LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
In Brief |
Local Events Planned for HIV Testing Day
As many as 900,000 Americans are infected with HIV. According to the US Center for Disease Control, more than 200,000 of those don't even know it. In Delaware, estimates are one out of every 185 people is infected with HIV. These alarming statistics are some reasons why HIV/AIDS service providers from throughout Sussex and Kent Counties are taking part in National HIV Testing Day on Wednesday, June 27. In Rehoboth, HIV testing and blood pressure screening will be offered on the Sunrise van, a mobile testing facility operated by the Delaware HIV Consortium. The van will be located at the bandstand on Rehoboth Avenue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Service providers will also be available at informational tables and displays located on the boardwalk. A second testing and information site will be located at the CAMP Rehoboth courtyard from 3 to 8 p.m. In addition to information and free testing, a professional masseuse will offer free massages. In central Sussex County, HIV testing will be offered at La Red Medical Center in Georgetown from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Twin Cedars Apartments in Roxanna. In Seaford, a community picnic and barbecue will be part of Testing Day activities at the Chandler Heights Apartments. In Kent County, health screenings, pregnancy testing, and HIV testing offered on Delmarva Rural Ministries' MATCH Van from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Kirkwood Community Center in Dover. Free food and musical entertainment will also be available. Gary Webb, coordinator of this year's HIV Testing Day event, says that the ambivalence of so many toward HIV risk is at the root of the annual campaign. "Getting more people to learn of their HIV status and, if infected, to then get early treatment and support is one of the keys to the battle against HIV and AIDS," Webb says. "By taking charge of their lives, those who are HIV positive are less likely to infect others, thus decreasing and ultimately eliminating the spread of HIV." Sussex County agencies participating in this year's National HIV Testing Day include AIDS Delaware, Beebe Medical Center, CAMPsafe, Children and Families First, Delaware Division of Public Health, Delaware HIV Consortium, La Red, Sussex County AIDS Committee (SCAC), SHARP Center, and Sussex County Counseling Services. Gay Men's Chorus Returns for Benefit Many old favorites will be back when the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. returns to the Rehoboth Convention Center on Saturday, June 23 in a benefit concert for the Sussex County AIDS Committee. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a cash bar available before the 8 p.m concert. Tickets, $18 each, are available at SCAC and CAMP Rehoboth. In addition to the spectacular voices of the Gay Men's Chorus, this year's concert again features performances by Potomac Fever, an a cappella ensemble of the renowned chorus, and G-Men, a song and dance ensemble. Also performing in a return visit will be the Rainbow Chorale of Delaware, special guests of the Gay Men's Chorus. The Chorus will sing an eclectic mix of musical selections for this special benefit concert. Concert-goers will be treated to Broadway favorites, songs from the Chorus' new holiday CD, And In That Moment, and some surprise numbers harkening back to the fifties! Jeff Buhrman, musical director of the Gay Men's Chorus, says he expects more than 100 members of the chorus to sing at this year's benefit performance. The show will open with several memorable Broadway numbers. Jeff also promises several surprises that the audience is sure to enjoy. "We always look forward to performing in Rehoboth," Jeff says, "especially for such a good cause. This is an important trip for usa chance to see old friends and visit such a beautiful community, provide an upbeat, spirited concert, and help support SCAC which does such important work in Delaware." Concert proceeds help SCAC fund its supportive services, including emergency financial assistance, supplemental food, and transportation to medical appointments. The Gay Men's Chorus is a staple of the Washington choral music scene. Now in its twentieth season, the Chorus is in the forefront of the gay and lesbian chorus movement, continuing its vision to promote cultural diversity through musical and performance excellence. In addition to their Rehoboth concert to benefit SCAC, the Gay Men's Chorus will perform this year with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus at a twentieth anniversary gala concert and in joint concerts with the New York City and Boston City's Gay Men's Choruses at New York's Carnegie Hall and Boston's Symphony Hall. Housing for the Chorus members is being coordinated by John Speicher. John Furbush is chairing the program committee, with sales assistance from Charlie Allen and Fay Jacobs. In addition, countless volunteers and area businesses are working together to make this year's benefit concert performance the best yet! For tickets and information, call SCAC at 302-644-1090 or CAMP Rehoboth at 302-227-5620. Census Figures Show Increase In Gay Homes Census figures released this week for Vermont and Delaware show a dramatic increase in the number of households that comprise same-sex partners, but continue to undercount the actual number due to continued anti-gay bias, the Human Rights Campaign said today. "These figures represent a very positive trend for Delaware and Vermont," said David M. Smith, HRC's communications director and senior strategist. "In our opinion, the increase reveals more and more couples are willing to identify themselves as same-sex partners in a federal survey, but many continue to fear a backlash from anti-gay policies at the federal level, and continued societal anti-gay bias." In Vermont, the total number of households comprising same-sex partners was 1,933, a 422 percent increase from 1990. A total of 762 households were comprised of male couples, and 1,171 were comprised of female couples. The total number of same-sex partner households was 10.7 percent of all unmarried partner households, including male-female couples. The census counted 240,634 total households in Vermont, which included 18,079 total unmarried partner households. In Delaware, the total number of households comprising same-sex partners was 1,868, a 781 percent increase from 1990. This number represents 10.2 percent of all unmarried partner households. The census counted 298,736 total households in Delaware, with a total of 18,298 unmarried partner households. "As more gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families feel comfortable about identifying themselves, the American people will become aware that public policy does not treat them equally and will seek to rectify this injustice," said Lisa Bennett, deputy director for HRC FamilyNet, HRC's web channel for families. FamilyNet can be found on the web at www.hrc.org/familynet. The census will be releasing data for other states in batches to be completed by mid-August, according to census officials. The Human Rights Campaign is working with the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C. based think tank specializing in statistical analysis, on a special project to analyze same-sex partner household data. Bachelor's on Parade at the Blue Moon! On Saturday, July 16, from 5-8 p.m., the Blue Moon will present its popular Bachelor Auction 2001. The Bachelor Auction is the kick-off event for Love 2001, the huge fourth of July dance benefit at the Rehoboth Convention Center. All proceeds from the Bachelor Auction benefit Love 2001, with this years benefactors being Sussex County AIDS Committee (50%), CAMP Rehoboth (30%), The Women's Project (10%), and Main Street Rehoboth (10%). Under the expert guidance of Chris Riss, Tom Minnuto, and Rob Dick, the Bachelor Auction matches dinner for two at a local restaurant with one of the sexy bachelors signed up for the event. What follows is always fun, with bachelors getting more daring as the bids go higher and higher. Last year's event was the most successful to date, raising more than $20,000 for Love. "Half-naked bodies, thousand dollar bids, and it's all for charity," says Tom Minnuto, "what's not to like about the annual Bachelor Auction." With a handsome line-up that includes Dennis DiPalma, David Mazzaroni, Aubrey Bernard, Paulo Motta, Andrew Criss, John Harper, Brad Richards, Alex Vendeti, Bill Mucha, Keegan Riotto, Craig Houghton, Marc Charona, Seth Eaker, Bruce Namerow, John DiGregorio, and more. There's even a rumor that the Moon's own Rob Dick will be part of the line-up. The evening promises to have something for everyone. "It's a stunning group of bachelors," says organizer and MC Chris Riss, "so many new faces. Don't forget your credit cardit's going to be a hot night in Rehoboth." HRC Calls for National Boycott of ExxonMobil Cites Oil Giant's Refusal To Reinstate Written Policy Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination, Domestic Partner Benefits The Human Rights Campaign called for a nationwide boycott of ExxonMobil because of the company's continued refusal to reinstate a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation and to open its domestic partner benefits program to all gay and lesbian employees. "ExxonMobil has stubbornly refused to treat its gay and lesbian employees fairly and has exhibited unusually antagonistic behavior toward those who have asked the corporation to make reasonable changes," said HRC Executive Director Elizabeth Birch. "A boycott may be a drastic action, but it is commensurate with the company's actions, which are unique in U.S. business. Our efforts to work this out with company officials have been met with resistance. As the largest corporation in the world, ExxonMobil should be a leader in fairness. Instead, it has become the leading proponent of stonewalling gay and lesbian employees, consumers and shareholders." HRC is asking all fair-minded Americans to: stop patronizing Exxon or Mobil gas stations and their On the Run convenience stores; cut up their ExxonMobil gasoline credit cards and Mobil "Speedpasses" and send half to ExxonMobil and half to the Human Rights Campaign; write or e-mail ExxonMobil, with a copy to HRC, expressing their displeasure with the company's treatment of gay and lesbian employees, customers and shareholders; send to HRC one month's worth of receipts for gasoline purchased from companies with policies aimed at treating gay and lesbian employees more equally. HRC is also asking people who already have ExxonMobil stock to keep it and pledge to vote next year in favor of an anticipated shareholder resolution asking the company to add the words "sexual orientation" to its written non-discrimination policy. The Human Rights Campaign recently launched a website, www.equalityatexxon.org, where consumers can get information on the boycott and obtain addresses for ExxonMobil executives. In December 1999 when Exxon merged with Mobil, it became the first U.S. employer ever to rescind a non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation. At the same time, executives closed Mobil's domestic partner benefits program to any additional employees. Since then, HRC and its coalition partners have worked to reverse these actions, to no avail. In 2001, HRC co-filed a shareholder resolution with the New York City Employees Retirement System, The Equality Project and several others asking ExxonMobil to reinstate a written policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. HRC Education Director Kim I. Mills attended the meeting May 30 and spoke in support of the resolution. The measure garnered 13 percent of the vote, a 75 percent increase over 2000 and the highest percentage of any shareholders resolution on the ballot. At a news conference after a recent ExxonMobil shareholder meeting, Chief Executive Officer Lee R. Raymond was asked by a Dallas Voice reporter why the company doesn't actively reach out to gays and lesbians as it does to other minorities. "We don't want to know [who they are]," he replied. "That's the whole point of the policy." "ExxonMobil is out of step with most other corporations, including many of its competitors," said Birch. "We are at a loss to explain why this company wants to risk losing valuable employees who want only access to equal benefits and a written assurance that they are valued and protected from unfair treatment." ExxonMobil competitors Chevron, Sunoco, Atlantic Richfield, BP Amoco, Shell and Texaco explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation; BP Amoco, Chevron and Shell also offer domestic partner benefits. A total of 76 of the Fortune 100 have written non-discrimination policies covering sexual orientation; more than 50 percent of the Fortune 500258 as of todayalready have such policies. More than 3,700 U.S. employers offer domestic partner benefits, including 127 of the Fortune 500. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. Beach Essentials Party to Benefit CAMP Rehoboth Beach Essentials, a Rehoboth Beach men's fashion, furnishings and giftware shop on Baltimore Avenue, has announced plans to make their popular annual courtyard party and fashion show a benefit for The CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project. Beach Essentials owners, Greg Brown and Dave VanDyke, are committed to keeping the store an active part of the communityand have enlisted the support of Atlantic Liquors, Gold's Gym, Restaurant Salero and Skyy Vodka to make the event a success. The benefit is Saturday, June 23 from 10 pm until midnight in the courtyard of Beach Essentials at 33 Baltimore Ave. and features a fashion show, a DJ, open bar, and discount prices on Beach Essential Fashions. Donations will be accepted at the door, with proceeds benefiting the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center Project. Best Pet Contest 2001 Atlantic Color Lab will sponsor its fourth annual Best Pet At The Beach Photo Contest, beginning July 1. To enter, simply drop off a favorite 4"x6" photo of your pet between July 1 and July 31. Then, from August 1 through August 31, stop by with all your friends to vote. Each vote requires a $1.00 donation, which will be given to the SPCA. The winner will be announced Labor Day, September 3. Atlantic Color Lab is located at 147 Rehoboth Avenue in the Village By The Sea. AIDS Delaware's Second Youth Camp "Camp It Up" AIDS Delaware announced the second annual Youth Camp-Camp is set for August 18th to August 21st at the Cape Henlopen Youth Camp in Lewes, Delaware. This years camp, which is designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth, will focus on how our community is affected by racism, sexism, and ageism. During the time spent at camp, youth will be empowered to take control of their lives and communities through dialogue, skill building, creativity and interactive experiences. "We are hoping to get 40 participants," says Rene Pugmire, Director of You're Not Alone at AIDS Delaware. "Last year's camp was so successful that we are promoting Youth Camp-Camp it Up throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region." The camp is offered at a price of $10 and includes transportation from Wilmington, meals, and lodging. "Last year was incredible," says Ty Seifuddin, a youth participant from last year's camp. "Camp is the perfect opportunity to meet new people and participate in fun and educational programming." Youth Camp-Camp It Up is a program of You're Not Alone. You're Not Alone provides a safe place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth that promotes health, pride, leadership, and tolerance and is a member of the AIDS Delaware family of health organizations. For information, contact AIDS Delaware at 302-652-6776 or the Delaware Youth Hotline at 1-800-810-6776. Artist's Impressions to Benefit Rehoboth Beach Main Street Rehoboth Beach Main Street will host Impressions of Main Street, a reception, show and sale by local artist Patti Shreeve, on Sunday, June 17 from 4 -7 p.m. The display of polychrome drawings of Main Street member businesses and other Rehoboth sights, along with many of artist Shreeve's new works, will turn the downtown Main Street office into a gallery art space. This is the second annual Impressions show, following the success of last year's event, where drawings of 20 member businesses were displayed and sold. This year, drawings include Redfish Designs, the Boardwalk Plaza, Cloud 9 and the Rehoboth Post Office, among other sites. In addition to the sale of original drawings, there will be prints and posters available. A portion of the proceeds will go to Rehoboth Beach Main Street, to assist with Main Street's sign and facade programs. Plan to stop by the Main Street office (the beige cottage with blue shutters between the Convention Center and the Parking Meter Department) for the opening. Rehoboth Beach Main Street is "devoted to downtown." For more information on the art show or other Rehoboth Beach Main Street events and programs, call 302-227-2772. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 7, June 15, 2001. |