Rubyfruit Jungle and Robyn E, a Benefit for LEGAL
Robyn E & her band will be
playing a benefit show for
Louisiana Electorate of Gays And Lesbians (LEGAL) at Rubyfruit Jungle on Friday, February 14.
Billed as the 2nd Annual LEGAL Groundhog Day Celebration - but held this year on Valentine's Day - the fund-raiser assists LEGAL with the costs of lobbying in the Louisiana Legislature.
The benefit for LEGAL is Robyn E's first for the non-profit group. Having recently released a second CD, "Out of Blue," with her band, she has been on tour promoting the work. Robyn E said that she wanted to take a break, though, and support LEGAL because "they believe in equal rights for all people."
"They stand up for our rights as gay and lesbian people in Baton Rouge," she continued. "They believe in getting people involved like me and you because individuals can make a difference. You just gotta do it."
The performance begins at 9 pm and goes until midnite. Prizes will be given away each hour on the hour.
LEGAL, in its fourth year of operation, is Louisiana's largest lesbian and gay statewide non-profit organization. LEGAL lobbies for fair human rights legislation and against legislation that would be harmful to the community. LEGAL also sponsors the biannual Louisiana Gay and Lesbian Student Groups Conference (LGLSGC) and is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the state of Louisiana to have its sodomy laws declared unconstitutional.
For further information about LEGAL, write to P 0. Box 70344, New Orleans, LA 70172-0344, call 504.365.3105, email Legalinc@aol.com, or visit their web site at http://members.aol.com/legalinc/.
New Service Planned for
Vieux Carre Metropolitan Community Church
As Vieux Carre MCC continues
to meet the needs of its community, it has made the decision to open its doors for worship celebration on Sunday afternoons at 4:15 pm, in addition to the regularly scheduled 11 a.m. services. The church doors will be open approximately one-half hour prior to the 4:15 pm service for socializing. So why not meet your friends for church, and enjoy dinner afterwards? What better way to spend your Sunday evening?
Services Set
For Ash Wednesday
The beginning of the Lenten season at Vieux Carre MCC will open with an Ash Wednesday Service scheduled for 6 pm on February 12th. The service will include the traditional distribution of ashes. Vieux Carre' MCC is located at 1128 St. Roch Ave. For more information call the church office at 945.5390.
MCC Plans Spaghetti Dinner
On Saturday February 22nd Vieux Carre MCC will be hosting its ever-popular spaghetti dinner. The dinner is dine-in or take-out, and will include pasta and meatballs, corn, and a salad. If you dine in, soda is included at no extra charge. The doors open at 5 pm anf the kitchen will be serving until 8 p.m. All this for $5! Tickets can be purchased by calling 945.5390. So for the best deal in town, on February 22nd, be at VCMCC located at 1128 St. Roch. Bon appetit!
Lenten Workshop Scheduled at VCMCC
Vieux Carre'MCC will sponsor a three-part workshop on spiritual discipline designed for improving your spiritual relationships. The sessions are for the novice as well as the experienced, and will explore the different techniques available for prayer, scripture study, and fasting.
NO/AIDS Executive Director Resigns
On Monday, Jan. 20, the Executive Director of NO/AIDS
Task Force, Michael Kaiser, MD, announced his resignation from the organization effective February 7. He has also resigned as Project Director of the Pediatric AIDS Program (PAP) at Childrcn's Hospital.
Dr. Kaiser has accepted the position of Director of the Ryan White Title IV Pediatric AIDS Branch, the national program that serves children, youth and families with HIV/AIDS. "It's a great opportunity for me to provide additional service in an area that is very important to me," said Dr. Kaiser. Dr. Alan Robson, Medical Director at Children'& Hospital, said "He is an excellent choice to head the Ryan White Program with his background and experience being ideal for this important position. Our loss is Washington's gain. In Dr. Kaiser they have a leader with a clear insight of where he wants the program to go and how he can achieve those goals. With his proven track record, I know he can succeed."
Dr. Kaiser has been an outspoken and very effective leader in the AIDS service arena in Louisiana. He has been involved with NO/AIDS since 1985 and has served as Executive Director of the organization for three years. He aided in implementing the Early Intervention Services health monitoring program for people who are HIV positive. Dr. Kaiser is the founding director of PAP and Resources for Adolescents Program (RAP). He has also served as an interim chair and a member of the New Orleans Regional AIDS Planning Council.
"It is with sadness that we say good-bye to Dr. Michael Kaiser. His efforts throughout the years have provided strong leadership in programs and grants that have enabled this organization to continue growing and providing services to the community. We are extremely happy for him, and have confidence that he will show the same energy in his new position as he has in his many years at NO/AIDS Task Force," said NO/AIDS Task Force Board of Directors Co-Chair, Barry Schaile.
NO/AIDS Task Force has begun a national search for a new director. Doug Weiss, Chief Operating Officer, will act as Interim Director.
NO/AIDS
Teen Hotline Debut
On Saturday, Jan. 25, NO/
AIDS Task Force debuted a
city-wide Teen Hotline. Teen volunteers will be available to answer questions about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) every Saturday from 10:00 am until noon by calling the hotline at 944.AIDS (2437) OR 1.800.99.AIDS.9.
Since December 1996, 47% of HIV infections reported to the Louisiana Office of Public Heath occurred in young Louisianians aged 13 to 29 years. The Teen Hotline was formed in response to these startling statistics and because peer-delivercd education carries the greatest impact. The mission of the Teen Hotline is to provide young callers with basic HIV/STD information and to offer behavioral counseling in an anonymous and non-judgmental atmosphere.
Volunteer peer educators were recruited from middle and high senior high schools around the greater metropolitan area and trained by members of the New Orleans' Adolescent Consortium. The Consortium includes the Young Leadership Council Youth Health Outreach Committee, Children's Hospital Pediatric AIDS Program and Resources for Adolescents Program, New Orleans Public Schools Comprehensive School Health Progran Office for HIV/STD Education, and NO/AIDS Task Force Statewide HIV/AIDS & STD Hotline.
Food For Friends
The NO/AIDS Task Force asks
you to take time for lunch and
help deliver meals to people living with HIV/AIDS in the greater New Orleans area.
Food for Friends needs meal delivery volunteers to bring already prepared food to homebound AIDS patients throughout the greater New Orleans area.
In order to volunteer, you will need between 1-2 hours around the noon hour one day a week, Mon.-Fri., your own vehicle and a valid drivers license. If you would like to volunteer, please call Montry at 504.944.6028
It's Not Too Late To Make A Difference
You can still purchase a 1997
AIDS Benefit Calendar and
know that the proceeds will continue to be dispersed to agencies across the country that provide direct care services to people living with HIV and AIDS. Three more agencies received contributions from the proceeds of the sale of the 1997 Calendar at the end of December 1996: the Inland Northwest AIDS Coalition located in Spokane Washington, New Mexico AIDS Services in Albuquerque NM and the Nepenthe House in Lake Charles Louisiana. More than $365,000 has been contributed since the first Calendar in 1990.
The month-at-a-glance Calendar features thirteen black and white photographic images including powerful and beautiful images of men alone and men with men - sensual and erotic, but non-sexual. The photographs by noted artist Jeff Palmer each celebrate the beauty of men and male couples.
To order the 1997 AIDS Benefit Calendar by mail, please send $13.00 plus $3.00 shipping / handling to: AIDS Benefit Calendar; Dept. NO PO Box 230034 Encinitas CA 920023-0034 or order by phone with a credit card: 619.744.8360; or contact the AIDS Benefit Calendar on the Internet at: http://www.jeffpalmer.com.
The Calendar is available in a variety of Gay-friendly retail outlets across the country including:
San Diego-Obelisk-The Bookstore, 1029 University Avenue; Hillcrest Gym, 142 University Avenue;
San Francisco-Under One Roof, 2362 Market Street; A Different Light, 489 Castro Street;
Albuquerque NM-Sisters and Brothers Books, 4011 Silver Ave. S; Palm Springs Area-Black Moon Leather, 31-500 San Ysidro; Village Pride Coffee, 214 E Arenas Road;
Boulder, CO-Aria, 2043 Broadway;
Birmingham, AL-Planet Muzica, 731 29th St. South;
Los Angeles-A Different Light Bookstore, 8853 Santa Monica Blvd; Dorothy's Surrender;
Phoenix, AZ-Obelisk, The Bookstore 24 W Camelback #A;
Houston Texas-Leather Forever, 711 Fairview; and,
Honolulu, HI-80% Straight, 2139 Kuhio Avenue.
For additional information contact Joe Pascale at 619.744.8360.
The Cremation Center
Tharp-Sontheimer Funeral Home
announces the opening of The
Cremation Center, the largest complete cremation center and crematory of its kind in this area. The new facility is located in the Tharp-Sontheimer Funeral Home at 4127 S. Claiborne Avenue.
The Cremation Center is a place where families can come to plan a funeral ceremony or a memorial gathering in advance or at the time of death. The facility offers one of the most extensive selections of cremation merchandise. Urn preferences range from custom designed urns, and selections of bronze, pewter, hardwoods, marble, raku and alabaster, to mention a few.
Today, families are more apt to create their own memorial service through more personalized choices. The function of The Cremation Center is to provide families with one location to handle every detail involved in funeral planning.
For information or a personal tour of The Cremation Center, please contact Billy Henry or Bill Baird at Tharp-Sontheimer, 821.8411. Hours for the new facility are 9am -5pm or by appointment.
