Via Adam4Adam - Health: There is a gay agenda!

This comes from the friendly health blogger Stephan over at Adam4Adam.

Men are pretty much the same, gay straight, or something else. We generally love to eat, sleep, have sex (often), dislike seeing doctors and we avoid anything that gives us the feeling that we cannot care for ourselves. We like to feel that we are in control of our lives and bodies, we usually despise feelings of dependency or  vulnerability. But the reality that is as a sexual minority and when it comes to our health we are vulnerable and we need each other, in a very real way.

As my parents move into their mid-80s I see just how much care they need and how dependent they are on family.  Most gay men will not have children to depend on as we age, and we will most likely be left in the care of others when we are physically unable to care for ourselves. What is even more concerning is that we, as gay men, are not generally listened to within the larger political and governmental establishments. This situation (a combination of being physically unable to care for ones self at any age, and being a stigmatized minority), is a ‘prefect storm’ for substandard care and a repeat of the victimization many of us experienced as we ‘came out’ and emerged as gay men in a sexually repressive society...

While some progress within health care is being made, I thank my lucky stars for the organizations and the gay men that are passionate about the health of other gay men.

One group in particular is worthy of mention and your support, the Gay Men’s Health Movement (GMHM). The Gay Men’s Health Movement consists of formal and informal collaborations of gay men, bisexual men, transgender men, and allies, advocating for access to health care, health care utilization strategies and training, affordable and comprehensive health insurance, and effective, culturally appropriate services across the span of our lives.

Read the rest.

Health Care Reform is a GBT Issue - Call Your Senator TODAY

via the Gay Men's Health Agenda

Want to get involved? Send the group and email.
[gaymenshealthagenda@gmail.com]

Take Action – Call Your Senator, and let her/him know that you want full health care reform that includes the needs of gay, bi and trans men.

Below are the toll free numbers for the national congressional switch board:

1-866-220-0044
1-877-851-6437

They will transfer you to your senator, all you need to do is give them the state you live in.

We now stand at a critical juncture in our movement. Never before has the discussion been so primed for action and major victories been so close to our grasp. It is truly a transformative time, where the work we accomplish now will have effects for decades to come. So please stay involved, stay committed and remember it is our health we are fighting for.

Here is a great article on the connection between gay men’s health and health care reform.

Key Issues (great for talking points)

Healthcare reform must be fully GBT-inclusive.

Social stigma and systemic discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression have significant negative impacts on the overall health of gay, bisexual, and transgender (GBT) men. GBT men suffer disproportionately from the adverse health effects of stigma, stress, and violence, further compounded by the barriers that prevent them from accessing vital healthcare services even for routine care: research has consistently shown that being GBT substantially impacts whether or not a person receives care and, when they do receive care, whether that care effectively speaks to all aspects of their lives. In order to begin to address these disparities, any healthcare reform must be fully GBT-inclusive.

Removing Pre-Exisitng Conditions from Coverage is a Priority.

Due to widespread employment discrimination and lack of relationship recognition, GBT men are more likely to be without prior insurance coverage and are thus disproportionately affected by practices that preclude or limit coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Many transgender individuals with a previous diagnosis or history of treatment for transsexualism report being excluded outright from purchasing even basic individual coverage for routine care. In addition, due to experiences of stigma or discrimination, GBT individuals are less likely overall to have accessed ongoing preventive healthcare or early diagnostic services. For both physical and mental conditions that exact a high toll in the GBT population, late diagnosis and treatment lead to a higher prevalence of serious, advanced-stage disease and ultimately to excessive mortality.

We Must Be Counted!

Historically, health data collection efforts have not included GBT populations or gathered information regarding the specific healthcare needs of GBT men. To address this lack of data, all new or updated national forms or data collection tools must be made inclusive of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. In addition, all efforts to track or redress health disparities must include GBT men as a health disparities population, and efforts to identify cost-effective healthcare protocols must include sensitivity to the health needs and outcomes of the LGBT community.

Health Care Reform Must Include Non-Discrimination Provisions.

GBT individuals and their families must be able to access the full range of services they require, delivered by providers who are sensitive to their needs, and any form of healthcare that is regulated or monitored by the federal government must be required to be permanently GBT-inclusive.

A Robust Public Option is a GBT Issue.

Enacting healthcare coverage for everyone in the United States is an important step in eliminating healthcare disparities for the GBT population. The current system of employer-based coverage is a barrier to many, since so few employers extend coverage eligibility to same-sex partners. In addition, the lack of employment protections based on gender identity and expression results in a high rate of unemployment in the transgender community and further reduces access to insurance coverage.

Your voices helped to ensure the passage of the GBT provisions within the House bill and now it’s time to take our fight to the Senate.

Thanks you for your involvement,

The GMHA Leadership Core
Jim Pickett
Cornelius Baker
Chris Bartlett
Stewart Landers
Kaijson Noilmar

Say "We Do" to LGBTI Health

via RH Reality Check, by Jim Pickett (de LifeLube)

My boyfriend gets a little annoyed when I proclaim that I don’t really care much about gay marriage.

I am sorry, I just don’t.

The issue that makes my heart race, the reason I crawl out of my crypt every morning and stay in the office way too late, is gay men’s health – LGBTI health – and I am frustrated that so much of our community’s attention is given over to marriage rights, an issue that has, somehow, been collectively anointed the most important, the most critical (and woe to the ones who dare to criticize this narrow focus), sucking energy – and resources – away from health advocacy.

To all of you who say “we can do both” – prove it!

Of course I think marriage rights are important, and no, I wouldn’t turn down a shiny rock on my finger and going to the chapel of love with my honey – legal or not (hint hint darling). But hello, health and well-being is for ALL of us – the marryin’ kind and for those of us who organize our loves, lusts, friends and relationships with different models.

Read the rest.

FINAL TALLY - 127 orgs, 203 individuals endorse 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda

Spring has sprung, and with its promise of hope, growth and renewal, delivered a final tally of 127 organizational and 203 individual endorsements to the 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda.

Read the full document right here, on LifeLube. It can be downloaded here http://is.gd/k7nN . A full list of endorsements is below.

The 2009Gay Men's Health Agenda 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.

Any questions can be addressed to gaymenshealthagenda@gmail.com.



ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS - FINAL LIST as of March 20, 2009

1. A Brave New Day, Jackson, MS
2. Acadiana C.A.R.E.S., Lafayette, LA
3. Adelson Consulting Services, Inc., Chelsea, MA
4. African American Office of Gay Concerns, Newark, NJ
5. AIDS Action Baltimore, Inc., Baltimore, MD
6. AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
7. AIDS Action Council, Washington, DC
8. AIDS Alabama, Birmingham, AL
9. AIDS Foundation Chicago, Chicago, IL
10. AIDS Institute, Washington, DC
11. AIDS Marathon Training Program, Chicago, IL
12. AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
13. AIDS Project Worcester, Inc., Worcester, MA
14. AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
15. AIDS Rochester, Inc., Rochester, NY
16. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, New York, NY
17. Alliance Rights Nigeria (ARN) Abuja Nigeria
18. Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, San Francisco, CA
19. Behavioral Working Group of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, Chicago, IL
20. Bienestar Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
21. Black LGBT Archivists Society of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
22. Black Pride Society, Detroit, MI
23. Boston Living Center, Boston, MA
24. Brothers Uplifting Brothers, Inc., Merrillville, IN
25. Cambridge Cares About AIDS, Cambridge, MA
26. Camden Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Camden, NJ
27. Cascade AIDS Project, Portland, OR
28. Catholics for Choice, Washington, DC
29. Center for Health Justice, West Hollywood, CA
30. Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL
31. Chicago House, Chicago, IL
32. Chicago Recovery Alliance, Chicago IL
33. Coalition for Justice and Respect, Chicago, IL
34. The COLOURS Organization, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
35. Common Ground – The Westside HIV Community Center, Santa Monica, CA
36. Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), New York, NY
37. Conant Foundation, San Francisco, CA
38. Concern Conscience Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria
39. Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco, CA
40. Creations for Empowerment, Brooklyn, NY
41. Fan Free Clinic, Richmond, VA
42. Fenway Health, Boston, MA
43. The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA
44. Gay City Health Project, Seattle, WA
45. Gay Men's Health Crisis, New York, NY
46. Gay Men's Health Leadership Academy, New York, NY
47. Georgia Equality, Atlanta, GA
48. GLBT Community Center of Baltimore
49. Global Campaign for Microbicides, Washington, DC
50. Guyana Rainbow Foundation, Georgetown, Guyana
51. Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY
52. Harm Reduction Coalition, New York, NY and Oakland, CA
53. HealthCare Responses, Birmingham, AL
54. Health Management Institute Inc., San Francisco, CA
55. HIV Dental Alliance, Atlanta, GA
56. HIVictorious, Inc., Madison, WI
57. HIV Law Project, New York, NY
58. House of Blahnik, Philadelphia, PA
59. Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL
60. Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC
61. The Independent Project for Equal Rights, Lagos, Nigeria
62. Inova Juniper Program, Springfield, VA
63. International Federation of Black Prides, Inc., Washington, DC
64. International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA), Chicago, IL
65. Ishtar MSM, Nairobi, Kenya
66. JFLAG, Jamaica
67. JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., Boston, MA
68. Latino Commission on AIDS, New York, NY
69. Latino Health Advocacy Coalition, New York, NY
70. Legacy Community Health Services, Houston, TX
71. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, New York, NY
72. Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Seattle, WA
73. Log Cabin Republicans, Washington, DC
74. Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, Los Angeles, CA
75. The Louisiana Latino Health Coalition for HIV/AIDS Awareness, Baton Rouge, LA
76. Magnet, a Program of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco, CA
77. The MALE Center, AIDS Action Committee, MA
78. Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia, PA
79. Metro TeenAIDS, Washington DC
80. Michigan Positive Action Coalition, Detroit, MI
81. Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Milwaukee, WI
82. Minnesota AIDS Project, Minneapolis, MN
83. Montana Gay Men’s Task Force, Missoula, MT
84. Montana Two Spirit Society, Missoula, MT
85. NALGAP: The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and their Allies, Washington, DC
86. Nashville Cares, Nashville, TN
87. National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Washington, DC
88. National Association of Black and White Men Together: A Gay Multiracial Organization for All People (NABWMT), Atlanta, GA
89. National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) Washington, DC
90. National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition, Washington, DC
91. National Black Leadership Commission On AIDS, New York, NY
92. National Coalition for LGBT Health, Washington, DC
93. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, Washington, DC
94. National LGBT Tobacco Control Network, Boston, MA
95. National Minority AIDS Council, Washington, DC
96. New Leaf: Services For Our Community, San Francisco, CA
97. Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), Ft. Walton Beach, FL
98. Peruvian HIV Clinical Trials Unit, Lima, Perú
99. Philadelphia Jacks, Philadelphia, PA
100. Pink and Blues, Philadelphia, PA
101. Pride Counseling, Salt Lake City, UT
102. Project Inform, San Francisco, CA
103. Proyecto Sol, Philadelphia, PA
104. Queer People’s Health Collective, Chicago, IL
105. Queers for Economic Justice, New York, NY
106. Queer Spirit, Salt Lake City, UT
107. Sacrena Gay Coalition, Kenya
108. SafeGuards LGBT Health Resource Center, Philadelphia, PA
109. San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco, CA
110. Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
111. SisterLove, Inc., Atlanta, GA
112. Society Against STIs & HIV (Sash Bahamas), Bahamas
113. Southeast Regional Gay Men’s Health Summit, Fort Lauderdale, FL
114. STOP AIDS Project, San Francisco, CA
115. Stouffer-Ogburn Center for Social Organization Research at NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
116. Strata Various Product Design, Beverly Hills, CA
117. Sunshine Social Services/ Sunserve , Fort Lauderdale, FL
118. Test Positive Aware, Chicago, IL
119. TII CANN - Title II Community AIDS National Network, Washington, DC
120. Transgender Training and Advocacy, Burlington, VT
121. UMDNJ- NJGAY Health Initiative
122. U.S. Positive Women’s Network
123. UVA Pride, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
124. Victory Programs, Inc., Boston, MA
125. White Crane Institute, Brooklyn, NY
126. Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Washington, DC
127. WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Disease), Oakland, CA

INDIVIDUAL ENDORSEMENTS - FINAL LIST as of March 20, 2009

1. David Acosta, Philadelphia, PA
2. Stephan Adelson, Chelsea, MA
3. Chris Alston, Philadelphia, PA
4. Bruce Anderson, New York, NY
5. Gina Arias, New York, NY
6. Tommy Atz, Philadelphia, PA
7. Cornelius Baker, Washington, DC
8. Jed Barnum, Boston, MA
9. Chris Bartlett, Philadelphia, PA
10. Jim Baxter, College Park, MD
11. Michael Beatty, Rochester, NY
12. Mark P. Behar, PA-C, Milwaukee, WI
13. Jeanne Bergman, Ph.D. New York, NY
14. Roy Berkowitz, Springfield, VA
15. J.M. Birmingham, Brooklyn, NY
16. Bob Bowers, Madison, WI
17. Larry Bragg, Oakland, CA
18. Bill Briggs, Springfield, VA
19. Jared Douglas Brodin, Seattle, WA
20. Christopher Brown, Chicago, IL
21. Susan Buchbinder, MD, San Francisco, CA
22. Jerry Buie, LCSW, Salt Lake City, UT
23. Katy Caldwell, Houston, TX
24. Rudy Carn, Atlanta, GA
25. Ryan Clary, San Francisco, CA
26. John Cottrell, Ph.D., Salt Lake City, UT
27. Gwenn Craig, San Francisco, CA
28. Philip G. Curtis, Los Angeles, CA
29. Jason Crooks, Lafayette, LA
30. Alberto Curotto, PhD, San Francisco, CA
31. Mark A. Davis, Philadelphia, PA
32. Julie Davids, Providence, RI
33. Lynda Dee, Baltimore, MD
34. Dennis deLeon, New York, NY
35. Jose de Marco, Philadelphia, PA
36. Davide Deo, Kericho, Kenya
37. Julie Ebin, Cambridge, MA
38. Christopher Eden, MD, DHS, San Francisco, CA
39. Sergio Farfán, Baton Rouge, LA
40. Bill Farrand, Chicago, IL
41. David Fawcett, PhD, Fort Lauderdale, FL
42. Marc Felion, Chicago, IL
43. Nayck B. Feliz, Pittsburgh, PA
44. David Ferguson, San Francisco, CA
45. Fausto Fernòs, Chicago, IL
46. Deborah H. Fournier, Esq., Boston, MA
47. Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr., Washington, DC
48. Rebecca Fox, Washington, DC
49. Marla J. Francisco, Urbana, IL
50. Christopher H. Gaynor, MD, FAAFP, Seattle, WA
51. Steven Gibson, MSW, San Francisco, CA
52. Paul Gilbert, Carrboro, NC
53. Raven Gildea, Seattle, WA
54. Sophie Godley, Swampscott, MA
55. Marco Gomes, Toronto, ON, Canada
56. Jeffrey Goodman, Santa Monica, CA
57. Allegra Gordon, Philadelphia, PA
58. Celia M. Grant, Roxbury, MA
59. Brian M. Green, Philadelphia, PA
60. Gregory Greenman, Chicago, IL
61. George J. Greene, Chicago, IL
62. Gary Grossman, PhD, San Francisco, CA
63. Howard A. Grossman, MD, Boston, MA
64. Charles Gueboguo, Cameroon
65. Jeff Graham, Atlanta, GA
66. Rebecca Haag, Boston, MA
67. Robert J. Hadley, Chicago, IL
68. Bridget Haire, Sydney, Australia
69. Jessica Halem, Portland, OR
70. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles, CA
71. Johnnie Hamilton-Mason, MSW, PhD
72. Mark Hamman, Oshawa, Ontario
73. Nesha Haniff, Ann Arbor, MI
74. Gary W. Harper, Ph.D., M.P.H., Chicago, IL
75. Doreen Hardy, West Chester, PA
76. Matty Hart, Philadelphia, PA
77. Beth Hastie, Boston, MA
78. Vicki Hastings
79. Thomas W. Hawkins, Jr., Edgewood, MD
80. David Herrera, Missoula, MT
81. Kathie Hiers, Birmingham, AL
82. Michael Hinson, Philadelphia, PA
83. David Hoover, Springfield, VA
84. Trevor Hoppe, Ann Arbor, MI
85. Mark Hubbard, Nashville, TN
86. Damon L. Humes, Rochester, NY
87. Joe Interrante, Nashville, TN
88. Mark Ishaug, Chicago, IL
89. Albo Jeavons, Philadelphia, PA
90. Bill Jesdale, San Francisco, CA
91. Riley Johnson, Chicago, IL
92. Ronald Johnson, Washington, DC
93. Kevin Trimell Jones, Philadelphia, PA
94. A. Billy S. Jones-Hennin, Washington, DC
95. Benjamin Kaniaru, Nairobi, Kenya
96. William David Karchner, Albany, NY
97. Naina Khanna, Oakland, CA
98. Roger Samantha Kingori, Nairobi, Kenya
99. G. Simone Koehlinger, Psy.D., Chicago, IL
100. Ben Kudler, Boston, MA
101. Steven P. Kurtz, Ph. D., Coral Gables, FL
102. Chuck Lacombe, Dorchester, MA
103. Stewart Landers, Boston, MA
104. Jennifer Lauby, Philadelphia, PA
105. Krista Lauer, Los Angeles, CA
106. James Learned, New York, NY
107. Ricci Joy Levy, Washington, DC
108. Thomas Lewis, Melrose, MA
109. Erik Libey, Rochester, NY
110. Peter Lien, Philadelphia, PA
111. Fred Lopez, San Francisco, CA
112. Marc Loveless, Chicago, IL
113. Samuel Lurie, Burlington, Vermont
114. Marcelo Maia, New York, NY
115. Kennedy Majanga, Nairobi, Kenya
116. Harvey J. Makadon, MD Boston, MA
117. Duane Malone, Jackson, MS
118. Derrick Mapp, San Francisco, CA
119. Hiroshi Matsumoto, MD, PhD, Okayama, Japan
120. Reverend Wycliffe Mboya, Kenya
121. Audrey Mbugua, Nairobi, Kenya
122. Philip T. McCabe, New Brunswick, NJ
123. Dennis McCarthy, Seattle WA
124. Sojourner McCauley, Brooklyn, NY
125. J. Jeff McConnell, San Francisco, CA
126. Garrod McFadden, Philadelphia, PA
127. Michael McFadden, Chicago, IL
128. Butch McKay, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
129. Tom Menard, Chicago, IL
130. Tim Menza, Seattle, WA
131. Reynaldo Mireles, Jr., Denver, CO
132. Lourence Misedah, Nairobi, Kenya
133. Jason Mitchell, Portland, OR
134. Gavin Morrow-Hall, San Francisco, CA
135. James R. Moser, San Francisco, CA
136. Jeffrey Moses, Nairobi, Kenya
137. David Munar, Chicago, IL
138. Christopher Murray, LCSW, New York, NY
139. Peter Njane, Nairobi, Kenya
140. Kaijson Noilmar, Seattle, WA
141. Terry Oldes, Chicago, IL
142. Jerry Opany, Nairobi, Kenya
143. Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike, Abuja, Nigeria
144. Cecilio Orta, Charlotte, NC
145. David G. Ostrow, MD, PhD, Chicago, IL
146. T. Scott Pegues, Denver, CO
147. John Peller, Chicago, IL
148. David Alan Perkiss, Philadelphia, PA
149. Jim Pickett, Chicago, IL
150. Mark Pineda, Chicago, IL
151. Rafael Ponce, New York, NY
152. Chris Powers, San Francisco, CA
153. Alvan Quamina, Oakland, CA
154. Tony Radovich, Seattle, WA
155. Michael Emanuel Rajner, Fort Lauderdale, FL
156. Daniel Reeders, Melbourne, Australia
157. Jeffrey Reidhead, Seattle, WA
158. Robert Reinhard, San Francisco, CA
159. Leo Rennie, Washington, DC
160. Danny Resnic, Beverly Hills, CA
161. David Reznick, DDS, Atlanta, GA
162. Doug Rose, Baltimore, MD
163. Jonathan Ruberte, Camden, NJ
164. Randall Russell, Birmingham, AL
165. Dennis E. Saffer, Seattle, WA
166. Abdullrahman Mohammed Saheed, Lagos, Nigeria
167. Michael Scarce, San Francisco, CA
168. Carl Schmid, Washington, DC
169. Scout, Providence, RI
170. Erick Seelbach, Seattle, WA
171. Walt Senterfitt, PhD RN, Los Angeles, CA
172. Michael Shankle, Boston, MA
173. Nurit Shein, Philadelphia, PA
174. Larry Shoemaker, Oakland, CA
175. Ron Simmons, Washington, DC
176. Ben Singer, Philadelphia, PA
177. Stan Sloan, Chicago, IL
178. Shane Snowden, San Francisco, CA
179. Anne Statton, Chicago, IL
180. Charles Stephens, Atlanta, GA
181. Edward Strickler, Jr., Albemarle County, VA
182. Fred Swanson, Seattle, WA
183. James Swartz, Chicago, IL
184. Carl Tasker, Charlotte, NC
185. Jessica Terlikowski, Chicago, IL
186. Coleman Terrell, Philadelphia, PA
187. Dennis Torres, Stamford CT
188. Moses Tunya, Nairobi, Kenya
189. Tony Valenzuela, Los Angeles, CA
190. Rodney Vanderwarker, Boston, MA
191. Dr. Justin Varney, London, UK
192. Roy Wadia, Vancouver, Canada
193. Steven F. Wakefield, Seattle, WA
194. Jeffrey Walimbwa, Nairobi, Kenya
195. Solomon Wambua, Nairobi, Kenya
196. Robin T. Webb, Jackson, MS
197. Seth L. Welles, Philadelphia, PA
198. Lisa Diane White, Atlanta, GA
199. Garland Wood, Seattle, WA
200. Robert Wood, MD, Seattle, WA
201. Gary Paul Wright, Newark, NJ
202. Al Wroblewski, Uxbridge, MA
203. Bo Young, Brooklyn, NY

WOW!!! 112 organizations, 185 individuals endorse the 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda

In a word...

The gays really kick ass.

- Fred Swanson, Executive Director of Gay City Health Project

You can still endorse the agenda - as an individual, as an organization, or both.

But the FINAL deadline, yes, FINAL DEADLINE, is TODAY - March 9.

We will be presenting the agenda to advocates, policy-makers, and other key stakeholders at local, state and national levels.

Your sign-on will make a difference.

Read the full document right here, on LifeLube.

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 March 9th - TODAY - to ensure that you and/or your organization is listed as an endorser. After this date/time, we will continue to collect endorsements for organizing and communication purposes. If we have missed your name here, please forgive us and send your endorsement again so we can make sure it is included.

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


ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS
(list in formation, as of March 9)

1. A Brave New Day, Jackson, MS
2. Acadiana C.A.R.E.S., Lafayette, LA
3. Adelson Consulting Services, Inc., Chelsea, MA
4. African American Office of Gay Concerns, Newark, NJ
5. AIDS Action Baltimore, Inc., Baltimore, MD
6. AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
7. AIDS Action Council, Washington, DC
8. AIDS Alabama, Birmingham, AL
9. AIDS Foundation Chicago, Chicago, IL
10. AIDS Institute, Washington, DC
11. AIDS Marathon Training Program, Chicago, IL
12. AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
13. AIDS Project Worcester, Inc., Worcester, MA
14. AIDS Rochester, Inc., Rochester, NY
15. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, New York, NY
16. Alliance Rights Nigeria (ARN) Abuja Nigeria
17. Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, San Francisco, CA
18. Behavioral Working Group of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, Chicago, IL
19. Bienestar Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
20. Black LGBT Archivists Society of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
21. Black Pride Society, Detroit, MI
22. Boston Living Center, Boston, MA
23. Brothers Uplifting Brothers, Inc., Merrillville, IN
24. Cambridge Cares About AIDS, Cambridge, MA
25. Cascade AIDS Project, Portland, OR
26. Catholics for Choice, Washington, DC
27. Center for Health Justice, West Hollywood, CA
28. Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL
29. Chicago House, Chicago, IL
30. Chicago Recovery Alliance, Chicago IL
31. The COLOURS Organization, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
32. Common Ground – The Westside HIV Community Center, Santa Monica, CA
33. Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), New York, NY
34. Conant Foundation, San Francisco, CA
35. Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, San Francisco, CA
36. Creations for Empowerment, Brooklyn, NY
37. Fan Free Clinic, Richmond, VA
38. Fenway Health, Boston, MA
39. The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA
40. Gay City Health Project, Seattle, WA
41. Gay Men's Health Crisis, New York, NY
42. Gay Men's Health Leadership Academy, New York, NY
43. Georgia Equality, Atlanta, GA
44. GLBT Community Center of Baltimore
45. Guyana Rainbow Foundation, Georgetown, Guyana
46. Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY
47. Harm Reduction Coalition, New York, NY and Oakland, CA
48. HealthCare Responses, Birmingham, AL
49. Health Management Institute Inc., San Francisco, CA
50. HIV Dental Alliance, Atlanta, GA
51. HIVictorious, Inc., Madison, WI
52. HIV Law Project, New York, NY
53. House of Blahnik, Philadelphia, PA
54. Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL
55. Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC
56. The Independent project for Equal Right, Lagos,Nigeria
57. Inova Juniper Program, Springfield, VA
58. International Federation of Black Prides, Inc., Washington, DC
59. Ishtar MSM, Nairobi, Kenya
60. JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., Boston, MA
61. Latino Commission on AIDS, New York, NY
62. Latino Health Advocacy Coalition, New York, NY
63. Legacy Community Health Services, Houston, TX
64. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, New York, NY
65. Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Seattle, WA
66. Log Cabin Republicans, Washington, DC
67. Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, Los Angeles, CA
68. The Louisiana Latino Health Coalition for HIV/AIDS Awareness, Baton Rouge, LA
69. Magnet, a Program of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco, CA
70. The MALE Center, AIDS Action Committee, MA
71. Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia, PA
72. Metro TeenAIDS, Washington DC
73. Michigan Positive Action Coalition, Detroit, MI
74. Minnesota AIDS Project, Minneapolis, MN
75. Montana Gay Men’s Task Force, Missoula, MT
76. NALGAP: The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and their Allies, Washington, DC
77. Nashville Cares, Nashville, TN
78. National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Washington, DC
79. National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) Washington, DC
80. National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition, Washington, DC
81. National Black Leadership Commission On AIDS, New York, NY
82. National Coalition for LGBT Health, Washington, DC
83. National LGBT Tobacco Control Network, Boston, MA
84. National Minority AIDS Council, Washington, DC
85. New Leaf: Services For Our Community, San Francisco, CA
86. Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), Ft. Walton Beach, FL
87. Philadelphia Jacks, Philadelphia, PA
88. Pink and Blues, Philadelphia, PA
89. Pride Counseling, Salt Lake City, UT
90. Project Inform, San Francisco, CA
91. Proyecto Sol, Philadelphia, PA
92. Queers for Economic Justice, New York, NY
93. Queer Spirit, Salt Lake City, UT
94. Sacrena Gay Coalition, Kenya
95. SafeGuards LGBT Health Resource Center, Philadelphia, PA
96. San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco, CA
97. SisterLove, Inc., Atlanta, GA
98. Society Against STIs & HIV (Sash Bahamas), Bahamas
99. Southeast Regional Gay Men’s Health Summit, Fort Lauderdale, FL
100. Stouffer-Ogburn Center for Social Organization Research at NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
101. Strata Various Product Design, Beverly Hills, CA
102. Sunshine Social Services/ Sunserve , Fort Lauderdale, FL
103. Test Positive Aware, Chicago, IL
104. TII CANN - Title II Community AIDS National Network, Washington, DC
105. Transgender Training and Advocacy, Burlington, VT
106. UMDNJ- NJGAY Health Initiative
107. U.S. Positive Women’s Network
108. UVA Pride, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
109. Victory Programs, Inc., Boston, MA
110. White Crane Institute, Brooklyn, NY
111. Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Washington, DC
112. WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Disease), Oakland, CA

INDIVIDUAL ENDORSEMENTS
(list in formation, as of March 9)



1. David Acosta, Philadelphia, PA
2. Stephan Adelson, Chelsea, MA
3. Chris Alston, Philadelphia, PA
4. Bruce Anderson, New York, NY
5. Gina Arias, New York, NY
6. Tommy Atz, Philadelphia, PA
7. Cornelius Baker, Washington, DC
8. Jed Barnum, Boston, MA
9. Chris Bartlett, Philadelphia, PA
10. Jim Baxter, College Park, MD
11. Jeanne Bergman, Ph.D. New York, NY
12. Roy Berkowitz, Springfield, VA
13. J.M. Birmingham, Brooklyn, NY
14. Bob Bowers, Madison, WI
15. Larry Bragg, Oakland, CA
16. Bill Briggs, Springfield, VA
17. Jared Douglas Brodin, Seattle, WA
18. Susan Buchbinder, MD, San Francisco, CA
19. Jerry Buie, LCSW, Salt Lake City, UT
20. Katy Caldwell, Houston, TX
21. Rudy Carn, Atlanta, GA
22. Ryan Clary, San Francisco, CA
23. John Cottrell, Ph.D., Salt Lake City, UT
24. Gwenn Craig, San Francisco, CA
25. Philip G. Curtis, Los Angeles, CA
26. Jason Crooks, Lafayette, LA
27. Alberto Curotto, PhD, San Francisco, CA
28. Mark A. Davis, Philadelphia, PA
29. Julie Davids, Providence, RI
30. Lynda Dee, Baltimore, MD
31. Dennis deLeon, New York, NY
32. Jose de Marco, Philadelphia, PA
33. Davide Deo, Kericho, Kenya
34. Julie Ebin, Cambridge, MA
35. Christopher Eden, MD, DHS, San Francisco, CA
36. Sergio Farfán, Baton Rouge, LA
37. Bill Farrand, Chicago, IL
38. David Fawcett, PhD, Fort Lauderdale, FL
39. Marc Felion, Chicago, IL
40. Nayck B. Feliz, Pittsburgh, PA
41. David Ferguson, San Francisco, CA
42. Fausto Fernòs, Chicago, IL
43. Deborah H. Fournier, Esq., Boston, MA
44. Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr., Washington, DC
45. Rebecca Fox, Washington, DC
46. Christopher H. Gaynor, MD, FAAFP, Seattle, WA
47. Steven Gibson, MSW, San Francisco, CA
48. Paul Gilbert, Carrboro, NC
49. Raven Gildea, Seattle, WA
50. Sophie Godley, Swampscott, MA
51. Marco Gomes, Toronto, ON, Canada
52. Jeffrey Goodman, Santa Monica, CA
53. Allegra Gordon, Philadelphia, PA
54. Celia M. Grant, Roxbury, MA
55. Brian M. Green, Philadelphia, PA
56. Gary Grossman, PhD, San Francisco, CA
57. Howard A. Grossman, MD, Boston, MA
58. Charles Gueboguo, Cameroon
59. Jeff Graham, Atlanta, GA
60. Rebecca Haag, Boston, MA
61. Robert J. Hadley, Chicago, IL
62. Bridget Haire, Sydney, Australia
63. Jessica Halem, Portland, OR
64. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles, CA
65. Johnnie Hamilton-Mason, MSW, PhD
66. Doreen Hardy, West Chester, PA
67. Matty Hart, Philadelphia, PA
68. Beth Hastie, Boston, MA
69. Vicki Hastings
70. Thomas W. Hawkins, Jr., Edgewood, MD
71. David Herrera, Missoula, MT
72. Kathie Hiers, Birmingham, AL
73. Michael Hinson, Philadelphia, PA
74. David Hoover, Springfield, VA
75. Trevor Hoppe, Ann Arbor, MI
76. Mark Hubbard, Nashville, TN
77. Damon L. Humes, Rochester, NY
78. Joe Interrante, Nashville, TN
79. Mark Ishaug, Chicago, IL
80. Albo Jeavons, Philadelphia, PA
81. Bill Jesdale, San Francisco, CA
82. Ronald Johnson, Washington, DC
83. Kevin Trimell Jones, Philadelphia, PA
84. A. Billy S. Jones-Hennin, Washington, DC
85. Benjamin Kaniaru, Nairobi, Kenya
86. William David Karchner, Albany, NY
87. Naina Khanna, Oakland, CA
88. Roger Samantha Kingori, Nairobi, Kenya
89. Ben Kudler, Boston, MA
90. Steven P. Kurtz, Ph. D., Coral Gables, FL
91. Chuck Lacombe, Dorchester, MA
92. Stewart Landers, Boston, MA
93. Jennifer Lauby, Philadelphia, PA
94. Krista Lauer, Los Angeles, CA
95. James Learned, New York, NY
96. Ricci Joy Levy, Washington, DC
97. Thomas Lewis, Melrose, MA
98. Erik Libey, Rochester, NY
99. Peter Lien, Philadelphia, PA
100. Fred Lopez, San Francisco, CA
101. Samuel Lurie, Burlington, Vermont
102. Marcelo Maia, New York, NY
103. Kennedy Majanga, Nairobi, Kenya
104. Harvey J. Makadon, MD Boston, MA
105. Duane Malone, Jackson, MS
106. Derrick Mapp, San Francisco, CA
107. Hiroshi Matsumoto, MD, PhD, Okayama, Japan
108. Reverend Wycliffe Mboya, Kenya
109. Audrey Mbugua, Nairobi, Kenya
110. Philip T. McCabe, New Brunswick, NJ
111. Dennis McCarthy, Seattle WA
112. Sojourner McCauley, Brooklyn, NY
113. Garrod McFadden, Philadelphia, PA
114. Michael McFadden, Chicago, IL
115. Butch McKay, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
116. Tom Menard, Chicago, IL
117. Tim Menza, Seattle, WA
118. Reynaldo Mireles, Jr., Denver, CO
119. Lourence Misedah, Nairobi, Kenya
120. Jason Mitchell, Portland, OR
121. James R. Moser, San Francisco, CA
122. Jeffrey Moses, Nairobi, Kenya
123. David Munar, Chicago, IL
124. Christopher Murray, LCSW, New York, NY
125. Peter Njane, Nairobi, Kenya
126. Kaijson Noilmar, Seattle, WA
127. Terry Oldes, Chicago, IL
128. Jerry Opany, Nairobi, Kenya
129. Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike, Abuja, Nigeria
130. Cecilio Orta, Charlotte, NC
131. David G. Ostrow, MD, PhD, Chicago, IL
132. T. Scott Pegues, Denver, CO
133. John Peller, Chicago, IL
134. David Alan Perkiss, Philadelphia, PA
135. Jim Pickett, Chicago, IL
136. Mark Pineda, Chicago, IL
137. Rafael Ponce, New York, NY
138. Chris Powers, San Francisco, CA
139. Alvan Quamina, Oakland, CA
140. Tony Radovich, Seattle, WA
141. Michael Emanuel Rajner, Fort Lauderdale, FL
142. Daniel Reeders, Melbourne, Australia
143. Jeffrey Reidhead, Seattle, WA
144. Robert Reinhard, San Francisco, CA
145. Leo Rennie, Washington, DC
146. Danny Resnic, Beverly Hills, CA
147. David Reznick, DDS, Atlanta, GA
148. Doug Rose, Baltimore, MD
149. Randall Russell, Birmingham, AL
150. Dennis E. Saffer, Seattle, WA
151. Michael Scarce, San Francisco, CA
152. Carl Schmid, Washington, DC
153. Scout, Providence, RI
154. Erick Seelbach, Seattle, WA
155. Walt Senterfitt, PhD RN, Los Angeles, CA
156. Michael Shankle, Boston, MA
157. Nurit Shein, Philadelphia, PA
158. Larry Shoemaker, Oakland, CA
159. Ron Simmons, Washington, DC
160. Ben Singer, Philadelphia, PA
161. Stan Sloan, Chicago, IL
162. Shane Snowdon, San Francisco, CA
163. Anne Statton, Chicago, IL
164. Charles Stephens, Atlanta, GA
165. Edward Strickler, Jr., Albemarle County, VA
166. Fred Swanson, Seattle, WA
167. Carl Tasker, Charlotte, NC
168. Coleman Terrell, Philadelphia, PA
169. Dennis Torres, Stamford CT
170. Moses Tunya, Nairobi, Kenya
171. Tony Valenzuela, Los Angeles, CA
172. Rodney Vanderwarker, Boston, MA
173. Dr. Justin Varney, London, UK
174. Roy Wadia, Vancouver, Canada
175. Steven F. Wakefield, Seattle, WA
176. Jeffrey Walimbwa, Nairobi, Kenya
177. Solomon Wambua, Nairobi, Kenya
178. Robin T. Webb, Jackson, MS
179. Seth L. Welles, Philadelphia, PA
180. Lisa Diane White, Atlanta, GA
181. Garland Wood, Seattle, WA
182. Robert Wood, MD, Seattle, WA
183. Gary Paul Wright, Newark, NJ
184. Al Wroblewski, Uxbridge, MA
185. Bo Young, Brooklyn, NY

57 Organizations and 91 Individuals Have Endorsed the Gay Men's Health Agenda - ARE YOU ON THE LIST?

PLEASE ADD YOUR
ENDORSEMENT TODAY

There is still time to endorse the agenda - as an individual, as an organization, or both. But the deadline is TODAY - March 4.

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.

Read the full document right here, on LifeLube.

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 - TODAY - 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.


Below is the list endorsers in formation - updated as of early AM on March 4. If you have signed on and don't see your name, please accept our sincere apologies and please CONTACT US so we can rectify the situation immediately! If there is a correction to your endorsements, please forgive, and let us know. Your endorsements matter.


ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

1. A Brave New Day, Jackson, MS
2. African American Office of Gay Concerns, Newark, NJ
3. AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Boston, MA
4. AIDS Action Council, Washington, DC
5. AIDS Alabama, Birmingham, AL
6. AIDS Foundation Chicago, Chicago, IL
7. The AIDS Institute, Washington, DC
8. AIDS Project Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
9. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, New York, NY
10. Alliance Rights Nigeria (ARN) Abuja Nigeria
11. Acadiana C.A.R.E.S., Lafayette, LA
12. Bienestar Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
13. Black LGBT Archivists Society of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
14. Black Pride Society, Detroit, MI
15. Boston Living Center, Boston, MA
16. Cambridge Cares About AIDS, Cambridge, MA
17. Cascade AIDS Project, Portland, OR
18. Center for Health Justice, West Hollywood, CA
19. Common Ground – The Westside HIV Community Center, Santa Monica, CA
20. Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), New York, NY
21. Creations for Empowerment, Brooklyn, NY
22. Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA
23. Fenway Institute, Boston, MA
24. Gay City Health Project, Seattle, WA
25. Gay Men's Health Crisis, New York, NY
26. Gay Men's Health Leadership Academy, New York, NY
27. Georgia Equality, Atlanta, GA
28. Guyana Rainbow Foundation, Georgetown, Guyana
29. Harlem United Community AIDS Center, New York, NY
30. HIVictorious, Inc., Madison, WI
31. Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL
32. Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC
33. Inova Juniper Program, Springfield, VA
34. International Federation of Black Prides, Inc., Washington, DC
35. JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., Boston, MA
36. Latino Commission on AIDS, New York, NY
37. Latino Health Advocacy Coalition, New York, NY
38. Legacy Community Health Services, Houston, TX
39. Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, Los Angeles, CA
40. The MALE Center, AIDS Action Committee, MA
41. Michigan Positive Action Coalition, Detroit, MI
42. Montana Gay Men’s Task Force, Missoula, MT
43. National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, Washington, DC
44. National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) Washington, DC
45. National Black Leadership Commission On AIDS, New York, NY
46. National Coalition for LGBT Health, Washington, DC
47. Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), Ft. Walton Beach, FL
48. Pink and Blues, Philadelphia, PA
49. Sacrena Gay Coalition, Kenya
50. Society Against STIs & HIV (Sash Bahamas), Bahamas
51. Strata Various Product Design, Beverly Hills, CA
52. Sunshine Social Services/ Sunserve , Fort Lauderdale, FL
53. TII CANN - Title II Community AIDS National Network, Washington, DC
54. U.S. Positive Women’s Network
55. UVA Pride, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
56. Victory Programs, Inc., Boston, MA
57. WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Disease)

INDIVIDUAL ENDORSEMENTS

1. Gina Arias, New York, NY
2. Tommy Atz, Philadelphia, PA
3. Cornelius Baker, Washington, DC
4. Chris Bartlett, Philadelphia, PA
5. Jim Baxter, College Park, MD
6. Roy Berkowitz, Springfield, VA
7. J.M. Birmingham, Brooklyn, NY
8. Bob Bowers, Madison, WI
9. Bill Briggs, Springfield, VA
10. Jared Douglas Brodin, Seattle, WA
11. Susan Buchbinder, MD, San Francisco, CA
12. Katy Caldwell, Houston, TX
13. John Cottrell, Ph.D., Salt Lake City, UT
14. Philip G. Curtis, Los Angeles, CA
15. Jason Crooks, Lafayette, LA
16. Mark A. Davis, Philadelphia, PA
17. Julie Davids, Providence, RI
18. Dennis deLeon, New York, NY
19. Julie Ebin, Cambridge, MA
20. David Ferguson, San Francisco, CA
21. Deborah H. Fournier, Esq., Boston, MA
22. Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr., Washington, DC
23. Rebecca Fox, Washington, DC
24. Raven Gildea, Seattle, WA
25. Sophie Godley, Swampscott, MA
26. Jeffrey Goodman, Santa Monica, CA
27. Allegra Gordon, Philadelphia, PA
28. Celia M. Grant, Roxbury, MA
29. Charles Gueboguo, Cameroon
30. Jeff Graham, Atlanta, GA
31. Rebecca Haag, Boston, MA
32. Robert J. Hadley, Chicago, IL
33. Bridget Haire, Sydney, Australia
34. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles, CA
35. Matty Hart, Philadelphia, PA
36. Beth Hastie, Boston, MA
37. Vicki Hastings
38. David Herrera, Missoula, MT
39. Kathie Hiers, Birmingham, AL
40. David Hoover, Springfield, VA
41. Mark Hubbard, Nashville, TN
42. Mark Ishaug, Chicago, IL
43. Bill Jesdale, San Francisco, CA
44. Kevin Trimell Jones, Philadelphia, PA
45. William David Karchner, Albany, NY
46. Naina Khanna, Oakland, CA
47. Ben Kudler, Boston, MA
48. Steven P. Kurtz, Ph. D., Coral Gables, FL
49. Chuck Lacombe, Dorchester, MA
50. Stewart Landers, Boston, MA
51. Krista Lauer, Los Angeles, CA
52. James Learned, New York, NY
53. Marcelo Maia, New York, NY
54. Harvey J. Makadon, MD Boston, MA
55. Duane Malone, Jackson, MS
56. Johnnie Hamilton-Mason, MSW, PhD
57. Hiroshi Matsumoto, MD, PhD, Okayama, Japan
58. Reverend Wycliffe Mboya, Kenya
59. Philip T. McCabe, New Brunswick, NJ
60. Sojourner McCauley, Brooklyn, NY
61. Michael McFadden, Chicago, IL
62. Butch McKay, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
63. Tim Menza, Seattle, WA
64. David Munar, Chicago, IL
65. Kaijson Noilmar, Seattle, WA
66. Terry Oldes, Chicago, IL
67. Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike, Abuja, Nigeria
68. John Peller, Chicago, IL
69. Jim Pickett, Chicago, IL
70. Rafael Ponce, New York, NY
71. Tony Radovich, Seattle, WA
72. Jeffrey Reidhead, Seattle, WA
73. Danny Resnic, Beverly Hills, CA
74. Dennis E. Saffer, Seattle, WA
75. Michael Scarce, San Francisco, CA
76. Carl Schmid, Washington, DC
77. Walt Senterfitt, PhD RN, Los Angeles, CA
78. Michael Shankle, Boston, MA
79. Larry Shoemaker, Oakland, CA
80. Charles Stephens, Atlanta, GA
81. Edward Strickler, Jr., Albemarle County, VA
82. Fred Swanson, Seattle, WA
83. Dennis Torres, Stamford CT
84. Tony Valenzuela, Los Angeles, CA
85. Rodney Vanderwarker, Boston, MA
86. Steven F. Wakefield, Seattle, WA
87. Robin T. Webb, Jackson, MS
88. Seth L. Welles, Philadelphia, PA
89. Garland Wood, Seattle, WA
90. Gary Paul Wright, Newark, NJ
91. Al Wroblewski, Uxbridge, MA

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

Drum Roll: The 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda

PROMOTING GAY MEN’S HEALTH 2009:
A TIME FOR ACTION
Click here for a word document version of this agenda.

For too long gay men’s health has focused mostly on HIV/AIDS, to the detriment of other health conditions that have direct and indirect ties to HIV/AIDS. These other issues are not limited to, but include: mental health, the effects of forced sexual experiences, external and internalized homophobia, substance abuse, lack of knowledge on male specific health issues (ex: anal health, foreskin health, etc), and lack of testing for sexually transmitted infections among others.
-Lee Carson, Philadelphia

We need a high-level effort at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate the inclusion of LGBT in our nation's health goals. Reform of our healthcare systems must begin with a recognition that Healthy People and Healthy Communities must include gay men, and a healthy nation cannot be achieved unless it includes all Americans.
-A. Cornelius Baker, Washington, DC

We demand that the agencies responsible for leading the federal government's response to the AIDS crisis take the lead in announcing and orchestrating as a public health priority an explicit, multi-faceted, multi-year campaign against homophobia, stigma and discrimination against sexual diversity.
-Walt Senterfitt, Los Angeles

In smaller cities, towns, and rural communities, even gay-identified men continue to live in and with communities and families of birth, a pattern which encourages secrecy, invisibility, and social isolation. This is compounded by a lack of gay-specific social infrastructure, socially supported relationship stability, legally supported stability (including legal coupling, legal family-building), religious inclusion and in a large number of cases, the additional complexities of living in the South as a person of color and/or a person living in poverty.
-Southern AIDS Coalition

The Gay Men's Health Movement consists of formal and informal collaborations of gay men, bisexual men, transgender men, and our allies, who are advocating – worldwide - for access to health care, health care utilization strategies and training, affordable and comprehensive health insurance, and effective, culturally appropriate services across the life course.

Gay, bisexual and trans men are healthy, productive and vital members of the United States. The movement is committed to an expansive vision of health and wellness addressing many challenges, current and emerging. We continue to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic which disproportionately impacts gay and bisexual men of all colors, particularly Black and Latino gay men and especially young Black gay men. Substance abuse and dependency is of high concern, as are,; mental health and other social challenges including racism, institutional and otherwise; and violence arising from homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. In addition, we focus on the harms associated with poverty and inadequate housing, incarceration, unemployment or marginal employment within our communities; and harms associated with lack of culturally appropriate and responsive services, and/or lack of services entirely.

We understand that many of our health challenges arise in complex associations with each other (e.g. HIV and substance abuse, poverty and sexually transmitted infections, homelessness and victimization to violence, stigma and mental health disorders, etc) and therefore must be assessed, treated, and managed holistically. Moreover, other social determinants impact our health and wellness, such as lack of comprehensive, age appropriate health and sexuality education in our schools, homophobia and transphobia in law enforcement practices, and unresponsive health and social service systems across most of the nation.

In addition to understanding the personal, biological, environmental, social, cultural and political conditions that challenge our well being and lead to illness; our movement is committed to understanding and sustaining those conditions that increase our health, wellness, vitality, and longevity. The syndemic, co-morbid and collateral characteristics which shape the disparities we face demand a response that goes beyond the clinical and institutional to a broad and sustained mobilization that cuts across and includes multiple communities. We have vast strengths and assets to confront these challenges. Community-building and advocacy efforts are important features of our movement. Together we must strive to sustain a movement that builds our assets and works to reduce our deficits as individuals, loving partners, and communities across a broad and diverse spectrum of gay, bisexual and transgender men.

Within our own communities, too, our members experience a wide range of access to services, resources and referrals which leads to disparate health outcomes for many. The concerns of gay, bisexual, and transgender men of color and men in rural and frontier communities are not always heard. Similary, immigrant men may struggle to join our communities even as they concurrently aim to adapt to broader American society. Men without the advantages of income, education, housing, and supportive friendships also are made invisible. While the historic and current impact of racism traditionally impacts Black gay men most directly – all of us are affected negatively. We are committed to overcoming these deficits within our own communities.

Support for well-designed and focused research into the health-related needs of our communities is a priority. Much of this research establishes with overwhelming confidence that gay, bisexual, and transgender men, often defined in public health as MSM, experience significant health disparities when compared with heterosexual men. Research must focus on which assets and programmatic interventions work to reduce disparities and produce health and wellness in collaborative and supportive ways. The lack of accurate and sensitive data collection and analysis about gay, bisexual, and trans men’s health is yet another hazard.. Few longitudinal studies exist to help guide our health care providers, or assist us as consumers. Best practices have not been articulated or disseminated. Randomized controlled trials have not included gay, bisexual, and transgender men as they should. Research regarding technologies important to our communities (e.g. rectal microbicides) has been woefully neglected. We support the need for more scientifically designed research to understand and improve our health. In addition, this research should always begin with direct collaboration with gay, bisexual, and transgender , from inception and implementation, to dissemination of findings and beyond.

One of the most tragic things that our collective experience as gay men living with, among, and around HIV, has robbed us of, is our ability to imagine. We have to imagine. This is a necessity. And for this to happen, we have to bring and centralize artists in the work of gay men’s health.
- Charles Stephens, Atlanta

Gay men are not only impacted by HIV policy, but we are also directly impacted by economic justice issues, immigration policies, and national security-- so we need to be involved in those issues. We also need to fight policies even when-- or perhaps especially when-- they don't appear to directly impact gay men, and we need to let others guide us in their movements.
- Fred Swanson, Seattle

Presently, HIV prevention in the U.S. lacks the resources & comprehensiveness that will significantly drive down HIV incidence rates.
- George Ayala, San Francisco, CA

Our communities must operate in the spirit of collaboration and must be reflective of RADICAL INCLUSIVITY. We must rally around our commonality and strive together. And specific to the development of leadership we must take charge through action in each step of our individual and collective daily actions. Be present in each moment, WE are together, however different we may look, act, talk and see
-Kaijson Noilmar,Seattle

Recommendations for Policymakers: Improving Gay Men’s Health and Lives

We have been hard at work. Since the early 1970s, with the formation of volunteer based STD and community health clinics, gay, bisexual, transgender men and our allies have been engaged in creating culturally appropriate health care services for our communities. These early efforts have expanded to a nation-wide system of LGBT health care centers in our major urban areas. These centers were essential to our community’s early response to the HIV epidemic. Many of these centers continue to suffer from inadequate financial support and numerous smaller cities and rural areas are in need of such services.

Since the mid-1990s, there have been a number of national and regional conferences and meetings in the United States organized for leaders in the gay men’s health movement to share information and resources, caucus, restore our energy and clarify our vision, and to develop resources and strategies for improving the health of our communities. Often, these forums have been held in partnership with lesbians, transgender women, public health providers, medical and other clinical providers, scientific and policy communities, community leaders and other activists. We have been in ongoing contact with each other to think, research, plan and work holistically and in coalition. A significant outcome of these efforts was the founding of the National Coalition for LGBT Health, the Gay Men’s Health Summits and the formation of a working group on LGBT health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Most recently, to spur the development of a gay men’s health advocacy plan, 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.They 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. Twenty-one 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 (yes, this one!) – with comments and discussion strongly encouraged.

[You may read each of the 21 submitted articles here]

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. This entire process informs this document.

As a new Administration and Congress sets 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.

Improve the care, housing and genuine health promotion for HIV-positive people.
- Michael Scarce, San Francisco

Our doctors are not telling us to stop smoking without reason. In case you are thinking it is just the party line that healthcare providers have to say, similar to “just lose weight”, allow me to restate it out of love. It is in each of our best interests as gay and bisexual men living with HIV/AIDS to quit smoking immediately!
-Kali Lindsey, Washington, DC

For gay and lesbian youth, for trans youth, for all youth – not having comprehensive, queer- and transgender-affirming sex education, is irresponsible, unethical and life-threatening.
-Lance Toma, San Francisco

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Fund and expand social, behavioral and biomedical research. Due to the health disparities gay, bisexual and transgender men endure, it is essential that more research is conducted to inform the community and clinicians as to the reasons for these disparities, find solutions to improving the health of the population, and to track and monitor health care outcomes. Sadly, research into the sexual health and wellbeing of our communities has often been demonized as morally offensive research or mischaracterized in its intent. This must end. We demand adequate funding for social, behavioral and biomedical research - including longitudinal and lifecourse studies, and random controlled trials. The research must include our diversity, as well as underserved and underrepresented communities, especially African American and Latino communities, as well as Asian/Pacific Island, Native American and other communities of color, and the impacted youth of those populations, all transgender men, and men outside urban centers as well as other other underserved regions. Attention to both current and emerging needs is paramount.

2. Develop and fund data collection efforts on sexual orientation and gender identity in all federally funded research. Vital to successful research and intervention are adequate data.. We must be represented, along with lesbians, and all bisexual and transgender men and women, in all appropriate municipal, state, and federal population, workforce, demographic, and health studies, surveys and research. There are no reasonable excuses for excluding us, since we are part of every population, part of every school and workplace, consumers of health care and other services, residents of every community, and taxpayers to local, state and federal governments.

3. Fund campaigns to combat homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. In partnership with our communities we call for local, state and federal funding, community foundation funding, faith community funding, and other support to combat ignorance, hatred and misunderstanding. We must address prejudice and build bridges across diverse communities; increase family, school, and community acceptance for LGBT youth; reduce stigma in health care and other services; and overcome discrimination in the workplace. We call for adequate funding for these programs, and we are ready to lead these efforts.

4. Eliminate No Promo Homo. We recognize that the delivery of culturally appropriate and responsive health information is dependent on setting and context. Grounded in science-based evidence, we insist on being allowed to speak within our communities effectively. Therefore, we demand the removal of state and federal legislation that serve no scientific purpose. For example, we should immediately repeal Section 2500 of the federal Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300ee(b), (c), and (d)) that does not allow the “promotion” of any type of sexual behaviour – heterosexual or homosexual. This language debilitates programs that are funded to reach sexually active adults of all backgrounds.

5. Create an Office for LGBT Health at HHS. We request the appointment of a Senior Advisor or Office for LGBT Health at the United States Department of Health and Human Services to provide focused and sustained leadership and guidance for HHS, and other departments and agencies with connections to LGBT health. We stand ready to join advisory panels at HHS, and other departments and agencies, to complement, or in preparation, for this Office.

6. Develop and implement a strategy to reduce health disparities among gay, bisexual and transgender men through direct programmatic funding. With leadership from a Senior Advisor or Office of LGBT Health, funding from both governmental and private sources would be coordinated with the goals of reducing disparities in the health of gay, bisexual and transgender men - including HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and dependency (for example, cigarette smoking and methamphetamines), mental health and other social issues, and violence victimization (including hate violence and intimate partner violence). Improving access to culturally competent, responsive, qualityhealth care must be prioritized through community specific efforts or legislation for universal health care coverage.

7. Implement and fund sexual health and wellness campaigns directed towards the gay, bisexual and transgender men’s communities utilizing an array of public and private resources. Through both public and private sources, these campaigns should ensure that both LGBT and non-LGBT health and social service organizations support male-to-male sexuality, and bisexuality, while promoting sexual health and overall wellness for the gay, bisexual and transgender men’s communities. Distinct populations must be focused on individually and should include African Americans, Latinos, and Asian/Pacific Island men, older men, men with disabilities, men who have primary partners, serodiscordant partners, men in recovery, young men and others.

8. Develop and implement a strategy to remove barriers to health care among transgender people through legal changes and education of medical and health insurance professionals. We must revise the standards of care for gender transition to replace the "gatekeeping" model with a model of informed consent, and we must end the discriminatory practices that deny health insurance to transgender people and that deny coverage for certain procedures that are covered for non-trans people.


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GETTING INVOLVED IN THE 2009 GAY MEN’S HEALTH AGENDA

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are asking you to sign on to the 2009 Gay Men’s Health Agenda, but we also want you to own it. We consider it to be a living document, and we want your voice to be a part of it. To join in, there are three things you can do right away to get involved:

Endorse the agenda: Send your name and city/town and country to gaymenshealthagenda@gmail.com. We’ll keep you up-to-date on the next steps and actions that are taken by gay men and allies around the world. You may endorse as an individual, as an organization, or both. If you are endorsing on behalf of an organization, please ensure the organization has authorized as such. Click here to circulate a word document version of the document.

Increase your Awareness: Become acquainted with some of the participants and ideas of the gay men’s health movement. Check out http://gaymenshealth.ning.com.

Weigh in on the agenda at the Gay Men’s Health Agenda workgroup on the Ning: http://gaymenshealth.ning.com/group/2009gaymenshealthagenda.

Take Action: You can get involved. Make healthy decisions for yourself. Bring these ideas to your local community and organize, organize, organize. Talk to your friends. Write a blog article. Discuss gay men’s health on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking means. Advocate with your elected government officials at the local, state and national levels – tell them you want to see gay men’s health prioritized. Check in with local organizations to find out what they are doing for gay men’s health. Organize a project to end smoking, create a social group to fight isolation, give voice to the particular health issues of HIV positive men, create safe places to celebrate HIV status and many others. You have the power to create something new yourself.


We believe that gay men and their allies can cause a revolution in health care access and awareness. We want you to be part of the work.

In solidarity,

The 2009 Gay Men’s Health Agenda Workgroup

List of endorsers in formation

Email your endorsement gaymenshealthagenda@gmail.com

Change is a beautiful thing

ILLINOIS AIDS ADVOCATES WINS U.S. PRESIDENCY: The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama of Illinois on his historic election as the 44th President of the United States.

“The board and staff of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago are proud to see a longtime friend and supporter ascend to the highest office in the land,” said AFC President/CEO Mark Ishaug. “We stand ready to assist President-Elect Obama in pursuing his comprehensive, results-oriented agenda on HIV/AIDS, which includes national healthcare reform and creation of a National AIDS Strategy.”

Longtime AFC supporters Barack and Michelle Obama joined AFC’s “Red Ribbon Society” of major donors in 2007. In 2005, AFC honored Senator Obama and Michelle at AFC’s 20th anniversary gala and that same year Michelle joined PBS senior correspondent Gwen Ifill for a community forum that AFC co-sponsored with the Chicago Foundation for Women.

As a lawmaker, Sen. Obama has worked closely with AFC to champion sound HIV policy and law for more than a decade. READ MORE.

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence signifies a range of aggressive acts used by one partner in a relationship – from a nameless trick to a lifelong spouse – to maintain power and control over the other.

by David Phillips

A Queerman and Leatherman from Arlington, VA, David is a leader of the Rainbow Response Coalition: Addressing IPV among LGBTQ in Metro DC. Watch his powerful video - Rough Cut: Day 8766


With rates of prevalence exceeding that of HIV among LGBTQ people, intimate partner violence (IPV) must be addressed within the 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda, to prevent and to heal the abuse which too many of us have known. Studies have shown that about 40 percent of Gay men and men who have sex with men have experienced IPV during their lifetimes, with half that number having experienced IPV during the last five years.

Yet, in surveying for community-based services designed for survivors of IPV, one will find very few counseling programs and virtually no legal assistance and shelter offerings prepared to serve Gay men and men who have sex with men in a welcoming and affirming manner. Notable programs that do exist for LGBTQ survivors include Fenway Community Health's Violence Recovery Program, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's STOP Domestic Violence Services, Seattle's Northwest Network, and the advocacy of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. If we want Gay men to be happy, healthy, and whole, the lack of available IPV services and the cycles of abuse must end.

Intimate partner violence signifies a range of aggressive acts used by one partner in a relationship – from a nameless trick to a lifelong spouse – to maintain power and control over the other. Intimate partner violence takes many forms, from hitting and verbal abuse, to rape and threats of outing one's sexual orientation, HIV status, or immigration status. IPV can be physical, emotional, sexual, or financial, but it always takes a psychological and spiritual toll on survivors.

I know this because intimate partner violence was inflicted on me over 24 years ago. A man whom I loved during college abused me physically, emotionally, sexually, and financially, coercing me into drug use, prostitution, and enduring his abuse for over a year. In 1984 there were fewer places for a Gay 18 year-old to turn, and the police were certainly not an option, particularly for someone who was not Out. My closeted state became a weapon that he used against me, just as other abusers do to their partners today.

Most of us would recognize a punch in the face, a kick in gut, or a violent sexual assault by a partner as abuse. Still, we might never see or be able to imagine more covert forms of abuse that are perpetrated every day somewhere near us between male partners.

No man should be dehumanized or talked down to by his partner. That's abuse.

No man should feel compelled to have sex that he doesn't want to have. That's abuse. BDSM without consent is battery and rape.

No man should have to sacrifice his personal safety in exchange for having his sexual orientation kept secret. That's abuse.

No man warrants having his money or possessions taken from him or destroyed to prevent him from leaving an abuser. That's more abuse.

Survivors of intimate partner violence are at increased risk for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, problems with physical and sexual intimacy, infection with HIV and other STIs, and self-medicating with alcohol, nicotene and other drugs. We can spend years in self-doubt and confusion over why we were abused and why we stayed, answers we don't necessarily need in order to heal. However, culturally-sensitive counseling and response services--police, shelter, legal aid--can reduce the suffering which may follow survivors for decades. We need not remain prisoners of our batterers long after leaving them, and with community-based support we can recognize the abuse for what it is and begin to heal ourselves from the trauma we never asked for or deserved.

Watch David's powerful video - Rough Cut: Day 8766


[Click here to read previous input into the 2009 Gay Men's Health Agenda. Click here to get involved in Gay Men's Health organizing and ongoing dialogue. Please feel free to send in a post of your own here. We will be happy to publish it! ]