Free Health Fair this weekend at Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center

Take advantage of FREE Flu shots, HIV testing, basic wellness checks, women's wellness exam referrals, info on mental health, acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, and more this Saturday, October 16, from 1-6 p.m. at the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Colorado Springs.  For more information call or email Health & Wellness Coordinator David Sellon at 471-4429, or David@YourPrideCenter.org.

Perceptions: A fundraiser for the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center

On November 6, the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center will hold 'Perceptions' a fundraising benefit to raise money for the center and the Colorado Springs GLBT community. By giving to Perceptions, you'll be supporting the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center and and helping them meet the needs of the LGBTA community and their families.

Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center looking for new Executive Director

Founded in 1978, The Pride Center continuously works to foster a vibrant sense of community and create a safe, inclusive, affirming, and equitable civil and social environment where LGBT people and their families can thrive. The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the organization, overseeing all aspects of management, fundraising, finance, facility, planning, and marketing for the Center. The Executive Director is the face and voice of the Pride Center and has the visible position of working with diverse segments of the LGBT community. For a complete job description, check out www.YourPrideCenter.org.

Thanksgiving open house at the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center

The Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Center in Colorado Springs invites you to share Thanksgiving evening with family and friends. Enjoy a delicious pot-luck dinner, games and fellowship in a fun, warm, and welcoming atmosphere. Kids are welcome!

E-mail David@YourPrideCenter.org or call 471-4429 if you want to bring your favorite dish to share, but you don't have to bring anything, other than smiles and your appetite.

Colorado Springs LGBT community mourns loss of community activist Marty Pebler

Community Mourns the Loss of Long-Time Volunteer and Community Activist
Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center and Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival today expressed grief over the death of Marty Pebler, who passed away last week at the Business of Arts Center. Marty was an incredible activist, and kind-hearted man who was always willing to lend a helping hand.

Over the years, Marty was the Center’s main help-line operator and drop-in center coordinator, and he played a major role in re-opening the Pride Center following the 2002 arson. Marty also facilitated the FUSION! Hikes for many years, and helped in the development of the Center’s library.

In addition to his work with the Center, Marty was an integral part of the Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival in its early stages, and continued to play a supportive role throughout his life. Yet this list only skims the surface of the activities and groups in which Marty was involved, both inside and outside the LGBT community. Those who knew Marty would say that he was dedicated to many causes, and truly cared about everyone around him. - via LunchBreak

Take this HIV Quiz from the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center

True or False (answers after the jump):

1. It's safer to have sex with someone younger, since they haven't had as many sexual partners, so they're less likely to be HIV-positive.

2. Compared to anal and vaginal sex, the risk from oral sex is quite low.

3. I've never had any symptoms, so I must be HIV-negative.

4. The top (in gay sex) or the man (in straight sex) is at lower risk for infection than the bottom or the female.

5. When it comes to HIV, there are only four infectious fluids in the human body: blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.


Answers:

1. FALSE. HIV is hitting our youth hard: among men in the U.S., half of all new infections are in the under-25 age group.

2. TRUE. If the lining of your mouth and throat is intact, with no cuts or open sores, going down on someone - and even swallowing - presents almost no risk of HIV infection. Of course, there are other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) that are easily spread by oral, like gonorrhea, chlamydia and even syphilis, so it's still safest to use a condom or dental dam for oral. But those other infections can be cured - HIV cannot.

3. FALSE. There are rarely any outward symptoms of HIV infection, at least in the early years. The only way to find out your status is to get tested. Your Pride Center offers free, confidential rapid testing for HIV to everyone. For men who have sex with men, the official recommendation is to get tested twice a year; for everyone else, an annual test is a good idea.

4. FALSE. The top is at significant risk, too, because HIV can find its way up the urethra.

5. TRUE. HIV is not transmitted through saliva or sweat or urine, so you don't get it from kissing, or from the locker room or the toilet seat.

How did you score? Everyone is at risk for HIV, so everyone should get tested.



Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center responds to Prop. 8 decision

Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center today denounced the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8.

"Our families do matter. Our rights are important. Our freedom and our equality are worth fighting for," said Ryan Acker, the Center's Executive Director. "Today we witness a terribly sad moment in which the court has allowed an influential group to misguide voters and strip away the constitutional and human rights of our community and our families."

Center leaders today call upon activists in Colorado Springs to stand in solidarity with the LGBT community in California and across the nation at the Day of Decision Rally and March planned for 5:15p this afternoon. In addition, the Center urges activists from across Colorado to reinvorgorate their committment to achieving full marriage equality at the Colorado State level.

"For far too long we have allowed legislative and constitutional bans on marriage equality in Colorado to go relatively unchallenged," says Acker. "Today we must recommit ourselves to achieving full equality here at home. The California decision cannot and will not derail our movement for freedom and equality."

For more information about the Center, or today's Rally, please contact the media line at 719.233.3760.

Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center presents 'An Evening in Oz'

Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center and Inside/Out Youth Services are partnering up to present the 8th annual Community Awards and Costume Ball, 'An Evening in Oz', fundraising benefit for Colorado Springs' GLBT Community on Saturday, February 21 at the Antlers Hilton in downtown Colorado Springs.

Tickets will be just $20 per person, and table discounts and sponsorship opportunities do exist.

Stay tuned to find out how you can purchase tickets to this amazingly festive fundraiser benefiting the organizations in Colorado Springs serving GLBT youth and adults.

Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center, "No on Amendments 46 and 48"

Pikes Peak Gay & Lesbian Community Center today announced its formal opposition to Amendments 46 & 48.

"Both of these amendments are deceitful in nature," says Rob Beam, the Center's Board President. "Much like Amendment 2, they claim to be something they are not."

According to the Center, Amendment 46 is ultimately intended to remove equal opportunity programs like Women's Math Programs in colleges. Amendment 48 is intended to ban abortion, but has the effect of also banning forms of birth control. Both amendments are considered to be attacks against women and variouscommunities.

"I'm excited our organization has taken a stand against these two measures that could have a negative impact on many diverse communities, including the LGBT community," says Ryan Acker, the Center's Executive Director.

The Pride Center plans to release additional information about this year's ballot in the coming days. For more information, please contact (719) 471-4429.