Florida Agenda

WILTON MANORS – Under Florida law, it is unlawful for any person who has HIV, with knowledge of such infection, and having been informed that he or she may communicate it to others through sexual intercourse, to have sexual intercourse with any other person, unless the other person has been informed of the presence of HIV and has consented to the sexual intercourse.

Across the country, as well as closer to home, HIV criminalization laws are becoming of increasing concern to persons living with HIV/AIDS, and their advocates. According to these, fear of legal reprisals has been linked as a factor in preventing people from getting tested for HIV, as well as seeking medical treatment for the condition.

It also fuels the societal stigmas for people living with HIV/AIDS. On Wednesday, a roundtable discussion was held at Wilton Manors’ Hagen Park Community Center, in conjunction with Positively U and the Positive Justice Project, as well as other LGBT rights groups and advocates, including Michael Rainier, executive director of the Florida Democratic LGBT Caucus, and chairman of the Redistricting Steering Committee for the School Board of Broward County.

“HIV Criminalization Laws: How They Hurt the Health of Floridians” was made possible, in part, through the financial support of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and the Law Offices of George Castrataro.

FORT LAUDERDALE – A new report from the Florida Department of Health shows that the rate of infections for HIV/AIDS in South Florida rose last years. The numbers reflect the nation’s worst incidents of HIV/ AIDS in spite of efforts to control its spread.

The rate of new HIV infections was greatest in Palm Beach County, which saw a 30 percent increase from last year, followed closely by Broward County with a 25 percent increase.

Statewide, that number rose more than onein- five, or 21 percent. New AIDS cases rose 6 to 8 percent in Broward and Palm Beach.

Officials say artificially inflated stats reflect part of the increase, the results of changes to the counting methodology now being used by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They likewise note that approximately half of the new reported cases came from MSMs (men who sleep with men).

In Broward County, there were more than 1,000 new reported HIV cases in 2011, which translates to 59 cases per 100,000 people, an increase from about 55 cases per 100,000 the previous year. Since 2008, Broward has had the highest per-capita infection rate in the U.S. Last year, CDC officials met to outline the elements of a major new and well-funded anti-AIDS campaign.

There were 407 new HIV cases reported in Palm Beach County last year or 30.7 per capita. It is one of a dozen metropolitan areas with the highest infection rates. Miami- Dade County has the nation’s second highest rate of infection.

By DALE MADISON

Gary Yamnitz knows his way around a credit union. The Wilton Manors branch manager at City County Credit Union (CCCU) began his career in financial services in 1984 with Sun Coast Schools Credit Union in Tampa.

Fast forward 28 years and Yamnitz is bringing his vast depth and breadth of credit union experience to one of Broward County’s newest, the City County Credit Union branch which is set to celebrate three years in The Shoppes of Wilton Manors.

“We are now getting about 40 new members per month in our branch,” reports Yamnitz, “in part due to the ‘Occupy’ movement.” That’s up from an average of 20 new members per month before national outrage was focused upon Wall Street. Yamnitz explains: “With people dumping their big banks, and the corporate greed of the system, people are fed up with fees.”

Part of the success of CCCU is Yamnitz’s empowerment of his staff to help members’ needs. “Contrary to the policies at big banks, I allow staff the flexibility to waive a fee that’s been charged to a member. They don’t have to wait for me to approve or to get clearance from the home office. It’s their discretion. I want our members to feel like they are part of the family, which quite frankly they are,” he adds with a smile.

Yamnitz is often asked to explain the differences between banks and credit unions. “We are member owned,” he says of the latter.

“When you bank here, you are a part owner. Several years ago when the economy was at its height, CCCU gave back over 1 million dollars to its members in dividends.” He illustrates the numbers and their benefit to members. “Let’s say, for example, you had $500 on deposit: on average, you got a dividend of $20.00. Personally, I got about $1,500. And it always comes in handy,” he added.

Of its community involvement, Yamnitz points to Father Bill of the Poverello Center, who, in December 2010 needed transportation to continue his ministry for people living with HIV/AIDS. A.J. Cross and others held a benefit to raise enough money to purchase a car. It raised nearly $9,000, but it was not enough to purchase the vehicle for Father Bill.

Enter CCCU and its affiliate, Auto Branch. Between the two companies working with other vendors, a little gentle “arm twisting,” and the $9,000, Father Bill was given a nearly-new Toyota, a year of paid auto insurance, and a bumper-tobumper warranty.

“We are very involved in the community,” Yamnitz notes proudly.

“If you open a new checking or savings account, City-County will pay for your first year Pride Center membership in the amount of $40.00, and will make a matching donation in your name to the Pride Center Building Fund. We also support four of the Pride Center’s teams: Youth, Hispanic, Senior, and, of course, Gay. Our motto is ‘People Helping People.’ It’s a motto that we truly believe in and live by,” Yamnitz told me.

MIAMI, FL – In an emailed statement, Christopher Donahue announced last week that he resigned his position as PR/Marketing Manager at Care Resource, South Florida’s largest HIV/AIDS service agency.

In his statement, Donahue wrote:
“It really isn’t part of my job or in my job description, but I loved being able to help clients and it is what has kept me here. I am happy that I was able to help the community by bringing 8 clients into care over the past three years; some of which were newly diagnosed and some that had fallen out of care and were very sick.”

In response to the cover story “HIV/AIDS 30 Years Later; Hope, Reflection &?New Challenges” in the June 9th issue of The Agenda.

DEAR EDITOR,
I really enjoyed reading the article by Alex Vaughn on HIV/AIDS 30 Years Later. I remember losing so many friends and people I loved back in the early 80′s. One was very special to me – a friend who suffered weight loss, eye sight, and then became in a somewhat Dementia state towards the end. You are so right about the young guys now experiencing the death of close friends to the dreadful disease. I have so many friends who meet folks on line, and tell me how the young ones are not always wanting to play safe.

I am also a HIV survivor of 16 years and am feeling wonderful. I have a partner of 30 years who is HIV Negative. We used to play around in the 80′s together and guess what: I got the infection. I tried all of the new meds as they came available over the years. I have a great doctor here in Tampa that is so compassionate and understanding with his patients.

Well, after all of the years of diarrhea, sweats, nightmares, I am doing well with the protease inhibitors I

am taking. Just thinking back when I could not make any plans in the mornings due to side effects from the meds. Of course, I have gained weight now since some of the side effects stopped. Nowadays, folks don’t have to take as many pills normally as I did back in the late 90′s. The thought of having to take meds on a schedule and trying to hide the pills from co-workers and friends is no longer as much of an issue. Back then, there were not that many support groups, or you just did not want to tell anyone based on embarrassment. Since the diagnosis in 1995, I have survived a heart attack (stent-2005), prostate cancer (radiation-2007) and colon cancer (chemo-2009).

I would just like to say to folks, listen to your doctor, take your meds as prescribed, wear a condom, get plenty of rest, and I have a couple of cocktails daily.

SINCERELY,
BOB & RAY

In response to the Style feature “Gifts for Daddy” in the June 19th issue of The Agenda.

DEAR EDITOR,

This is a great article! I have been enjoying reading the articles about fashion and style. Thanks to the writers.

SINCERELY,
RICHARD PACKARD

South Beach AIDS Project has been awarded a five-year research grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH). In a printed statement, they said they are proud to be one of three site for this study headed by Dr. Jeff Kelly from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Kelly is one of the top researchers in the country and SoBAP says that they feel fortunate to be working so closely with him. This will be a program working within social networks of gay men trying to impact decisions and transfer knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

SoBAP has also been awarded an HIV testing grant which will help them expand their services more in the community. Although they have always had a testing site, this is the first time we have had testing fully-funded. SoBAP’s board and staff know how crucial it is to offer this service to our community so testing has always been a staple in services that they offer. With this expansion, SoBAP will be offering testing and counseling not only in their South Beach Testing Center at 306 Lincoln Rd. (inside the CVS Pharmacy) but will now also be offering testing on Tuesday and Thursday at the P.E.T. Center, 615 Collins Avenue.

These new grants along with others in place have made SoBAP bigger than it has ever been. Although South Beach and Miami will always be their home, SoBAP looks to expand their services to other communities in need.

– BK

Ken Fountaine sits behind his desk at Shadowood II. His tiffany lamp lit as it’s pouring down rain when I sat to interview him to find out about the organization that he serves as Executive Director.

Prior to taking charge of Shadowood II, Ken held the same post at Poverello Food Bank.

Founded by Richard Colbert back in 1994, Shadowood II has been providing services to homeless men and women living with HIV/AIDS. Many of these homeless individuals are also victims of violence once they have informed their loved ones of their status. Accredited for excellence and professional standards by Broward County, Florida, Shadowood II has assisted over 5,000 men and women since 1994. Currently about 55 clients look to Shadowood II for their shelter, food and day to day care.

Currently, Shadowood II, Inc. offers the following services to the HIV community:

Emergency Transitional Housing: A homeless person living with HIV/AIDS will be entered into the Shadowood II program within hours (when space is available). This program runs for 60 days and gives the facility access to full assess the clients’ needs and objectives.

Substance Abuse Housing: Clients who are ready to become clean and sober are enrolled in this program and given a chance to change, attend substance abuse programs, and live in a clean, safe and drug free environment.

Mental Health Housing: Clients who are dealing with minimal levels of mental health issues, that may or many not be a direct results of HIV/AIDS are able to live at Shadowood II under this program.

Project Based (off-site) Housing: Clients in good standing, who graduate from any of the above programs, are offered an opportunity to live in one of their apartments. Chores and expenses are shared and tools and steps are implemented for clients to utilize toward true successful independence.

Dale Madison contributes the weekly column “Pinkies Up” addressing various topics.

Latinos Salud operates HIV prevention program for gay Latinos 30 and under

BY DMITRY RASHNITSOV

In a time of budget cuts, shrinking help for non-profits and people with HIV/AIDS being put on a waiting list to receive services finally comes some good news from the Federal Government regarding a highly respected local program.

Latinos Salud (www.latinossalud.org ) has won a $1.3 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to immediately initiate new HIV prevention programs that will serve Broward County’s gay and bisexual Latino communities.

According to the CDC’s newest HIV Surveillance Report, Broward County ranks first in the nation in its rate of news AIDS diagnoses, and second in the nation in its

rate of new HIV infections.

“Broward County is Ground Zero in our nation’s HIV epidemic,” said Latinos Salud’s Executive Director, Stephen Fallon.  “For the health of our communities, we need prevention programs that are delivered by professionals who understand the culture and values of their gay Latino peers.  Latinos Salud will launch two new HIV prevention programs to meet this need.”

All of Latinos Salud’s staff members are Latino, except for Fallon, who speaks conversational Spanish.

According to Fallon, within Broward County, Latinos experienced the highest increase in new HIV infections of any racial or ethnic group, with a 185% jump in reported cases over the past six years, almost all of which were among gay and bisexual Latino males.

“Our ‘Somos’ program has proven that the young, gay Latino community wants to support one another, if they are given the tools they need,” said Rafaelé Narváez, Latinos Salud’s Director of Health Programs. “The ‘Somos’ program has distributed thousands of condoms, and held dozens of safer sex workshops.  Clients have also built community spirit through shared activities like the Stonewall Street Parade, PrideFest, drag contests, outdoor sports, and group meetings to discuss the ups and downs of dating in South Florida.  The new, CDC-supported programs will allow us to serve a larger cross section of the community, from age 18 to 45.”

Somos runs a clubhouse for Latino men at 2051 Wilton Drive, where members and outsiders can come drop in, hang out, use the free computers, watch TV or enjoy a cup of coffee or a snack without any judgment or pressure.

“One of our new programs will recruit leaders from peer groups to start a dialogue that can ultimately change community attitudes about HIV and safer sex,” Fallon said.  “The other new program will provide intensive one-on-one counseling to clients who are having difficulty curbing ongoing risky behaviors, such as unprotected sex with partners of unknown HIV status.”

CDC will fund the agency $1.3M between now and 2015 to implement these programs, and report outcomes back.

Fallon added, “We are excited that the CDC chose our agency to carry out these vitally-needed services.  For the past six years, no Broward-based agency had won CDC funding. Latinos Salud is the youngest of South Florida agency selected for funding.”

Fallon and Narváez founded Latinos Salud in 2008 to address an urgent gap in local prevention services specifically targeting Broward’s Latino gay communities.

The agency currently operates an HIV prevention program called “Somos” (which means “We Are!”) for gay Latinos, age 30 and younger.  Funded by the Florida Department of Health, the Somos program offers a safe space for community members to find peer support, and education about reducing risks of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. The group currently has 300 members.

Fallon had previously directed HIV prevention programs at two Broward agencies from 1995 to 2004.  Over the past decade, through his consultancy Skills4 (www.skills4.org ), he has also trained HIV prevention, service and care staff at agencies and health departments in 40 states.  He is co-author of several reports that track the HIV epidemic amongst gay and bisexual males, and author of articles about HIV prevention and treatment best practices.

Beginning in 2001, Narváez first staffed and then managed HIV prevention programs at two Broward agencies, before he and Fallon founded Latinos Salud in June 2008.