Pride Month Celebrates Stories of Survival

June 26, 2017 BY imani leave a comment

Norman Tanner was given six months to live after being diagnosed with HIV in 1990. The 59-year old Tanner was among the hundreds of thousands of people, proud to show their pride at different celebrations throughout the country. June 1 kicked off LGBT Pride Month across the nation. Millions in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, along with their allies, are celebrating events throughout the month.

Tanner has been attending Pride festivities for about 20 years since he founded Black Brothers Esteem, a support group for black men with HIV, something he said didn’t exist before for people like him.

When Pride began 47 years ago, it was a protest for gay rights so people like Tanner could enjoy the same rights as everyone else. When asked what this year means to him, he rattled off his list of words: “Unity. Love. Pride. Togetherness.”

The third annual Pride Party on the Peninsula took place at the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina earlier this month. More than 250 people were treated to complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and performances by Drag queens as a lead up to the 29th Annual Hampton Roads PrideFest, the largest pride celebration in Virginia.

Senator Tim Kaine attended Saturday’s event, and spoke about legislation he’s working on in Congress to combat housing discrimination.

“In the senate I just introduced a bill with other senators to bar any legislation in housing on the ground of sexual orientation or identification,” Kaine said. “Equality shouldn’t be a Democrat or Republican issue. It should be an everybody issue and I’m really happy to be the lead sponsor of the bill.”

Housing discrimination and equal access is something LGBT advocates have been fighting for for many years. MASS provides HIV care and transitional housing assistance to individuals in the Newport News, VA area. The Transitional Housing Program was designed by MASS to assist homeless HIV/AIDS inmates who have been recently released from jail successfully reintegrate back into the community. Persons in need of housing support will be identified through existing relationships with Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Linkages and Resources for Inmates (CHARLI) Program funded by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

Participants of the MASS Transitional Housing Program will receive follow up care ensuring they are attending medical appointments and are in compliance to their medications. They will also have access to, and assistance with health/HIV education, food, transportation, social services applications, substance abuse and mental health services and other services as needed.