LGBTQ youth are bullied at much higher rates than other students. Let’s show them they’re not alone and stand against bullying by going purple this October 20th. Take the pledge today! Learn more at GLAAD.org.
Posts Tagged ‘gay’
NYS Dept of Health Debuts New PrEP Website & Video Series
Thursday, July 14th, 2016The AIDS Institute announced two new exciting resources on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV.
PrEP for Sex Video Series
This series of eight videos highlights the voices of men who are currently taking PrEP to prevent HIV infection.
Honest, forthright and insightful, these videos address the following topics:
- Is PrEP Right for Me
- Beginning the Process
- Affordability
- Remembering to Take PrEP
- Condom Use
- Why PrEP
- Side Effects
- PrEP and Emotions
PrEP Website
The AIDS Institute also unveiled a new website to unite the video series and public service announcements: PrEPforSex.org.
There is also a new text-message campaign. Users can text the word “PREP” to 69866 for personalized PrEP recommendations and resources.
Hudson Valley AIDS Walk & Run Photos & Video
Tuesday, May 10th, 2016Thanks to everyone who walked, ran, volunteered, supported and sponsored the 2016 Hudson Valley AIDS Walk and 5K run on Saturday, May 7th! It was a great day despite a little rain with plenty of music, food, and outdoor fun. We also had a very special afterparty, “Heels for Hope,” later on at the Firemen’s Exempt Association.
Here’s a look back at the big event, thanks to videographer Nijinsky De La Cruz and photographer Tracey Buzzanco.
Hudson Valley AIDS Walk Pre- and After-Parties
Wednesday, April 13th, 2016
We’re turning up the springtime heat with two amazing events to bookend the Big Event (our Hudson Valley AIDS Walk & Run, which happens on Saturday, May 7, 2016).
One week before the Wall/Run, join us for “Get Your Shirt Together!” a new pre-registration party at Chill Wine Bar in Beacon. Wear your funniest t-shirt (it’s OK if it’s inappropriate!) to enter the Funniest T-Shirt Contest, with prizes for the overall funniest, best duo or group shirts, and most vulgar. Your fellow guests will be the judges so go with your most crowd-pleasing tee!
Plus, if you’re a registered Walker or Runner you can pick up your official 2016 t-shirt in advance, or register on the spot and get your tee and fundraising packet all at once. Donate $5 and have access to the Shirt Decorating Bar, which will be stocked with paint, markers, stick-on jewels, and other fun items.
DJ duo Prephab plays fun dance music and classics, and a portion of your bar tab will be donated to the AIDS Walk/Run. There is a $5 suggested donation at the door.
After the Walk/Run, join us at River Station, a waterfront restaurant in downtown Poughkeepsie, for Heels for Hope, the official AIDS Walk/Run afterparty featuring a drag showcase and a new dinner buffet! For $40, enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet and reserve your seat for the cavalcade of drag performers. Stick around after the show for dancing with Prephab and Superior Sounds. Seating is limited and there will only be a few standing-room show-only tickets available at the door, so head on over to http://heelsforhope2016.eventbrite.com for advance tickets!
Scheduled to perform:
Katarina Mirage
Valkirie Hall
Victoria Precise
Coco Caine
Max Pleasure
with hosts Ryan Doughty and Kiley J. Winn!
Photos from “Drag Brunch” 2016
Monday, March 21st, 2016-
- John Martin from Superior Sounds
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- HVCS Board President Andrew Evans (2nd from right) with friends
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- Anita Lay
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- Anita Lay
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- Avi Munster
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- Avi Munster
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- Avi Munster, Anita Lay and JoJo Gerard
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- Avi interacts with the audience.
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- Avi and a Gunk Haus patron
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- Avi’s “Mannequin”
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- Avi strikes a pose
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- Becki plays “Match Game”
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- Patrick and Stephan from Big Gay Hudson Valley with contest winners
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- Caftans and big hats were the outfit for the day
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- Contest winners!
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- Gunk Haus patrons
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- The entire “cast” of Drag Brunch
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- Gunk Haus patrons
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- Playing “Match Game”
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- Audience participation
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- Drag Brunch’s home at Gunk Haus
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- Trixie Starr reads “Match Game” responses
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- JoJo Gerard
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- JoJo Gerard
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- JoJo Gerard in furs
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- Ginny Schneider (HVCS’ Director of Client Services) competes against Patrick from BGHV, with Trixie
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- Patrick from BGHV
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- Trixie calls out “Match Game” questions
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- A mermaid with Avi
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- Long-time volunteer Zelesther plays Match Game (with an inside joke as his answer)
Special thanks to Tracey Buzzanco for taking photos!
Drag Brunch 2016 was made possible by Gunk Haus, Superior Sounds, and Big Gay Hudson Valley. Thank you for all your support!
Drag Brunch Almost Sold Out + “Best Look” Contest from BGHV
Monday, March 14th, 2016
There are only a few tickets left for HVCS’ Drag Brunch 2016! This event has sold out every year and we expect the same situation for Sunday’s big show. If you’ve been waiting, now’s the time to hop on over to Eventbrite to snag your tickets!
And, to add to the fun, our friends and supporters at Big Gay Hudson Valley hope YOU the audience will have just as much fun as our drag-tastic performers! They’re giving away two pairs of tickets to their upcoming event to the two “Best Gender Bender Looks” at Drag Brunch. Don your best gender-switcheroo outfit or bend your gender outfit to the extreme and you might win a pair of tickets to see “Nasty Drew & That Harder Boy: The Mystery of the Family Jewels” in Rosendale on Saturday, April 16th. Outfits will be judged by our performers TRIXIE STARR, JOJO GERARD, ANITA LAY and AVI MUNSTER, so dress to impress!
Learn More About BGHV’s upcoming show:
Great jumping catfish! Someone has snatched Lady Dubois’ cherished family jewels! Never fear, stripper sleuths Nasty Drew and That Harder Boy are on the case. Watch as they hunt for clues, ward off menacing suspects and loosen up a few buttons of their own on their search to find the dastardly diamond deviant.
Presented by Big Gay Hudson Valley and GayHudson.com, Nasty Drew & That Harder Boy: The Mystery of the Family Jewels is written and produced by Chris Harder (who you may remember from BGHV’s annual burlesque cabaret, HUNG With Care). This queer and campy “whodunit” play features some of NYC’s hottest names in burlesque, drag and circus performance.
Learn more and watch the trailer online at www.BigGayHudsonValley.com/NastyDrew
HIV Crisis Among Hispanic MSM
Monday, February 29th, 2016
The Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Health Network just released this infographic on the HIV crisis among Hispanic/Latino men. This comes on the heels of the CDC’s recent release of a study which says that 1 in 4 Hispanic MSM (men who have sex with men) are estimated to be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime.
“While Latinos are 17% of the US population, they accounted for 24% of all HIV infections in 2014. In 2014, every 54 minutes a Latino MSM was diagnosed with HIV in the United States and US territories.” Read more here.
NYS Issues Urgent Warning About Syphilis
Monday, October 12th, 2015Infectious syphilis is increasing in New York State, with a 13% increase in New York City and a 44% increase in upstate New York between 2013 and 2014. In many areas, the number of cases has more than doubled in this period. The highest burden of cases is seen in New York City and surrounding counties (which would include the Hudson Valley). Cases are mainly among males, especially gay men and men who have sex with men.
We encourage everyone to be aware of the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of syphilis. Having unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, or a new sex partner can all increase the risk of syphilis infection, as well as other STI’s and HIV.To learn more about syphilis, visit our RPI team or http://bit.ly/NYSDOHSyph. Call (845) 471-0707 x12 to schedule a test, or stop in at one of our testing events. You can also check out the basics on our website.
Hey Hudson Valley Guys: HVCS Wants to Hear How You Stay Healthy
Wednesday, November 19th, 2014
We’re always looking to improve our programs and services, and right now we’re focusing on our HIV/STI prevention programs for men who have sex with men. We want to hear from local guys about their relationships and sex lives–whether you identify as gay, bi, queer, or anything else.
The survey takes about 10 minutes (most respondents take about 5 minutes), and if you complete the survey and send us a cell phone number, we’ll text you a $10 online gift card which you can use right away. All answers are anonymous–we’ll delete your cell digits after we send your gift card.
TAKE THE SURVEY
Your answers will help us design and improve sexual health interventions and strategies for Hudson Valley men.
Thank you for your participation!
amfAR’s New Study Shows Dire Consequences from Elevated HIV Cases among Black Gay Men in the U.S.
Tuesday, November 18th, 2014“Despite efforts to reduce disparities in HIV transmission among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States by optimizing treatment outcomes, significant racial disparities in HIV prevalence will likely persist for decades due to an alarmingly high concentration of HIV in black gay men, a new report finds.
Black MSM in the U.S. have been disproportionately affected by HIV since the beginning of the epidemic, although studies show that black men do not engage in more risk-associated behaviors than white men, and are just as, if not more, consistent about condom use and HIV testing. Yet disparities in HIV incidence and prevalence between black and white MSM in the U.S. remain largely unexplained.
Reporting in the November 18 online edition of The Lancet HIV, researchers from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta and amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, assessed how existing disparities in HIV prevalence and in the HIV continuum of care explain differences in HIV incidence in MSM.”
Read the rest of the report summary on amfAR’s website: www.amfar.org/Racial-Disparities/
Learn more about HVCS’ programs for young gay black men in the hardest-hit areas of the Hudson Valley.