CARNIVAL OF LOVE:  7TH ANNUAL LOVEFEST

Bringing Awareness to Gay Men’s Health and Well-Being Management

Twitter: #LoveFest (Follow us @The_CBGMC)  |  “Like” us at Facebook.com/CBGMC  |  Media Contact:  David Dodd  |  (773) 501-9230  |  david_clj_dodd@yahoo.com  General inquiries:  info@chiblackgaycaucus.org

 

 THE CELEBRATION

VIEW PHOTOS FROM LOVEFEST:  http://photos.quickclickmedia.com/lovefest2011/slideshow

   [Photography by Darren Calhoun]

The Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus (CBGMC), hosted the 7th Annual LoveFest Celebration on Sunday, August 28th from 12p – 8p in Jackson Park on Chicago’s Southside.  A free event, LoveFest brings together over 600 members of the African-American LGBT community, more specifically gay and bisexual men, to bring awareness to health and wellness management.

In August 2011, the U.S. Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that new HIV infections increased by nearly 50% among young African American gay and bisexual men, the sharpest increase among any other group by race, age, or gender. [CDC—HIV Incidence (8/3/11): www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/incidence.htm]

“It’s important that we continue to provide affirming environments where men can have access to health services,” stated Ariq Cabbler, CBGMC Co-Chair.  The alarming new data presented by the CDC demonstrates that we [black gay and bisexual men] should not be celebrating but working even harder to stop the rapid spread of HIV in our community.”

Sponsored by Vertex Sciences and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), LoveFest was hosted by well-known female impersonator Ms. Ruff n’ Stuff and featured food vendors, special performances by some of Chicago’s best entertainers, youth performances, card tournaments, volleyball tournaments and a mini-ball competition.  The highlight of LoveFest was the Healthy is Sexy (H.I.S) Health Village where event patrons can get rapid testing for HIV/AIDS and other STIs, have access to highly skilled medical professionals and receive vital information to help manage their health. The village was sponsored and staffed by the Chicago Department of Public Health.

According to CDC, young gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 13-29 accounted for 44% of new HIV cases among MSM in 2009. An estimated 2,100 young African-American MSM contracted HIV between 2006 and 2009, a 48% increase. Data from the Chicago Department of Public Health indicates that reported HIV cases among young gay African-American men 13-29 rose 62% from 2005-2008, mirroring the national trend. [CDPH: Fall 2010 HIV Surveillance Report http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdph/infectious_disease/STI_HIV_AIDS/STIHIVChicagoFall2010a.pdf]

“We are in a state of crisis,” says Keith Green, CBGMC Co-Chair. This festival is an opportunity for the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus to communicate to the Black MSM population the importance of taking control their health and that with our [CBGMC] assistance we can help to decrease these frightening numbers.”

 

 

 

THE OPENING RECEPTION

To kick-off the 7th Annual LoveFest Celebration, an opening reception was held on

Thursday, August 25th from 6p – 9p

at Club Escape, 1530 East 75th Street.

All are welcome!!!

(21 and older. I.D. req’d. No cover).

No RSVP required.

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED!