On
the heels of launching a successful HIV prevention initiative with numerous
community partners (LGBTQ+) and announcing a groundbreaking international HIV
awareness campaign with UFC (Protect Yourself At All Times), The Center is
proud to host a month-long tribute to those affected by HIV/AIDS kicking off on
World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.
“Philadelphia”
Film Screening
Sunday,
December 1 at 4 p.m.
The
main event will occur on Dec. 1 when The Center puts on a free screening of the
iconic Tom Hanks film “Philadelphia” as part of the LGBTQ+ programming.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in Dec., this Academy Award-winning movie is
one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to recognize the intersection of
HIV/AIDS, homosexuality and homophobia.
Guests are encouraged to show up early to reserve their spot and BYOB
(“bring your own blanket”). The Center
will provide traditional seating as well.
Popcorn will be provided and viewers are invited to attend Aid for AIDS
of Nevada’s (AFAN) candlelight vigil immediately following the screening. The vigil will be held at UNLV at 6:30 p.m.
and a caravan will take off from The Center after the film’s conclusion.
Faces
of Courage
Ongoing
throughout December
Faces
of Courage, a project organized by AFAN in the 1990s, is a moving and intimate
look into the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. Featuring plaster cast masks made from the
faces of local people – all of whom are HIV positive – the display will be
highly visibly in The Center’s library throughout the month. While some of the people behind the masks
have passed since the inception of Faces of Courage, the overall message is a
vital one that still resonates with countless people today. Faces of Courage will be viewable to the
public during regular operating hours.
The
NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt
Ongoing
throughout December
Started
in 1987 by a small group of strangers who feared history would neglect the
devastation brought forth by HIV/AIDS, the AIDS Memorial Quilt remembers those
who lost their battle with the epidemic.
Grown to include more than 94,000 names, the AIDS Memorial Quilt is a
total of 1.3 million square feet and has been seen by 18 million people
worldwide. The Southern Nevada Health
District has secured for The Center to feature three panels of the AIDS
Memorial Quilt during the month of December.
The Quilt will be viewable to the public during regular operating hours.
Vegas
Mpowerment Project HIV Prevention Outreach
Ongoing
throughout December
The
Center’s Vegas Mpowerment Project, a program that enriches and strengthens
18-29 year old gay, bisexual and transgender men, will coordinate numerous HIV
prevention outreach efforts in the month of December. These events will sporadically occur at local
LGBTQ bars, nightclubs and other hotspots.
The Vegas Mpowerment Project team will pass out complimentary safer sex
kits, conduct free HIV and STD testing on-site, and engage in meaningful
conversations with residents all over the Valley about the importance of HIV
awareness.
As
always, The Center is proud to host one of the only free HIV and STD testing
sites in Clark County. Operated by
Southern Nevada Health District, the Health & Wellness Center (located on
the east side of The Center’s new Robert L. Forbuss Building) is available to
all Nevada residents with proof of identification. Testing hours are Monday through Friday from
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 – 5 p.m.
For
more information, please visit www.thecenterlv.org.
ABOUT
THE GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
The
Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada is a community-based
organization which supports and promotes activities directed at furthering the
well-being, positive image and human rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and queer community, its allies, and low to moderate income
residents in Southern Nevada. For more
information about The Center, please visit www.thecenterlv.com and stay
informed with The Center via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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