The MALE Center Gives Boston Primer For Gay and Bi College Men On Sep. 15 and 17

By: Nathan Boltseridge

BOSTON, Sep. X, 2005 Homework doesn’t have to be painful.  For example, The MALE Center, a program of AIDS Action Committee, is offering two orientation sessions for gay and bisexual college men who are either new to Boston or unfamiliar with all it offers.  Titled “Gay Guy’s Guide to Boston: COLLEGE EDITION,” the course runs on Thu., Sep. 15 from 2-4 p.m. and on Sat., Sep. 17 from 7-9 p.m.  Both sessions will be held at The MALE Center at 571 Columbus Avenue in Boston’s South End.

 “Attending our sessions will be like having your own city tour guide or Julie, the cruise director on The Love Boat,” said Benjamin Perkins, Director of The Men’s Action Life Empowerment (MALE) Center, the CDC-funded program that provides HIV and health navigation in a community center setting.  “We created The Gay Guy’s Guide to make it easy for men in the community to navigate the city’s diversity and variety with ease, as we would do to welcome family members.”

 “The more men know about their options in Boston, the more likely they will make healthier choices with how they spend their time.  We will be hosting more orientations for other gay and bi men in town,” Perkins added.  “There’s more to Prevention than the absence of disease, and we believe that this kind of programming is integral to the good work we do here, engaging men into the circle of care by showing that we are invested in their health and wellbeing.”

The MALE Center offers a variety of programs, including providing HIV counseling and rapid testing services, administered by Fenway Community Health.

In addition to its daily programming, The MALE Center makes its space available for community groups when there are no pre-scheduled evening programs.  Its operating hours are Tue. And Thu., 2-8 p.m.; Wed., 3-8 p.m.; Fri., 9-5 p.m. and Sat., 12-6 p.m.  It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.