|
|
  Today is the 22nd Annual World AIDS Day, a time for communities to come together to ensure we not only that we recognize the 25 million individuals lost to HIV and AIDS, but the 33 million global citizens living with the HIV virus today.
In the US, there are over 1.1 Million Americans living with HIV and more than 20% of those infected do not even know they carry the virus. It is estimated by the CDC that 56,000 new infections are occurring annually, that’s one new infection every nine and a half minutes in the US due to a disease that is completely preventable.
Continue reading »
  Rev. Mark Kiyimba at the 2009 UUA General Assembly Uganda has been in the LGBT news a lot lately for its upcoming bill that proposes executions for gays. Introduced in Uganda’s parliament last year, the bill would give the death penalty to any homosexual person who tests positive for HIV, and up to three years in jail for anyone who knows a gay person and does not report them. The proposal emerged after ex-Oregon Citizens Alliance communications director Scott Lively spoke to Uganda’s parliament.
It it likely to pass but there are still Ugandans working for justice in their country. One of them, Rev. Mark Kiyimba, will be in Portland this weekend.
Kiyimba, one of a small number of straight supporters of gay rights in Uganda, has risked his life by holding an LGBT conference last February in Kampala, attended by 200 people. His church runs a school for 150 orphans who lost their parents to HIV and AIDS, as well as an orphanage for 22 children infected with the virus.
Continue reading »
Thousands of people turned out for this year's AIDS Walk to support the efforts of Cascade AIDS Project.
Yesterday morning crowds gathered in Pioneer Square to walk in solidarity for Cascade AIDS Project’s annual AIDS Walk. Teams and individuals raised enough funds to meet CAP’s financial goal for the event (total funds are still being tallied and will be available here by Oct. 13th).
Click here to […]
  Rufus Wainwright plays tonight as part of the TBA Festival Tonight
Rufus Wainwright with the Oregon Symphony – Portland’s yearly Time Based Art festival is pretty epic and pretty gay in and of itself. But tonight’s opening act is sure to be one of the more memorable musical collaborations. This celebrated male vocalist has had immense success as a pop star but easily scored an entire opera, Prima Donna, as well. On the last stop in his North American tour Wainwright will entries from his latest opera, performed by local soprano Janis Kelly as well as some “classical” Rufus that will showcase the composer’s own vocal range when he sings two concert pieces by French composer Hector Berlioz.
Dirtbag – Jenny Bruso’s Alberta queer non-poppy sweat dance party this week with guest DJ Lick My Battery. It’s real. It’s raw. And it’s damn good.
Continue reading »
  She Bop co-owners and founders Jeneen Doumitt and Evy Cowan The vodcast hasn’t forgotten about you! Queer Agenda is back this month with an episode dedicated entirely to newly opened women-centric sex toy shoppe She Bop (909 N Beech). Co-owner Evy Cowan leads us through some of the store’s most popular items including vibrators that thrum to your dance club beat (Blow Pony watch out), double dildos that engage the kegels, and beautifully blown glass pieces that are great for temperature play. And though perhaps less sexually useful, but just as entertaining, is the selection of vibes of yore. I do so love a history of sex.
We open up this month with a brand new Oregon AIDS/STD hotline commercial.
Continue reading »
 Tomorrow’s many activities mark the 21st Annual World AIDS Day, a time to recognize not only the 25 million individuals lost to HIV and AIDS, but the 33 million global citizens living with the HIV virus today. World AIDS Day Portland lists numerous stories, resources, events and workshops happening throughout the day and for the next week.
To mark world AIDS Day and raise awareness throughout the Portland Metropolitan area, HIV/AIDS service organizations with both domestic and international focus have come together to implement the Nine and a Half Minutes Campaign for 2009. Through this campaign, we envision hundreds of groups – from schools to community-based organizations – to mobilize short actions, events, or campaigns all over the Portland-metropolitan area to raise awareness for 21st Annual World AIDS Day.
Continue reading »
Wow, another move to actually improve the lives of queer people by a President that has spewed mostly rhetoric so far. My faith is being restored! Today President Obama signed extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS bill.
The legislation provides care, treatment and support services to nearly half a million people, most of whom are low-income.
Obama also announced that the Department of Health and Human services has finally crafted a new regulation spelling the end to the HIV Travel and Immigration Ban. The regulation goes into effect in January.
Continue reading »
 DJ in red. Photo by Marty Davis / Just Out Unfortunately, once again qPDX was unable to attend one of the it parties of the year, The Red Dress soiree which hosted its “Red Eye” themed soiree last Saturday. Luckily, over 2000 clad in in red gowns were in attendance at the benefit for those living with HIV and AIDS.
From fellow local blogger Byron Beck:
Last year’s RDP was more of a political meet and greet (perhaps that had to do with the fact Chelsea Clinton crashed the soiree), but this year’s party seemed to go back to its roots as a literally balls-to-the-wall blow-out of drunken debauchery (thank god).
Continue reading »
 Cascade Aids Project is starting a new educational series intended for volunteers and community members who want to be informed HIV and AIDS. The series of discussions, led by professionals and community leaders, will take place once ever two months at the Q Center (4115 N Mississippi Ave).
Continue reading »
|
|
