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GAY PEOPLE'S. CHRONICLE Pride Guide 2004
YouthQuest is a safe harbor in the Miami Valley
Dayton-YouthQuest Dayton has three main goals:
To provide a support system for sexual minority youth.
To educate youth in risk behavior reduction, including those associated with HIV infection and risks associated with substance abuse.
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To provide a safe and comfortable environment for sexual minority youth to socialize and meet.
Sexual minority youth make up an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the total youth population. The term "sexual minority youth" includes any young person who believes she or he is not traditionally heterosexual. This includes not only gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth but also those still questioning their developing sexual identity.
These youth are at an increased risk of suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, low self-
esteem, homelessness, HIV transmission and physical and mental abuse. However, this group has been bypassed by mainstream educational and support programs designed for heterosexual teens. YouthQuest was designed to communicate with this often-overlooked population.
Meetings consist of discussions pertinent to YouthQuest members such as current news items and community events; educational programs; or guest speakers. At times, YouthQuest schedules social events in the community away from the regular meeting place.
Meetings are held every Wednesday at 7 pm at Christ Episcopal Church, 20 West First Street, Dayton.
To contact YouthQuest advisors, e-mail youthquestdayton@hotmail.com. YouthQuest advisors will respond to inquiries discreetly.
Red Hen Productions P.O. Box 91926 Cleveland, Ohio 44101 (216) 556-0910 http://www.feministtheatre.org
The format of meetings somewhat vary throughout the month:
First Wednesday: Social time, games and movies Second Wednesday: Guest speaker or small group discussions
Third Wednesday: Leader night
Fourth Wednesday: Large or small group discussions
Fifth Wednesday: Social time, games and
movies.
For more information on Youth Quest Dayton, see their web site at http:// youthquestdayton.org, call 937-640-3333 or e-mail youthquestdayton@hotmail.com.
Ohio's newest gay chorus will perform twice in June
by Fred Poland
Dayton-The Dayton Gay Men's Chorus was formed in September, 2003 and numbers nearly 25 members.
In its initial year, the group has performed several times for the Dayton Gay and Lesbian Center and held its spring concert in late March. The Chorus will be part of Dayton's third annual Gay Pride Parade on June 5 and will also perform for the Pride Dinner on June 19.
The Chorus rehearses on Monday nights from September to June from 7 to 9 pm at the Eternal Joy MCC, 2382 Kennedy Ave, Dayton. No audition is required, just a love of singing.
Please join in the fall. For more information, send e-mail to dtngaymens chorus@aol.com.
Fred Poland is the managing director of the Dayton Gay Men's Chorus.
June 17-26, 2004
Tuesday in No Man's Land
By Veona Thomas Dir. By Amanda Shaffer
The waiting room of an abortion clinic. Three women, three lives, three choices.
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at SPACES Art Gallery 2220 Superior Viaduct Thur Sat 8pm limited seating, call 556-0910 Tix $15, $10 st/sr
Sept 16-Oct 9, 2004
God, Guilt, and Gefilte Fish
by Ellen Orleans
9 lesbians celebrate Passover Seder in this comic play of holiday chaos. at Pilgrim Church 2592 W 14th St
March 2005 Coming Out Stories
Personal stories become monologues about "coming out" sexually, politically, & culturally. [Still accepting stories]
HIV/AIDS. The mad resistance to gay and lesbian human rights. Depression, addiction, dependency...
Our fight against. these forces proves our RESILIENCE. Admitting we can't do it all alone proves our COURAGE.
Seven effective therapists to guide your journey of discovery with insight and heart.
918 South Front St. Columbus, Ohio 43206 Fax/TTY: (614) 445-8283
#Allfirmations:
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A Center for
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Reducing your risk of HIV is focus of two programs
by Kevin Hibner, William Booth and Char Johannigman
Dayton-AIDS Resource Center Ohio has a long history of providing outreach, prevention and education to the Dayton and Miami Valley community. The organization addresses a variety of HIV-related subjects and targets several at-risk groups.
Two of their programs, the Men of Color program and the Men Who Have Sex with Men program, welcome men who are inter-
AIDS Resource Center Ohio has committed to expanding services to include testing,
counseling and referral.
ested in learning more about HIV as well as ways to reduce their risk of exposure or transmission.
The Men Who Have Sex with Men program provides gay and bisexual men the opportunity to learn how they can make a difference in reducing the increasing rates of HIV infection. Men involved in the MSM program of ARC Ohio learn factual information about HIV and AIDS as well as a number of skills to reduce their risk of HIV infection. In turn, they can assist their sexual partners in decreasing the incidences of infection.
The MSM program approaches HIV in a holistic manner by dealing with multiple aspects of a person's life: integrating aspects of self-esteem, homophobia, heterosexism, gender identity and gender loving issues, what it means to be a "gay" or "bisexual" man or, as is sometimes the case, men who sense that they do not fit into a pre-defined category.
The Men of Color program works to reach as many men of color as possible to encourage them to help prevent and reduce the spread of STDs and AIDS, regardless of sexual orientation. Program activities for include bimonthly support groups where safer sexual negotiations, HIV counseling, relationships, and intimacy are topics of discussion. This program also provides educational information to individuals that are seeking assistance in dealing with HIV and STDS. The Men of Color support groups identify and nurture peers who network in smaller support groups
to provide support for safer sexual practices, assist in developing outreach to the community of color as a whole, and provide general support on a social level also.
Both programs also provide outreach in target areas such as local bars, clubs, the downtown streets and other cruising areas. The discussion with individuals found in these areas center on safe sex practices and referrals for confidential and reliable HIV testing.
In addition, both programs provide risk reduction education to the general public. Participants are available for speaking engagements, social gatherings, school presentations, or any setting where there is an interested audience. Confidentiality is observed in all the programs offered at ARC Ohio, and is definitely adhered to in these two programs.
Come be a part of the excitement of men Who Have Sex with Men and the Men of Color programs of Dayton and the Miami Valley. For more information, please contact Kevin Hibner at 937-461-2437 ext. 13 or William Booth at 937-461-2437 ext. 17, or visit www.arcohio.org.
HIV testing is now in five locations
In 2003, AIDS Resource Center Ohio made a commitment to expand its programming to include testing, counseling, and referral services. The addition of these new services is one of the requirements necessary to establish a Ryan White CARE Act Title III program focused on enhancing and expanding access to primary care services in the 21county region in West Central Ohio. In addition, testing, counseling and referral services helps ARC Ohio strive to reach its mission and vision of offering a broad continuum of high-quality HIV/AIDS services, while aligning with strategies at the federal level.
As of June 2004, ARC Ohio will be traveling to five locations to offer testing services on a regular basis. Those sites include the Dayton YWCA, Preble County Health District, Darke County Health District and Planned Parenthood sites in Dayton and Miamisburg.
National HIV Testing Day is June 27. ARC Ohio will be offering testing services at locations throughout its service region around that time. Watch the local media for specific details.
For more information on free anonymous and confidential testing or to schedule an appointment, call 937-461-2437 or 800252-0827.
Kevin Hibner and William Booth are risk reduction educators for ARC Ohio. Char Johannigman is the director of Early Intervention Services.