Gav and bisexual men form educational group
By Tammy Batey
Emerald Associate Editor
Safo sox Is ono of tho catch
phrases of the 1900s. But young
gay and bisexual men — a
high-risk group for AIDS —
may still nol bo taking tho mes
sage to heart.
The M-Powormnnt Project, a
Bugeno-besed educational and
social group for guy and bisexu
al men. educates men ages 18
to 2H on practicing safo sex.
said project coordinator Jimmy
Fisher. Bui unlike other similar
educational groups, Ihe M
Powerment Project educates in
a fun way geared toward young
men.
"People are so timd of bear
ing this — safer sex. safer sox,"
Fisher sold "The besl way to
open up u dialogue is to open it
up In a fun way."
At a recent M-Powormont
Project dance, some men per
sonified condom brands to edu
cate others on the importance
of wearing condoms. For exam
ple, one man dressed ail in gold
and wore gold Jewelry to per
sonify Gold Circle (loin con
doms.
Besides educating gay and bi
sexual men on practicing safe
sex, the M-Powormenl Project
provides Ihe men wllh a social
network. Aboul 200 men are in
volved In the project, and al
most half of them are Universi
ty students. Fisher said.
"As gay men or bisexual
men, they're already dealing
Photo by Mitftaot ShrKJto*
Men ot the educationel N-Powermeot group otter condomt to promote tele tex lor gey• end bitexuaie.
with lots of oppression,” he
says “The M-I’oworment Pro
ject Is whom you can find a safe
space to bn gay."
The M-Powerment Project
holds Monday group sessions
and Friday and Saturday open
houses for gay and bisexual
men. The group tries to have a
dunce every six weeks. They
ulso have a group open to bi
sexual women
University graduate student
Jim Crimes, 27, said the M
i’owerment Projot:! is so impor
tant to him that ho juggles his
academic schedule around to
accommodate project activities
"I already have friends in
that age category (IB to 2B) who
have HIV," Crimes said, "One
of the intentions is to make
people more comfortable talk
ing about safe sex.”
Many lB-to-28-your-old gay
and bisexual men may bo com
ing out about their sexuality for
the first time. Crimes said. M
Powerment members can lend
support and offer advice, he
said.
"Inevitably we have conver
sations about, 'Hoy, what did
you toll your parents, your
friends, your girlfriend?'
Grimes said.
M-Powerment Project activi
ties are a "non-threatening"
way to meet other gay and bi
sexual men, Grimes said.
University student Graham
Huosmann, who has been in
volved In the project for almost
a year, said AIDS awareness is
"incrodlbly important," espe
cially for young gay and bisex
ual mon who may feel invin
cible.
“A lot of gay mon think
(AIDS) is an old gay man’s dis
ease,” Huesmann said.
Eugnno has many groups for
lesbians, but fow for gay and bi
sexual men, Huesmann said
The M-Powerment Project fills
a need by providing gay and bi
sexual men with a group just
for them.
"If you want a strong gay
malo community." Huosmann
said, "then you have to put into
it what you want to get out of
it."
The project's combination of
fun and education at activities
draws in the interest of young
men. Project activities are "not
a drudgery," ho said.
The project began in January
and is part of a pilot project by
two professors at the University
of California in San Francisco,
Fisher said. Tho profossors are
introducing similar projects in
Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara,
Calif.
Gay and bisexual men inter
ested in the M-Powerment Pro
ject can call 683-4303 for more
information.
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