 |
|
|
in Gay Men's Health |
|
Compiled By GayToday
The planning collective consisted of four members, including longtime activist Eric Rofes, Boulder County AIDS Project Outreach Coordinator Mark Beyer, University of Colorado Sociology graduate student Matt Brown, and writer Kirk Read. In his opening speech welcoming participants, Summit convener Eric Rofes of San Francisco summarized the overarching goal of the event: "We want to inspire our broader communities to prioritize gay men's health and wellness and spark specific organizing efforts which will make gay men's health as central to our lives over the next two decades as HIV/AIDS has been for the past two decades." "For nearly two decades," said Summit collective member Kirk Read, "AIDS has received all of our attention," said Summit collective member Kirk Read.
Highlights Several sessions at the Summit provided new insights into working with diverse populations of gay men and explored a range of unique topics related to gay men's sexual, physical, spiritual and emotional health. UCLA Professor Vickie Mays presented findings from her cutting-edge research on African-American gay-identified men which explored their friendship patterns, mental health, and relationships with their families-of-origin. Dr. Frank Kohrs from the University of Kentucky, Chris Carrington, Ph.D. from San Francisco State University, and Christopher Mann, D.O., of Dallas, Texas provided data on the volatile new drugs GHB/GBL and debated appropriate strategies for addressing the use of this drug at circuit parties. The sessions which generated particularly hot debate were "Taking the Pop Out of Popper Use," organized by Dr. David Ostrow of Loyola University School of Medicine in Chicago and "Being Fucked," a session exploring the meaning derived from anal sex, organized by Richard Hart from Key West. "Gathering the Nations," a pre-Summit meeting organized by Philadelphia's David Acosta and A. Billy S. Jones from Washington, D.C. drew over 60 participants who began work on prioritizing health challenges facing gay men of color.
Beyond Boulder At the Summit, a group of several dozen men aged 35 and under drafted "The Boulder Declaration for Younger Gay Men's Health." A group also came together to create an ongoing publication on gay men's health. Mark Beyer, a Summit collective member, said "It was incredible to meet so many young gay men who are working with gay communities. This weekend was about younger men taking responsibility for the future of gay men's health." Projects that will see life beyond the Summit include working groups focused on a range of issues: "Gay Men's Health as Part of the Federal Agenda," "Gathering Research on Gay Men's Health," and "International Gay Men's Health." Larry Siegel, M.D., medical director of Washington, D.C.'s Whitman-Walker Clinic is leading efforts to develop a worksheet for gay men titled "What To Ask Your Health Care Provider," and Mike Henry of Tucson and Ric Kasini Kadour of Seattle have set up and will moderate a cyberspace list-serv to provide ongoing communication among activists working on gay men's health: www.onelist.com/subscribe/gaymenshealthsummit Participants took on a range of health activist projects at the local, regional, and national level and agreed to come together in a year for Summit 2000, where participants will discuss proposals for ways to organize ongoing efforts championing gay men's health and wellness. Information about Summit 2000 will be available after November 1 at www.bcap.org |
Mark Beyer is one of the organizers of the Gay Men's Health Summit 
Evening programs included a screening of Montreal filmmaker Jose
Torrealba's Got 2B There, which examined circuit party culture, and an
emotional forum on barebacking. While previous conferences and town
meetings have focused on the sexual and cultural ramifications of
barebacking, this conversation included perspectives of doctors,
researchers, and other health care providers.
© 1997-98 BEI