The T.R.U.T.H. Project at Houston Pride Festival: A Merging of Communities, Art and Pride

June is the celebratory month for a plethora of celebrations. The most celebrated aside from Father`s Day is Pride for all things LGBTQ. I've been compelled over the course of my very Queer lifetime to wonder why `pride' for anything requires a grand scale celebration. So I begin my quest for answers with dictionary definitions of Pride...Webster provided several definitions of pride, but for the sake of this article I`ve chosen two in particular. The first defines pride as a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing,conduct, etc. When considering this meaning...I begin to think, `hells yes who wouldn't want to celebrate their own importance, dignity and merit especially with or without the opinions of others?` But then thought, well shouldn't pride, if it is in fact to be celebrated be done so with close friends and family? I still hadn't found the answer as to why should pride, specifically LGBTQ pride be celebrated city wide across the nation. Ohhh but an epiphany hit me upon reading this next definition of pride. Webster also defines pride asa becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one's position or character; self-respect; self-esteem. Now Im getting somewhere. To celebrate the freedom to be yourself, amongst your peers and allies in love when surrounded by a world of hate, makes total sense to celebrate Pride OUTLOUD.

This past weekend, June 25-28, 2015, Houston, TX celebrated pride. This like any other year during the last weekend in June many of Houston`s LGBTQ community came together to celebrate pride. Though this year was monumental. Here's why! On June 26, 2015 the United States of America became the 23rd country to legalize same sex marriage. Now I can get on my soap box about the separation of church and state as well as the disdaining notion that choosing to marry who I love was once considered illegal and subjective to beliefs that aren't mine in this alleged land of the free, but this isn't the time. Now what was I saying...Oh...this date fell right in line with Pride Houston`s yearly celebration. As if that isn't reason enough to celebrate, Houston`s Pride celebration relocated after 33 years from the historic and known LGBTQ hub of Montrose to downtown Houston. This bold and expansive move brought out over 700,000 attendees for one great umbrella of causes: Pride. Here I describe my experience.

Now everyone knows that Houston can be unbearingly hot and not just in terms of its fine women and cajun-latin cuisines. I had made plans to only attend the festivities after the sun begin to set, until I was made aware that not only was Houston Pride occurring during a historical time all while T.R.U.T.H. Project, was a part of history while making history too. The T.R.U.T.H. (Telling Real Unapologetic Truths thru Healing) Project targets the GLBT community and Allies, focusing on creating self awareness and healing through the use of performance arts and social engagement. Addressing issues important to our community and society, this project highlights national and local artist creating original works presented to the community in an Out Of the Box healing experience. Healing through the ARTS...I have a great love for this organization as I have shared many truths on its platform. This time was no different. I came together with talented artists in a vast variety. The T.R.U.T.H. Project for the first time in history was a part of Houston Pride Celebration as it was one of the 200 plus exhibitors that attracted more than 75,000 people. That day was a good day.

Standing in Tranquility Park lined with tent-booths ranging from mental health information to wine samples, I couldnt help but feel a bit of Nostalgia.It reminded me of a hot summer day with your family enjoying each other, nature, and any other gloriousness the park background had to offer. In addition to that, I felt totally comfortable and at ease, like I belonged much like I did when Sweet Tooth Media sponsored and attended Eden`s San Francisco Pride. The grandfather of Prides across the nation shuts the entire city down. News coverage is extensive and pride is celebrated by many of its natives, visitors and transplants. Though Houston, didn't mimic this in its entirety, because I was there...as an active participant and artist for the T.R.U.T.H. Project, I felt right at home. The day was so full of energy and love. Yes, it was scorching hot, but the T.R.U.T.H. Project found its home on the Barefoot Wine Stage with plenty of seating and shade.  Shared with the likes of Big Freedia, the T.R.U.T.H. Project's artist brought an ascending healing energy with it. Spoken word artists such as Tiffany Wordmatician Scales, Jordan Sneed, James Just and MsNightLyfe gave voices to those without one, speaking life and sharing healing experience to every ear that heard. Vonetta of ABC BodyArt brought to life the Houston Pride`s HERO theme painting human bodies with armored paint. Damion and Nick afforded every eye that could see dance in its most purest and expressive form. Their performance attracted passer-bys with their high energy interaction with the audience. Concluding the T.R.U.T.H. Project's time for the evening included its founder, K. Dapree, thanking everyone, encouraging audience attendance, and inviting us all back to continue in the celebration of pride for Women of Color, the 2nd installment of the 3-part Black Lives Matter Series.

Prideful Intersectionality is a more appropriate term for what I experienced that day. I saw and interacted with people that looked like me and those that didn't. We all gathered for the greater good of each other to celebrate our journey, our independence, our victory, our stride in freedom, our selves, our Pride. The T.R.U.T.H. Project`s participation, inclusion in Houston Pride Celebrations, was the ultimate merging of the arts and communities.





"Buzzworthy Cravings, Creatively Satisfied!"

World AIDS Day 2011

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988. Furthermore it is an opportunity for you to learn the facts about HIV and put your knowledge into action. If you understand how HIV is transmitted, how it can be prevented, and the reality of living with HIV today - you can use this knowledge to take care of your own health and the health of others, and ensure you treat everyone living with HIV fairly, and with respect and understanding. You can also show your support for people living with HIV on World AIDS Day by wearing a red ribbon, the international symbol of HIV awareness. World AIDS Day is also a great opportunity to raise money for NAT and show your support for people living with HIV.

Each year there is a theme attached to World AIDS Day. In 1988, the theme was Communication. Communication is a necessary medicine in maintaining health and being the theme during the first year of inception speaks volumes about the importance of being able to communicate freely. In 2002-2003 the theme was Stigma and Discrimination. These are of importance because stigma and discrimination act as secondary illness that greatly affect persons living with HIV/AIDS. The theme for 2011 through 2015 is "Getting to Zero". Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths. “Zero New HIV Infections” and “Zero Discrimination” are likely to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the power of  voice and light to get life and death issues the attention they deserve. Many of the organizations that come together to put events to create awareness of the AIDS/HIV epidemic come with their own sub-theme. A notable event in Houston is the upcoming T.R.U.T.H Project. The T.R.U.T.H. Project targets the GLBT community and Allies, focusing on creating self awareness and healing through the use of performance arts and social engagement. Addressing issues important to our community and society, this project highlights national and local artist creating original works that will be presented to the community in an Out Of the Box healing experience. Healing through the ARTS. This installment's theme is addressing the issues of HIV Awareness and Stigma.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

The data regarding Americans living with HIV are alarming. ‎1.2 million Americans who have HIV - the infection that causes AIDS - 20 percent don't know they're infected. That's 240,000 people. People can have the infection for years without developing symptoms. Another reason for the low success rate, only about 40 percent of people with HIV are getting HIV-fighting medications regularly. Worse, only 28 percent have gotten the virus to low levels in their blood. That translates to roughly 850,000 Americans who don't have the virus controlled, Frieden said. Success rates were lowest in blacks and women, he said. ‎"The fact that nearly three quarters of Americans living with HIV still have the virus circulating in their bodies, damaging their brains and immune systems and putting their sexual partner at risk is something we think we can do a lot about," Frieden told Reuters. The report - published Tuesday on the CDC's website - was based on surveys and surveillance reports from 2010 and a study that focused on medical care for people with HIV.

There are several reasons why more people aren't faring better, the CDC said. Some were still early in their treatment before medication took effect. Some dropped routine care because of money or other reasons. For a small percentage of cases, the treatment may not have worked. The key to Getting To Zero, is getting tested! KNOW your STATUS, Get Tested!!!!

Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57333212-10391704/cdc-240000-americans-have-hiv-and-dont-know-it/
http://www.worldaidsday.org/
http://www.aidshelp.org/
http://www.unaids.org/en/Dataanalysis/Epidemiology/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_AIDS_Day
http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/world-aids-day/world-aids-day-2011/
 
 
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