'MO - October 2008 - (Page 23)

your health matters GAY CIT Y HEALTH PROJECT Gay Men’s Health Summit Comes to Seattle From October 17–21, Seattle is host to the National Gay Men’s Health Summit. The Summit is an opportunity for gay, bi, trans men, and their allies from across the United States to come together and build a multi-issue, multicultural gay men’s health movement. The Summit will cover a full range of concerns that affect the physical and mental health of all gay men, from HIV/AIDS and drug use, to race issues, the health care system, and spirituality. Gay City Health Project is the host organization, and we spoke with Executive Director Fred Swanson about the event. ’mo magazine: What’s the history of the Gay Men’s Health Summit? Fred Swanson: The ﬁrst Summit was held in Boulder, Colorado in 1999. While many people worked to pull the Summit together, Eric Rofes (1954–2006) is credited with being the energy behind the Gay Men’s Health Summits. Eric was a long-time gay community activist, professor and author. Two more Summits were held in Boulder, one in Raleigh, NC and one in Salt Lake City. This year in Seattle will be the ﬁfth. The Summit was intentionally organized through grassroots activists and community organizations so that the information presented is relevant and accessible to a broad cross section of gay men. ’mo: What’s the purpose of the upcoming Summit? FS: The Summit is organized as a place for gay men to gather and discuss issues affecting our lives. We start with the assumption that gay men as a whole are healthy, happy and tenacious, that we have the ability to create fulﬁlling lives, and that we have the skills to solve the challenges that face our communities. This is a stark contrast to many gatherings that tend to pathologize gay men or treat us like we aren’t whole people. The gay community has been hit hard by eight years of an incredibly oppressive administration and failed health policies. We’re exhausted, but there are remarkable stories of success and resilience in our community, and there is new energy as we come into the elections. Now is a great time to gather, reﬂect, and recharge for the future. moseattle.com Gay City Health Project Executive Director Fred Swanson ’mo: With HIV disease being perceived as so manageable these days, what else is there to talk about for gay men? FS: HIV remains a huge issue in our community, so there is still plenty of work to do on that front, particularly as black gay men and young gay men continue to face alarming rates of infection. But outside of that, mental health and addiction issues will play a large role at the Summit. ’mo: What else speciﬁcally will be discussed? FS: We have more than 100 workshops on topics like mental health, spirituality, addiction, wellness, racism, legal issues, alternative medicine … the list goes on and on. The best part about the Summit is that most workshops are accessible to anyone interested—you don’t have to be in the health or medical ﬁeld to participate in the discussion. ’mo: Are there any other interesting activities planned for Summit participants? FS: Starbucks is doing a coffee tasting for us at the original Pike Place store, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are helping with some activities, and Kaladi Brothers Coffee is hosting a reception for us. We’ll be doing a bar tour and some of the local businesses have given discounts to Summit participants. We’ll even have morning runs and yoga too! ’mo: Who should attend? FS: Anyone interested in gay men and gay men’s health—it’s a great place to connect with other guys from across the county! Whether you have decades of experience or simply want to learn more about issues affecting our community, all are welcome to participate in this exciting and important effort. To ﬁnd out more about the National Gay Men’s Health Summit, or to register, visit the ofﬁcial website at www.gmhs2008.org. 23 issue 20 | october 2008 http://www.seattlemeds.com http://www.gmhs2008.org http://www.moseattle.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - October 2008

'MO- October 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Voices ’mo-BIZ: MGS Consulting Services GLAAD To Be Aboard Pet Project Instant Activist Sports: Jet City Hoops Tips Off Pro-Equality Candidates Philadelphia Is All About The Love Parenthood Form & Function: Strip It Off For The Holidays Gay City Health Project: Gay Men’s Health Summit The 13th Annual Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Capitol Hill Guide SceneOut: People@Places Q&A With Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark ’mo-Single Q&A

'MO - October 2008

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