Outreach and
Workshops
Online Outreach
Research suggests "that men who meet male sexual partners online are
more likely than other gay men to engage in risky sex and to have
a history of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV,"
reported David Tuller in a recent New York Times article. Meeting
men online is far more popular than ever. A spokesperson from the
CDC says "The public health community has been reporting that
the Internet surpasses bars and bathhouses as the more frequent
place where sexual partners meet for the first time." More
alarming is a recent study from the Los Angles Department of Health
that indicates up to two-thirds of men who met other men online
for sex were HIV positive. They were also 3.5 times more likely
to have anonymous sex and twice as likely to use injection drugs.
Although Lane County is sure to be different, the nature of the
Internet makes connecting with men from different cities and travelers
from out-of-state very easy.
We are currently visiting Gay.com chat rooms three times a week
for 2-3 hours at each outreach session. During outreach workers
engage in general conversation topics in the Eugene chat room, building
rapport with chatters. Workers periodically make announcements about
testing services and if appropriate, interject queer health questions/information
into conversation. In worker's bio line, we invite people to send
us private messages and offer answers to questions about HIV/STDs,
general queer health and often offer a friendly ear and support
to queer men on various other topics (relationships, coming out,
meeting people, etc).
Link:
Planet
Out Article
Nude Beach Outreach
During the warmer months of the year, outreach workers travel to
the nude beach located on the south of Eugene. Outreach workers
distribute SSS and cold water to beach goers. We also refill SSS
stations located in the center of the "island,"; at a tree
house, where public sex is known to take place. This previous summer
we were also able to refer men to our on site Rapid Testing (provided
by Lane County Public Health). In collaboration with Lane County
Public Health, we erected a canopy and table where we offered more
SSS, information and printed materials. In a nearby tent we were
able to offer rapid tests to men who may have otherwise never accessed
our services.
Bar Outreach
Though not as expansive as outreach programs in larger metro areas,
we do periodic outreach at one local queer-identified bar. We consistently
refill a SSS station in the men's restroom. There are greater opportunities
for outreach in this venue and we are currently in the planning
stages of implementing more consistent outreach and building stronger
relationships with the bar owners and gatekeepers.
Community Outreach
Our outreach workers attend weekly and monthly social/support/advocacy/activist
groups around the community establishing community presence and
providing community leaders with information about HIV/STDs, queer
health. We make referrals to our services and in the past have offered
on site testing. We also bring SSS and distribute them among MSM.
At larger community events we also supply the MSM community with
SSS and make announcements to large numbers of community members.
Further, at rallies and parades we host an information table, providing
valuable printed materials, distributing SSS, and making referrals
while building stronger community connections.
Need Safer Sex Supplies at your event? Email
us!
Workshops
In addition to continued outreach, we will be offering skill-building
workshops that will focus on helping MSM communicate their needs
in a variety of contexts, as wells as giving MSM tools to combat
homophobia, low-self esteem, body image issues, internalized shame,
isolation, depression, stress, anger, racism, sexism, issues of
gender identity, and more. Here is just a glimpse of the workshops
possible: |
