northwest
Men's Wellness Center Turns One
safety tips tor meeting men online and played bingo
with the Chicos Latinos program and Miss Mylar
Black. Many utilized the free rapid HIV screenings
and learned about making healthier K xk I choices
and how to give themselves a testicular exam.
Like many support services in the sexual
minorities community, the center faces funding
challenges. The facility “is being supported largely
through government funding, and we need to secure
more funding from private donors and foundations
who have less restrictions," Anderson-Nathe said.
People who want more information on how to get
involved, donate or volunteer should call
503-22 3-5907, ext. 278. For a monthly events
calendar and information on Pride weekend activi
ties, visit www.cascadeaids.org. Starting July 1, the
HIV/STI Tuesday testing hours will expand to 5 to
9 p.m.
The Men’s Wellness Center, staffed by the
Men’s Prevention and Wellness Team of Cascade
AIDS Project, celebrates its first anniversary on
Pride weekend.
The Men’s Wellness Center opened at 928 S.W.
Stark St. in June 2006 in response to a community
need for a sate space for gay and bisexual men to
access services and programs in a culturally specific
way. The program’s mission is to lead efforts to
prevent new HIV infections; care tor people affect
ed and infected by H1V/AIDS; educate communities
to eliminate stigma and shame; and advocate for
immediate action in combating the pandemic.
According to manager Michael Anderson-Nathe,
the center was created to address rhe unique issues
of queer men and expand HIV prevention efforts
beyond the traditional disease-based approach to
a more holistic health and wellness approach.
The services offered hy the center include
PFLAG Presents Trans Panel
rapid HIV testing and sexually transmitted infec
A panel of people who identify as transgender
tion screening; social support programs highlight addressed Portland Parents, Friendsand Families of
ing the positive aspects of the gay and bisexual
Lesbians and Gays on June 12. The best-attended
community; and referrals for drug and alcohol
meeting in more than a year drew a mix of atten
treatment and mental health services. It also : dees from trangender youth and adults to parents of
offers one-on-one and group-level HIV preven
transgender children of many age groups.
tion intervention and dissemination of health and
Topics covered included transitioning at the
prevention materials and information.
workplace, transitioning in high school, challenges
During the past year, the Men’s Wellness Center
in seeking hormones for children and the phenom
has achieved many of its original goals through
enon of being “two-spirited” and gender-fluid.
a variety of services as well as fun and educational
Panelists included Reid Vartderburgh, Jenn
events attended by more than 2,100 men. At social
Burleton and Alec Esquivel.
events, men had their dating and relationship
The success of the event led chapter president
questions answered, learned about “netiquette” and
Dawn Holt to brainstorm more opportunities for
The Men s Prevention and Wellness Team addresses the unique issues of gay and bisexual men.
trans families to meet and gain support through
PFLAG.
“This meeting showed there is so much interest
and so much energy and pent-up need to relate to
other people,” she said. “We need to be more
focused about when to address trangender topics.”
To leant about future events, visit www.ptlag.org. |
First Trans March Forms
The first Portland Trans March will kick off
7 p.m. June 16 at the Northwest Park blocks at
Ninth Avenue and Davis Street. People are
encouraged to bring signs, noisemakers, banners
and other identifying markers. The Trans March
will happen at the same tune and in the same place
as the annual Portland Dyke March.
Although the Portland Dyke March, according
to its Web site, www.dykemarchportland.com, is for
all self-identified women, organizers say the Trans
March adds an opportunity for those who identify
as trans to celebrate in a visible way.
Dalton's Law Denied Hearing
State Rep. Donna Nelson, R-McMinnville,
released a statement May 25 expressing her disap
pointment with rhe Senate Judiciary Committee
for refusing to hold hearings for Dalton’s Law,
House Bill 3176.
The legislation is named for Dalton Robertson,
a 42-year-okl gay man who went missing near Los
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