Center Blog

On Thursday, May 24 the Center and several other agencies are co-sponsoring a community forum on HIV criminalization featuring a screening of a short film, HIV is Not a Crime followed by a panel discussion.

Panelists include Robert Suttle, Assistant Director of The Sero Project, who was convicted and incarcerated in Louisiana for HIV non-disclosure, Attorney Beirne Roose-Snyder from The Positive Justice Project, and Sean Strub of Poz Magazine and Executive Director of The Sero Project.

Partner organizations include the Positive Justice Project, ACT UP, SERO, Queerocracy and the Center.

The event is from 6 PM to 9 PM at the Center on 208 West 13^th Street in Room 101.

For More Information call: 646-556-9300

Guest Post by Richard Allen

“If you need my bra, my shirt, my weave, my lashes, I’m going to give it to you.  That’s just the kind of person I am.” – Lady Jasmine

On the most recent World AIDS Day, filmmakers Kate Kunath and Sasha Wortzel screened the rough cut of their documentary film Starlite at the Center.  The Starlite Lounge was a gay bar in Crown Heights, Brooklyn that closed in 2010, due to the location being sold and the subsequent rent hike –one which, it is suggested by the film, was as much a choice based in moralism as in commerce.  The Starlite lounge was the oldest black-owned gay bar in New York, and the oldest black-owned business on Nostrand Ave., and the film makes a compelling case for the importance and centrality of it to the history of gay life in New York, black life in New York, as well as simply the history of New York itself.

The documentary, which looks fantastic—the colors are crisp and clean, and avoid many of the problems of shooting in digital—seeks to tell the history of the Starlite, from its beginnings in 1959 on through to the community efforts, ultimately unsuccessful, to keep it open.  In between, it tells the story of the owners, bartenders, customers, and performers of the Starlite, and the uniquely welcoming community that sprang up around it.  As one of the filmmakers said, this story lies “at the intersection of race, orientation, gentrification and AIDS awareness,” but it is truthfully about a place that rose above cultural differences.  Ittruly became a safe space that was welcoming to all, and sought to be more than just a place that served alcohol or had a dance floor, but instead a hot spot for community activism, AIDS activism, gang deterrence, and racial and sexual reconciliation.  Along the way, the film makes manifest the impact of AIDS on everyone who is even marginally connected to the LGBT community.

Following the screening, there was a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers; the owner, Linda King; a former bartender, Dennis Parrott; the former resident drag queen, Lady Jasmine; as well as several customers.  They all continually discussed the impact of the Starlite lounge and the hole created in the community, as well as their hopes and attempts to reopen in another location.  Their warmth and openness towards the audience, and their easygoing affection for each other were the best advertisement for what New York is now missing, and one hopes that they are ultimately successful in re-establishing this crucial safe space.

Read the latest information about our Center Ride here:

MEDIA ADVISORY

April 3, 2012

Contact:

Cindi Creager, Director of Communications & Marketing

(646) 358-1703, ccreager@gaycenter.org 

Center Gears up for 18th Iconic AIDS Ride

Boston to NYC Center Ride Set for September 21-23, 2012

Kick-Off Rally April 16; New Ride Producer and Manager Named

New York, NY April 3 , 2012 — The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, the world’s second largest LGBT Center, today further revealed plans for our 2012 AIDS ride, the annual event that has been raising critical funds for the Center’s HIV/AIDS related programs and services for 18 years, beginning in 1995. As shared in March with riders and crew, this year’s Boston to New York cycling journey is set for September 21-23. (Registration info here)

The Center is hosting a kick-off rally on Monday, April 16th from 6:30-8:30 PM, providing an opportunity for the community to meet our new producer, new and past riders and crew, and the HIV/AIDS clients we serve. The nationally syndicated Derek and Romaine Show will also broadcast live during the event on Sirius XM Radio. Last year the show raised over 40-thousand dollars for the ride.

“After a great deal of research, due diligence and thoughtful consideration, we are thrilled to announce the selection of LeadDog Marketing Group, Inc. as our 2012 Ride producer,” said Executive Director Glennda Testone. “An event production and marketing agency headquartered in New York, LeadDog has a passion for, and extensive experience in, logistical support and production for run, walk, and bike events across the country.”

In addition the Center is thrilled to welcome Michael Beck as its 2012 Center Ride Manager. Michael joins the Center following a successful affiliation with the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center as a cyclist, fundraiser and most recently, the recruitment coordinator for AIDS Life Cycle.

“Our clients are our number one priority,” Testone said. “Government funding for HIV/AIDS has fallen drastically, while the vast need for our programming continues to climb. Growing and improving our AIDS ride is a vital step to ensuring we have enough resources to sustain and enhance the programs and services we provide to the people who need us most. We’re extremely excited about Center Ride and eager to work with our new production partner, LeadDog Marketing Group, Inc.”

WHAT/WHO: Center Ride Kick-Off Rally! Meet our ride producers, LeadDog Marketing Group, Inc., our new ride manager Michael Beck, Center Staff, HIV/AIDS Clients, Past and Current Riders and Crew, and more! The Derek and Romaine Show will broadcast live throughout the event! 

WHEN: Monday, April 16, 2012, 6:30-8:30 PM

WHERE: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

208 West 13th Street, New York City

CONTACT:  Press should RSVP to: Cindi Creager, Director of Communications & Marketing
(646) 358-1703, ccreager@gaycenter.org 

About the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
A beacon of hope for 29 years, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center builds and supports our community through arts and culture, wellness and recovery, HIV/AIDS services, family services and life-saving youth programs designed to foster healthy development in a safe, affirming environment. The Center envisions a world where LGBT people will no longer face discrimination or isolation because of who we are or who we love. We offer a welcoming home to 300,000 visitors each year and we are committed to serving all LGBT people through a variety of programs, services and activities that are designed to meet existing and emerging needs. The Center is many things to many people. We invite you to experience our home at 208 West 13th Street in person and online at gaycenter.org.

Guest Post by Allie Axel

America has a great memory for moments of heroism but bouts of amnesia for those times when we falter. Like when President Reagan refused to acknowledge a crisis that wiped out more Americans than those killed in the Vietnam War. How many of us learned about the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. in school? Even high school lesson plans on HIV/AIDS are brief and insufficient. The new documentary 30 Years From Here serves as an “AIDS 101″ course for the American people. In its digestible 52-minute format, the film presents the history of the virus, the untold stories from those who lived through the crisis, and a present-day assessment of the effect it has on our lives now.

On the evening of March 13, every seat was filled  and there were a dozen people standing in the back, leaning against walls as the film, 30 Years From Here played at the Center. The audience seemed to be composed of people who had lived through the start of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s to those who gained awareness in the late 90s. Although the film targets teenage audiences, few people under twenty were present. But that does not mean under-twenties will not see the film.

The beauty of 30 Years From Here is that it is designed to be viewed on TV, thus reaching a far larger audience, especially those flipping channels and coming across a shocking subject they know nothing about. After the film screened, there was a Q & A session with the director, Josh Rosenzweig. Hands were slow to raise at first but then the questions started rolling, creating an emotionally charged atmosphere of curiosity, concern and frustration. The overarching question that the director and audience hoped to answer: How can we overcome the stigma of AIDS and promote awareness among today’s youth? 30 Years from Here is the first step to finding an answer.

Photo by Simon Shimshilashvili

Guest Post by Paul Reed

On Tuesday, March 20^th, The LGBT Center hosted the premiere installment of their new intergenerational “live talk show” series,  Q & Gay: Sex from the 70’s to Scruff.  I arrived quite early to notice that many of the seats were already full of people of many ages, proving that sex does indeed sell. During the opening cocktail reception, I also felt a strong sense of jubilation and reunion in the air, witnessing several long lost friends reconnecting all around me.

Ashley Brockington, a striking and statuesque theatre professional, proved to be a highly engaging facilitator, beginning the session by introducing the audience to the four members of the panel. Ashley first introduced Johnny Skandros, the co-founder of Scruff, a gay social smartphone app, and thus one of the most important people in the modern age of gay digital media. Next up was Joseph Lovett (Joe), producer of the celebrated film, Gay Sex in the 70’s. Following Joe, we met Rob Zukowski, talented photographer and in my opinion, the most delightfully salacious panelist. Rounding up the panel was Francis Sheehan (Frank), an influential New York artist originally from Ireland.

Photo by Simon Shimshilashvili

After establishing the house rules for the discussion, Ashley asked the panel a series of 25 questions all within the framework of gay sex from the 70’s until the current time. Questions, and thus answers, ran the gamut from the comical, (Question #5) “What’s the most embarrassing place you’ve ever woken up?”, to the reflective, (Question #7) “Where were you when you first heard of AIDS?”, and to the educational, (Question #2) “How do you define safe sex?” It wasn’t long into the discussion before the theme of age began to show its influences on the different perspectives within the panel.

One of the best questions that displayed this overreaching theme of age was (Question #3) “Describe yourself at twenty-one.” Joe’s long-time friend told him that in 1966 he was “desperate.” Frank reminisced about his times at The LGBT Center of Dublin in 1978. Johnny, the youngest member of the panel by far, reflected that in 2004 he was naïve and fed into gay stereotypes. Rob gave the fascinating picture of the West Village in 1988 as a colony of AIDS “lepers” trapped within the fabulous illusion the neighborhood tried to uphold. These answers provided a window to explore how the interactions of place and time create our self-identity of what it means to be a gay man.

A question that evoked much discussion was (Question #10) “How has technology changed the sex scene?” The audience had the privilege of hearing this question answered first by Johnny, the co-founder of Scruff, a mobile application utilizing GPS allowing one to view other gay men globally and to physically meet gay men within the immediate area. Johnny bypassed the seemingly obvious answer, which is that the application allows for more frequent and easier hook-ups, and dove more into the other benefits of his application. According to him, Scruff also is a way for gay men without a visible gay community to connect with other gay men, lessening the oppressive isolation that is the reality for many outside of metropolitan cities.

Scruff also is a venue to spread education and awareness about safer sex practices and important LGBTQ causes. Joe took the question in a different direction, speaking about how technology affects his relationship with his partner in negative ways. Technology’s ability to keep one connected to work can become a stressor and invasive to personal space. Rob had an incredibly insightful answer, speculating that technology has allowed rejection to become more prevalent, sometimes based on one’s race or perceived masculinity.

Hello Riders, Crew and Friends:

We are so excited about the upcoming Ride, and in fact, this annual event has been raising critical funds for the Center’s HIV/AIDS related programs and services for 18 years, all the way back to 1995! There are many things in the works, but I wanted to countdown the Top 5…

5. Registration

Our registration and fundraising pages are up and running for both individuals and teams. This Boston to New York cycling journey is set for September 21-23. If you aren’t already one of the fast-growing number of people to register, please do so here. 

4. Party Time

We are putting together a celebratory kick-off event at the Center on Monday, April 16th from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. It will be an opportunity to meet fellow riders and crew, sign up, introduce new friends, potential riders and donors to the Center, and bid for fantastic raffle items including a free massage, gift cards, and tickets to upcoming Center events. An official RSVP invitation will be out soon, but in the meantime please save the date!

3. Fundraising

The ride has already received many pledges, and our website is ready and waiting for you. A special shout out to an amazing (and new) rider named Anthony, who already brought in the most number of donors so far. Go Anthony! He’ll join our kick-off celebration on April 16th (and P.S., is the masseur behind the raffle item!) Come meet Anthony and schedule your appointment.

2. Producer

After a great deal of research, due diligence and thoughtful consideration, we are thrilled to announce the selection of LeadDog Marketing Group, Inc. as our 2012 Ride producer. An event production and marketing agency headquartered in New York, LeadDog has a passion for, and extensive experience in, logistical support and production for run, walk, and bike events across the country. LeadDog excels in creating and executing unique events that advance causes, delivering impeccable support and an inspiring experience to each participant. They maintain multi-year relationships with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Cancer Society, and Wildlife Conservation Society, among others. Come meet some of the LeadDog team who will be working on our Ride at the April 16th kick-off event – they are excited to meet you!

1. You

Speaking of you, I can’t thank you enough for all you do to support our life-saving and life-enhancing HIV/AIDS programs. Your efforts truly change lives: “Dan” is an immigrant who came to the Center on the brink of suicide after his health began deteriorating as a result of his HIV positive status. Center counselors gave him the emotional and mental help to cope with the difficulties of being an undocumented immigrant and HIV positive. Through the community of resources and support the Center is able to provide, Dan not only found personal stability, he is thriving! On behalf of the Center staff, and all of the clients like Dan we serve each and every day, thank you!

As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me or Jose at 212.620.7310, and I look forward to seeing all of you on the 16th!

Your fellow rider,

Glennda Testone

Guest Post by Client who participates in the Center’s Skills For Emotional Health Group

Skills For Emotional Health is an all-gender interactive support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-identified people to discuss personal emotional challenges and to develop skills for managing these issues. Challenges include experiences of anxiety, depression, excessive self-criticism, recurring distressing thoughts, and other mental health concerns. Members are encouraged to share successful coping strategies, develop non-judgmental self-acceptance, and strengthen support networks.

For many emotionally challenged LGBT people there is a belief that there is no “safe haven.” Fears, depression and anxiety rule our lives and we wonder if we will ever be able to relate to others.

Far too many of us are seeing professionals, but the sensation of being isolated, alone and owning our depression and negative feelings about ourselves, as if we deserve this self-loathing. Outside sources such as family and religion, are more often than not, major contributors to our negative self-image and it seems there is nowhere to turn.

We have been programmed into a mind-set that “our kind” are freaks and have been punished by factors at home, in society, or both. We have often been brain-washed into self-hatred by parents or siblings,  peers, religion, and society at large, or combinations of all of these factors.

The Center group “Skills For Emotional Health” offers an unique alternative to such negativity. This is not a replacement for one-on-one therapy, but it is a positive group environment, where we can express our deepest feelings that prevent us from being the person we wish to be. It is a place where we can voice and/or vent our frustrations, fears, anxiety and self-loathing in a warm, supportive and self-affirming atmosphere.

There are no quick cures, but we are all on a journey of self-discovery and hope. Nothing good comes easily or fast, but here, we can be ourselves with others of similar experience and begin the healing process in a guided and supervised setting. No judgments, no criticism, no harsh words; only our peers, all going through this process together and for many, for the very first time ever.

Those who participate in this group learn that we can understand and face our own demons, and we can begin to defuse and disarm those gremlins of the past that still hold sway over us and eventually send them packing. There are no guarantees in life, but group therapy is one way we can find support and insights into this long, dark tunnel, towards that glimmer of hope and light up ahead.

The Center has spent nearly three decades looking out for the health and well being of LGBT people.  This week we, and dozens of organizations across the nation, celebrate the 10^th Annual National LGBT Health Awareness Week.

Spearheaded by the National Coalition for LGBT Health, the theme of the 2012 campaign is “Come Out for Health,” and described as a call to action for community members, advocates, service providers, and governmental officials to recognize health and wellness as an essential part of the social justice movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, families and the wider community.

The Coalition is committed to improving the health and well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals through federal advocacy that is focused on research, policy, education, and training.  The LGBT community includes individuals of every sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and age; regardless of disability, income, education, and geography. Members are dedicated to effecting change by uniting this rich diversity at the national level.

Here at the Center the Community Services Department is incorporating LGBT health awareness themes into a number of our groups in the wellness, recovery, youth, and family program areas. Members of our staff also testified in favor of strong LGBT cultural competency training in New York City public hospitals, at a recent joint NYC City Council hearing by the Committee on Civil Rights and Committee on Health.

According to the National Coalition for LGBT Health:

LGBT people face numerous barriers in access to health care services. These barriers include lower rates of access to health insurance and fear of discrimination by providers who lack an understanding of LGBT health concerns.

According to a recent national survey conducted by Harris Interactive®, nearly one in four gay and lesbian adults lack health insurance and rates of uninsurance are even higher for bisexual and transgender people. These lower rates of health insurance coverage result from factors that affect many LGBT people and include poverty, unemployment, and job discrimination. Moreover, most employers do not extend health insurance benefits to the family members of LGBT employees, and practices that limit or deny access to coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions also contribute to low rates of insurance.

Beyond the difficulty of accessing coverage, barriers persist in many health care settings. Health care providers may be insensitive to LGBT health concerns and are often not trained to communicate with LGBT patients. Fear of harassment or concerns about privacy also often lead LGBT people to withhold personal information from their providers. This can include vital information such as sexual orientation, gender identity, prescription medication use, sexual behavior, substance use, and relationship concerns such as domestic violence.

These disparities in access result in worse health for the LGBT community in comparison to the general population. LGBT people often experience increased health risks, such as substance use and violence, as well as higher rates of conditions such as cancer, mental health concerns, and sexually transmitted infections. Without timely access to vital health care, these disparities can be deadly.

What can you do?

*Share your stories with providers and policy makers about the importance of health and access to health care for the LGBT community.

*Share the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association guidelines with your health care providers and help them create a safe and welcoming environment for the LGBT community.

*Community health centers & other health facilities can participate in HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index.

*Urge providers to become familiar with guidelines for LGBT cultural competence.

Learn more:

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association: www.glma.org

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers: www.lgbtcenters.org

WWW.LGBTHEALTH.NET

Look for more blogs about LGBT Health Awareness Week throughout the next several days.

Dear Ride Friends and Supporters,

This past Friday I wrote to you with information about the future of our AIDS ride following unsuccessful contract negotiations between the Center and Global Impact Tours, Inc. Because there is misleading and incomplete information now circulating, I am compelled to share with you the reasons that led to the break between the Center and Global Impact.

For the last nine years, “Braking the Cycle” has been a collaboration between the Center and Global Impact, of which we have been proud to be a part. As a for-profit production company, Global Impact has orchestrated the administration of the event, while the Center, a non-profit organization, has borne production costs and compensated Global Impact for its services. Together we have executed the ride.

Despite this collaborative history, on November 17, 2011, Global Impact, without alerting the Center, and before negotiations for the 2012 ride began, quietly filed for the trademark “Braking the Cycle,” asserting sole ownership of the name and the event. We were extremely disheartened that the company disregarded our longstanding relationship and, with no dialogue or notice, asserted full ownership of the ride.

Yet, even after learning of Global Impact’s actions, we came to the table in good faith to negotiate toward a 2012 ride. We requested that Global Impact withdraw its aggressive claim that it owns the name and the event, and continue the collaboration we built together over the last nine years. Global Impact declined our request, unilaterally ended negotiations and announced that it would stage a competing “Braking the Cycle” ride in competition with the Center and in violation of our contract terms. Global Impact then immediately communicated with you, providing a misleading account of what led to the separation. Among other things, it is not correct that the Center sought to end Global Impact’s communication with riders and crew. What we wanted was to increase communication between the Center and the riders and crew.

The Center has invested a lot of time, energy and creativity in “Braking the Cycle” over the years to support a cause we all care deeply about, raising critical dollars for the Center’s HIV/AIDS related services. The unilateral actions taken by Global Impact in service of its own commercial interests compromised our long-standing investment in this ride and the people who rely on our support, as well as the ongoing viability of the ride and the charitable dollars it raises.

We understand there is tremendous sentiment for the Center and Global Impact to work this out. The Center has tried to do just that, but Global Impact walked away from the process, and we must now move ahead to resolve outstanding issues in the most fair, appropriate and expedient manner possible. It’s unfortunate that any of these details had to make their way to riders and crew, who just want to participate in a rewarding event for a cause we all believe in.

The people we serve are depending on us, and therefore, we must also move ahead with our plans for a 2012 ride. As difficult as this process and transition are, we are optimistic and see tremendous opportunity ahead. It’s really quite simple – we must raise funds for our life-saving programs, and do so with lower production costs and increased visibility for the cause of ending AIDS.

Our riders and crew, and their tremendous fundraising efforts, are essential to the ride’s success. We are committed to providing a great experience for all those who participate, as well as a better life for those who benefit from the ride’s proceeds. We invite you to join with us as we set a new course for our ride scheduled for September 21-23, 2012. You can sign up here, and we hope to see you at the April 16th kickoff event at the Center.

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact me or Director of Development Jose Lugaro at 212-620-7310.

Yours in service,

Glennda Testone

As we approach our 18th year riding to fight HIV and AIDS, we know this year will surpass all others. Over the past nine years, our riders have traversed the east coast, whether north from Pennsylvania or south from Boston, rain or shine, all in an effort to raise vital funds for the Center’s diverse HIV/AIDS related services and programming. We are immensely grateful for their support and participation all along the way.

As we embark on our 2012 Ride, change is in the air. We are in the selection process for a new producer, and getting on with the business of recruiting riders and crew for our 2012 event. The Center’s Ride will go on, with exciting opportunities on the horizon – a new name, new ideas and new perspectives, improved fundraising and training support, and the chance to enhance and strengthen the overall experience for everyone. We want each and every one of you to come on this journey with us, and we know it’s going to be an amazing ride!

Our clients are our number one priority and we must continue providing HIV/AIDS related programs and services at an even greater capacity. This announcement comes at a time of great urgency for the Center. Public funding for HIV/AIDS has fallen drastically and the vast need for our programming continues to climb. Improving the Center’s AIDS Ride is a vital first step to ensuring we have enough resources to sustain and enhance the programs and services we provide to the people who need us most.

The name of the Ride may be changing, but our commitment to ending HIV/AIDS will never change. The people involved with this Ride over the last 17-years are our extended family and we take that very seriously. We are committed to making this year’s Ride and all future rides as magical as always.

The Center’s AIDS Ride is set for September 21- 23, 2012. You can sign up for the Ride on our website, and please join us on Monday, April 16th for our 2012 Ride Kick-off Party at the Center!

And, don’t forget to mark your calendar for Boston to New York, September 21-23, 2012!

Glennda Testone