EQTX announces advocacy days

Equality Texas will hold three advocacy days during the 2015 legislative session in Austin, officials have announced.

Each of the three days will have a particular theme. Tuesday, Feb. 17 will be Faith Advocacy Day, co-sponsored by the Texas Freedom Network. Monday, March 23 will be Family Advocacy Day, focusing on the ways that anti-LGBT laws in Texas affect LGBT families. Freedom Advocacy Day, on Monday, April 13, will provide an opportunity to share how anti-LGBT laws are an abridgment of the freedoms Texans hold dear.

In 2013, more than 500 LGBT Texans and allies participated in the Equality Texas Lobby Day, visiting the 181 members of the legislature throughout the day.

For more information visit EqualityTexas.org.

 

Trans Pride Initiative expands board

Trans Pride Initiative, a Dallas-based nonprofit organization working on social justice issues important to the transgender community, has expanded its board of directors, adding Pocahontas Duvall, Terry Allen and Bret Camp to the existing board.

Duvall is an HIV prevention specialist at Abounding Prosperity and runs its trans program.

Allen began the men’s group currently operating under the Resource Center’s GEAR program.

Camp is the Texas regional director for AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

As the board expands, Trans Pride is beginning to work on identifying space and fundraising for a community center and emergency shelter beds and transitional housing.

For more information visit TPride.org.

 

Dallas County Health and Human Services offers free STD and HIV testing

DCHHS will offer free STD and HIV testing 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at Big T Bazaar, 4515 Village Fair Dr. on World AIDS Day, Monday, Dec. 1.

In 2012, 780 people in Dallas County were diagnosed with HIV and AIDS and more than 14,000 people were living with it.

DCHHS officials urge residents to take advantage of the free opportunity.

“Our goal is to empower citizens to get tested for HIV so they know their status and get educated about prevention and treatment, and also help eliminate stigma associated with the epidemic,” said Zachary Thompson, DCHHS director. “Outreach events are a great way for us to show our presence in the community and let Dallas County residents know about our services.”

Visit DallasCounty.org/hhs/ or more information on about HIV testing and early prevention.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 28, 2014.