BISEXUAL HEALTH SUMMIT IN CHICAGO

Part of the 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit
Deadline for proposal submission - March 31


The Bisexual Health Summit will be on August 14, 2009 at Hilton and Towers in Chicago, IL. This event will be held in conjunction with the National LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) Health Summit as a one-day event and as a broader presence within the larger conference.

As 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Chicago is especially proud to host this year’s LGBTI Health Summit. At present, the passage of Proposition 8 in California has put LGBTI concerns at the forefront of our national community. LGBTI health care is its own grassroots movement, striving to incorporate the whole person – mentally, physically, and spiritually – rather than being disease-based.

The Bi Health Summit is a grassroots conference drawing roughly 75 community health workers, activists, and professionals as participants. We are coming together for an update on the field of bisexual health with an emphasis on strategizing about future directions.

The purpose of the Bi Health Summit is to educate and empower participants by communicating vital information on health issues affecting people with multi-gendered sexuality. This summit aims to share plans to advance the bi health movement, allowing attendees to receive and discuss reports on effective paradigms and policies. We look forward to a dynamic conversation on the most pressing needs for information and organizing among bisexuals, allies, and health care providers.

Topics at the Bi Health Summit will include:

• Clinical Care – who serves the bisexual community and how we are best served
• Community Initiatives – latest strategies
• Research – what we have learned and what we need to explore
• Education & Training – models used and their success
• Publications – most up-to-date resources
• Advocacy and Policy Work – next steps for the bisexual health movement

# # #

The theme of the 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit is “Health Through the Life Course”. The LGBTI Health Summit is dedicated to preserving and improving the emotional, physical, spiritual, intellectual, psychological, environmental, and social health and wellness of LGBTI people. We are a diverse range of communities who each experience significant health disparities because of our sexual orientations and/or gender identities.


To submit a proposal for or register to participate in the Bi Health Summit, please click the “Bi Health Summit” tab on the main 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit site. The main site also has information on hotel, alternate housing, registration for the full Summit, scholarships, and offers a number of ways to get involved with the planning activities already underway. Please visit the site today and join the nearly 200 volunteers from across the country and the world working on the Summit.

The deadline for proposal submissions is March 31. This deadline is for the Bi Health Summit and the broader LGBTI Health Summit. Please consider submitting bisexual-themed proposals for both. Contact the organizers with any questions.

Sex and Speed - a Webinar - March 5

The seminar (hosted by APLA) will present an outline of the nexus of sexuality and methamphetamine use by men who have sex with men. The presentation will include history, psychopharmacology, and use issues of speed including modes of drug ingestion and how these modes may affect HIV, HCV and pathogen transmission. Discussion will also present the relationship of meth use with sex among MSM, concepts of instrumental use, HIV burnout, compulsive sexual behavior, and potential for HIV preventive interventions to lessen risk among this population.

Upon completion of the web seminar participants will be able to:

• discuss general contours of methamphetamine in the U.S.,

• discuss the psychopharmacology and modes of ingestion of meth, including possible ramifications for HIV and HCV transmission,

• identify some of the described points of convergence between meth use and sexuality among MSM,

• identify potential interventions for working with speed using MSM populations to lessen their risk for HIV/HCV and STIs.

Learn more, RSVP.

Friday is for Faeries

Images from the Art Archive of Radical Faerie Digest

Connecting the Dots - Podcast Series Focuses on Black Gay Men

NASTAD is pleased to release the second installment of its Connecting the Dots podcast series focusing on black gay men. In this four-part podcast, NASTAD explores black gay men’s sexuality through interviews with Patrick Wilson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Medical Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, and Terrance Moore, Associate Director for NASTAD’s racial and ethnic health disparities program. The questions and answers in this podcast challenge listeners to consider a range of issues, both profound and superficial, that influence the health and wellness of black gay men.

Part one of the podcast, released on February 5, 2009, explored identity, masculinity and femininity and sexual objectification and mystique of black gay men (part one transcript). Part two explores racism, gender identity and sexual roles (part two transcript). Parts three and four will be released over the upcoming month and will explore pop culture and media, self-value, power and privilege and will connect the dots between all issues covered in the podcast series. (Please note: each podcast is approximately 35MB, so please be patient during the download.)

After listening to the podcast, we encourage listeners to visit NASTAD’s blog to leave comments. By sharing insights and ideas, we believe listeners can help one another better understand the contexts in which behaviors occur, in which programs and services are delivered and in which policies are made. To this end, we also encourage you to share this podcast series with your colleagues.

Please watch for additional Connecting the Dots podcasts throughout the year. We also invite you to view other NASTAD publications focusing on Black gay men and other important topics by visiting NASTAD’s website.

Chicago Takes Off - March 7 - Get Your Tix

Chicago Takes Off is the annual burlesque revue-style show where talented male and female dancers donate their time and energy to strut their stuff in support of TPAN. Colorful and energetic choreographed performances and entertainment engage audiences in this sexy celebration of life. Image and video above are from last year's event.

Purchase your tickets NOW!
March 7, 2009 | Park West

NYC - Forum on Anal Cancer - TONIGHT

Gay Men’s Health Crisis and Harlem United to Host Community Forum - TONIGHT

Anal cancer is on the increase among gay and bisexual men, and people living with HIV. Gay men are 20 times more likely than the general population to contract anal cancer. HIV-positive gay men are 40 times more likely than the general population to contract anal cancer.

The same high-risk strains of HPV (human papillomavirus) that cause most cervical cancers in women are also responsible for causing anal cancer. The virus, spread through receptive anal intercourse, is estimated to be present in 65% of gay men without HIV and 95% of those who are HIV positive. A simple and inexpensive anal Pap test detects the virus. Unfortunately, few physicians are performing anal screening exams and offering anal pap smears to gay men, resulting in anal cancer rates as high as those of cervical cancer before the use of routine Pap smears in women.

On Thursday, February 26, GMHC and Harlem United, two local AIDS services organizations, will host a community forum on anal cancer and gay/bisexual men. Liz Margolies, LCSW, Executive Director from the National LGBT Cancer Network, and Dan Bowers, MD, now in private practice, and former senior partner of Pacific Oaks Medical Group, will present on the latest information regarding prevention and treatment.

Event Information

Date: Thursday, February 26

Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Place: GMHC
The Tisch Building
119 West 24th Street – 9th floor
New York City

Subways: F/V to 23rd Street/6th Avenue; 1/9 to 23rd Street/7th Avenue

The "Work In" - First Step

Brought to you by Ed Negron, a former drug user, turned gangbanger, turned drug dealer, turned own best customer, turned addict, turned recovering addict (still there), turned activist, turned business manager, turned student, turned Substance Abuse Counselor, turned better and happier person, turned someone who can love and be loved (Love you Patrick), turned blogger. Check out Ed's own blog here.

Featured Every Thursday on LifeLube --- check out all of Ed's "Work-In's" here.

The 12 Steps: A historic and analytic explanation
Series continued from January 29, 2009

First Step

Last month I decided to share this series I received some time ago. It breaks the 12 Steps down in a totally different way then how we are used to hearing it. Yes, I know, and I’ll say it again, the 12 steps aren’t for everyone; but it does work for many. I will run this series on the last Thursday of each month. So mark your calendars now. For those of you that are like me and just can’t wait a month for the next episode, you can get your very own copy of this series in a printable ebook of ‘The 12 Step Workbook” - just click on the book to the left.

“I realize I'm stuck. It makes no sense to keep trying to solve my problems with "solutions" that aren't working.”

Original wording (AA):
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable.

Codependency:
We admitted we were powerless over others - that our lives had become unmanageable.

Generic version:
We admitted we were powerless over things we believed we should control -- that our lives had become unmanageable.

A new beginning

Somebody once said: If the only tool you have is a hammer, you try to solve everything by hammering.

Well, if the hammer is not solving the problem, it may very well be time to try something else.

The problem is, you may feel that the hammer really should be working… that it will actually work if you just try a little longer… There’s nothing wrong with persistence. But Step One introduces another consideration: accountability.

It’s not enough to just say: I believe it will work one day if I just keep trying. You need to set goals and deadlines. Not for the sake of putting pressure on yourself… but in order to face the reality of what is happening.

Step One is looking squarely at reality. If what you’re doing is not working, you acknowledge that. When you do, you are left with a feeling of emptiness – you don’t know what to do, or even whether there is a solution. It can be really scary. Surprisingly, the emptiness allows you to make room for new, unexpected ideas.


Will these steps work for me?

Self-knowledge is helpful when you want to make changes in your life. The "proactive 12 steps" will help you gain self knowledge. This, in turn, will help you make the changes you want.

But don’t just take my word for it. Keep track of what’s happening. Periodically ask yourself whether you are making progress. This means that you need to give some thought to how you will define and evaluate progress.

What if you’re dealing with addiction? When people say that the “twelve steps” helped them deal with addiction, they do not mean that they just read the steps. They credit twelve steps meetings and the peer support they provide. Even peer support may not be enough. If your habits are endangering yourself or others, you may need to see a qualified professional or go to a rehab program.

The first step is about facing the reality of your situation. It makes no sense to keep trying to solve problems with "solutions" that can't work. Whenever you realize this, you need to look for a different approach.

In other words, the first step is not just the beginning of this process. It is an attitude. It is about staying grounded in reality as you keep track of your progress.



To read daily motivations visit my blog at thework-in.blogspot.com or to receive daily motivations via email join our Google group Back To The Basics Please .

(Usual disclaimer applies: The suggestions on this blog are just that “SUGGESTIONS.” My words cannot heal your pain and or addictions. Nor can I change your life. Only you can.)

“Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness." -- Shakti Gawain

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
President Barack Obama - 44th President of the United States of America 2009

Work It Out (and in, and out)

'Sexercise' yourself into shape

via BBC World


The NHS has some new advice for people struggling to schedule a fitness routine into their daily lives - a workout between the sheets.

According to the NHS Direct website, "sexercise" can lower the risk of heart attacks and helps people live longer.

Endorphins released during orgasm stimulate immune system cells, which also helps target illnesses like cancer, as well as wrinkles, it states.

Sexual health experts said such claims could not be scientifically proven. "It's good to see the NHS are promoting sexual wellbeing," Dr Melissa Sayer told the Guardian newspaper. "Yes, there is evidence that sex has benefits for mental wellbeing, but to say there is a link with reduced risk of heart disease and cancer is taking the argument too far."

NHS Direct, however, told the paper the content was "backed by science and clinical evidence" and "isn't just a bit of fun".

'Regular romps' The advice, published under the headline "Get more than zeds in bed", is one of several sexual health-related articles to be found on the NHS Direct website. Sex with a little energy and imagination provides a workout worthy of an athlete, the article says.

"Forget about jogging round the block or struggling with sit-ups. Sex uses every muscle group, gets the heart and lungs working hard, and burns about 300 calories an hour." The advice suggests "regular romps this winter" could lead to a better body and a younger look.

Increased production of endorphins "will make your hair shine and your skin smooth," it adds. "If you're worried about wrinkles - orgasms even help prevent frown lines from deepening."

The article goes on to say that orgasms release "painkillers" into the bloodstream, which helping keep mild illnesses like colds and aches and pains at bay. The production of extra oestrogen and testosterone hormones "will keep your bones and muscles healthy, leaving you feeling fabulous inside and out".

Healthcare at the Center

via Bilerico, by Paige Schilt

A Plea for Putting Health Care at the Center of Our Movement

This past Saturday, I received two telling pieces of mail.

The first was a thick package of postcards for the upcoming Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference at the Mazzoni Center.

The second was a doctor's bill. My wife, Katy, has rheumatoid arthritis. A cutting-edge generation of medicines has allowed her to manage the joint pain and degeneration, but the effectiveness of each new drug diminishes over time. Recently her doctor ordered a treatment that must be administered in-office. The cost of a single biweekly dose: $2800.

Perhaps it's an indication of how inured I am to health care crisis, but my first thought was, "We can address postcards while we wait on hold to haggle with the doctor's office."

Activists who work on marriage equality are frequently encouraged to share their stories. But marriage equality will not fix my family's health care problems, nor will it fix the health care disparities faced by most of my communities. So today, as I look forward to National LGBT Health Awareness Week (March 8-14), I want to talk about why I am beginning to shift the focus of my activism to health care access.

Read the rest.

Woof Wednesday

The Bad News - Tina Trending Upwards Among Gay Black Men

excerpt from Rod 2.0

Recent surveys among New York City’s mostly white, and mostly professional gay men [show] meth use is trending downward among young men and Caucusians. That’s the good news. The bad news is that, as tina use has become less acceptable among those populations, it has been trending upward sharply among gay urban African-American men.

Read the whole item.


Check out LifeLube's extensive section on crystal meth.

LifeLube wants to know...

LifeLube.org is launching a social marketing campaign directed to Chicago gay men called “How are you healthy?” Part of the multi-agency collaboration called Project CRYSP (including Howard Brown, TPAN, AFC and Center on Halsted), LifeLube is your gay, sexy, healthy resource on the web.

We are interested in hearing about the many ways gay men in Chicago keep themselves healthy. Maybe it’s all about eating grains and taking vitamins. Or meditating every day. Or riding your bike instead of driving. Or getting tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases. Or having a glass of red wine with dinner. Or using substances in moderation. You see where we are going… Each of us does all kinds of things to keep ourselves going – it’s called the survival instinct!

LifeLube would like to share these tips and activities on our blog. We are looking to hear from guys from all backgrounds, HIV+ and HIV-. All we ask is that you send us your picture, and a short paragraph about one way in which you keep yourself healthy. We will run the your picture, your name, and your paragraph on the blog.

You can send that info to lifelube@gmail.com

Please consider our offer, and forward this to anyone you think might be interested...and interesting!

"How are you healthy" is set to launch in mid March - stay tuned.

Where are the black gay men?

via Housing Works

Two weeks ago individuals and organizations across the nation marked National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Judging by many of the articles, press releases and events commemorating the day, however, you might never guess that the highest percentage of new HIV infections in 2006 was among black gay men.

Why, even on a day dedicated to black AIDS awareness, do black gay men remain a footnote?

“It’s symptomatic of the problem we face of ridding our community of HIV in order to break the back of the epidemic,” said Ernest Hopkins, policy director of the Black Gay Advocacy Coalition. “The most heavily impacted population by percentages is black gay men. If you want to talk about this epidemic you have to start there, and then move very quickly to black women, or you’re not doing your job.”

Two events that got advocates talking were the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA)’s forums in New York and in Washington, D.C. (the latter included black ministers from the D.C. area).

The New York forum extensively covered women, incarceration and drug use, while gay men and homosexuality were mentioned in passing and only as they related to women being infected by men who have sex with men. The theme of the BLCA event was “HIV/AIDS and Black Women,” but the question remains why, on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, one of the highest profile African-American groups failed to address the most-affected black demographic.

“A lot of us left the session angry and we weren’t sure why,” said Kristin Goodwin, Housing Works Director of New York Policy and Organzing. “There was nothing wrong on the surface, but it was distressing the way the event made women seem like victims and didn’t even account for gay men who don’t have sex with women.”

NBLCA President C. Virginia Fields told the Update that her speech at the event was intended to be broad-based. “I was focused on the community. I think when you talk about the disease, you talk about all people,” she said, adding that there was particular focus on women and children because “that’s the population I find often does not get mentioned.” Fields also said that “it’s crucial that black gay men be part of the conversation not just around AIDS, but making homophobia unacceptable.”

Celebrity scandalette

Another Black AIDS Day dust-up involved Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), which solicited its board member, ER star Gloria Reuben, to write an op-ed for Huffington post about AIDS in the black community and the need for comprehensive sex education.

People were upset because Reuben didn’t mention gay men, or men period, in her piece.

“HIV/AIDS in this country is a man’s disease – about ¾ of the epidemic – most of which is among gay men of all races, and particularly among gay black men and gay Latino men. Not mentioning this fact in one sentence, or even a phrase, is absolutely unacceptable,” Jim Pickett of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago wrote in a message to the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership (FAPP) listserv.

Read the rest.

Via POZ - Sex Tourism and HIV

by Tony Valenzuela on Poz.com

I don’t consider it paying for sex. It’s giving them what I call a ‘money donation,’” says Drey, an American moderator of popular website gaytravelbrazil.com, referring to Brazil’s “rent boy saunas”—a combination of bathhouse and entertainment complex where tourists and locals go to socialize and hire sex workers. “It’s kind of like a gentlemen’s club,” explains Drey, who speaks Portuguese and travels to Rio several times a year for business—and pleasure. “It’s not about going down and getting discounted sex,” he says in earnest. “It’s really about getting to know the people, their lifestyle, their culture. [I] treat them with respect.”

Besides helping gay male tourists book vacations and teaching them the essentials of safely navigating Brazil, Drey’s site also hosts online forums where gay men discuss and share photos of the country’s most popular sex escorts. “Some of the guys have really tough lives,” Drey says. “Some guys take a bus for an hour from the poor sections outside Rio, just to come in to make a little bit of extra money.” Drey claims much of the sex is safe and that the saunas’ management provide condoms and lube to customers who hire the men by the hour. “I absolutely adhere to condom use,” Drey says. “I don’t really have an option. That’s the only way that [the sauna boys] will do it.” He pauses then adds: “The reason they’re very careful is that a lot of them have wives and girlfriends. They don’t want to bring anything home.”

To some people, Drey’s rosy depiction of respectful attitudes and safe-sex practices may sound as realistic as a travel agent’s sales pitch. But whether its reality is darker than its depiction, sex tourism—defined as travel with the intention of hiring sex workers—is a booming industry especially popular in the warm, tropical nations that also suffer higher prevalence rates of HIV and rampant poverty. The industry is full of tales of pleasure and danger; it juxtaposes the levity of vacationers with the gravity of the existence of those who serve them. The sunny side of sex tourism is clouded over by the risks both parties take if the sex is not safe.

Sex tourism encompasses a complex variety of activities and behaviors that facilitate—for a price—social and sexual interaction between people. Around the world, the names for those looking to get paid for sex are as varied as the locations in which they work; in Brazil, they are “sauna boys”; in Jamaica, “beach boys”; and in the Dominican Republic, “bugarrones” or “sanky pankies.”

Read the rest.

Marriage? Fuggedaboutit!

excerpt from AlterNet

Forget Marriage - Civil Unions for all

...Making your union legal, on the other hand, should be between you and state-guaranteed legal and human rights. And it should be available to any two people, gay or straight, in whatever configuration: Mother and son, grandparent and grandkid, mother and daughter, and best friends should all be able to form legal couples that enjoy the rights, privileges, financial benefits and responsibilities now assigned to marriage. (Calm down Rev. Rick: Only two people, no pets allowed.)

Read the whole item.

Community of our humanity

Moving the debate from sex to love

excerpt via Salt Lake Tribune

...During an emotionally intense counseling session with a young man, we were exploring aspects of our lives and our mutual experiences of romantic love. At one point he looked at me and said: "George, can you understand that the love that I feel for my partner is not different than what you feel for your wife?"

In that therapeutic moment, a moment of genuine human intimacy and meaning, the student became the teacher. Reflecting later, I came to understand that in that moment I was confronting the last vestiges of my own homophobia, and this man who sat across from me in this quiet room facing his own death had invited me into Victor Frankl's "community of our humanity."

Read the whole thing.

Ask Peter for Pointers - please!

Register for the 2009 LGBTI Health Summit!

Registration is now live for the 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit to be held in Chicago, IL August 14-18, 2009.

Click here to register now.

VERY COOL - Mitcham Named Aussie Health Ambassador

Thanks to Advocate.com

Gay Olympic gold medalist Matthew Mitcham was named Thursday to be one of his country's ambassadors for men's health.

The Australian diver, who won the 10-meter platform competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, will be an advocate for the country's policy on men's health. Mitcham replaces one of the first men's health ambassadors, Fatherhood Foundation president Warwick Marsh, who was ousted for writing that homosexuality is a "gender disorientation pathology" stemming from sexual abuse and personality disorders, according to The Australian.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon described Mitcham as a "courageous man," citing his struggle with depression and anxiety, after which he claimed Olympic gold. Aboriginal health advocate Mick Adams and Tasmanian doctor Rob Walters were also named ambassadors on Thursday.

They will join David de Kretser, Tim Mathieson, Bill Noonan, Barry Williams, and John Macdonald. The ambassadors will focus on topics such as preventable cancers, sexual health, and illicit drug abuse.

Feel the Love...

[Sister Glo is an HIV educator, gay men’s health advocate, and member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Seattle. She is drawn to sparkly objects and believes that glitter and the transformative power of love in action are necessary to gay men’s health and wellness.]

give enough

Sister Glo shares her glittery gems of love
with LifeLube each Friday.
Click here to read them all.

The only thing we never get enough of is love; and the only thing we never give enough of is love.

~Henry Miller

Friday is for Faeries

each and every friday

ACTION: Sign on to the 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda TODAY

Dear friends,

The Gay Men's Health Agenda 2009 is now available for you to review and download at http://is.gd/k7nN .

We are seeking sign-ons, both individual and organizational, to the agenda.

We will be presenting the agenda to advocates, policy-makers, and other key stakeholders as the new Obama Health and Human Services administration takes shape. Your sign-on will make a difference.

The Gay Men's Health Agenda 2009 was created when Project CRYSP – a Chicago Department of Public Health gay men's health collaboration among four agencies – began soliciting input from a variety of stakeholders across the country in April 2008. Stakeholders were asked to share their vision of a 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda – to list the objectives and strategies needed to advance our health and well-being. Participants, representing a wide spectrum of organizations and demographically diverse individuals, submitted the policy initiatives, advocacy objectives and the activities they felt were essential to a comprehensive gay men's health agenda for 2009. Submitted in the form of blog posts, the ideas were published on the LifeLube blog – a gay men's health and wellness portal – with comments and discussion strongly encouraged.

An analysis was conducted of the ideas presented through this process and an overview of the process and collected input was presented to 200 gay, bisexual and transgender men's health leaders and advocates at the closing session of the 2008 National Gay Men's Health Summit in Seattle, October, 2008. Feedback and additional ideas were recorded during the extensive open discussion portion of the session. Finally, additional feedback was solicited on the Gay Men's Health Ning-- http://gaymenshealth.ning.com . This process informs the entire document.

As a new Administration and Congress set a course for America, with a focus on health care reform, leaders of the gay men's health movement join with the National Coalition for LGBT Health and other allies in advocating for policies and resources to advance the health and well being of gay, bisexual, and transgender men.

If you have already added your own name or that of your organization, THANK YOU!

If you haven't yet, email gaymenshealthagenda@gmail.com no later than 5:00pm Wednesday, March 4th to ensure that you and/or your organization is listed as an endorser.


Please forward this request far and wide. Any questions can be addressed to gaymenshealthagenda@gmail.com.


Sincerely,

The Gay Men's Health Agenda Working Group

Cornelius Baker
Chris Bartlett
Stewart Landers
Kaijson Noilmar
Jim Pickett

The "Work In" - Taking a Gratitude Minute

Brought to you by Ed Negron, a former drug user, turned gangbanger, turned drug dealer, turned own best customer, turned addict, turned recovering addict (still there), turned activist, turned business manager, turned student, turned Substance Abuse Counselor, turned better and happier person, turned someone who can love and be loved (Love you Patrick), turned blogger. Check out Ed's own blog here.

Featured Every Thursday on LifeLube --- check out all of Ed's "Work-In's" here.

In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy.
- Albert Clarke, photographer


This past Monday I had an appointment to see my therapist. Yup, that’s right. I said therapist. I can’t figure some things out on my own either and I have no shame in that. Neither should you. As I was saying... I arrived early. Since his office is literally right off the lake I took a walk to the lake. As I stood there I watched a man playing catch with his dog. I saw a flock of sea gulls (no, not the band or the hair) flying by. There was a family of ducks in the water. As I looked out at the lake I heard the calmness of the waves. Just in that moment a sudden rush of gratitude came over me.

I started thinking just how lucky I am for my life and everything about it. Throughout my life I have been given so many blessings. I have a loving family who accepts me for the man that I am, gay and all. I have been blessed with a wonderful man in my life. My partner Patrick is the yin to my yang. I love him for loving me, for me. I’m sorry to break it to you put I have the best friend, partner, and soul mate in the world.

I have two truly wonderful friends Mike Matt and Greg Harris. I talk to Mike about everything. Mike knows stuff about me that I probably don’t even know about myself, which he always calls me on, especially when he sees me acting out of shadow. Shadow is the part of ourselves that we hide, suppress, and deny. Greg is my mentor, my dearest friend. He’s another one who won’t co-sign my bullshit. Just like Mike, Greg is always there when I need someone to talk to. I can talk to both of them without fear of any judgments. They are my support, my life lines, if you will. Both Greg and Mike are my brothers from another mother. I love them dearly and will do anything for them.

No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.
- Alfred North Whitehead

I work at a wonderful place, Chicago House & Social Service Agency. From the CEO, and friend, Stan Sloan, or who I like to call Stana Claus, to the maintenance crew --- everyone gets along well and really supports each other. Judy Perloff, Program Director, and Kiki Dorn, Finance Director, are the glue that holds us together. I am grateful that I can work at a place where I can share my strengths to benefit the clients. Believe it or not, I am also grateful for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, better know as HUD, for awarding Chicago House the funds to be able to run my program, Gaining Ground. This brings me to all of you. I grateful to all the tax payers because if it where not for you HUD and many other government funded program that help people in need would not exist.

Practicing Gratitude Can Increase Happiness by 25%

Psychological research finds that people's happiness levels are remarkably stable over the long-term. In his book 'thanks! ', Dr. Robert A. Emmons describes research he carried out with three experimental groups over 10 weeks (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). For the full article go to PsyBlog.

Ok, I’ll get off my soapbox of gratitude now so you can give gratitude for the things in your life. Make this an important part of your work-in.

What Am I Grateful for Today?

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
- Author Unknown

Jim Pickett, Director of Advocacy at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and founder of LifeLube.org, for getting to do this blog.

To read daily motivations visit my blog at thework-in.blogspot.com or to receive daily motivations via email join our Google group Back To The Basics Please .

(Usual disclaimer applies: The suggestions on this blog are just that “SUGGESTIONS.” My words cannot heal your pain and or addictions. Nor can I change your life. Only you can.)

“Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness." -- Shakti Gawain

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
President Barack Obama - 44th President of the United States of America 2009

So, how are you healthy?

LifeLube.org is launching a social marketing campaign directed to Chicago gay men called “How are you healthy?” Part of the multi-agency collaboration called Project CRYSP (including Howard Brown, TPAN, AFC and Center on Halsted), LifeLube is your gay, sexy, healthy resource on the web.

We are interested in hearing about the many ways gay men in Chicago keep themselves healthy. Maybe it’s all about eating grains and taking vitamins. Or meditating every day. Or riding your bike instead of driving. Or getting tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases. Or having a glass of red wine with dinner. Or using substances in moderation. You see where we are going… Each of us does all kinds of things to keep ourselves going – it’s called the survival instinct!

LifeLube would like to share these tips and activities on our blog. We are looking to hear from guys from all backgrounds, HIV+ and HIV-. All we ask is that you send us your picture, and a short paragraph about one way in which you keep yourself healthy. We will run the your picture, your name, and your paragraph on the blog.

You can send that info to lifelube@gmail.com

Please consider our offer, and forward this to anyone you think might be interested...and interesting!

"How are you healthy" is set to launch in mid March - stay tuned.

Bar-lesque and the Magical Kinky Kingdom

Dear Friends of TPAN and Chicago Takes Off

With just two weeks to go in our competition, our Top 5 contestants are going all out to raise money for TPAN.

If you think they look good with their clothes on, check them out with their clothes off at the links below!

Rick from the Glenwood (left), our leader for the entire competition, has raised almost $4,000 for TPAN. Check him out.

Matt from Mary's Attic has raised nearly $2,000. Take a closer look.

Chad from The NorthEnd (pictured above) jumped into third this week after his successful fundraising event at The North End last Friday. See more of Chad.

Brad from Hydrate had his fundraiser this Wednesday, Feb 18th Hydrate. The staff of Hydrate did their Turnabout Drag Show with all tips given to Brad's cause. Special guests included Tajma Hall and Aurora Sexton. See Brad's latest photos.

Jason from Scarlet is in his second week in the Top 5 and moving up quickly. You definitely don't want to miss Jason's latest photo.

Can Tim or John from Jackhammer pull into the top 5 before the end of the competition? Join them this Saturday, February 21 from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. for the "Mardi Gras Underwear Party!"

Of course, if you'd like to see more of these guys or any of our other 12 contestants, please consider making a donation to TPAN. See your favorite go from fully clothed to "fig leaf" for TPAN!

Just a reminder, Chicago Takes Off: Once Upon A Time In The Magical Kinky Kingdom will be held on Saturday, March 7, with TWO shows (7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.) at the Park West. Miss Coco Peru will be our official host for the evening!

To purchase tickets, please call Rhett at (773) 989-9400 ext. 233 or go online to the OFFICIAL Chicago Takes Off Web site.

What is Bar-lesque?

We canvassed the city far and wide to find Chicago's sexiest, charity-minded bar staff. Seventeen of the sexiest bar staff from The Glenwood, Hydrate, Jackhammer, Mary's Attic, The NorthEnd, Scarlet, Sidetrack, and Underground Wonderbar are taking it off for charity...online! You participate by donating to your favorite girl or guy at www.chicagotakesoff.org/bar-lesque.html. As the donations come in, the clothes come off. All donations benefit TPAN.

About Chicago Takes Off

Chicago Takes Off is the annual burlesque revue-style show where talented male and female dancers donate their time and energy to strut their stuff in support of TPAN. Colorful and energetic choreographed performances and entertainment engage audiences in this sexy celebration of life. Saturday, March 7, with two performances, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Park West! www.chicagotakesoff.org