National Gay Men's Health SUmmit

Bear Happy Hour at Rock and Roll Hotel

2012-07-18T19:29:35Z

Join us Friday July 20th at the Rock and Roll Hotel from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Everyone is invited, including all our guests from the National Gay Men's Health Summit.

Enjoy what The Washington Post calls one of the "best rooftop bars in Washington." Be sure to get a Bear Happy Hour wrist-band to enjoy drink and food specials. The Rock and Roll Hotel is located at 1353 H St. NE.

There will be a special raffle that evening benefiting the National Gay Men's Health Summit. In addition, volunteers from the DC Center HIV Working Group will be on hand to do outreach.

DC Center Reception for GMHS and AIDS 2012 Visitors

2012-07-18T17:10:10Z

The DC Center invites visitors from the National Gay Men's Health Summit and the International AIDS Conference to visit the DC Center Saturday July 21st from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

The DC Center will be open for a wine and cheese reception celebrating our new art exhibit, Duets. This is also the perfect time to stop by the DC Center, see our facility, and learn about our programs and services. Executive Director David Mariner will be available to answer any questions you have about the DC Center.

The DC Center is located at 1318 U Street NW, a short walk from the U Street Metro Stop.

Volunteer Opportunities for the 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit

2012-07-13T16:10:25Z

AIDS 2012 is vastly approaching, and the The DC Center is organizing the 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit as a way to kick off the start of AIDS 2012; but we need your help! There are many volunteer opportunities listed below associated with the 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit.

Wednesday, July 18th - GMHS Gift Bag Packing Party
-Help us make gift bags for the 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit attendees

Thursday, July 19th - The Normal Heart
-Assist with ticket sales to the performance

Thursday, July 19th - Check-in at GWU
-Assist with campus housing check-in at GWU for GMHS attendees

Friday, July 20th - Gay Men's Health Summit
-Help us with registration, set up, and the luncheon

Saturday, July 21st - Gay Men's Health Summit
-Help us with registration, set up, and the luncheon

Sunday, July 22nd - Check-out at GWU
-Assist with campus housing check out at GWU for GMHS attendees

Sunday, July 22nd - Meet the Men of AIDS 2012 at Cobalt
- Assist with welcoming attendees and taking money at the door

To sign up for any of these volunteer opportunities, click here. We want to thank you in advance for volunteering! If you have any questions about volunteering for the 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit, contact raymond@thedccenter.org.

GMHS African American Community Affinity Group

2012-07-09T03:37:36Z

The Gay Men's Health Summit is coming to Washington DC on July 20th and 21st. If you are coming to the summit and interested in issues of importance to African American gay, bi, trans and same gender loving (SGL) men, consider joining this GMHS African American Affinity Group.

What is an Affinity Group?

We want to give you a chance to connect with other summit participants before, during, and after the summit. We've set up an e-mail list to make that communication easier. If you checked the 'African American' interest box when you registered for the summit, you probably have already be added to the list. If not, you can join by following this link.

How Does it Work?

Once you're signed up, you'll receive e-mails whenever someone posts to the list. If you want to send an e-mail to the GMHS African American Affinity group simply e-mail: gmhs2012-africanamerican@thedccenter.org.

GMHS Addiction and Recovery Affinity Group

2012-07-09T01:40:57Z

The Gay Men's Health Summit is coming to Washington DC on July 20th and 21st. If you are coming to the summit and interested in addiction and recovery issues, consider joining the GMHS Addiction/Recovery Affinity Group E-mail List.

What is an Affinity Group?

We want to give you a chance to connect with other summit participants before, during, and after the summit. We've set up an e-mail list to make that communication easier. If you checked the 'Addiction and Recovery' box when you registered for the summit, you probably have already be added to the list. If not, you can join by following this link.

How Does it Work?

Once you're signed up, you'll receive e-mails whenever someone posts to the list. If you want to send an e-mail to the GMHS Addiction/Recovery Affinity group simply e-mail: gmhs2012-addictionrecovery@thedccenter.org.

GMHS Youth Affinity Group

2012-07-09T00:12:10Z

The Gay Men's Health Summit is coming to Washington DC on July 20th and 21st. If you are coming to the summit and interested in youth issues, consider joining the Youth Affinity Group E-mail List.

What is an Affinity Group?

We want to give you a chance to connect with other summit participants before, during, and after the summit. We've set up an e-mail list to make that communication easier. If you checked the 'Youth' box when you registered for the summit, you probably have already be added to the list. If not, you can join by following this link.

How Does it Work?

Once you're signed up, you'll receive e-mails whenever someone posts to the list. If you want to send an e-mail to the Youth Affinity group simply e-mail: gmhs2012-youth@thedccenter.org.

Jay Branan Live - Saturday July 21st

2012-07-03T18:55:02Z

The Gay Men's Health Summit wraps up Saturday at around 5 PM, but if you're staying in town please join us at the U Street Music Hall later that evening for a live show from the talented singer-songwriter Jay Brannan.

Jay is a New Yorker by way of Texas and California, with several stops in between. A (severely) failed Southern Baptist, he moved to L.A. to pursue acting at the turn of the century. He picked up his first guitar at age 20, just as he put down an alcohol addiction. This new, healthier dependency took hold, and a few failed attempts at romance later, Brannan found himself in New York City auditioning for John Cameron Mitchell's experimental film Shortbus. Landing the part, he fell into a world of performers who made him feel comfortable as a creative professional for the first time. "I finally learned to trust myself as an artist and began to believe that I do have something to contribute, a concept that had been beaten out of me in just a few years of attempting a career in entertainment."

U Street Music Hall is located at 1115 U Street NW (U Street between 11th and 12th). The show starts at 7 PM.

Find out more about Jay Brannan
Tickets are $20 each. Purchase your tickets now!

Single Day Registration for GMHS

2012-06-30T17:43:17Z

Many of you have asked if we would offer single day registration for people who want to attend, but can't attend both days. The answer is YES!

The Gay Men's Health Summit Planning Committee is happy to offer single day registration to the 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit. Registration for a single day is $45 and includes access to the plenary discussion, all scheduled workshops and lunch for the day. Single days registration also gives local individuals the opportunity to take part in this incredible event happening in DC.

The Gay Men's Health Summit happens once every two years and is dedicated to health and wellness of gay, bi and trans men everywhere. This year's summit takes place at George Washington University July 20th and 21st, where 40 workshops will presented.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Recipe for Survival - Panel Discussion with Men HIV+ > 25 Years

2012-06-25T17:14:07Z

Recipe for Survival - Panel Discussion with Men HIV+ > 25 Years
Terry Branoff, The Phoenix Men Project

As part of Documentary The Phoenix Men Project, filming will take place during panel discussion to be included in this Documentary, whose goal is same as GMHS2012 panel: Promote a better understanding of "the early years of HIV in America" from the perspective of HIV+ men who learned they were positive at a time when Medicine was ill-prepared for an epidemic of the size and scope of HIV. We will hear from those who were diagnosed with a disease whose name changed with time, from GRID to ARC, eventually becoming HIV/AIDS and examine what the experiences of seroconversion was like before current day treatment methods and resources.

What makes this project different. Much like Holocaust survivor stories are memorialized on film to capture in their own words, while they're still alive, from the perspective of those who survived a horrific period in European mid-20th Century history, this project addresses the explosion of HIV/AIDS in America in the early 1980's from the eyes of HIV infected men. Not just a portrait of long term HIV survivors, but this project digs below the surface to look at the miracle of HOW they have survived so many others.

The Name. Much like the Phoenix rises from the ashes, the Phoenix Men Project examines the lives and experiences of long time survivors who recollect what it was like to learn the news, share it (or not), live your life in the face of hysteria and panic. There is something very special about these Phoenix Men and we hope to learn from their experiences. It is about rising above adversity, and speaks well beyond HIV but about surviving a crisis in whatever form it takes.

Goal. To educate, inform, examine, and learn from the experiences of very special men who are still around despite the odds and statistics. To examine what it is about these people that sets them apart - is it genetic, environmental, psychological, spiritual, metabolic, or something else. Hear, in their own words, stories of survival and maybe draw our own conclusions and lessons on how to survive despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Terry Branoff is the Director and inspiration for this film. He learned he was HIV+ in 1985 in NYC. At the time, he lived alone, had just ended a relationship and learned over the phone about his status from a burnt out Dr who had lost his entire patient practice to AIDS and said "I was right, you're positive." Statistically he should have succumbed to the disease very quickly but he didn't. This film is inspired by his story. Today, now asymptomatic after being HIV+ for 26 years, Terry is a geek in the I.T. industry and is healthy and living a dynamic life in Southern California, as a Network Engineer, Artist, Husband, Father (of 4 dogs) and Survivor.

The summit takes place July 20th and 21st at George Washington University. This is just one of the 40 workshops and two plenary discussions taking place over the course of the summit. Click HERE for more information about the summit, including registration, housing, workshops and events around and during the summit.

GMHS Workshop: Repackaging the Condom Question: Using Sexually Explicit Messaging to Inform and Eroticize Condom Use Among Men MSM

2012-06-14T15:03:05Z

Repackaging the Condom Question: Using Sexually Explicit Messaging to Inform and Eroticize Condom Use Among Men MSM Daniel O'Neill and Brant Miller, DC LGBT Community Center

The aim of this workshop is three-fold: 1.) To present the history and concept behind the FUK!T Campaign, including the path to its launch and building of brand recognition, the FUK!T "business model," challenges or pitfalls the Campaign has encountered, and research FUK!T has participated in using a provocative, sex-positive and assets-based approach to educating men about sexual health and resources; 2.) To provide an opportunity for participants to brainstorm with people from their same region/city the components of possible FUK!T spin-off campaigns and to take initial steps to realize those campaigns; and 3.) To strategize ways to expand the existing Campaign through the use of new media (mobile phone applications, online videos, etc.), identification of financial resources outside of restrictive government funding, and exploration of ways to overcome obstacles to using sexually explicit approaches as an effective way to educate gay men about safer sex.
For the first workshop segment, we will set the stage by giving a Powerpoint presentation describing the program, highlighting examples of assets versus fear-based approaches to public health messaging, alongside examples of the sexually explicit FUK!T PSAs, featuring well-known gay porn stars.
During the second part of the workshop, participants will be guided by a series of prompting questions to develop their own regional FUK!T materials and website, working from ready-made Word-Press templates, photos, and other modifiable materials provided to all workshop participants on thumb-drives. Alternatively, participants would be encouraged to create their own, new brand of safer sex kit, if they prefer.

Daniel O'Neill is a medical and public health student at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He received his MBA from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 2006, and then moved to Washington, DC to work for the Institute of Medicine. He is a co-founder of the DC FUK!T Campaign and the HIV Prevention Working Group of the DC Center. He is also both a 2011 Point Foundation and National Health Service Corps Scholar.

Brant Miller is the HIV Program Associate at The DC Center for the LGBT Community. He is currently in charge of managing and expanding the FUK!T campaign alongside the HIV Working Group of The DC Center.

GMHS Workshop: Bears Do Yoga: Organizing and Connecting Community Health Through Yoga

2012-06-14T15:01:06Z

Bears Do Yoga: Organizing and Connecting Community to Health Through Yoga
Michael Brazell, The DC Center

This workshop will discuss setting up a Bears Do Yoga program. We started our program here at the DC Center 2 years ago and have had a lot of success building community, moving into greater health, and offering a safe space for all to practice yoga. The original reason behind inception of the program were issues that many in the Bear and Trans communities were facing trying to participate in some of the local yoga studios.

Any that may want to facilitate a group in their area are welcome to attend. We typically have any where from 10-30 participants in each class. Even though the program was geared towards the bear community, we are an open space for ALL that want to attend. Yoga instructors, Fitness Professionals, Community leaders, and Community Center Leaders will gain focus on how to start a program, keep it running, and the basics of yoga to get the group started.

Starting a Bears Do Yoga program in your community is a great way to open members of the community to greater health, create a safe space for the practice of yoga, and break down barriers in the community.

Michael Brazell is a certified Yoga Instructor, Fitness Trainer and Sports Nutritionist. He leads the DC Center's Bears do Yoga program and teaches in various locations in the DC metro area.

GMHS Workshop: Introduction to Leather- Learning and Understanding Leather, BDSM and Power Exchange Relationships

2012-06-14T15:00:44Z

Introduction to Leather - Learning and understanding Leather, BDSM and power exchange relationships
Master Taino, MTTA Inc.

With this class, Master Taino addresses the history and diversity of the Leather community. The class offers attendees the wide range of options that newcomers to the Leather Community have. This class is excellent for novices interested in Leather, BDSM and/or Dom/sub relationships and not sure what it all entitles and how to get started.

We will cover the following aspects:
* Leather as the umbrella term for a community
* Leather as a healthy lifestyle: Self-acceptance - a second coming out
* Values of the Leathermen and women
* BDSM activities: Purpose, safety, energy exchange and connection
* Power Exchange Relationships including Master/slave, Dom/sub, Daddy/boy, Mommy/girl, Sir/boy, etc.
* Multiple-relationships and Leather Families
* HIV-AIDS in the Leather Community
* Minorities in Leather
* Misconceptions, fears and apprehensions
* Understanding and supporting our friend into Leather

Master Taino has been active in the Leather community since the early nineties. He has a Leather Family and household that includes three live-in slaves, one Senior Master and three Junior Masters. He founded MTTA, Inc., a non-profit organization that runs MTTA Academy, a Mentors Service, the Master/slave History Project, as well as the annual Master/slave Conference. He has presented workshops around the country since 2001.

He has presented workshops around the country since 2001. During 2011, Master Taino received the Pantheon of Leather's "Man of the Year 2011 Award" and the "Master Steve Golden Paintbrush Award 2011" at the Southwest Leather Conference. He also has been honored with the "Jack Stice Memorial Award 2010" at South Plains Leather Fest, the "Black Rose Vaughn Keith National Educator Award" in October 2009, the DC Leather Pride "Community Service Award 2009", the Pantheon of Leather's "Mid-Atlantic Regional Award 2007" and the "Lifestyle Achievement Award 2004" at Together in Leather.

He is a member of Defenders Leather Levi Club of Washington, DC, a Gay Catholic Leather Club) since 1993 and served as President for three years (2002-2005). He also founded MAsT Washington in 1999, one of the oldest chapters. Master Taíno has a very comprehensive website: www.mastertaino.com. He can be reached at Master@mastertaino.com

GMHS Workshop: Gonna Wash that Shame Right Out of My Hair

2012-06-13T21:27:44Z

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence present a darshan of non-denominational ritual, empowerment, community building and release.

Friday evening after the first day of the summit, please come and join the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for a march from GWU to Dupont Circle.

Darshan is a sanskrit word, for all intents and purposes, meaning sight or vision. The Sisters have taken this word and have developed it into a ritual practice. Through confrontation, humor, graphic visuals, performance art (or lack of art), solemn representations, or a host of other unique media, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence encourage members in our community to explore queer pride and to explore how we can let go of the shame and guilt that has been dumped upon us by institutions.

No one (nun or human) will be harmed or sacrificed in the production of this darshan. No action or engagement will be taken without individual permission. But this will be an opportunity to witness nuns in action...and to engage the community as nuns do.

GMHS Workshop: I AM... Powerful- Using Empowerment to Decrease the Spread of HIV Among YMSM of Color in Philadelphia

2012-06-12T17:52:18Z

I AM... Powerful - Using Empowerment to Decrease the Spread of HIV among YMSM of color in Philadelphia
Tariem Burroughs and Derrick Gibbs, Philadelphia FIGHT's Youth Health Empowerment Project's I AM... program

Given data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Philadelphia Department of Health on the state of HIV among YMSM in Philadelphia, the question that we now pose is why? Why does this virus continue to spread at a rapid rate in this particular community, and what can we do to slow its transmission in Philadelphia? In this presentation, we will address these questions while also supplying background and history of HIV and AIDS prevention efforts in this community. We will describe the current state of affairs in this field, and will highlight the challenges that are arising. We will also explain what we see are the benefits of taking an organizational development perspective to boost resiliency and therefore enact effective and lasting cultural norm changes in this community, and we will explain what we would recommend for culturally sound interventions to achieve a viable and lasting change that will literally save lives.

Tariem Burroughs is a native of Philadelphia, PA and currently serves as the I AM...Program Coordinator for Philadelphia FIGHT's Youth Health Empowerment Project's I AM... program. Prior to his experience at Y-HEP, Tariem was the Director of Child Care and Organizational Evaluation at a local community center. Tariem has been in Out-of-School Time practitioner for over 10 years and hopes to continue to strengthen and empower youth. Tariem is also a Master's Degree candidate in Organizational Development and Leadership at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Derrick Gibbs is a native of Roanoke Rapids, NC, and currently serves in the capacity as POL Facilitator for Philadelphia FIGHT's Youth Health Empowerment Project's I AM... program. Prior to his experience at Y-HEP, Derrick was responsible for coordinating HIV Prevention services targeting young men who have sex with men at the Camden Area Health Education Center (AHEC), in Camden, NJ. Derrick is a trained facilitator in several HIV Prevention Effective Behavioral Interventions and is committed to assisting young people maximize their potential through a holistic approach to health and wellness. Currently he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science from Wilmington University.

GMHS Workshop: Reinventing the Wheel: Prevention, Healing & Examing Gay Men's Wellness Through An Artistic Lens

2012-06-11T17:50:48Z

Reinventing The Wheel: Prevention, Healing & Examining Gay Men's Wellness Through An Artistic Lens
Monte J. Wolfe, Brave Soul Collective, Bryan Collins, HIV Working Group

Brave Soul Collective seeks to present an interactive workshop, which would consist of performance, discussion and a Q&A with artists & presenters. The goal of the session is to shed light on all of the determinants, triggers, and underlying factors which often prevent gay men of all nationalities from developing and fostering their individual and collective mental, emotional, physical wellness and sexual health. This presentation ideally would consist of three components: 1) Introduction of presenters & performers and a brief introduction of participants 2) Staged theatrical performances of multiple scenes which will bring to life & demonstrate how various topics related to gay men's health often play themselves out within real life situations 3) In depth review and discussion between session participants, performers and presenters about performed scenarios and the feelings, thoughts & ideas they evoke. Ideally this session would commence by encouraging participants to list and share ideas about how to effectively affect change within their individual lives, relationships, social circles, and communities based on the work presented during the session.

Monte J. Wolfe is Founder & Artistic/Managing Director of Brave Soul Collective (BSC). Shortly after testing positive for HIV in 2004, he founded BSC in 2006 with co-founders Tim'm West & Erik Chambers. He is an artist & activist, with a BFA in Theatre Arts Administration from Howard University. He has had articles published by CLIK Magazine, SWERV Magazine, and The Black AIDS Institute. He is also the Social Media Coordinator at Us Helping Us, People Into Living. For more on BSC, visit: http://bravesoulcollective.org/bsc

Bryan Collins was born and raised in Falls Church, Virginia. He has a B.A. in English from Virginia Tech, and is a member of the International English Honor Society. He works full-time for the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry, and chairs the HIV Prevention Working Group. He has been admitted to American University's MFA program in Fiction Writing for Fall 2012.

If you haven't already registered for the 2012 Gay Men's Health Summit, now is the time to do it! The summit takes place July 20th and 21st at George Washington University. There will be 40 workshops and two plenary discussions taking place over the course of the summit and this is only one of many workshops that will be presented this year.

Click HERE for more information about the summit, including registration, housing, workshops and events around and during the summit.