Dear Hustle,
In This Issue:
HIM on the Drive, Square Dancing and Nutrition |
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Discover HIM on the Drive Need to be tested for an STI or HIV...?
... do you live and/or hang out on the East Side? ....do you ride or have access to Skytrain?
Gay men now have another testing option in East Vancouver. The Health Initiative for Men partnering with the STOP HIV outreach team from Vancouver Coastal Health are pleased to announce the opening of HIM on the Drive, a sexual health centre for gay men on Monday, August 15th at 4 p.m.
We are located at 1723 Grant Street, in the Chelsea Cottage (corner of Commercial Drive and Grant St.). Our regular hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.
We offer - Rapid HIV testing: Finger prick test - Test detects antibodies 3 months after risky event - get your results in a minute
Early HIV testing: Blood sample - Test detects virus 10-12 days after risky event - get your results in 1 week
Standard HIV testing: Blood sample - Test detects antibodies 3 months after risky event - get your results in 1 week
All other STI testing
We also offer a full range of information on STI and HIV transmission.
A registered nurse is available to answer any of your sexual health questions. Come check us out Monday through Thursday from 4 PM to 8 PM. Walk-ins are welcome, or call for an appointment
For more information, please contact HIM at (604) 488-1001, or the HIM on the Drive Clinic Manager at sam@checkhimout.ca.  |
You R what U Eat
Good nutritional tips for gay guys.
This 2-part interactive workshop will answer all those confusing questions about what and when to eat for a healthy, balanced life. Bring all your food questions to our nutritional expert, Gerry Kasten (Spectrum Health), who will de-mystify your eating habits and get you to the bottom of your eating conundrum. The first workshop will be information based where our expert will share his nutrition knowledge. Workshop two will be held in a kitchen space where Gerry will demonstrate healthy, quick & easy meal preparation techniques.
WHERE & WHEN: 7 - 9 PM Sept 20 HIM Office Info-based with Q & A
7 - 9 PM Nov 25 Kitchen Demo Location TBD
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It's Hip to be Square - again Introduction to Square Dancing With Squares Across the Border Squares Across the Border (Vancouver's long-running LGBT Square Dancing group) invites you to two FREE introduction sessions to square dancing. These sessions are designed for guys ranging from absolute beginners to folks who are used to dancing, but would like to get back into the 'swing.' Fun and laughter is the name of the game, and there's no better way to get some physical exercise, meet amazing new people and get your rhythm back. The organizers describe it as "Friendship set to music!" WHEN: September 15th & 22nd 2011, 7-9 pm
WHERE: Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House 800 East Broadway Vancouver
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Literacy Lives 
Here's a fabulous opportunity that you or someone you know won't want to miss! HIM is now recruiting for a program in Community Capacity Building offered by Simon Fraser University (SFU). Designed with the 'alternative' learner in mind, this course is meant to improve the skills and capabilities of members of the community, with a HIV focus. Running from September to March you'll meet twice a week for three hours. You'll be in a group of motivated peers improving existing skills and gaining on-the-ground, real-world experience. You'll finish by putting your ideas into action by doing a community project of your choice. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone, perhaps yourself or someone you know, who wants to move their life forward and improve their skills, but is unsure how.
The program is FREE, but space is limited. If you or a friend can commit for this time period, sign up now! For more information or to get an application, please contact Daniel McGraw (daniel@checkhimout.ca).  |
Pride Follow Up
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| Clare Liggett/Creative B'Stro |
Despite some ominous clouds in the morning, the Pride Parade and Festival both proved to be one of the hottest in recent memories. We decided to focus our efforts at the festival and it paid off in a big way. With five booths, we were able to showcase the variety of services that HIM provides from each of our areas of health. From fitness classes and condom packs to discussion groups and counselling, gay men learned more about the opportunities to improve their health and well-being with HIM.
Our volunteer yoga and fitness instructors generously offered their time to chat with people about fitness goals and myths and the meet n'greet session with volunteer models for our new Vancouver Fabulous photo campaign was very popular. The friendly nurses from the STOP HIV Outreach Team were also on hand to answer all your sexual health questions.
We also took the opportunity to ask the festival goers where they think " It's Hottest..." as a part of the Hottest at the Start campaign about Acute HIV. The responses were posted all over the tent so everyone could get involved with the campaign and take home a few ideas to make their own sex lives hottest. The campaign provides information on Acute HIV infection and the fact that HIV is most infectious in the first few months after exposure - therefore if people are having risky sex, they should be getting tested. These messages are paired with some eye-catching images of gay guys having spontaneous sex. These ads are sure to leave an impression.
Finally, we'd like to thank all of our volunteers who helped set-up and man the booths at the festival. We really couldn't have done it without you guys! |
HIM at the VQFF
 For 11 days each August, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival comes to town bringing with it the best in queer independent cinema. It's become Vancouver's second largest Film Festival and really caps off summer in a very gay way. More than just movies, the VQFF brings together the community through galas, parties, and discussions from the filmmakers and actors. This year, HIM partnered with the VQFF to bring the Bruce Labruce classic "Hustler White" to a sold out crowd. We also aired our brand new Hottest at the Start video at the start of the movie teaching guys about Acute HIV and asking guys to get tested if they have anal sex without a condom. We hope you get a chance to check it out along with all the other great queer films at the VQFF this summer! . |
Founded in 2008, the Mission of HIM is to strengthen gay men's health and well-being through trusted, tailored, targeted research-based health promotion services and by engaging the community through volunteer involvement, online access and events. We foster mutually beneficial relationships among gay men and health professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes. We also operate the HIM Sexual Health Centre where gay men can access STI and HIV testing, peer support, and professional counselling services.
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