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uality Health Care For Men, Women and Children of all Ages
By Appointment
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Bridge City Family
Medical Clinic, PC
282 1 NF. 5Rth Avenue (Cm Street Sandy Boulevard) Portland, Oregon 97213
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Sexually Transmitted infections
Physicals • Pap Smears • Birth Control
Diabetes • High Blood Pressure • Asthma
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S yphilis N umbers U p
in M ultnomah C ounty
The Centers for Disease Control and Pre
vention recently issued notices that link the rise
in syphilis cases among queer men to the steep
rise in multiple anonymous partners and hare
backing. Their message seeks to clarify prevail
ing public opinion that this rise is because of
cyclical fluctuations in disease immunity.
The risk of getting syphilis rises exponential
ly with the number of sex partners a person has,
whether oral, anal or genital.
According to the Multnomah County
Health Department, 97 percent of 2004 syphilis
cases in the Portland area were among men who
have sex with men. Syphilis cases have been
doubling annually for four years among this
group.
Bart Church, who runs the Queer Love
Action Network for Discovery, suggests that in
order to avoid syphilis, sexually active men
should get tested every three months, have sex
with fewer people, avoid sex while intoxicated
and use condoms.
Q-LAND offers free bar testing at C.C.
Slaughters on the first Thursday of each month,
Scandals on the second Friday and the Eagle on
the fourth Saturday. You can also check out
resources online at www.qland.org.
E quality C oalition C elebrates
V alentine ’ s D ay at C ity H all
The Equality Coalition, a group working for
full marriage equality, sponsored a Valentines
Day celebration at
Portland City Hall
with wedding cake
and music.
“In spite of the
passage of the dis
criminatory con
stitutional amend
ment in Novem
ber, we need to
remember
that
many Oregonians
support marriage
equality and want
to see that all fam
ilies are treated
fairly,” said organ
izer Chelsia Rice,
chairwoman of the
student advisory
board
at
the
Womens Resource
on Portland Com
munity College’s
Cascade Campus.
‘The fact that
thousands of same-
sex couples stixxl BRO’s newest staff member,
in line in the rain
to get a marriage license last March shows that
their agenda is a modest one: legal recognition
of their marriages and the same rights and
responsibilities that heterosexual married cou
ple have.”
G ay and L esbian T ourism A dvisory
C ommittee C onvenes
A broad coalition of community leaders met
Jan. 26 to discuss a new Portland Oregon Visi
tors Assentation initiative to attract sexual
minority tourists to the area. Representatives
from the city, hotels, galleries, newspapers
(including this one) and cultural institutions
were in attendance.
Barbara Steinfeld called the meeting to
coordinate a group that is interested in market
ing to the queer consumer/audience and that
could advise POVA in its efforts.
After a brief outline of past marketing activ
ities and current efforts—which include men
tion in the Alaska Airlines Northwest Travel Plam
ner and Columbia Fun Map as well as presence at
a Travel Alternatives Group show next month
in Seattle—the group discussed potential mar
keting messages for Portland. For more informa
tion about this advisory committee, e-mail
barbara@p< >va.c< >m.
H elp with
the
H uman T ouch
Many living with HIV/AIDS have experi
enced the “take a number” treatment when
seeking assistance with health and housing.
One group, HIV Day Center, strives to cre
ate a community atmosphere while addressing
the often overlixiked needs of those living with
the disease, including a compassionate ear.
“This has more of a psycho-six: ial support
bent,” says Màra Steen, program assœiate at the
center. “Basically we’re a community where
people can come to and feel that they are cared
about and supported.”
The center, under the parent program Ecu
menical Ministries of Oregon, provides a
plethora of unconventional services that are
particularly helpful to people struggling with
stable housing and a limited income. It serves
hot meals, both in-house and delivery; has
shower and laundry facilities, computer services
and a clothes closet; and arranges for haircuts
and massages. A scxzial worker is on duty to help
with case management and referrals to support
services. There are many opportunities, both
formal and informal, to receive counseling.
“The majority of folks who have consistent
ly walked through that d<x>r are in need of sup
port from other people who can listen to them.
development director Brenda Kinoshita
We are here to say, ‘I can meet you where you
are, and I can support you in that process,’ ” says
Steen.
The HIV Day Center is seeking volunteers
to support the services it provides. Specifically,
drivers are needed for food delivery and fixxl
and clothes pickup. A kitchen assistant and
English tutor are also needed. The center wel
comes anyone with a creative skill or passion to
share with the group.
For more information call 503-460-3822,
visit www.emoregon.org or e-mail hivcenter
©emoregon.org.
—Jaymee R. Cuti
A W orthy C ause
Basic Rights Oregon, Oregon’s largest non
profit organization advix:ating for queer rights,
knows how to do a lot with a little.
According to Brenda Kinoshita, the agency’s
newest staff member, BRO gives the illusion of
being a large organization because of its
visibility.