November 2005

In this issue:

1. Intro
2. What’s New at MAP
3. Current Volunteer Opportunities
4. Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
5. Did You Know?
6. MAP Staff Recommends

Intro

We have a wide variety of events going on this month! Want to find out more about religion in the White House, gay weddings, hair teasing, and Kevin Garnett’s jump shot? Read on!

What’s New at MAP

Big Hair Mania Tickets are Going Fast!

Margaret Cho, Bruce Daniels, Lady Bunny, Root City Band, Beulah Jean’s Boutique of Beauty, dinner, raffle, silent auction…whew! We’ve got quite the event lined up, and we hope you will join us! Word is spreading about Big Hair Mania, even past the state lines—the QTV show Q on the Move will be documenting all the onstage and behind-the-scenes action for national broadcast! VIP tickets are already sold out, but you can still get Dinner & Show tickets and tickets for the Big Show, either through the web at www.bighairmania.com or by calling 612-373-2411.

MN AIDS Project Night with the Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are offering special tickets to their home opener against the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. at the Target Center. With this deal, $40 seats are available for $35, and $24 seats are available for $19. $5 from every ticket will benefit MAP and you will receive a 2005-6 Timberwolves Yearbook with each ticket purchased through this offer. These tickets cannot be purchased through Ticketmaster. Instead, contact Shane Sturges with the Timberwolves at 612-673-1686 or sturges@timberwolves.com. Cheer on the Wolves while supporting MAP!

Third Annual Gay & Lesbian Wedding Expo to Benefit MAP

This year’s theme is “Not Just Another Storybook Wedding,” and it will take place Sunday, November 6 from 12:30-5 p.m. at the Park Plaza Hotel, 4460 West 78th Street Circle, in Bloomington. Food, entertainment and fun provided by area GLBT-friendly businesses ready to assist you with your wedding, prenuptial events, honeymoon, and future lives together. Prizes will be given away in addition to the many vendors who will offer show specials and prize drawings. Admission is $5 with all proceeds from admission going directly to Minnesota AIDS Project. For more info contact 952-960-0012 or chris.westlund@parkplaza.com.

MAP Forum with Author Esther Kaplan

Gay men and drug users account for 20,000-30,000 new HIV infections each year in the U.S., so why are researchers being pressured not to mention these populations in their proposals for federal funding? Why are groups that advocate condom use and safer sex messages facing repeated federal audits? Why are our national health agencies providing incomplete, misleading or false information about condoms and sex education—or censoring it all together? Kaplan took on these questions and more in her book With God on Their Side: George W. Bush and the Christian Right. Hear what she has to say on November 15, 7 p.m. at the Walker Art Center. For more information click here.

World AIDS Day Events

December 1 is World AIDS Day, and we hope you will consider observing the day by attending one of these HIV-related events:

MAP Forum with former Minnesota Senator Allan Spear

Minnesotans living with HIV have not been placed in quarantine camps, we don’t have involuntary forced testing, and health care workers do not need to hang out a shingle declaring their HIV status. Minnesota is one of only a few states that have helped stop HIV by easing access to clean syringes, and we have a gay rights law, addressing one of the key social factors driving the HIV epidemic in this country. We can thank former Sen. Allan Spear for many of the smart policy moves Minnesota has made in response to HIV. Sen. Spear will be speaking on the history of the movement in a forum entitled “Guiding Lights: Remembering Leaders in Minnesota’s Fight to Stop HIV.” The forum will be held on December 1, 7 p.m . at the Minnesota History Center. For more information click here.

Women of Kopanang: AIDS, Art and Africa

This presentation by Sister Sheila Flynn, OP of Johannesburg, South Africa, will tell the story of two South African townships ravaged by AIDS that came together to share creativity and hope in the midst of struggles, disease and poverty. Experience their feelings of community through a 31-piece display of their hand-embroidered tapestries. Tickets are $10. Call 612-332-2649 ext. 4 for a list of organizations that are selling tickets. Tickets will also be available at the door. This event will be on December 1, 6:45 p.m. at the St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 South Eighth Street, in downtown Minneapolis. For more information visit http://womenspirit.mplsleagcatholicwomen.org

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Tuesday Niters continue to be the driving force behind all sort of special projects at MAP. Volunteers at Tuesday Niters meetings have spent over 1000 hours so far this year counting condoms, making red ribbons, preparing mailings, etc. Join the fun on November 8, here at MAP, from 4:30-7 p.m. To RSVP, email Jessica.

Upcoming Opportunities

Have you gotten your 2006 calendar yet? If so, make sure you save the date for these annual events:

• Poster Blast I: Saturday, February 25
• Oscar Night® on Ice: Sunday, March 5
• Poster Blast II: Saturday, April 1
• Minnesota AIDS Walk: Sunday, May 21
• Twin Cities GLBT Pride: June 24-25
• Red Ribbon Ride: July 13-16
• State Fair: August 24–September 4

Did You Know?

PrideAlive Cafe Chat

PrideAlive holds a Cafe Chat the second Sunday of every month from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the e.p. atelier coffee shop at 609 South 10th St., Minneapolis, a block from the MAP office. This month’s theme is Holiday Madness: Stop the Insanity! Stop in and check it out! Email Keith for more information.

MAP Staff Recommends

This month’s recommendations come to you from Julie Hennen, special events diva at the Minnesota AIDS Project. You may remember her from such roles as Silent Auction Coordinator at the Hollywood event and Teams Coordinator for the Minnesota AIDS Walk. Here’s what Julie reads and watches to hone her skills:

Julie Hennen
Special Events Assoc.
& Big Hair Diva

Book

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

This book is about that moment when an idea, epidemic or product tips and spreads like wildfire. The Tipping Point offers insight into how to create change and “tip” something into making a difference.

Movie

Crash

I think everyone should see this movie. Ultimately we are all connected in some way. Crash illustrates that how people first relate to others tends to be ruled by an unconscious or blatant prejudice.

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 3, 2007
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