"Listen" HIV/AIDS Forum TODAY (Thursday) at 7pm

Today - Thursday, December 4th at 7pm - TNG's Zack will be moderating a forum at the HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW. The event is hosted by The DC Center and will feature queer men talking about their own experiences as well as what can be done to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic here in the District. The goal is to "provide a space for gay, bisexual, and transgender men in their twenties, HIV positive and HIV negative alike, to have a frank discussion about HIV/AIDS and the increase in infections among younger gay men."

It's easy amidst the busyness of life to forget that December 1st was World AIDS Day, and I think especially for younger gays like myself the whole epidemic can slip right under the radar, even as it continues to greatly affect our community. If you are interested in learning more about the forum, the panelists, and other event details, you can check out their event flier as well as Facebook page. Below the fold is the press release from The DC Center with additional information on their efforts against HIV/AIDS.

Press Release via The DC Center

The DC Center Marks World AIDS Day with Upgrade of the 'Fight HIV in DC' Website and Community Forum on HIV/AIDS and Younger Gay Men

Washington, DC: December 1st: The DC Center, Washington D.C.'s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community center, commemorates World AIDS Day, December 1st, with a re-formatted HIV/AIDS education, outreach, and advocacy initiative called "Fight HIV in DC."

'Fight HIV in DC', now a program of The DC Center, includes the popular website of the same name along with an open community-based forum. The website (www.FightHIVinDC.org), which began two years ago and was just recently upgraded as part of this initiative, has become a central online source of information about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington, D.C. The community-based forum is established as a new HIV/AIDS Working Group to be spearheaded by community advocate Daniel O'Neill.

The HIV/AIDS Working Group officially launches this Thursday December 4, 2008 with a program entitled, Listen: Gay Men in Their Twenties Talk About Their Lives, Their Futures, and The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in DC. Daniel O'Neill will be one of several young gay men participating on the panel for this program which is organized by The DC Center in partnership with The DC Crystal Meth Working Group and the Sexual Minority Youth Assitance League (SMYAL). This event will provide a space for gay, bisexual, and transgender men in their twenties, HIV positive and HIV negative alike, to have a frank discussion about HIV/AIDS and the increase in infections among younger gay men.

"Talking intimately yet openly about HIV/AIDS and sexual practices can be difficult and makes some folks uncomfortable," states Michael Sessa, president of The DC Center and chair of The DC Crystal Meth Working Group. "If we are going to make any difference in DC with regard to HIV/AIDS, we must break through those barriers and begin to have honest discussions with others and ourselves. Fight HIV in DC is a major step toward that goal."

Fight HIV in DC thanks its GOLD sponsor for 2009: Alpha Drugs & Medical Supplies; its SILVER sponsors: HIV/AIDS Administration of the DC Department of Health and Food & Friends; and its BRONZE sponsors: Vaccine Research Center of NIH NIAID and DC Fights Back.

Event Details: Listen: Gay Men in Their Twenties Talk About Their Lives, Their Futures, and The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in DC

Thursday, December 4th, 7:00 PM
HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW

The DC Center's mission is to celebrate, strengthen, and support community among the GLBT residents and organizations of Metropolitan Washington, DC. Programs of The DC Center include: The Elder Think Tank, The DC Crystal Meth Working Group, DC for Marriage, Fight HIV in DC, the Outwrite Author Series, CenterArts, and the Tobacco Working Group while GLOV (Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence) operates as a Task Force of The DC Center. Find out more at www.thedccenter.org.