If you haven’t gotten tested for HIV lately, then June is the month to do so. Know your status and have all your questions answered at numerous testing locations and events throughout AIDS Education Month.
Presented by Philadelphia FIGHT, this month-long series of events, workshops and conferences will kick off with an opening reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 2 at the Independence Visitors Center.
A major change to the programming schedule this year is the combination of what would normally be three smaller “summit” workshops into one large End AIDS Conference. The first-of-its-kind event takes place 8 a.m.-6 p.m. June 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
“We are really excited about combining our three traditional summits into one big conference,” said Philadelphia FIGHT director of education Juliet Fink Yates. “It’s going to feel like we are bringing an international AIDS conference to Philly.”
The one-day conference will now include the prison health-care and reentry summit, the faith leaders and community summit and the HIV-prevention and outreach summit. The event will feature more than 60 workshops, 50 community vendors, a gallery of art, an AIDS timeline and more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and all events are free.
“We have info and events for people regardless of where they come in with their understanding of HIV/AIDS,” Yates said. “You don’t have to know anything. We have a spectrum of workshops, from 101 to advanced classes for credit for medical professionals.”
Throughout the month, other events include a gospel concert featuring J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise, the Summit Ball, Hip Hop for Philly concert, a community cookout and much more.
During the opening reception, longtime LGBT civil-rights advocate Deon Haywood, executive director of Women With a Vision, will be presented with the 2015 Kiyoshi Kuromiya Award — named for the late HIV/AIDS and LGBT-rights pioneer — for her advocacy work in HIV/AIDS, LGBT rights and reproductive justice.
“Deon has been a fierce advocate for LGBT rights and other marginalized groups for a long time,” Yates said. “We know that Kiyoshi would be extremely pleased that she is receiving this award.”
Yates said one of the major goals of AEM is to get as many people tested as possible leading up to and culminating in National HIV Testing Day June 27. On average, Yates said, FIGHT tests approximately 1,200 young people ages 13-24 every year.
A majority of these numbers are obtained through AEM’s Summit Ball and Hip Hop for Philly concert.
“These two events are very popular and draw large crows each year,” said Yates. “We have built in HIV-testing components into the events and are able to test lots of people at once.”
For example, admission to the concert, which features recording artist Teyana Taylor, is free in exchange for an HIV test.
There are also many events that take place in collaboration with local community and recreation centers throughout the city.
“The goal is to get into the communities that don’t have access to this info,” Yates said. “At these smaller events throughout the city, we can give them basic information about safer-sex practices and getting tested that they might not have access to otherwise.”
AEM is a part of Philadelphia FIGHT’s vision of a world without AIDS, Yates said — a goal that is getting closer.
“I think that over the years we have really seen that there is so much exciting research and treatments that are out there and making a huge impact,” she said. “It’s not some far-away concept — the tools exist.”
For more information about AIDS Education Month, including a complete event schedule, visit www.fight.org.