading Note, Wilde's, Collected Works, mother tongue books.  You can visit the Tone Cluster web site at www.gaycanada.com/tonecluster.

Women’s Night is pleased to invite you to their 3rd annual picnic for the LBTQ women's community from 12 noon to 4:00 pm. at Britannia Park, 2805 Carling Avenue, under the round gazebo.  Just look for the ‘women’s picnic’ signs.  They will be there rain or shine.  Female partners and kids are welcome.  The event is free and is open to all those who identify as women.  Donations are welcome.  Food and drinks will be provided, but alcohol is not allowed in the park.  Please RSVP before Friday, June 20 to ptswomen@yahoo.ca or call Pink Triangle Services at (613) 563-4818 and let us know the number of guests who will be joining us.  Feel free to ask us about our other events, which include monthly discussion group meetings and social activities. 

Based in Quebec, Politics of the Heart is a moving portrait of lesbian and gay families as well as a powerful story of how they organized out of conditions of violence and discrimination to win recognition of their relationships, families and parenting rights.  As a result of their work the Quebec National Assembly voted unanimously to extend the same parenting rights to homoparental families as heterosexual parents in 2002.  Woven into the story is also the landmark case in Quebec that broke the ban against same sex marriage, making Quebec the third province in Canada to recognize equal marriage. (68 min).Sponsored by LIX.  Doors open at 7:00 pm; movie starts at 7:30.  FREE admission; $5 suggested donation.  Snacks for sale.  Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street.  For more information, visit the web site at http://DivergenceMovieNight.com.

Celebrating the spirit of women through music and nature.  Red Roof Farm (RRF) is located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Kingston in Marlbank, Ontario.  This idyllic setting features two days of live music with on-site camping amidst rolling fields and lush forest all surrounded by and accessible to beautiful Lime Lake.  All women 19 years of age and older are welcome.  For information about tickets, performers, directions, etc. visit www.redroofwomensfestival.ca.

Women For Sobriety is a self-help recovery program for women that can be used with or without AA.  Any woman with a sincere desire to stop drinking is welcome.  Meetings run from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. at 1390 Prince of Wales, Suite 406.  The office building is in behind the Chateau Royale apartments and has a Chinese restaurant on the first floor.  Turn west at the lights between Dynes Road and Meadowlands Drive East.  Parking is free.  Tim Horton's is on the south side.  For more information, call (613) 220-3588 or send an email to women4sobriety@gmail.com.

 The "Keep it Simple" group of Al-Anon meets every Sunday evening at 7:30 pm. at the Jack Purcell Community Centre on Elgin Street.  Millions of people are affected by the excessive drinking of someone close to them.  If you fall into this category and are looking for a safe GLBTQ space to get help and support, this meeting is for you.  For more information call (613) 860-3431 or go to the web site at www.al-anon.alateen.on.ca.

...is an Ottawa-based women's literary fundraising magazine...that will donate its proceeds back into various events and charities in the community.  The creators are looking for interested subscribers as well as women who wish to submit writing, photography or artwork for upcoming issues.  The yearly subscription rate is $18.  Find details on advertising, sponsorship, subscriptions, submitting work and more at www.mwdesign.ca/TheVoice.

...takes place on the first Sunday of each month at the Church of the Ascension, 253 Echo Drive, Ottawa at 7:00 pm.   Integrity Ottawa is a gathering of gay men, lesbians and straight friends living in the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.  They are interested in supporting the lives of LGBTTQ people in the Anglican Church of Canada and abroad in the wider Anglican Communion.  For more information, check out: www.ottawa.integritycanada.org.

...regularly holds workshops of interest to women.  To see what's happening, check out the web site at www.venusenvy.ca.  Venus Envy is located at 320 Lisgar Street.