FORT WORTH — AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County begins its “Magnetic Couples Group” for serodiscordant — or mixed serostatus — same-sex couples on Friday, Oct. 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Allen Gould, the center’s executive director, explained that serodiscordant couples face all the same issues and problems that all couples face, but serodiscordant couples also must deal with additional issues, such as worries that the HIV-positive partner might infect the HIV-negative partner. And both partners in a mixed serostatus couple have to deal with the side effects of the medications the positive partner has to take.
Concerns about health and health disparities can cause feelings of resentment and can strain the relationship, Gould said, sometimes causing a “serious lack of balance” between partners.
AIDS Outreach Center’s “Magnetic Couples Group” is intended to help serodiscordant couples address those issues in a safe and confidential environment. The group will give couples the chance to talk about health, finances, guilt, communication, sexual intimacy and more.
The group will meet every Friday for six weeks, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at AIDS Outreach Center, 400 North Beach St. in Fort Worth. For more information call Bill or Ashley at 817-916-5291.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 08, 2010.
My name is Benjamin Gerritz, Prevention with Positives Coordinator at Cascade AIDS Project in Portland, OR. Our agency is the largest HIV/AIDS service provider in our state and SW Washington. The reason I am sending you this message if that I have recieved a lot of feedback from the community that MSM guys would like to see more programming directed towards addressing serdiscordant relationships. I was wondering if you may be willing to share any insights that you discovered in planning your,”Magnetic Couples Group.” Did your CBO conduct a needs assessment and/or did you shape the program based on focus groups that were brought together? Our agency has had a serdiscordant social networking group in the past but over time, participation led to the disolution of the group. Given the amount of phone calls I have been recieving, I am going to be forming a focus group to bring the program back. If possible, I would greatly appreciate any input you have in your planning to ensure long-term involvement and empowerment of members of the group. My phone number at the office is 503.278.3868 and e-mail at bgerritz@cascadeaids.org. I sincerely appreciate your time and any advice you may be willing to offer. Best wishes on the continued success of all of your programs.