The panel made up of experts voted unanimously to recommend the approval of the OraQuick In-Home HIV test. The FDA typically follows the advice of such panels.

“We want to see as many people as possible get tested and know their HIV status,” said Bill Tiedemann, executive director of the Minnesota AIDS Project.

He says the one of the best prevention methods for HIV is people knowing if they’re infected.

Tiedemann says they encourage people to get tested in the way that works best for each individual.

“Testing and then treating HIV is critical in maintaining one’s health,” Tiedemann said. “We encourage individuals with HIV to find the support and health services they need.”

Some FDA reviewers have raised questions about the accuracy of the tests. Tiedemann says while there would be concerns about false negatives or false positives with a home test kit, he says hopefully it would lead to further testing in clinical setting.

“(We) would request those individuals who have questions about their test to seek a second test through their doctor or the Minnesota AIDS Project,” he said.

The Minnesota AIDS Project holds its annual Minnesota AIDS Walk and Run for the Ribbon on Sunday at Minnehaha Park.

HIV is transmitted – we give it to each other.  I am amazed at the number of people who have commented lately that they just don’t see HIV as an issue now (WHAT NOW - as opposed to when?).  HIV does NOT need to be spread – we know how it is transmitted.  In the world of information I ask each of you to do just one thing – communicate!

If you are sexually active - know how STIs and HIV are transmitted and take action to protect yourself and those you fuck (or who fuck you).  Simple – there I said it!

Then consider a three point plan:

• Test for STIs and HIV
• Learn about safer sex as it applies to your lifestyle
• Tell you doctor about the sexual health risks you engage in

We can all do our part to support those living with HIV and AIDS and also to stop the transmission to people who are not infected.  Maybe it’s time to re-engage some of the strategies employed in the early days of the epidemic by organizations like ACT UP.  One of their more popular slogans was Silence=Death.

Your voice is important.  Use it!

Love & Peace

Margie

I want to tell you that the MN AIDS Walk this morning was fantastic!  As I parked near the park on my way in I ran into Jeremy (one of the Bachelor’s from the recent PrideAlive Bachelor Auction)who had just completed the AIDS Run (second annual).  He looked none the less for wear and he was smiling for his accomplishment.  I arrived into the park with the rhythm pumping to the club sounds of an intense pre-walk work out.  I will be posting a YouTube later today with video and photo footage but suffice it to say, once again the community rallied to support the need to end HIV and raise awareness.  Kudos to Dave Em and Chambers for hosting the official after party – which goes until 7pm if you are reading this and looking for a fun afternoon event.

Thanks to all who participated in any of the events that helped raise awareness and funding for the work of the Minnesota AIDS Project and affiliates.

More to come but P’s on the run – so many events so little time.  Look for the video link soon!

Love and Peace,

P

It has been a long day and I am quite tired.  I wanted to share with you that there are just a few days remaining before the MN AIDS Walk.  If you have never been to the walk I hope this is the year you just saunter on down to Minnehaha Park on Sunday May 17th to expereince one of the great things the Spring in Minnesota has to offer.  There is still an opportunity to give, to see and be seen and to participate in a very worthy and needed day of raising visibility and funding to stop HIV and support those livining with HIV and AIDS.

For more information read my recent article in Meefers.

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!

Oh, and Dave Em would not like it one bit if I didn’t also mention that there is an official after party at The Chambers Luxury Art Hotel that evening.

Love and Peace,

Margie

This Sunday is the 2009 PrideAlive Bachelor Auction.  The event will be bigger and better than ever and is, of course, going to benefit the AIDS Walk for the Minnesota AIDS Project and organizations serving people with HIV and AIDS.

The AIDS Walk website states:

“All proceeds are used to stop HIV in Minnesota.
The Minnesota AIDS Walk benefits the Minnesota AIDS Project, a nonprofit agency committed to enhancing the lives of people living with HIV, prevention education for those at risk for HIV, and advocating for the rights of all affected by HIV. Click here to find out more about the organization.

Every Little Bit Helps!

Because of our economy, HIV funding has been greatly decreased. Even small donations are greatly appreciated. Something as small as packing a lunch and donating the $10 you saved is a perfect way to contribute! Now more than ever, your support is needed to help MAP achieve its mission to stop HIV in Minnesota.”

Listen to the recent podcast about the event:

We’ve had increasing Syphilis rates in the past (as recently as 2004).  Which leads me to the point of this post…

Why do we continue to be penny-wise and pound foolish when it comes to public health.  Listen to Shirley sing history repeating, read the reports and contact your officials.  More importantly, share this news with someone you care about who is sexually active.  Educate yourself about symptoms of Syphilis and other STIs as well as HIV and GET TESTED!  If you don’t know how or where to go – consider contacting the Minnesota AIDSLine.

Be a positive part of Minnesota’s history.  Help to reverse this alarming trend.

Love Ya!

P

I just put up a new podcast with Kate Nelson, Public Policy Coordinator for the Minnesota AIDS Project.  We chat about Obama and the new politics of the White House and the importance of signing up to chat with your legislators and show up for the 2009 AIDS Action Day at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Take a moment to see how you can get involved and make a difference!

Click Here to listen to the show>>>

Sign up today for AIDS Action Day

Love & Peace,

Margie

We are near to closing the RSVP list and I would love to see you at the event.  Please take a moment to go to the front page at heres-margie.comand click on me in the martini glass.  It will bring you right to the Evite where you sneak onto the list.  We hope to see you all there in your resplendent Glam and Glory.  Here’s to making this Oscar night the best night for raising awareness and funds for good causes EVER!

Hope to see you the night of the party!

Margie

Other events to consider if you can’t make it to ours are:

Minnesota AIDS Project & DIVA MN (hosted by my dear friend Wanda Wisdom)

http://www.mnaidsproject.org/oscar/

Aegis Foundation- benefiting One Heartland

http://www.meefers.com/features.asp?id=321

And the MN AIDS Trek

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/event.php?eid=63184338351

Have fun and enjoy all this city has to offer!

A bit under the weather today but I wanted to take a moment to remind you of some upcoming fabulous events.

This weekend come on down to the Bolt for a fundraiser to benefit the Twin Cities GLBT Soccer Club – Crush MSP.  The cost is only $5.00 for this 21+ event.

On December 1 – World AIDS Day – head to the Bolt Underground for a wickedly fabulous good time benefiting the Minnesota AIDS Project.

On Monday, December 8th John Trones will be performing live at the Pantages with surprise special guests.  You won’t want to miss this special Holiday show and fun party afterwards at the Captial Grille.

Listen to the recent podcast with John and join us for the fun night at the show.

XXXOOO

Margie

 As Xochial mentioned, we are modernizing and updating this weekend.   In addition to working on product development and an online store, I also encourage each of you to check out the new page within our site.  The link entitled “Giving Back” is designed to highlight a few of our favorite charities and fundraising events. 

I did, however, have the chance to do a quick podcast with Michael Lee and Ande Lund from the Minnesota AIDS Project before dashing North.  

Have a great weekend and we will be back with you soon.

Here is a link to the show:  

 
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I recently had the opportunity to discuss how bisexuals in America are really the “Hidden Orientation”.  This interview challenged me in ways I did not perceive it would.  Mr. William Burleson is the author of the book Bi America.   Recently Mr. Burleson moderated “Beyond HIV”, an event at Macalester College.  The event was a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota AIDS Project, The Rainbow Health Initiative and The Programs for Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Burleson has also recently spoken to a group at Hamline University about bisexuality and is what I would consider to be one of the national go to guys on this topic.

He had very interesting perspectives that were thought provoking and enlightening.  I hope you will take time out of your busy lives to take a listen.

Enjoy!

Margie

As part of my non blogging during the week, I basically took a break. Part of my stress was coming from myself and feeling the need to be doing something and I finally realized – Dude, take a couple days off and you’ll be in a much better mental state. The last few days, I decided to play Age of Empires III – that’s not all I did, but it was a majority of what I did. LOL. I had purchased the game used over 3 years ago and never played it. Now I have it out of my system and playing a game takes like 7 hours, which is way too much for me for one game.

The one major activity I did do was Thursday night, a friend of mine invited me as a guest to Landmark Education forum, a self help educational forum. I can’t really explain it other than everyone there seem to be strong believers in the series. As such, I signed up for the next forum which is going to be held Sept 14th-16th and then on the evening of the 18th. I’m looking forward to it and discovering what secrets my mind holds.

Job search wise, took a break from sending out resumes. I did get a number of calls this week but haven’t called back as of yet. I plan on doing so Monday morning. My delay may cause me to miss an opportunity but I honestly just wasn’t mentally prepared. I found out about a HIV Case Manager position at Minnesota Aids Project. I don’t have the qualifications, but I think it might be the change I’m looking for, so I’m going to submit my resume. I don’t expect them to call me back, but in my cover letter I plan on explaining my situation. Otherwise, I did get a call from a company that deals with HIV medication.

Today, there was a Thank You ride for the Red Ribbon Ride. It was a 35 mile ride meant to reconnect with some riders we haven’t seen in a while. I also used this as a training opportunity to prepare for my next bicycle ride, the Aids Trek, which is the weekend of Sept 6th and 7th. I added a few miles on my own, bicycling to and from the meeting place, so I ended up doing 62 miles. I feel it now, but not bad considering I haven’t been training like I was previously in the year. The weather was fantastic, a tad bit chilly this morning, but it was great. I’m also thinking about doing the Florida Aids ride in November (but that all depends on if I can swing it and the employment situation).

Red Ribbon Ride

MN Aids Trek

Riding to the meeting place, I broke a riding rule and was listening to a cd. I chose Enya this morning to be inspired and one song that I never really noticed before really caught my attention. The song is Only If. I’ve heard the song before, but never really listened to the words. I’m going to use the song lyrics as my positive thought of the day. Here is the song:

Positive thought of the day:

When there’s a shadow you reach for the sun…
When there is love then you look for the one…
…and for the promises there is the sky
…and for the heavens are those who can fly

If you really want to you can hear me say
only if you want to will you find a way.
If you really want to you can seize the day,
only if you want to will you fly away…

Enya

Recently, a friend of mine on Facebook wrote about an article he had found published in Out magazine.  The article posits that the website Manhunt.net is partially responsible for the shifting attitudes of many gay men.  It further examines if it is a bad thing to see such radical behavioral changes. 

The article states:

“During the 15 years since America Online men-4-men chat rooms introduced mass-market online cruising (earlier Internet cruising technologies, like IRC chat rooms, were mostly for techies), some aspects of our lives have become more visible than ever. We are ubiquitous in mainstream culture; we are out to our families, friends, and employers; we’re able to hold hands in public, in some places, without having to worry that we might get beaten up; and some states and cities now permit gay marriage or civil unions (more will inevitably follow now that California has joined Massachusetts). As this wave of enculturation advanced, AIDS treatments made the ravages of that disease less visible and dispelled the sense of crisis that strengthened our connection to each other in the 1980s. These factors, along with straight gentrification of gay neighborhoods and the growth of the long-tail economy, hastened the decline of many urban gay enclaves, and the demise of many bars, businesses, and social groups that gave structure to gay life.”

Read the full article>>

The rates of new HIV infection among young men who have sex with men (MSM) are continuing to rise at alarming rates.  Given that, I think all things must be considered in terms of what is contributing to the increase.  I encourage you to read the article in its entirety and then weigh in.  Do you agree, disagree, have questions?  Let me know your thoughts.  We all have a role in combating HIV. 

At a recent event hosted by the Minnesota AIDS Project, Miss Gloria Reuben acknowledged and thanked the audience for being involved in the fight against HIV. 

Some of her opening words to the room full of AIDS activists, educators, organizers and other interested parties were:

” I thank you all for being warriors against denial, ignorance and stigma”

I add to her words by thanking you for whatever role you play in the fight against HIV. 

Together we can, and do, make a difference!

In the words of my dear friend Xochial TTFN (ta ta for now)!

Margie

Just a quick note on the run to let you know of a very special event planned for this evening in Minneapolis.

Gloria Reuben, actor & HIV Activist is going to be the first speaker in the series of Allan Spear Forums hosted by the Minnesota AIDS Project.  The event is being held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis.  If you are in town and available, please enjoy this wonderful evening!

click on image above for details

Love & Peace,

Margie