HIV/AIDS summit heads to Philly
The Reunion Project will host a one-day summit in Philadelphia Nov. 10 for long-term survivors of HIV and AIDS and their families and friends to engage in conversations on living with the chronic illness.
The summit will be hosted at the William Way LGBT Community Center. The day will consist of a mix of facilitated discussions, panels and presentations led by researchers, advocates and HIV/AIDS survivors. Long-term HIV survivors Matt Sharp and Jeff Berry founded the Reunion Project in 2015. The summit is hosted in different cities across the country including Chicago, Palm Springs, Atlanta, Seattle and Fort Lauderdale. The Philadelphia summit will feature visual artist Gregg Cassin and spoken-word artist and activist Mary Bowman.
The Reunion Project summit is one of the events hosted by the Test Positive Aware Network, a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides services and support to those living with HIV/AIDS. TPAN is the publisher of Positively Aware, a monthly HIV/AIDS treatment journal.
William Way Center hosts performance fundraiser
The William Way LGBT Community Center will host “Cabaret Vérité VIII: Truth Be Told” Nov. 17 from 8-9:30 p.m. The performance is the eighth installment of the Cabaret Vérité series, and includes music and comedy with a cast featuring William Way executive director Chris Bartlet, Amber Hikes, John Jarboe, Cookie DiOrio and more. After the performance, all guests are invited to an after-party in the William Way lobby. All proceeds generated by the show will fund the many programs at the center.
Tickets are $35 and the show is open to the public.
To purchase tickets, visit https://cabaretverite.brownpapertickets.com/.
Calling LGBT women of color: Help with doctoral study
Queer Latinx social-justice organization GALAEI is looking for queer women of color to participate in a study conducted by a doctoral candidate from the University of Phoenix.
The purpose of the study is to address issues queer women of color face in the workplace. Any person of color who is LGBTQ, self-identifies as a woman, works in a professional environment, lives in the Philadelphia area and is beteen ages 18-50 is eligible. Participation entails a one-hour, in-person interview and a post-interview reflective-writing exercise.
To register for the study, contact Bianca Pichardo at [email protected].
Don’t miss Trans Awareness Week
Mazzoni Center will host a series of events for Trans Awareness Week to continue bringing visibility and awareness to transgender and gender-nonconforming people.
Tatyana Woodard, community engagement coordinator of Mazzoni Center’s “Our Space” program — the program that hosts events for trans and gender-nonconforming people — said the week advances the momentum started at the Trans Wellness Conference in August.
“These events are crucial to providing a space for the community to discuss their frustrations with President Trump’s attack on the community and the high rates of trans deaths within the last year,” Woodard said.
The lineup begins with the “Transgender History of Resilience” workshop 5-8 p.m. Nov. 13. The “Our Spaces” program will host a drop-in movie night 5-8 p.m. Nov. 14, screening “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.” Meechie Lanvin, of ballroom house Xclusive Lanvin, will host “Storytelling: Trans Women Trail Blazers of Ballroom” 1-3 p.m. Nov. 17. The events are free and open to the public.
Guests who attend one of the workshops will receive VIP tickets to the Trans Awareness Ball on Dec. 15.
The Trans Awareness Week events will be held at Mazzoni Center, 1348 Bainbridge St.
Action Wellness hosts monthly sexual-health discussions
Action Wellness has launched a monthly discussion group to encourage open communication on sexual health.
“The Bottom Line” discussions are targeted towards male-identified people looking to learn more about safe-sex practices, hookup culture and communication in relationships. Discussion include ways to enhance sexual pleasure, information on being “top” or a “bottom” and safe-sex practices. Terri Clark, prevention services coordinator at Action Wellness, said the purpose of the group is to have “a community-centered education group that would be able to talk about the issues with honesty.”
“Everyone is entitled to comprehensive sexuality education. It’s really important to provide accurate information in a sex-positive way to reduce stigma and shame that many folks have around issues related to sex and sexuality,” she said.
The group had its first meeting last month and will host the next discussion 6-7 p.m. Oct. 31 at COLOURS Organization, 1211 Chestnut St. The series will conclude Nov. 28.
Woodbury hosts first LGBT film festival
Woodbury Community Pride will host the first LGBTQ film festival Nov. 9 to explore LGBTQ diversity in international queer films.
“We really want Woodbury to be a destination for the LGBTQ community and this film festival is just another way we are doing that,” said Tony Doran, president of WCP.
The free, one-day festival is a collaboration between the WCP and the Feminist Film Workshops, a series organized by Krissy Mahan and Patricia Silva. The filmmakers host workshops and develop educational programs.
The event will be held at Polsky’s Corner, 164 S. Broad St. in Woodbury, N.J.
— compiled by Adriana Fraser and Miranda Lankas