KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - A health summit on October 5th and 6th titled, “Envisioning our future: A new look at gay and bi men’s sexual health,” will identify strengths in the community that can form the basis for new HIV and STD prevention approaches.

Participants will include more than 100 gay community members and leaders as well as HIV and STD prevention workers and health care providers. They will share information about the current state of gay and bisexual men’s health and develop action plans to improve current and future HIV and STD prevention strategies.

Syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia rates among gay and bisexual men in King County are on the rise, and there are an estimated 250 new cases of HIV diagnosed annually in gay and bisexual men.

“Whether they identify as gay or bisexual or consider themselves ‘straight’, men who are sexually active with other men continue to comprise the largest group acquiring HIV each year both locally and nationally,” said Dr. Bob Wood, Director of HIV/AIDS Control for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “This 4th regional conference on HIV prevention targeting such men provides important opportunities to reduce disease in our communities.”

Some conference highlights include:

• a Thursday evening panel and reception with national HIV and STD prevention leaders who will share approaches to promoting good health and engage in a community dialogue on how these approaches might apply locally.
  
  
• a day-long summit on Friday with plenary sessions led by national and local experts and interactive workshops. Among the sessions, there will be stories by gay and bisexual men who have either seroconverted or who have stayed HIV-free. Also, a local doctor with a large practice of gay and bisexual men will offer a keynote speech on what makes some of her gay and bisexual patients healthy.

The conference is sponsored by the HIV/AIDS and STD Programs at Public Health - Seattle & King County. All conference events are free and open to the public. Additional information and registration materials are available at: www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/summit.htm

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.

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