The Queer Youth group MPowerment will offer free oral rapid HIV testing this Saturday, January 19, from 1 to 5pm at the group's offices in the Lifelong complex. MPowerment is at 1017B E. Union St. above the Lifelong Thrift Store [get directions].
The Rapid test is simple and painless. No blood is drawn. No needles used. It's done with a swab in the mouth. And -- as the name suggests -- it's quick. You'll know your status in 20 minutes
The test is free for LGBTQ youth ages 16 -- 22. Even better than free because MPowerment will offer $10 Gift cards and bus tickets for those who tested.
They warn, however, that space is limited so getting there early, or contacting them first (see MySpace info below) is a good idea.
MPowerment (which, of course, has a MySpace page and blog) is the youth-driven HIV/STD Prevention/Alcohol & Other Drug Harm Reduction program for queer young people in Seattle. It's associated with Lifelong AIDS alliance. MPowerment also has a page on Lifelong's site.
The group offers several major events for queer young people every year including a Pride party, youthopolis, Homo High. They also publish Censor This!, a queer youth zine'.
MPowerment also does regular street outreach to distribute materials (condoms, resources, information) and spark conversations with other queer youth.
They regularly sponsor "MGroups" that deal more specifically with HIV/STD education and prevention as well as Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) harm reduction in a more intimate environment then say, a workshop or presentation.
LGBTQ youth themselves coordinate activities of MPowerment, which includes producing events, performing outreach, and produce educational materials for distribution.
It's worth noting here even for those that don't fall into MP's age group, that groups like MPowerment are right now at the epicenter of what might be an re-expanding HIV epidemic.
Recent studies suggest [see Qnews summary] that the rate of HIV infection in several cities is growing at alarming rates among young people -- especially queer youth and young people of color.
A New York Times editorial on Monday examined the distressing phenomenon and concluded:
Silence now seems to be winning the day. Nearly 6,000 gay men died of AIDS in the United States in 2005; still, many young men appear to have persuaded themselves that the infection is no longer such a big deal. It is true that antiretroviral therapy has improved the outlook for anyone who becomes infected. But the treatments are still too new to know whether they can work much beyond a decade. Public health officials need to continue to distribute condoms, encourage testing and treat those who are ill. Leaders in the hardest-hit communities need to start speaking out again. The fight against AIDS is far from over.
But, beyond anything that "public health officials" can do, it's important to encourage the kind of self-help that young folk joining together in something like MPowerment can offer can offer to their peers.
Lifelong offers several options -- including company-match workplace giving -- for donations to their general programs, including MPowerment. Or you can talk to them about designated gifts.
