News Briefs

CAMP IT UP

Bill Nix (l–r), Joel Icenhower, Jerel McNeil, and Dennis Watson will volunteer at the spring PWA Campout, May 21–23, at Buzzard’s Peak outside Cameron, 150 miles north of Houston. The Texas Conference of Clubs, which includes the local Colt 45’s and Houston Area Bears, owns the wooded 30-acre compound and donates use of the facilities for the twice-yearly event for people with HIV/AIDS and family, friends, and caregivers. The fee to campers for the three-day retreat is $25, and donations help send campers unable to pay. To contribute, contact campout coordinator John Szewczyk at tex4ever@hotmail.com. Photo by Gavyn Aaron.

DATE BOOK

Rainbow Fishing Club sails from Galveston on deep-sea angling trips on May 2 and June 5. Reservations: 713/523-6381 John.Hubert.

On May 3, the support group for gay men with HIV resumes meeting on Mondays, 1:15–2:45 p.m., at Montrose Counseling Center. Register: Bob Hergenroeder, LCSW, 713/529-0037, ext. 322.

On May 5, a new Women’s HIV Support Group begins meeting on Wednesdays, 1–2:30 p.m., at Montrose Counseling Center. Register: Marilyn Barnes, LCSW, 713/529-0037, ext. 328.

May 7 is the deadline for submitting an event for the official GLBT Pride calendar. May 15 is the deadline for reserving space in the June 26 GLBT Pride Parade (without incurring a late fee). Late deadline: May 30. Details: www.pridehouston.org.

Montrose Softball League hosts the Lone Star Classic Tournament, May 28–31, at the Houston Sportsplex. Register: www.montrosesoftballleague.com.

STAG/Some Transgenders Are Guys meets the first Sunday of the month, 6 p.m., at the Houston GLBT Community Center.

CATS/Community Awareness for Transgender Support meets Wednesdays, 7 p.m., at the Houston GLBT Community Center.

People With AIDS Coalition offers free childcare by appointment, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday, at Thomas Street Clinic and Bering Omega Community Services. Details: 713/873-4162.

EMPOWER TO STAR QUEER EYE JAI

Jai Rodriguez, culture maven from the Bravo series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, will appear at two events during Empower, the June 12–13 business-and-community expo presented by the Greater Houston GLBT Chamber of Commerce.

Rodriguez, a singer and Broadway performer (Rent,Zanna Don’t) as well as reality-TV star, will preside at a VIP party and autograph reception during “Lift-Off: Our Launch into Pride,” a Saturday-evening event co-hosted by the chamber and the Pride Committee of Houston.

Rodriguez will then perform his single “Love Is Good” at the “Out of This World Party” and dance later that night.

All Empower activities—including the daytime exhibitions by commercial vendors and nonprofit groups—will take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The chamber moved Empower from September to June this year.

ACLU HONORS LAWRENCE V. TEXAS TRIO

The accolades continue to accrue for the three local men involved in the landmark Lawrence v. Texas case that resulted in the overturning of the anti-sodomy law. On May 8, the Houston chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union will present the Dassia Porper Liberties in Justice Award to attorney Mitchell Katine and Lawrence petitioners Tyron Garner and John Lawrence. The trio will receive the award at the Houston ACLU gala.

Radio commentator and author Jim Hightower will speak at the gala, which will also honor Ben Levy, founder of the Houston ACLU chapter.

AIDS ADVOCACY TRAINING SET

“At no time since the beginning of the epidemic has it been more important for HIV-positive individuals to become proactively involved with issues related to HIV/AIDS funding and service delivery.” This statement from Rich Arenschieldt, Center for AIDS director of education and outreach, reflects the urgency in the face of declining funds for HIV/AIDS felt by service providers and the affected community.

The Center for AIDS Hope and Remembrance Project is encouraging stronger involvement by offering another session of Project LEAP, the 17-week HIV advocacy training program. Participants can opt for day or evening classes, which will begin this month.

Project LEAP (Learning, Empowerment, Advocacy and Participation) fosters participation on the Ryan White Planning Council, the federally funded body that determines the allocation of more than $19 million in Harris and five adjacent counties.

“In fiscal year 2004, Houston has suffered a 6.8-percent cut in funding for Ryan White Title I funding,” Arenschieldt points out. This year, some HIV services have seen a 14-percent cut in federal funding, according to center statistics.

NEW TASK FORCE ADDRESSES MENTAL HEALTH

The first effort of a new task force on GLBT mental-health issues created by the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston is a brochure on depression and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The free brochure is available at Bering Support Network, Houston GLBT Community Center, Montrose Clinic, and Montrose Counseling Center and through the association, a nonprofit, United Way Agency.

May is National Mental Health Month, sponsored since 1949 by the National Mental Health Association.

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