Free conference to examine issues facing LGBTQIA community

April 17, 2018 / Jersey City, NJ – As issues facing the LGBTQIA community evolve, individuals learn to embrace self-expression, foster inclusiveness, and unify communities through understanding and acceptance.

On Friday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will present the Third Annual LGBTQIA Conference. Entitled “Back 2 Basics,” the conference will be held in the HCCC Library Building – 71 Sip Ave in Jersey City, and will address a multitude of topics facing the LGBTQIA community.

Part of the Collegeâ€s celebration of LBGTQIA Month, “Back 2 Basics” is presented by the Office of Student Activities and the HCCC Georgia Brooks Stonewall Project. The conference is open to students, faculty, and the general public. Tickets are free, but registration is preferred.

Several workshops are designed to engage participants in the LBGTQIA community and encourage others, especially individuals who are part of the historically marginalized voices. The workshops include:

“Tired at the Table: Social Justice Work and Self Care”

Social justice advocacy can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Participants learn how to recognize signs of compassion fatigue and burnout in themselves and others, and will explore ways to maintain health while engaging in critical and demanding work.

“LGBTQIA…H?: HIV and the LGBTQIA Community”

Recognizing the history, impact, and effects of HIV/AIDS is key to fighting it. Participants will come to understand the ways HIV affects the immune system, how the virus spreads, high-risk behaviors, become acquainted with Hudson County community resources available for individuals with HIV/AIDS, as well as how to bring HIV/AIDS awareness to the community.

“Understanding the Alphabet”

Participants will learn the various terms in the LGBTQIA community as a function of several combinations of the Sexuality Spectra: genetic sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. The group will discuss reliance on a finite amount of terms, including “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual,” “pansexual,” and “queer” to represent the entire LGBTQIA community, which doesnâ€t necessarily reflect the fluidity of and within sexual identities.

“Bi Visibility: In the LGBTQIA Community and Beyond”

The workshop explores the meaning of bisexual erasure, the importance of being a part of a community, and why representation is needed for all.  Participants will be exposed to the current media representation and provided with historical context of bisexual erasure. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to identify bisexual erasure, how it presents itself in the media and daily interactions, and how to disrupt it in practice.

 â€œThe Flavor Chart”

Language evolves and word choices matter.  Participants will learn how vocabulary changes and how, since there is no universal agreement about the definitions of many terms, it is important to keep a working definition of the current terminology within the LGBTQIA+ community. This workshop aims to look at these terms without losing sight of the importance of allowing individuals to dictate the terms of their identity and how the world addresses them.

“From High-Heels to Hightops: Defining Gender”

This session will examine the social constructs of gender identity and expression. Participants will gain an understanding of important terms, issues, and identities across the gender spectrum.

Those who wish to attend may register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hccc-lgbtqia-conference-spring-2018-tickets-44224900869. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Activities at 201-360-4195 or email OSA@live.hccc.edu.

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Newark, NJ – Each year on December 1st, World AIDS Day, millions of people worldwide unite in an effort to raise awareness about the global spread of AIDS; remember those who died from AIDS; and celebrate the victories in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Millions of people worldwide continue to be infected with HIV each year.  According to UNAIDS estimates, 33.4 million people worldwide are living with HIV, including 2.1 million children (under 15 years old)

During 2008, estimates show 2.7 million people worldwide became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS.

This day serves as an important reminder that AIDS remains a major global health priority. We must do more to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Providing universal access to prevention, treatment, and care is critical in stopping and reversing the AIDS pandemic.

The New Jersey AIDS/HIV/STD Hotline encourages all to ‘KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS’!  All those at risk for infection should get tested.  You cannot rely on symptoms to know if you are HIV- positive, testing is the ONLY way to know for sure. Many people who are HIV-positive do not have any symptoms for years.  Take control of your own health and help prevent illness of those around you.

The New Jersey AIDS/ HIV/STD Hotline (1-800-624-2377) is available to answer questions concerning HIV/AIDS, STDs or Hepatitis. Call for free educational materials concerning HIV/AIDS, STDs and Hepatitis.  All calls are free and confidential. The following services are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Referrals
HIV, STD and Hepatitis Prevention Information
 
Counseling and Treatment Locations
Treatment Information 

UNAIDS (2009, November), ‘AIDS Epidemic Update’

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