Pride Guide 2006 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
C-9
New group has a different
event for couples each month Time for a Clean Sweep?
by Ric McDaniel
Columbus-In the LGBT community there is a great deal of focus on singles meeting and greeting. Recently, the movie Brokeback Mountain reminded the world that not all gay folks are about one-night hookups and quick overnight encounters. Here in Columbus, the situation is no different.
Starting this summer, a couples' group is starting here that is designed to meet the social, recreational and intellectual needs of its members. The group is called Columbus Couples Together.
Although Columbus is a very gay inclusive city, there are few outlets for people who are not single, don't like to go out to bars every weekend or sit on the internet waiting for someone to respond to a personals ad. Some people have what they are looking for in a partner and many times, its difficult to find others who are also in committed relationship to go out and enjoy activities together-as couples.
Columbus Couples Together meets the first Tuesday of every month—providing there is no major holiday-from 7-9 pm, with the meeting used to plan and structure some "couple friendly" event and a second
meeting each month which would be the actual planned event.
Some of the activities might be bowling, a community movie night, shopping, concert nights, board game nights and a variety of other activities which would focus on "couple friendly" activities and discussions on issues that can impact the modern LGBT relationship. Although Columbus does have an active gay and lesbian community center, the many activities there still do not address the needs of couples.
Columbus Couples Together will fill that void. In addition, the warmer weather is coming and people are going to want to get out and get together with their partners and friends. Plan to have a great time, learn a great deal from others and meet some fantastic people in this group.
Group membership is designed for LGBT couples and friends.
Columbus Couples Together is proud to recognize Gay Pride in Columbus and looks forward to being an active member in the LGBT community.
For more information or to take part in this group, contact Ric McDaniel at 614370-5522.
Ric McDaniel is the coordinator of Columbus Couples Together.
Join CATF's Men 4 Men Project in the Pride parade
by Christopher M. Hughes
The mission of the Columbus AIDS Task Force is to fight the spread of HIV, reduce its transmission, stigma and the resulting discrimination through education and awareness, and provide quality services to individuals and families affected by HIV and AIDS. In order to complete that mission, CATF recognizes that it must continue its HIV prevention efforts in Columbus's communities of men who have sex with men.
appropriate to carry Men 4 Men's message.
In addition to input on fashioning prevention messages, Men 4 Men and its advisory council is also creating a public information campaign on the issue of crystal meth in the gay and bisexual men's communities and its contribution to new HIV infections. Partnering
with other LGBT community members, a public forum on the drug was held at the Arena Grand Theater. Men 4 Men was also able to bring Todd Ahlberg and his Meth: The Movie to Columbus. Now with a grant from the MAC AIDS Fund, Men 4 Men is moving forward with a larger public information effort. This year for Columbus's Pride weekend CATF is joining the Pride parade and publicly inviting staff, volunteers, clients and any interested individuals to join us. Additionally, Men 4 Men will be concentrating on Bicentennial Park to promote its messages and activities at Stonewall Columbus for National HIV Testing Day, June 27.
COLUMBUS
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That effort by CATF is embodied in its Men 4 Men Project, Columbus's HIV prevention and testing program run by gay and bisexual men, for gay and bisexual men. In the last year, the Men 4 Men Project has focused its HIV prevention programming on more intense and effective strategies, including use of a volunteer advisory council to better address the needs of today's gay and bisexual men's needs in Columbus. Recognizing past successes to normalize behaviors that reduce HIV transmission, the advisory council is reaching out to other community members who are most
Christopher M. Hughes is the MSM HIV Prevention Coordinator for the Columbus AIDS Task Force.
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We Were Queer Before There Were Rights.
The ACLU Fight
for LGBT Rights
First Case
1956 LGBT Program
1986 LGBT Project
2006 ANNIVERSARY
ACLU
aclu.org/LGBT
For 70 years the ACLU has been fighting for LGBT equality.
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"Liberty Challenge"
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