Join me, NWtoSE aka JanaB as I go get tested at the
Chairman Vincent Gray and Council member David Catania for HIV Testing Day @
The Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
(near Metro Center or Federal Triangle)
on:
Monday, June 29, 2009
10 am-2pm
for your FREE HIV/AIDS Test.
For more information please see this flier and contact
Tanchica Terry @ 202.724.8170 or tterry@dccouncil.us
or contact me by leaving a comment. . . I will e-mail you back.
Filed under: #NHTD09, DC Council, David Catania, HIV/AIDS, National HIV Testing Day, Vincent C Gray
Luckily, we have an amazing resource in the District! Outtoquit.org not only provides you with where to go for Tobacco Cessation information but it also provides you with facts about how the Tobacco Companies are targeting the LGBT (I use LGBT because that is how I was raised HA HA- “you say tomato TA MA TO”) communities. What I don’t understand is why I have to have constant arguments with my friends about the Tobacco Companies evil ways. . . the evidence is clear!
Check out Outtoquit.org and encourage someone you know in the District to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to get their FREE patches or gum to help them start quitting today! (wow I sound like a commercial!)
The GLBT Community is Disproportionately Impacted by Tobacco Members of the GLBT community smoke at a far greater rate than that of the general population, although estimates vary widely. In one 2004 California Study, lesbian women were 70% more likely to smoke than other women, and gay men were more than 50% more likely to smoke than other men. More recent research suggests this number may be even higher. The LGBT National Tobacco Control Network estimates that the GLBT community is 50% to 200% more likely than others to be addicted to tobacco.
Smoking and HIV/AIDS Smoking weakens the immune system, and makes it even harder to fight off opportunistic infections associated with HIV. Smoking also increases the risk of HIV-associated malignancies and other cancers found among people living with HIV/AIDS. Further, HIV positive individuals who are at greater risk for heart disease because of lypodystrophy, significantly compound that risk by smoking.
Tobacco Companies Have Targeted our Community The tobacco industry spends more than $13 billion each year to promote cigarette use in the United States. The Tobacco company has targeted the GLBT community since at least 1991, advertising at Pride and other GLBT community events, and contributing to both national and local GLBT and HIV/AIDS Organizations. An early Tobacco industry document described the plan for increasing sales among San Francisco’s gay and homeless populations, it was labeled “Project SCUM”.
Social Stress Factors also Contribute to Increased Smoking Rates 30% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students in the District of Columbia said they were bullied at least once on school property in the 2006-2007 school year. More than a quarter of GLB high school students said they had skipped school once or more in the past month because they felt unsafe in school or on the way to school. Social stress factors such as these contribute to greater smoking rates.
(All of the above statistics are taken directly from “Out to Quit- The Facts” http://www.outtoquit.org/facts.html)
Filed under: HIV/AIDS, LGBT, Out to Quit, Smoking
Luckily, we have an amazing resource in the District! Outtoquit.org not only provides you with where to go for Tobacco Cessation information but it also provides you with facts about how the Tobacco Companies are targeting the LGBT (I use LGBT because that is how I was raised HA HA- “you say tomato TA MA TO”) communities. What I don’t understand is why I have to have constant arguments with my friends about the Tobacco Companies evil ways. . . the evidence is clear!
Check out Outtoquit.org and encourage someone you know in the District to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to get their FREE patches or gum to help them start quitting today! (wow I sound like a commercial!)
The GLBT Community is Disproportionately Impacted by Tobacco Members of the GLBT community smoke at a far greater rate than that of the general population, although estimates vary widely. In one 2004 California Study, lesbian women were 70% more likely to smoke than other women, and gay men were more than 50% more likely to smoke than other men. More recent research suggests this number may be even higher. The LGBT National Tobacco Control Network estimates that the GLBT community is 50% to 200% more likely than others to be addicted to tobacco.
Smoking and HIV/AIDS Smoking weakens the immune system, and makes it even harder to fight off opportunistic infections associated with HIV. Smoking also increases the risk of HIV-associated malignancies and other cancers found among people living with HIV/AIDS. Further, HIV positive individuals who are at greater risk for heart disease because of lypodystrophy, significantly compound that risk by smoking.
Tobacco Companies Have Targeted our Community The tobacco industry spends more than $13 billion each year to promote cigarette use in the United States. The Tobacco company has targeted the GLBT community since at least 1991, advertising at Pride and other GLBT community events, and contributing to both national and local GLBT and HIV/AIDS Organizations. An early Tobacco industry document described the plan for increasing sales among San Francisco’s gay and homeless populations, it was labeled “Project SCUM”.
Social Stress Factors also Contribute to Increased Smoking Rates 30% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual high school students in the District of Columbia said they were bullied at least once on school property in the 2006-2007 school year. More than a quarter of GLB high school students said they had skipped school once or more in the past month because they felt unsafe in school or on the way to school. Social stress factors such as these contribute to greater smoking rates.
(All of the above statistics are taken directly from “Out to Quit- The Facts” http://www.outtoquit.org/facts.html)
Filed under: HIV/AIDS, LGBT, Out to Quit, Smoking
Well this week has been a goody as far as public health issues go. . we got The Pope:
BBC News, Tuesday, March 17, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7947460.stm
“You can’t resolve it with the distribution of condoms,” the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde. “On the contrary, it increases the problem.” We have 3 % of the District HIV positive (please see previous post in my blog for full report) . . . and we have Mayor Fenty saying things like this:
Mayor Fenty’s Office Press Release
March 16, 2009
Mayor Fenty Releases Updated HIV/AIDS Statistics and Unveils New Study on Heterosexuals and Relationships
http://dc.gov/mayor/news/release.asp?id=1499&mon=200903
“Past studies have highlighted the HIV/AIDs problems in the District, but this reports details how individuals are putting themselves at risk for the disease,” said Mayor Fenty.
“These facts serve as a blueprint that allows us to improve how we prevent HIV and better serve people living with the virus.
(for the full statement and the rest of the report please follow the link above)
So basically what we have is a three ring circus and a recipe for death. The recipe has been cookin for a long time and people have died, are dying and will continue to die. Mr. Pope, God Bless, it is true ABSTAINING is the NUMBER 1 BEST way to not contract HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease. Condoms do protect against HIV. STOP SETTING THOSE OF US BACK who so tirelessly spend hours and hours on foot talking to people and striving to get the condoms out there and teach people how to use them!
Fenty. . . COME OUT INTO the community and talk to people about HIV and COME see your communities. . .
Thank you to Karyn Pomerantz who also organizes and spends countless hours in the community protesting the rights of those living with HIV/AIDS and for all that living in poverty.
TODAY come out and show your support:
Rally @ the Wilson Building 12:00- 1:00 pm, 1350 Penn Avenue NW
DC Fights Back, C2EA, and allies demand that the DC Government, Health Department, and city leaders draft a comprehensive plan to address the factors at the core of the epidemic. The initials priorities will address:
- Adequate and effective prevention programs (including syringe exchange) as well as testing/counseling
- Quality health care access and treatment for everyone
- Access to safe and affordable housing
- Effective and accessible substance abuse/mental health programs
- Effective and relevant education materials and programs including comprehensive sex and sexuality education for teens
- Anti stigma and discrimination policies and strategies.
If you are able to come out today please do. . . if not make comments on this blog and we will deliver them to the Mayor’s office! Thank you for supporting your community! We all deserve to a chance to live a healthy life!
Any Questions Please e-mail: k.holder@housingworks.org
Filed under: DC is Dying Protest, HIV/AIDS, Mayor Fenty, The Pope
Well this week has been a goody as far as public health issues go. . we got The Pope:
BBC News, Tuesday, March 17, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7947460.stm
“You can’t resolve it with the distribution of condoms,” the pope told reporters aboard the Alitalia plane headed to Yaounde. “On the contrary, it increases the problem.” We have 3 % of the District HIV positive (please see previous post in my blog for full report) . . . and we have Mayor Fenty saying things like this:
Mayor Fenty’s Office Press Release
March 16, 2009
Mayor Fenty Releases Updated HIV/AIDS Statistics and Unveils New Study on Heterosexuals and Relationships
http://dc.gov/mayor/news/release.asp?id=1499&mon=200903
“Past studies have highlighted the HIV/AIDs problems in the District, but this reports details how individuals are putting themselves at risk for the disease,” said Mayor Fenty.
“These facts serve as a blueprint that allows us to improve how we prevent HIV and better serve people living with the virus.
(for the full statement and the rest of the report please follow the link above)
So basically what we have is a three ring circus and a recipe for death. The recipe has been cookin for a long time and people have died, are dying and will continue to die. Mr. Pope, God Bless, it is true ABSTAINING is the NUMBER 1 BEST way to not contract HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease. Condoms do protect against HIV. STOP SETTING THOSE OF US BACK who so tirelessly spend hours and hours on foot talking to people and striving to get the condoms out there and teach people how to use them!
Fenty. . . COME OUT INTO the community and talk to people about HIV and COME see your communities. . .
Thank you to Karyn Pomerantz who also organizes and spends countless hours in the community protesting the rights of those living with HIV/AIDS and for all that living in poverty.
TODAY come out and show your support:
Rally @ the Wilson Building 12:00- 1:00 pm, 1350 Penn Avenue NW
DC Fights Back, C2EA, and allies demand that the DC Government, Health Department, and city leaders draft a comprehensive plan to address the factors at the core of the epidemic. The initials priorities will address:
- Adequate and effective prevention programs (including syringe exchange) as well as testing/counseling
- Quality health care access and treatment for everyone
- Access to safe and affordable housing
- Effective and accessible substance abuse/mental health programs
- Effective and relevant education materials and programs including comprehensive sex and sexuality education for teens
- Anti stigma and discrimination policies and strategies.
If you are able to come out today please do. . . if not make comments on this blog and we will deliver them to the Mayor’s office! Thank you for supporting your community! We all deserve to a chance to live a healthy life!
Any Questions Please e-mail: k.holder@housingworks.org
Filed under: DC is Dying Protest, HIV/AIDS, Mayor Fenty, The Pope
Ms. Tatianna Green is a recent high school graduate interning for the DC Council Committee on health preparing to start her first year in college! 
JanaB & Ms. Kafui Doe, we are both interning for the DC Council Committee on Health chaired by David Catania. Thanks Tanchica Terry & Kafui for all of your hard work organizing the event!
Council Member Michael Brown, Council Member-at-Large discusses the importance of HIV testing in the District and endorses his support for the event. Thank you Council Member Brown for your support!
Council Member Muriel Bowser respresenting Ward 4 expressed her support for HIV/AIDS testing Day as well as her support for testing among women specifically for African American Women and particularly in the District who are disporportionatly affected by the disease. This is something that I continually try to discuss in my blog. Women need to empower themselves by protecting themselves.
It seems that I always have a sign or am dressed up as something!
JanaB aka NWtoSE & Mr. Chris Bryant, Executive Director of Street Wize Foundation 
Many don’t realize the affects that smoking has on the immune system and how it compromises the bodies ability to fight disease. A big thank you to Charles my friend at DC Tobacco Free Families for coming out to share information about how to QUIT! 
Mayor Fenty and La Clinica
Mayor Fenty and The Women’s Collective 
Thank you to Tatianna and Dominique for volunteering!
