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Courtesy of The Front Page
Its organizers say that it promises to be "one of the most important and exciting events" in the field of gay men's health to date providing over 100 workshops that run the gamut of pressing issues in gay men's health. Topics covered will include some of the important standard issues for a conference of this type such as HIV prevention programs, the latest information on HIV/AIDS related issues and treatment, drug and alcohol use, and some general health and wellness programming. In addition, say organizers, "the program boasts a myriad of cutting edge workshops that will present new information and ideas, implement new strategies, and challenge participants." An entire group of workshops will bring the topic of transgender men into the mix covering issues like trans male sexuality and dating, the relationship between sexual orientation and trans identity, and trans inclusion in the queer community. Another subset of the program will focus on the sexuality and pleasure of gay men in workshops like "Let's Talk About Selling and Buying Sex" and "Erotophobia: A Barrier to Health Promotion for Gay and Bi Men." Still other workshops will begin to take a look at new health issues among gay/bi men that move beyond HIV/AIDS such as recent increases in syphilis infections and the startling new cases of staph infections. Gay Men's Health Summit 2003 will also take start to move outside the box as the summit includes more workshops on holistic health strategies than ever before -- including yoga, touch therapy/healing, and workshops that will bring eastern influences into the summit. Another important feature of this year's summit will be the focus on men of color. Issues for gay, bi, and trans men of color will be represented like never before at a gay men's health summit with the presentation of the Men of Color Health Institute. This track of workshops, woven throughout the summit, is aimed at improving the health and wellness of gay, bisexual, and queer men of color. Workshops already scheduled for inclusion will cover issues of the African American, Latino, Native American, and Asian/Pacific Islander communities. In addition, participation by men of color at the summit will be increased as result of a generous grant provided by the Ford Foundation to help subsidize the participation of a limited number of individuals. Harlan Pruden, a member of the organizing collective, was quoted saying, "As a Native American who is an LGBT activist, the pro-active steps the organizers have taken to ensure there are no barriers that would normally inhibit men of color from participating is an incredible endeavor." In addition to its workshops, Gay Men's Health Summit 2003 plans a full day of pre-summit institutes on topics ranging from racism to queer theory in LGBT health to a leadership training for creating a gay men's health movement. A number of important plenary sessions will also be hosted including "Reviving Activism that Makes a Difference" and "What Does a Gay Men's Health Movement Actually Look Like?" Lead organizer of the summit, Eric Rofes, said of this year's event "We are thrilled that in our third year we have pulled together what is, without question, our strongest program yet in both the quantity and quality of its content!" The conference will also host social events, including a pool party, a reception hosted by the National LBGT Health Coalition, and the southern premier of a new film that documents the history of ACT UP. |
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The Gay Men's Health Summit 2003 will be held May 7-11 in Raleigh, North Carolina