Change: Working and Thriving with the Inevitable
by Mark Hammann - M2M Outreach Worker - AIDS Committee of Durham Region
Change is an inevitable fact of life. Without change there would be no civil rights laws or gay marriages in Canada today, as a couple of examples. While change can help us to grow and flourish, society and individuals often resist it. We often resist change because we do not know what it will bring and we are relatively comfortable with the current status quo, whatever that might be. It is only when we become knowledgeable about the change that we can see the good in it.
2009 saw many changes, as does most years. The AIDS Committee of Durham Region experienced changes in staff and a new Executive Director, Adrian Betts joined the team. A PHA (Person with HIV/AIDS) himself Adrian has a wealth of experience working in the HIV/AIDS movement and he is also a resident of Durham. We said goodbye to the Masonic Hall and began a partnership with Club 717 as the new home for our monthly fund raising dances. We witnessed a 30% increase in new clients last year while working on ways to slow this increase within our community by adding Youth and African-Caribbean outreach workers. Gay Men’s/MSM Outreach continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the community.
To let you know what I’ve been doing for change I created what I believe to be an exciting and visually appealing new website – www.m2minfocentre.com which provides over 26 pages of information and videos for Gay, Bi and MSM (men who have sex with men but do not necessarily identify as Gay or Bi). M2M is an umbrella term which includes Gay, Bi and MSM. The M2M information centre site along with www.dazeindurham.com which features M2M links and LGBTQ Community events pages are drawing men to them.
I have personally witnessed some exciting change this past year with MSM. By placing cards to promote the M2M sites behind Gay and Bi DVD’s at Forbidden Pleasures on Simcoe Street North, those cards have lead MSM/M2M to the websites and even to our office. Some want to know about ‘coming out’ and others are looking for more information on risk factors, HIV/STI testing and how to protect themselves, their spouses, partners and families.
I believe that connecting with MSM is very important. MSM who do not identify as Gay or Bi often are forced by various reasons to live a secret life. Because of this they often have limited access to accurate sexual health information. The websites and the cards leading them to the sites are having an impact. Web tracking software shows there are men spending not just a few minutes on these sites, but sometimes hours. After doing a presentation recently where I talked a bit about this topic I was approached by a man who took some of the website promotional cards along with my business card. This man had tears in his eyes and while he never directly said that he was MSM (and most likely had a spouse and possibly a family as well), I sensed that he was. These contacts reinforce the importance of the work I do and the positive change one individual can make in another’s life. Witnessing uplifting change like this goes beyond what words can ever accurately describe. Change can be very important! If you would like to assist in changing lives and help empower people, please contact me as I am always looking for volunteers to help get these cards out and into new locations so we reach more and more men.
Another uplifting change this past year was the creation of an ‘open and affirming’ Christian church service. This was one of the needs that we had been hearing from the LGBTQ community. St. George’s Memorial located at Athol and Centre streets graciously offered their beautiful small chapel. The services are held at 6pm on the fourth Sunday of the month. Included in the service is a healing service for HIV/AIDS, a brief prayer and blessing are offered to those who wish to come forward. Doug Willoughby is serving as Pastor.
So what changes lie ahead for 2010? I am sure that there will be many and here are a few of which I am aware.
I’ve been working on a public service announcement (PSA) to expand awareness of the AIDS Committee across Durham. A very talented local writer who has also had some experience in producing, editing and directing has been greatly helping me with it’s production, volunteering his time as well. The PSA is a change from our past forms of outreach. We hope to have a demo version available to the public via our website by the end of December 2009. In 2010 we will be taking the demo to local television stations to see if we can get a more ‘polished’ version produced by them in partnership with the AIDS Committee and using local Durham landmarks as a back drops. This PSA titled “Empower Us All” is based upon the “Empowered and HIVFree” campaign that rolled out over the summer and features 15 local actors. This PSA should help our agency to attain more exposure throughout the LGBTQ, MSM and general community, which is greatly needed.
Another change is with our fund raising dances. The first dance of the 2010 season will be held on Saturday February 6th at Club 717. The change is the addition of a benefit concert. Sharon Judd, known as Velvet Hammer will give a ‘live’ performance at 9:30pm with the dance starting at 10:30pm. The tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Advance tickets will be available at Club 717 and at the AIDS Committee of Durham Region, as well as online via www.aidsdurham.com. Plans are to have additional benefit concerts by various performers periodically during the 2010 season. Sharon will also be selling her CD and donating half of the proceeds to the AIDS Committee. You can watch one of Sharon’s music videos by going to: http://durhambulletinboard.yolasite.com. This change will hopefully be a positive addition to our fund raising dances. The funds from these dances/concerts benefit the LGBTQ community in programs and services that help in building, as well as serving the local LGBTQ community. So I invite you to come out and help to make a positive change in your community by attending and supporting these fund raisers, while having an evening of fun and socializing.
Another change that will greatly improve our community is the Gay Call Centre, a first for Durham. This call centre is being developed by Communities Involved (of which the AIDS Committee is a member), the Community Development Council of Durham and the Durham Distress Centre. The plan is to have the call centre up and running by the summer. Resources will be compiled for the call centre and there is a plan for some type of ‘hate crime’ reporting system, so there can be a documented list of hate crimes in the region. This information will be useful in educating government officials, the police and other community players who can make change that will ultimately lead to making Durham a better place for everyone to live in.
I am looking forward to all the great changes the New Year will bring to our community and I hope you are too. Let’s all be the change that is needed in Durham by stepping up in whatever way each of us is capable, sharing our talents and maybe even learning some new skills that will make our lives better.
Change is inevitable and can be a good thing. If you’re interested in helping please contact me at MSM@aidsdurham.com or call (905) 576-1445 and I will let you know what is going on and how you can get involved. Then you can make a favourable change in your life and in the life of our community.
Want to Comment?
Email me at: M2M@aidsdurham.com
