The GD Blog

06/21/2013 – We Have a GD Guest! Clint Finch of DC Crystal Meth Working Group

Jun.16, 2013 by Justin in Weekly Discussion

We have a GD guest! Clint Finch joins us on June 21st to discuss his work with the DC Crystal Meth Working Group and the drugs impact and affects in the LGBT community.

Clint Finch is chair of the DC Crystal Meth Working group, a Center group dedicated to catalyzing and advancing a LGBT response to meth in Washington. As an 18-year resident of the District, Clint has witnessed the evolution of trends and attitudes about drug and alcohol addiction and HIV in the city. His experience as a recovering meth addict, HIV+ gay man, and research professional give Clint a unique perspective on addiction issues in the LGBT community and how they relate to HIV.

Chris will be speaking about crystal meth addiction in general, focusing specifically on current trends in usage, options for recovering or reducing harm, and the relationship between meth and HIV.

If there are questions you would like answered by Clint please forward them in a private message or via email at GD@GayDistrict.Org. identities concealed unless otherwise stated.

Remember, we will be meeting at The DC Center. Discussion starts at 8:30pm and will be followed by a light bite to continue conversation and perhaps a late night bar crawl or whatever else we can get ourselves into!

06/07/2013 – “Pride…A Deeper Love!”

Jun.06, 2013 by Justin in Uncategorized

Hey Boys!

With Capital Pride Festival just DAYS away and everyone ramping up to take the city by storm we thought it would be great to get together for a 2-Fold discussion!

1 – Stories of Pride: Bring a story you’d like to share involving a Pride experience (DC or Otherwise) on a small sheet of paper with just a sentence describing it…join us on Friday for further details on how we’ll make this fun for all!

2 – The Legacy We Leave: With Pride meaning so many things to SO many people and the definition and purpose of the festival and parade having changed throughout the years…what is the legacy we leave for those who carry the Pride torch? What have we paved for them and what struggles will they inherit from us? Are we focused as a community enough to have common ground and clarity on what we’re even fighting for now? Has the “Celebration” of Pride gotten in the way of the ”In Your Face” social justice and queer culture of the Pride of yester-years? Part of the Pride experience and culture is loving, respecting and honoring our community; In what ways can we show that to our LGBT elders? How can we pass that to our LGBT children? More importantly, how can you as an individual leave a legacy of Pride for others to strive or admire? Whether it’s being the queen of the social scene or the poz life advocate and educator. Whether the knowledge you pass is to be safe with your heart as well as your body, how will you want to leave it and who do you want to give it to? How much knowledge and strength have we gained or lost due to the generation who lost their fight in the early epidemic of HIV/AIDS?

This Friday, let’s dish and talk about Pride…A Deeper Love. Discussion will start at 8:30 at The DC Center, 1318 U Street, NW and be followed by dinner. For further information on directions or access please reply.

Our Next Facilitated Discussion: June 7th, 2013 (Don’t Let the 5th Friday Fool You!)

May.17, 2013 by Justin in Uncategorized

We had a great time on Friday! Gay District (GD) would like to thank everyone who attended the discussion about “Gay Pride…Brought to you by Visa” on May 17th. What did you boys think of the SanFran Gay Pride dropping the well known Bradley Manning of Wikilinks fame as Grand Marshall? You boys had a LOT to say and feel free to share continue the GD conversation on the Facebook Page. If any other GD participants are interested in facilitating a group discussion on a topic of their own choosing, contact your facilitators, Justin, Jay or Luke through GD@GayDistrict.Org or just reply to the e-mail here-in. Want to suggest a conversation but don’t want the hassle of leading it? Share Away!

Don’t forget, our next GD discussion group is at 8:30pm on Friday June 7th at The DC Center for the LGBT Community, 1318 U Street NW. Look out for more GD announcements of upcoming events in your inbox (if you haven’t found your way to our GD GoogleGroup join us!) or on the GD Facebook Page

Speaking of Pride and Money…what have YOU done today to make you feel proud? I hope part of that will be enjoying a great show June 1st & 2nd by making it out to see GMCW at our spring show, “Seven” happening at Lisner Auditorium

About Gay District

Gay District is a community-based organization focused on building understanding of gay culture and personal identity, awareness of community events and civil rights for gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and intersexed (GBTQQI) men between the ages of 18 and 35 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Empowering them with the opportunity to assist and participate in activities will foster a better gay community. Our mission is to help our participants become aware of everything the region has to offer through social and professional networking opportunities as well as partnering with other LGBT groups and community-based organizations for various activities and volunteering.

Through a synthesis of interpersonal interaction and community involvement, we aim to promote a more productive LGBTQ, etc. community and an enlightened understanding of gay urban living. In addition, we believe that our program will encourage them to become more active in the social justice arena. We strive to reach our mission through weekly facilitated discussions, happy hours, weekend outings, community and cultural events, volunteer opportunities, and other activities created by and for our participants.

Gay District meets on Friday nights in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Northwest DC for facilitated group discussions and then head as a group to a local restaurant for dinner. We host several social events at venues across the DC metro area throughout the year as well.