HIV/AIDS Awareness Day event

On Friday, Sept. 27, downtown San Jose will celebrate National Gay Men’s HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day with music, a light show, free giveaways, and free HIV testing. The outdoor event will be held from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. between South First Street and the Lightson Street alley.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, men who have sex with men represent approximately 4 percent of the male population in the United States, but they account for 78 percent of new HIV infections among males.
“Everyone is entitled to a safe, happy and healthy sex life,” said Jim McPherson who is the manager of the STD & HIV Prevention and Control Program. “National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a great opportunity to connect with our community in helping each other to end the spread of HIV, and ensure that all who are living with or affected by HIV receive the care and support they need.”
The event is being sponsored by the Gay PRIDE Celebration Committee of San Jose, Inc., the Santa Clara County STD & HIV Prevention and Control Program, and San Jose City Councilmember Sam Liccardo.
“I’m proud to sponsor our local event in honor of National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day,” said San Jose City Councilmember Sam Liccardo. “It’s an important part of addressing health equity in our community, and I’m grateful to the Public Health Department and San Jose PRIDE for hosting it.”
The event is a collaboration of various Silicon Valley non-profit organizations that offer services or support to the LGBTQ community, including Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Asian Recovery Services, and the Health Trust’s N2Men.org project.
“We aim to raise awareness in the community by creating this fun educational experience on Sept. 27,” said San Jose PRIDE President Nathan Svoboda, who invites all to come out. “Meet PRIDE’s street team, take some fun photos, dance and play games like ‘Put a Cap on it!’”
Radio and club entertainer, DJ SolRok “The Party”, will be djing the event. Those who wear their “I Got Tested” stickers to San Jose night clubs Friday night, will receive specials at Renegades, TD’s, Splash Video Dance Bar, Peking Place, Original Gravity, and 55 South.
For additional details about the event, visit the San Jose Pride’s Facebook page or go to their website at www.sanjosepride.com.
SCCPHD STD & HIV Prevention and Control: (408) 792-5030 or ST*****@ph*.org
Project 4play: (415) 710-1152 or jl**@aa**.org
Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI): (408) 975-2730 or in**@aa**.org
N2Men.org: in**@n2***.org