LOCAL NEWS

PICK UP THE ARIZONA INFORMANT
If you didn’t know I’ve been active in the fight against HIV/AIDS for several years now. I worked as an outreach worker for TRIBE – AIDS Project Arizona’s African American HIV outreach program. Volunteered with the Body Positive Man2Man Project and attend the Body Positive Men of Color support group. I’ve also always captained my company’s AIDS Walk team.

When I learned that AZ was generating a Black AIDS Task Force to address the disproportionate infection rates among African Americans I didn’t hesitate to get on board.

Last week I received a call from the coordinator of the task force asking if I would be willing to write an article for the Arizona Informant. With June being HIV testing month and with there being a need to test as many African-Americans as possible, the Arizona Informant was the perfect paper to get our message to the masses.

Please pick up the latest copy of the Arizona Informant and review my article. Give me feedback to let me know what you think.


FLAGSTAFF PRIDE ENDS WITH GAY BASHING
Flagstaff’s festive pride celebration that brought hundreds of LGBT people to northern Arizona ended on a sad and discouraging note. Two men were hospitalized after four attackers beat them.

The most severely injured individual, Michael Brown, received a punch that knocked him unconscious. He was kept overnight in the hospital and sent home on Monday morning.

Four men were arrested and are being held on charges that include assault, aggravated assault, and disorderly conduct. Hate crime charges may also be added to the list. The four suspects include Travis Reiner, 24, of Flagstaff; Christopher Rose, 26, of Englewood, Colo.; Michael Van Roteyn, 24, of Flagstaff; and Mark Greinke, 25, of Sun City.

Barbara McCullough-Jones, Equality Arizona's executive director, made the following statement:

"The news of this attack is deeply disturbing. On a day when all of Flagstaff should have been celebrating and embracing diversity, this brutal attack has reminded us all that there is still much work to be done to prevent anti-gay bias from escalating into violence."



WAY TO GO ECHO MAGAZINE
The feature article on the current Echo magazine is titled Changing Faces. The subtitle – It’s Time To Reignite the Conversation About HIV/AIDS. The article addresses the communities where we are seeing an increase in infection rates : those over 50, those under 25, and minority communities.

The four individuals featured on the cover all share their stories in this edition of Echo. John Zielinski is 58. Billy Chamberlain is 25. Patsy Steen and Cookie King are both African-American. Please pick up this magazine to learn more about these remarkable people and find out how their lives have been affected by this virus.

AMERICAN IDOL COMING TO PHOENIX

Just announced, for the 8th season of American Idol, auditions will be happening at our local jobing.com arena in Glendale on July 25. So all diva, wanna be divas, real balladeers and those that think they have talent, good luck to you if you're brave enough to endure the tirades of Simon, Paula and Randy. Or should I say good luck to those brave enough the endure the heat of the desert sun in the midst of this record setting scorcher of a summer were having.

Though I mock those crazy enuff to go to the auditions, ya'll know I still love the show. I may go out just to cover the event for The J Spot.