Photo credit: Larry Bryant
Ball-n. Informal. a thoroughly good time. Balls-n. Slang. boldness; courage; brashness. Us Helping Us, People Into Living (UHU) kicked off DC Black Pride Weekend with plenty of both. In the tradition of Paris Is Burning, UHU co-sponsored an “I Love the 70’s” mini Ball with Carl Vogel Center and the Blair Underwood Clinic. The House Ball Community in DC is not only thriving but is also well populated with creative, kinetic GLBTQ men and women ages 18-30. The mini ball was held on Wednesday night of this week at the EFN Lounge. The event included fashion modeling, vogue-style dancing and a strong HIV prevention message.
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Photo credit: Larry Bryant
The Players. Us Helping Us is the premiere non-profit organization in DC dedicated to serving the health needs of African-American gay and bisexual men. Founded in 1985 by Rainey Cheeks in a popular discotheque, UHU has blossomed into a fully staffed facility on Georgia Avenue in Northwest. The House Ball community in DC is a proving ground for HIV prevention. The members of individual 'houses' are gay or bisexual youth who compete for prizes and cash through vogue-style dance competitions. The competitions also include theme fashion modeling that gives monetary rewards to the individual. In collaboration with UHU, Carl Vogel and Blair Underwood health centers provide HIV testing mobile units that travel around the city to do testing at various sites year round.
Photo credit: Larry Bryant
The rules of engagement. UHU offered free HIV testing beginning on May 20th for members and guests of each ‘house’. Each time someone was tested, they tell which house they represent and that house earns credit. The person did not have to be a member of a house but could have been simply referred by one. The House that earned the most points for persons tested by May 26th (the night of the ball) received a $500 cash prize. On Wednesday night, Carl Vogel and Blair Underwood mobile units were stationed outside of the lounge to provide testing. Every person who was tested received a $20 Visa card. As winners from the individual categories were announced, they had to answer a trivia question about HIV in order to receive their $100 award. Questions such as “What is the name of the vaccine study for black gay men currently enrolling participants?” bewildered participants. The House of Star won the cash reward for having 14 people tested for HIV during the window.
The lingering question. Getting people tested and into treatment are the highest goals of any HIV program. It is important for public health agencies to know the numbers so that they can address the populations’ unique needs. However, when cash rewards are involved the math can get a little fuzzy. If a person is tested for HIV through one community event for a cash card and given their status, they might do it again just a few weeks later just for another reward. If that person is already positive and counted for at the first event, is it helpful for them to be tested positive and counted again at the second event? Monetary rewards are an excellent incentive for enticing people into getting testing. However, it doesn’t help the public health agencies that are trying to stop an epidemic by counting the same positive individual multiple times. Those are questions that have no one sided answer. For now, UHU is doing their part to make a difference in HIV education. At least they've got the balls to try.
For more information about Black Pride Events being held this weekend, click here.
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