FREE HIV/STI Testing on Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
February 7 was National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), a day to celebrate progress in HIV prevention, reduce HIV stigma, and encourage HIV testing and treatment among African American people.
While the date may have passed, it's not too late to take care of yourself. The LOFT also offers free HIV/STI testing on every 3rd Tuesday of every month. The next testing day will be February 15.
This SUNDAY: Feb 13-OUTWalking
Join OUTWalking on our next hiking adventure!
Graham Hills Park
Sunday, February 13, 2022
10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Route 117, Mount Pleasant, NY 10570
Join us for a beautiful wooded hike through scenic Graham Hills Park, which features 431 acres of forest. Please note that there will be hills to climb throughout our journey, but the trails should be suitable for most skill levels.
Ugh. Here We Go Again: Gala Date Change
We are moving the Gala once more from Saturday, March 12, 2022, to Friday, September 30, 2022. Seriously, we feel you 1,000% with the frustration and disappointment.
We've been on top of all the important health reports and the guidance being offered says that if the Omicron decline continues, September will be one of the very best times for an event like the gala.
LGBTQ+ Black Leadership Panel Discussion
In celebration of Black History Month, The LOFT is hosting a leadership panel on the future of Black LGBTQ+ Leadership.
Come and listen to local Black LGBTQ+ community leaders address some important questions: What is needed to ensure the growth and empowerment of LGBTQ+ Black leaders? What are the social issues that need to be addressed? How can the broader LGBTQ+ community participate in this empowerment?
Free, all welcome to attend. The event will be taking the place of the LGBTQ+ People of Color Peer Support Group.
February 28, 2022 | 7:00-8:30 PM | Virtual Event
Share The Love | A Virtual Social Gathering
Please join us on Zoom on February 12th at 11:30 AM EST as we *virtually* share a meal together. Eat what you have at home, have some coffee, or just join for conversation.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, this month our conversation will center around the notion of love – self-love, love for your community, loving friendship, etc. Come ready for conversation, games, and community connection! All are welcome. This is an inter-generational program of Silver Connections, all ages (18+) are welcome.
Out at The Movies Feb 20, 2022
Staff Spotlight Winter Edition 2022 ❄
Join the conversation on Medical Care for LGBTQ+ patients
Join Zoom next Thursday, February 3 for a conversation on palliative care and Project Respect: LGBTQ+ Experiences with Healthcare Providers for Serious Illness, featuring Gary L. Stein, JD, MSW, a Professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work- Yeshiva University; Cathy Berkman, PhD, MSW, a Professor and Director of the Palliative Care Fellowship at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service; and moderated by Mary Beth Morrissey, PhD, JD, MPH, SSA Past President and Founder and President of New York State Southern Region Collaborative for Palliative Care.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community experiences discrimination and stigma in accessing health care and social services – including palliative, hospice, and long-term care. Professor Gary Stein and Professor Cathy Berkman will share the results of phase I of Project Respect, recently published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, which reported high levels of discrimination experienced by the community in accessing palliative care services. Professors Stein and Berkman will also discuss phase II of Project Respect, which seeks to obtain LGBTQ+ community experiences with healthcare providers in obtaining care for serious illness. They will also discuss implications for future research, institutional and public policy, and practice, including current policy barriers to respectful and non-discriminatory care, and the importance of staff training to address inadequate knowledge and discriminatory behaviors.
This event is part of the State Society on Aging of New York’s Conversation Series. All events in the Conversation Series are free and open to the public, so please feel free to share with your networks.
Project Respect: LGBTQ+ Experiences with Healthcare Providers for Serious Illness
Thursday, February 3, 2022, 12:00pm – 1:00 pm
Please register at:
https://aoascc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcucu6uqjgoEtRt8pLcUDk7IZBvXfpZrx5s
Join Out Walking
Join OUTWalking on our next hiking adventure!
Graham Hills Park
Sunday, February 13, 2022
10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Route 117, Mount Pleasant, NY 10570
Join us for a beautiful wooded hike through scenic Graham Hills Park, which features 431 acres of forest. Please note that there will be hills to climb throughout our journey, but the trails should be suitable for most skill levels.
CALM's special guest facilitator Zoe Flowers
C.A.L.M Meets every Thursday from 5:30pm-6:30pm Eastern Time.
In this time when our lives are very off-balanced, a centering practice can be a useful tool to get through challenging moments. Utilizing guided meditation, breathing exercises and reading and reflection, this session will introduce a variety of practices to help you feel grounded and centered to better connect to your emotional core.