Strength in Numbers

Colorado
http://www.strengthinnumbers.org/
The Official Newsletter for the Colorado Chapter of Strength in Numbers
Spring 2008
V o l u m e I , I ss u e I I SIN IN THE CITY
By Rod Rushing
Inside this issue
SIN in the City 1 Welcome to the 2nd edition of SINews. The mission of this newsletter
is to provide good solid information regarding accessing treatment,
The History of SIN 1 benefits eligibility, and social events that no doubt will increase the
quality of our lives. There is quite a landscape to navigate being posi-
Update from State Health 2 tive, both emotionally and socially, so I tend to believe that any sup-
port is greatly appreciated. And I am thrilled to pass any of this along
My Favorite Resource 3 to others in my community.
Since I came on board as moderator last August, the group has grown
SIN Computer Help 3 by over 100 and we have begun to enjoy SIN-in-the-City with bi-weekly
brunches, monthly happy hours, and several pot lucks. All of which is
My SIN Story 4 a good start down the path to becoming a community. The number of
gay poz men in the metro area is actually quite large but that number is not always evident. With
Community Educational 5 effort, we can emerge as a strong, colorful, and vibrant tribe of men in our city. With that in mind,
Forums SIN has begun to make friends with a number of businesses in town that support our efforts by
providing a safe space for poz guys to meet, socialize, hold events, and share information and in-
Mayor’s Office of HIV Re- 6 sight. One such event was the UB2 in January at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret. There were over 110
sources attendees and it was a huge success. Other events included a singles mixer, 3rd Thursday Happy
Energy Work and HIV 7 Hours, bi-monthly Coffee Talk gatherings at Hamburger Mary’s, and the monthly educational fo-
rums.
SIN Crap 8
(Continued on page 3)
My Tribe 8

The Yogettes 9
T H E H I S T O RY OF THE FOUNDING
OF STRENGTH I N N U M B E R S By Jude Fisher
The Second Closet 10

It’s Baaaack. . . 11
Bryan Levinson is ready to take on the world. His social networking
Shadowcliff Update 12
organization, Strength In Numbers (SIN,) has carved out a place for
The Bumpy Night 13 itself in the US among an endless and ongoing number of social and
support groups that have been coming on the scene since the arri-
Resource Page 15 val of AIDS and HIV in the 1980’s. In the spirit of moving onwards
and upwards Levinson has already began expanding his organization’s appeal by taking it to a
Upcoming Events 16 global audience.
Levinson, who tested positive in 2000, started SIN five years ago in Los Angeles after attending
MISSION STATEMENT various social and dating events organized especially for people with HIV and AIDS. “I attended
The mission of Strength In Numbers is to pro-
because I didn’t want to feel alone.” Says Levinson. “It was at a time when I was still newly diag-
vide social support and educational resources to nosed and wanted to find a boyfriend.” Levinson recalls that “some of the events were set up like
HIV+ gay men around the world thereby helping
to improve their quality of life, quality of health
speed dating or mini dates where you would chat with several assigned candidates over the course
and their ability to help others. Our activities of the evening. I always found this a bit formal and since everyone hates interviews why would you
include operation of an interactive Internet-based
communications system, development of pro- want to do that on a date?”
grams that increase self-esteem and social inter-
action skills, organization and guidance of
While volunteering at different HIV and AIDS organizations Levinson made friends with several guys
activities that increase physical abilities, and and decided to put together something a little more casual. He organized a potluck evening and
promoting volunteer opportunities by our mem-
bers in HIV-related efforts including fundraising
between 50 and 60 people turned out for his first event. The gathering eventually became a weekly
for treatment services and research (such as AIDS thing and the group’s list of activities expanded to include weekly breakfasts, hikes, whitewater
Walks and the California AIDS Life/Cycle) and
HIV prevention campaigns. (Continued on page 4)
http://www.strengthinnumbers.org/
Strength in Numbers Page 2

F RO M S T A T E H E A LT H
By Todd Grove

tions (such as Nexium), diabetic treatments care participants only). BTGC will now pay all
and supplies, antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medi- eligible participants prescription drug plan
cations, smoking cessation treatment (PDP) premiums, co-pays, deductibles, as
(Chantix), birth control items, and testoster- well as the “coverage gap” fees that all plans
one therapies. The ADAP can also pay for will have this year. Basically, if you qualify,
several vaccines and inoculations. Recently, you will have no cost associated with any
the ADAP Review Committee has recom- medication that is on your chosen PDP from
mended that Hepatitis C treatments such as January 1st, 2008 until you reach the far
interferon treatment should be added. I will side of the coverage gap. BTGC will pay all of
update you if the recommendation is ap- these fees (which can amount to over
Hello! My name is Todd Grove, and I work proved. $5,400) for you until you reach the
with the Ryan White Part B Program at the “catastrophic level” on your plan. Since the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Insurance Information: last SIN newsletter, we have decided we will
Environment (CDPHE). I write an occasional The insurance continuation program has also pay the 5% co-pay for any ADAP medica-
article for the Strength in Numbers newslet- been seeing a large increase of enrollees tion at the catastrophic level.
ter detailing information from our program over the last several months. If you, a partner I have spoken to many people who have told
that you may use if you are a person living or family member are working, and can ac- me that this program has greatly improved
with HIV/AIDS in Colorado. I have had the cess insurance through an employer on your their ability to manage the costs of medica-
opportunity to meet several people through behalf (or a COBRA policy through a former tions. Some have even told me that they are
SIN that were either not aware of some of our employer), this program may be for you. now taking medicines that they used to skip
statewide programs, or misunderstood the If you have ever checked into private insur- due to the cost. We realize there have been
eligibility requirements. In several instances, ance and thought that the only way you could some glitches getting this program off the
we were able to work together to help con- receive it is through Cover Colorado ground, but we’re very proud of it and are
nect them with medications, insurance, and (Colorado’s only insurance intended for peo- considering greatly expanding the number of
medical care through our department, ple with major chronic or acute illness), pharmacies that will accept the BTGC card in
through the Denver Mayors Office of HIV Re- here’s some interesting information: If you the new plan year, beginning January 1,
sources, through other Ryan White funded are self -employed, or if you have a company 2009. We are currently negotiating with an
providers. If you are not in case management of two or more employees (or can form one), additional Denver area pharmacy to join
at any of the local HIV/AIDS service provid- you may be eligible to enroll in private insur- BTGC within the next month for those who
ers, I strongly encourage you to do sign up. It ance without a provision that denies you you who do not get care at Denver Health or
is not required that you be case-managed in coverage due to a preexisting condition University and are now required to use mail-
order to access most forms of assistance (insurance companies can deny individual order service from the Apothecary for your
available, however. coverage to anyone for this reason). If you medications.
think this may be relevant to your situation,
ADAP ADDITIONS: check with a private insurance broker in your
If you are not enrolled in our program yet,
Since the last SIN newsletter, there have area and discuss your options. If you find please see our website (www.stdhivco.org)
been several new medications added to the such private insurance that works for you, for more information, or contact me directly
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) formu- our insurance program may also be able to at CDPHE. Please note you need to continue
lary for complications of HIV. If you have had pay for such policies if you are eligible. For to be enrolled in ADAP to participate.
difficulty accessing any of these medications information about the insurance program for
in the past and are on ADAP, please speak to those of you who live in the Denver metro
Until next time, be well!
your doctor or pharmacist at an ADAP phar- area, contact Colorado AIDS Project (303-
macy. If you're not enrolled in ADAP, and 837-0166). Other enrollment agencies are
want more information, see our website listed on our website (www.stdhivco.org).
(www.stdhivco.org), or call Santos Rivera, the
ADAP enrollment coordinator, at 303-692- Bridging the Gap— Update:
2716. Over 480 PLWHA who have Medicare, either Todd Grove - Project Administrator
because they’ve reached retirement age, or DCEED – STD/HIV Ryan White Part B
Psychotropic medications: 3835
have SSI or SSDI, and were in the ADAP have
• Depakote, Remeron, Celexa, Zolofta, joined the new State Pharmaceutical Assis- 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Zyprexa, Risperdal and Geodon) tance Program, “Bridging the Gap, Colorado” Denver, CO 80246
Antihypertensives: (BTGC), since it began in January. CPDHE and (303) 692-2783
the ADAP Review Committee established this [email protected]
• Lisinopril, Hydrochlorothiazide, Atenolol, program as a way to help Medicare Part D-
Metoprotol, Cozar eligible ADAP participants pay for their medi-
Cholesterol Treatments: cations. Members need to use an ADAP quali-
fied pharmacy (Denver Health, University
• Gemfibrozil, Lipitor, Lescol and Crestor Hospital, the Apothecary for mail order pre-
Also included were gastrointestinal medica- scriptions, and Kaiser Permanente for Medi-
Strength in Numbers Page 3

M Y F AV O R I T E R E S O U R C E
D E N V E R I N F E C T I O U S D I S E A S E C O N S U LT A N T S ;
A P E R S O N A L 1 0 - Y E A R E X P E R I E N C E By Rick Smith
While I still do not care for the name of this clinic -- Denver Infectious Disease Consultants (DIDC)-- it is, in my
opinion, the best place for a person with HIV/AIDS to receive compassionate, quality medical care in the Denver
area, if not the world. The name of the clinic could provoke a prejudiced response from those not familiar with
DIDC or the HIV/AIDS community. In fact, I once had my doctor write a letter for me without the clinic name on
the letterhead so as to avoid an insensitive response.
I first approached DIDC In 1997, when I scheduled a time to interview a potential HIV doc for me. I had just relo-
cated to Denver from a small mountain community, 35 miles west of Denver, and my HIV had then converted to full blown AIDS. “Interview a
potential doctor?” you ask, and my answer would be an emphatic Yes! I felt then, and still do feel that we all need to take control of our
medical care, and who better than me to make the decision about who will provide my care?
On my first visit, I was introduced to Benjamin Young, M.D. who, when we met, insisted I call him Ben, and not Dr. Young. That took some
getting used to, but now-- 10 years later-- it comes naturally to me now and I consider him to be a good friend.
Ben spent over an hour with me that first day and was gracious enough to give me candid answers to questions that some docs might have
viewed as difficult, even somewhat intimidating. I asked him about everything— his training, his background, his personal life, his spiritual
life, and about how he would help me stay empowered in the medical decisions that could ultimately affect my life. I must say he did win me
over with his well-thought-out but natural and candid answers to my many questions. At that initial interview, I brought along some informa-
tion about HIV that I’d found on the Internet. He told me that eventually I would probably know more about HIV than he/him, because he
could see that I took the diagnosis and treatment very seriously. The Internet remains my best tool for getting needed information, besides
Ben Young and his associates.
Although I don't feel that I know more about HIV than Ben, I do feel that I am better informed about treatment issues, including the drug
resistance often associated with long term treatment. Additionally, because of my involvement with DIDC I have been introduced to the Sun
Study, a study for those who are HIV+ and on treatment who are willing to go through a series of scans for bone health, fat distribution, and
cardiac status, as well as undergo anal pap smears and answer a series of boring questions about one's sexual encounters. Not that my sex
life is boring, but the questions are boring and rather clinical, it being a clinical trial, after all. They also have a computerized memory test

(Continued on page 5)

SIN IN THE CITY (CONT.) SIN COMPUTER HELP

Hello fellow pozlings! I would like to offer my assis-
(Continued from page 1)
tance with navigating the SIN site on Yahoo Groups. I
find myself in the unfortunate classification of com-
In addition, there was a well-attended southern BBQ in Long- puter geek and thus am fairly familiar with the group
mont on Memorial Day, and there will be more 3rd Thursday structure on Yahoo. Since we are all in this together
Happy Hours and coffee talks, and the Shadowcliff retreats in and I want to help out when I can, I offer my expertise
June and July. Information for all of these events can be found to any of you whenever you get stuck and have a com-
on the back page of this newsletter and on the website calen- puter-related question pertaining to the use of the
dar: site. Rather than posting the question to the group, I request you send
me the question directly to my personal email: [email protected]. I
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINColorado/cal
will review the question, try to find the answer and then respond back
as soon as possible. I will also post the answer in a FAQ document on
And this brings me to my current request: SIN is a community the site. As this gets going, I would encourage anyone with a question
based organization, there are no paychecks and no titles, we to check out this document to see if the answer may already be there.
are just guys who know that our health and our outlook will Please keep in mind that I do work full time and that I am in graduate
improve if we are around other poz guys. Doing so prevents school at night, so my “free”
depression and helps us avoid isolation, which is much better time is somewhat limited. Nev-
than the alternative. That said, I urge all of you to “come out, ertheless, I will do my best to
come out, wherever you are” and participate by hosting help anyone who is stuck on
events, scheduling hikes or bike rides (or even a scavenger the site and needs a little guid-
hunt?), arranging camping trips, or trips to restaurants. SIN ance. See you all soon at a
welcomes (and needs) your input and your effort, so come out
future event!
and be with us. It’s a great time for us to have some fun!
—Rod
---Carl Frazier.
Strength in Numbers Page 4

M Y S T R E N G T H I N N U M B E R S S T O RY By Charles “Chuck” Weisbrook

I had heard about Strength In Numbers last fall, but was never able to
attend any functions as I lived in the mountains, eighty miles away
from Denver. In February I decided to move to Denver and attended a
brunch to meet people.
I was looking for a social network and didn‘t know what to expect.
Soon after sitting down someone walked in whom I have known for
years, through mutual friends, neither of us knew the others HIV
status. The next few times I attended a brunch I experienced the same
thing. I saw someone that I had known for a few years, but never knew
they were HIV+.
The thing that was most refreshing to me was that I had not been de-
fined to these people as being POZ. I had moved from a small commu-
nity where I had told one person of my status, and twenty people knew
by the next day. So it has been great to be able to just be a person. It’s
not about the disease. It has helped to put my status into perspective;
that it is a part of my life but doesn’t define me. For someone who has
only known for a couple of years that I am positive it has been nice to
gain back a little bit more of normal again.

—Chuck
Chuck with one of his first “snuggle buddies”

H I S T O RY OF SIN (CONT.)
(Continued from page 1)

rafting trips and fund-raising events to help other organizations. Levinson is quick to point out that “SIN is not a new idea or concept, just a
format that works - it can be easily replicated in other cities.”
The SIN gatherings were becoming well known among the HIV community in Los Angeles, where Levinson was living at the time and the
word about SIN was spreading. Bryan was soon contacted by someone in Phoenix who wanted to start a SIN group in that city. With Levin-
son’s guidance and direction more groups were started in different US cities under the SIN umbrella and the organization has been growing
at a steady pace ever since. There are 31 US chapters including a new chapter in Napa, California but where Levinson is spending more and
more of his efforts is helping to develop SIN in other countries. There are now several international chapters of SIN in cities including Lon-
don, Sydney, Toronto and Rio De Janeiro. A Scandinavian chapter has also recently been started.
Part of SIN’s success and growth can be attributed to its simple structure. It doesn’t have a lot of rules or mandatory do’s and don’ts. “We
don’t have committees or board members. I think when organizations become too bureaucratic, especially a less formal organization like
SIN, they are less likely to succeed.” Levinson has learned over the years that new chapters will only succeed if there is a lot of initial in-
volvement from the chapter leader. So he puts anyone who wants to start a new chapter through a pretty rigorous interview process and
insists on a commitment of at least a year before the reins can be handed over to others. “Once a chapter is created and is up and running,
they pretty much take care of themselves. They might come to me with general guidance questions but mostly we just give each other sup-
port. We’re kinda like a big family.”
The Internet has played a large part in helping to broaden to organization’s horizons and Levinson definitely wants to continue to take ad-
vantage of it. It’s been a valuable tool in helping to extend SIN to countries outside the US. SIN members in US cities, such as Wayne Nor-
man who runs the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter, help with outreach programs to establish new SIN chapters in other countries. As part of this
outreach Levinson is planning to take a trip to Brazil in 2008 with several US SIN members with the goal of more firmly establishing it’s
roots in South America and leveraging the help of it’s Brazilian brothers to help with the task. “We want to be in less developed countries
where there are large populations of gay men who are positive but who don’t have access to services that are available in more developed
countries.
As Levinson is finding out, expanding with such lofty goals brings its own set of challenges. Communicating with new chapters in foreign
countries can be difficult because of the language barrier. Levinson is already brushing–up on his Portuguese in preparation for future de-
velopment of SIN in Brazil. Workload is also another challenge. Levinson, who now lives in San Francisco, has a full-time job so juggling his
career, SIN and any kind of a personal life can be difficult.
It’s not stopping him though, with discussions underway for start-up chapters for women who are HIV positive and another one for HIV posi-
tive gay men in the US prison system, it seems like the world may not be enough.
Strength in Numbers Page 5

C O M M U N I T Y E D U C AT I O N A L F O RU M S
The educational
forums are infor- Upcoming Education Forums*:
mative and useful June 17th
presentations on A thorough outline of all the various services available to peo-
HIV and HIV- ple with HIV, how to qualify and how to hook in (presented by a
related topics and panel of individuals involved in HIV services).
are organized &
conducted with July 15th
the belief that “Beyond Survival: A Breakthrough in Well-Being” (practical
k n o wl e d g e is health tips from a long term survivor) presented by Nelson Ver-
power. The fo- gel from the Program for Wellness Restoration in Houston.
rums also afford Nelson also moderates the largest poz yahoogroup, and is co-
an opportunity for author of the book “Built to Survive”.
poz people to Aug. 12th
socialize and net- Community Potluck BBQ in Cheesman Park (in lieu of forum).
work. The forums are usually held on the second or third Tuesday of Watch for details.
each month in the community room at Our Saviors Lutheran
Church, 9th & Emerson St. A free catered dinner is served at 6:00 Sept. 9th
pm and the presentations begin at 6:30 pm. The educational forums “Drug Resistance and Resistance Development”
are coordinated each month by a small group of individuals (also The rest of the autumn is unplanned, and we welcome your
living with HIV) who are not associated with an agency (hence the ideas and input. If you would like to be placed on the e-mail list
motto: “by the community, for the community”). We welcome volun- to receive a monthly notification, please request to be added to
teers and participants in this effort. If you would like to help out with the list by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]
planning and/or occasional set up or clean up, please contact
Michael at: *All forums are subject to change. Check the SIN website -calendar sec-
tion- for updates
[email protected]

M Y F AV O R I T E R E S O U R C E ( C O N T . )
(Continued from page 3)

that is so mundane that I actually celebrate completing it each year.

I must say that if it wasn’t/weren't for Ben Young, the Sun Study and the compassionate care that I have received from the DIDC staff of
doctors over the years, I probably wouldn’t be alive today. Throughout my time with DIDC I have had sepsis from a teeth cleaning (which Ken
Greenberg, Ben’s colleague, helped diagnose and treat), and peripheral neuropathy (which Ben diagnosed and then referred me to his own
personal podiatrist for treatment). The neuropathy was very debilitating but the doctor I was referred to was able to diagnose another condi-
tion, Morton’s neuroma, which I had in addition to the neuropathy. He then fitted me for a prosthetic insert after removing the two perma-
nently inflamed nerves. Although I still have the neuropathy, the care provided has made it much more manageable. Also, while participating
in the Sun Study it was discovered that I had anal cancer. Scary, yes, but treatable if caught early enough, and luckily it was caught early
enough. I just had my anal pap smear come back clean, with no indication of malignant cells. Yea! Ben Young is now my good friend and I
am so grateful for the care that he and his staff provide. —Rick
The following are a list of doctors who provide compassionate care through DIDC:
Dr. Benjamin Young Dr. Kenneth Greenberg
• American Academy of HIV Medicine Specialist • American Academy of HIV Medicine Specialist
• 5280 Magazine "Denver's Top Doctors" (2002-2006) • 5280 Magazine "Denver's Top Doctors" (2001-2007)
• TheBody.com HIV Leadership Award • Rose Medical Center Teaching Award (2007)

Dr. John Hammer

• Diplomate, American Society of Tropical Medicine and DIDC HIV+ Support Group
Hygiene Meets the 2nd Weds of each month @ 4545
E. 9th Ave. Meetings are from 6:00 -7:00 pm.
Denver Infectious Disease Care is located in the Rose Physicians building next to Upcoming meeting dates:
Rose Hospital June 11th
4545 East Ninth Avenue Suite 120, Denver, Colorado 80220 July 9th
(303) 393 8050 August 13th
For more information about DIDC go to www.didc.us
Strength in Numbers Page 6

FROM THE DESK OF M AYO R ’ S O F F I C E

OF HIV RESOURCES
As a person living with AIDS and a staff member of the Mayor’s Office of HIV Resources
(MOHR), I’d like to offer a brief description of MOHR’s activities.
The Mayor’s Office of HIV Resources was established in 1996 by Mayor Wellington E. Webb as
the entity to receive and administer federal funds authorized by Congress to provide services
for people living with HIV disease in the Denver metropolitan area. Moreover, the federal legis-
lation (known initially as the Ryan White CARE Act) required a community planning body. Thus, Mayor Webb established the
Denver HIV Resources Planning Council in conjunction with MOHR. MOHR is a four person office situated in Denver’s Depart-
ment of Environmental Health. The staff includes the director, a contract administrator, a data systems administrator, and a
quality management coordinator.
In 2006, the Ryan White CARE Act was renamed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006. Its function
is to direct services and assistance to specific HIV+ populations through five “Parts”, with the first of these, Part A, directing
funds to Eligible Metropolitan Areas (EMA) and Transitional Grant Areas (TGA). EMAs and TGAs are metropolitan areas in each
of the fifty states and Puerto Rico with the largest number of reported HIV/AIDS cases. The Denver TGA is comprised of six
counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson. It is the intent of Ryan White Part A funding to be the
payer of last resort for services needed by people living with HIV. The services in the Denver TGA include: primary medical
care, HAART and HIV-related prophylaxis medications, dental care, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment,
home health services, medical case management, case management (non-medical), food bank/home delivered meals, emer-
gency financial assistance, housing services, and medical transportation services. The Denver HIV Resources Planning Coun-
cil selected the services (through a process known as Priorities, which will be discussed in a later article) to be provided
through Ryan White and also determined the level at which each service should be funded.
It is the responsibility of MOHR to oversee the process that receives the Ryan White funds and to ensure that the funds are
used to provide services in an effective and efficient manner. The first step in the process is to apply through a grant applica-
tion prepared by MOHR to the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). The amount awarded through the grant is
consists of two components: the formula award, which awards a set level of funding based on the number of HIV/AIDS cases
in the Denver TGA; and the supplemental award, which is a competitive process based on how well the previous year’s funds
were used in the Denver TGA. The grant is submitted to HRSA each fall with the actual notification of award amount made the
last week of February. The Denver TGA received $7 million for Ryan White services through its grant application to HRSA in FY
2008, up $3 million from FY 2006.
Once the grant application has been submitted to the feds, MOHR must then determine which agencies will receive Ryan
White funds to provide services and at what level to fund the respective agencies. Agencies that wish to provide direct ser-
vices to people living with HIV disease apply for Ryan White funding through an application submitted to MOHR once every
three years. When MOHR receives applications for Ryan White funding, an independent review committee is convened to
evaluate the applications. The committee, known as the Grant Application Review Committee (GARC), is composed of commu-
nity members who are knowledgeable in the area of HIV/AIDS, as well as HIV+ individuals. These individuals are not, however,
directly associated with an agency that has submitted an application and/or is currently receiving Ryan White funds. After
reviewing the various applicants, GARC makes a recommendation of which agencies should to be
funded, and the level of funding they should receive, and presents this information to Mayor Hick-
enlooper (the chief elected official of the Denver TGA). The mayor then instructs MOHR to imple-
ment his decision based upon the GARC’s recommendations. MOHR then negotiates grant ser-
vices agreements (contracts) with the agencies approved for funding by the mayor. The contracts
specify the services to be provided, how they will be provided, and who is to receive them. Al-
though agencies only submit an application once every three years, the contracts are negotiated
on a fiscal year basis—March 1st through February 28th. Having completed the contracting proc-
ess, MOHR subsequently monitors the service providers throughout the year to ensure that ser-
vices are indeed being provided in an effective and efficient manner.

Anthony E. Stamper, MPA

Contract Administrator
Mayor’s Office of HIV Resources
Strength in Numbers Page 7

E N E RG Y W O R K A N D HIV
By Craig Chapin
When Rod ask me to write an article about Energy Work and HIV for the SIN newsletter, I thought I would be
able to crank it out in no time. However, after many failed attempts, I have chosen to tell my story.
In June 2001 I tested positive for HIV. I was the Director of HIV Prevention at an AIDS Service Organization at
the time, so I tested myself. I was overwhelmed with guilt and shame and felt that I could not let anyone know I
was POZ, as it was my job to help all my “boys” to remain HIV negative— something I could not even do for
myself. I started medical care immediately, but taking care of the emotional part of being POZ was not some-
thing that I was able to do at that time. For the next two months, I went on with my life as if nothing had
changed, at least as far as my friends knew.
In August of that year, I had a wonderful experience at a street fair. I was aimlessly walking around the booths,
taking in what the fair had to offer, when all at once my attention was drawn to one booth in particular. As I walked toward it, I noticed a man
standing, holding his hands over a woman on a massage table, and I could feel this wonderful energy that he was sharing with her. My first
thought was, “I need to experience that energy and how can I do this for myself?” At that moment the man turned to me, nodded and
smiled. Without uttering a word, he seemed to be saying, “there you are” and “yes, I will share this energy with you.” Then he turned back to
the woman he was working with.
I started looking at the other booths, not wanting to go too far away, as I needed to talk to him and find out what just happened. About ten
minutes later I saw the woman he’d been working on walk away with a beautiful aura surrounding her. I wasted no time going over and intro-
ducing myself and finding out what it was that he did. His name was Michael and he explained that he’d been doing Usui Tibetan Reiki en-
ergy work. He then asked me to lay on the table so that he could perform some Reiki on me. It was an experience that I will never forget.
After fifteen minutes of receiving Reiki, I knew that it was something that I need to learn so that I could start taking care of myself. Michael
and I set a time to meet so that I could begin my Reiki training.
The word Reiki is made up of two Japanese words: Rei, or universal spirit, and ki, (like Chi, in Chinese medicine.) Thus, the word Reiki means
"universal life energy." Reiki is preformed by the practitioner placing his or her hands a few inches above the recipient’s body and letting the
universal energy flow in to the body. It is important for the person receiving Reiki to state a healing inten-
tion of what he would like to get from the Reiki session. Reiki is very difficult to explain; it is much better to
experience it firsthand to gain an understanding. Two good websites I’ve found on the subject are:
http://reiki.7gen.com/
and
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki/.
I use Reiki in my daily life to help reduce every day stresses, keep my viral load in control, and to check in
with my physical and emotional body so that I better able to help myself and others. Since my first experi-
ence with Reiki at the street fair, I’ve continued to study Reiki daily and have received four attunements,
to become a Reiki Master/Teacher. I addition, I have become a Certified Massage Therapist. The massage
and Reiki compliment each other greatly. In my business, many of my clients do a combination of Reiki
and massage. They find that the two together do a better job of relieving muscle stress and tension, and Divine Light Reiki &
they have more energy afterwards. Massage
If you have any questions about Reiki, please feel free to contact me. 6 0 5 ½ S o uth College Ave.
F o r t C o l l in s , C O 8 0 5 2 4
Be Peace -Craig
r e i k i c r a i g @ h o t m a i l . c om

Addiction Research and Treatment Services (ARTS) offers confi-

dential, gay-friendly, substance abuse treatment for individuals
who are HIV positive. Their comprehensive support programs in-
clude individual, group, and family counseling, methadone and
antabuse, random urine testing, and psychiatric and medical care.
All services are offered at no charge, and are provided through the
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center’s Infectious Disease
group practice.

For intake information, or to schedule an appointment, please call

303 355 1014
Strength in Numbers Page 8

SIN C R A P By Lee Wagner

Crap. Now what?!? Despite some long-standing denial that has up until now has served
me well, I realized that this Mary month of May is the 20-year anniversary of when I sero-
converted. Hmmm, I don’t even think that “sero-convert” was a word anyone used back
then. So much has changed in the past 20 years, including a whole new vocabulary. And
what has also contributed to my present underlying angst is that much like being 42, I
could no longer ignore that I, too am technically a “long-term survivor” -- whatever the heck
that means. Yes, folks, I know what it “means,” in the technical terms. My concern now is,
speaking in counselor-ease, what does that “mean” for me. It is my hopes that participat-
ing in SIN will help me on my personal journey for meaning as a long-term survivor.
So much is different about my life than when I had first found out (some 5 years or so after I actually sero-converted) Medically, I am the
healthiest I have ever been- insofar as HIV is concerned. I remember my last visit to the University ID clinic (much nicer than the back
room at the University of Nebraska’s Cancer Clinic—we needed to even hide from the doctor’s back then) when my doctor said my t-cells
were “Eleven-vormetubder.” I asked him to repeat that, but when I realized it was Elevenhundred –something, I couldn’t believe it and
spaced out the last part again. I didn’t think you could have that much and not explode. I was too embarrassed to ask him to repeat it a
third time, and really, it doesn’t matter. Really. How many of those things do you need?!? It’s not like friends or porn or cookware, things
for which there is no limit to one’s desire. T-cells, schmee-cells. My concern for lab results has been one of the big changes over 20
years for me. After I hit 500, I stopped worrying, and after 700, I stopped asking, at 11-hundred, I forgot to tell my family. When I did
remember to tell my sister, I made it clear to her that SHE should stop worrying.
I’ve visited with some of fellow SIN members about support groups and recognize there is a void in support for long term-survivors today.
I don’t need the same things I did when I started this adventure. AIDS isn’t the same and most importantly, I’m not the same. I have a
doctor that doesn’t cower in the corner of the room. I would never put up with that crap today. I’m not chasing after every possible im-
mune-boosting fad that pop culture embraces. I have more information about medications than I can remember. If a potential date
freaks about my HIV status, I truly understand what a freak HE is. I finally have my credit cards under control—so much for maxing them
out and thinking I was gonna die before the next payment due date. I’ve got to get my blood pressure under control. Blood pressure?!?
My biggest worry was getting night sweats or crapping my pants with the new dose of AZT. Gone are the days of Lee worrying about wast-
ing, she’s got to get to the gym and lose about 20 pounds! (okay, you bitches, 25 pounds!) I haven’t saved enough for retirement. I can’t
believe I’m even thinking about retirement!!! Is Colorado really a good place for HIV pos folk to retire? While I’ve had to change meds that
stopped working, now I actually have chosen to change meds because of the side effects, and once because that formula was no longer
being manufactured.
What do I want most now? Good friends, heart-felt hugs, a little sex, and some great laughs. Yes, it’s a whole new day after two decades,
and I’m glad there’s SIN to help in the journey. Get ready for more adventure! —Lee

I ’ V E F I N A L LY F O U N D M Y T R I B E By Jeff Willett
I heard of this group called Strength in Numbers (SIN) over a year and a half ago; but I was hesitant to join in the
activities. Sure I always had an excuse; something else to do. But as I think about it, this is what I’ve been
searching for all of my life.
When I came out of the closet, as a gay man, I had visions of a welcoming committee; a group of hundreds of
gay men standing there, with arms wide open, welcoming me to the group of enlightened people. Well that
never happened! So, then I picked up the gay newspaper and tried to find a group that I could belong to.
As I scanned down the list of groups, I concluded that I couldn’t go to gay Alcoholic’s Anonymous (hadn’t drunk
enough yet), I had no interest in being a Drag Queen, I didn’t have the vehicle for the 4-wheeling group, I wasn’t
a Buddhist vegetarian and I was too young to be playing checkers with the retirees. These are all great groups;
but as I searched through the whole list I couldn’t find a place where I belonged.
And then I noticed that all of the gay ethnic groups had a strong sense of community and belonging. The Hispan-
ics, African Americans, Native Americans and Asians all had their own group to go to. But where is the Regular
Average Guy (RAG) group?
So, finding SIN is finding the social group that I’ve been searching for! SIN is a melting pot of all ethnicities and interest groups. But the
thing that binds us together is that we are gay/bi men who are HIV POZ and come together with a social agenda.
Having HIV is a major life changing event and not normally a reason to celebrate. But it’s something that we all have in common. We’ve
learned how to get through the tough times and we’ve become stronger on our own. But when we’re all together at a SIN event, there’s
even greater strength in numbers.
When you attend a SIN activity, you have the opportunity to both give and receive strength in the knowledge of someone who’s overcome
what seemed to be an insurmountable mountain. And sometimes, it’s just great to relax, laugh and forget for a moment that we have a
chronic illness.
A tribe is not just a group of people with ethnic ties. A tribe is also defined as “a class or set of persons, esp. one with strong common
traits or interests or a large family.”
Now that’s what SIN is all about! I’ve finally found my tribe! I am a part of a large family. See you at the next event! —-Jeff
Strength in Numbers Page 9

THE YOGA GROUP: WE ARE THE YOGET TES

By Phil Wade

“They are really going to make me do a handstand? Me?”

“Ok, if I can learn to do a handstand, then HIV will be no challenge at all.”
It took a while to learn, but now I start my day, every day, with a couple of hand-
stands, and now my HIV care consists of three-pills at night, and yoga in the morning.
In early 1991 when I seroconverted, my yoga practice was minimal, as was my medi-
tation, but I knew that both could help me stay healthy. I did not feel good about the
floundering yoga practice, which I had started fifteen years earlier. I had been con-
templating looking for a yoga teacher, and my sister reminded me of the ancient
yoga adage that “when the student is ready, a teacher will appear.”
That summer, while waiting at the I.D. Clinic at Denver General, I saw a small sign
which simply said, “Free Yoga Classes for people with AIDS and HIV.” A contact num-
ber was attached, and when I called, I was assured that this was an appropriate
class for me.
The Yoga Group, which began in 1989, introduced me to Iyengar Yoga and restora-
tive poses, which were quite different from what I had previously practiced. I was also
introduced to yoga props and highly-structured, but fun classes. In the early ‘90s,
although we laughed and joked during class, we lost a few Yogettes each year to
AIDS. Many of us were seriously ill, but in the friendly, relaxed environment, we found Phil Wade (the one on the left) is the current President of
yoga helpful in restoring health, relieving drug side effects, and providing emotional the Yoga Group.
support. Each class became a combination of mild exercise, meditation, and emo-
tional support.
With the introduction of new meds in the mid-nineties, many of us
Yoga Group classes at the Iyengar Yoga Center
found ourselves getting healthier, but experiencing more drug side
770 S. Broadway
effects. The well-trained teachers taught us asanas, or poses, to com-
Mondays and Wednesdays: 5:15—6:30 pm. bat things like nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, neuropathy, etc.
Saturdays noon until 1:30pm. Now, we no longer lose Yogettes to AIDS-related deaths, there are dra-
matically fewer hospitalizations, and some of us are actually getting
There is an additional class near DU on Tuesdays at 4:30 pm. old! (OK, very middle aged). A couple of us have taken classes to teach
The weekday classes are restorative classes for many different yoga, and half of the Saturday Yoga Group classes are taught by Yoga
ailments including HIV. Saturday classes are exclusively for peo- Group students who have been part of this struggle since the early
ple with HIV and their partners. Classes are free for POZ people; 1990s and are now teachers. We adapt classes for each individual.
the Yoga Group is funded primarily through the Walk. Most of us are healthier now, although older. New, and sometimes
quite young, students appear each month, and even though a few of us
For more information about the Yoga Group, email or call Phil at: have known each other since the early ‘90s, the yoga is always new,
[email protected] always refreshing, always adapted to the individuals who are present.
(303)-358-3563. No reservations are needed. Wear loose fitting clothes, and join us!
Namasté.
—Phil

These pictures were snapped in January at the inaugural Denver

UB2 event. The festivities took place at Lannie’s Clocktower
Cabaret and were attended by over 110 people! SIN founder,
Bryan Levinson, was the guest speaker, and local performer
Lannie Garrett provided the entertainment. Lannie’s Clocktower
has been very supportive of the Strength in Numbers community
so if you get a chance, return the support by attending one of her
fabulous shows. Check out her calendar of upcoming events:
https://www.lannies.com/Calendar_Tickets.lasso
Strength in Numbers Page 10

THE SECOND CLOSET

by Scott E. McGlothlen
As someone who has had HIV for less than a year, it hardly seems appropriate that I would be
writing on life as a young, positive gay man. In fact, my knowledge of HIV was so low before I
tested positive that when my doctor walked in the room and confirmed it, the first thing I thought
was, I am going to die; maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow. But in 20 years, I will defi-
nitely be dead. Luckily it only took me two days to get in to see a specialist, where I quickly
learned that a healthy lifestyle and proper medication management would be my tools for a nor-
mal life expectancy. Essentially, I now had something like diabetes.
But I did not feel like a diabetic. I felt much worse, much more embarrassed and ashamed. I dreaded the idea of telling my family. I had no
clue which friends I could trust and rely on. I secretly met men online who were in the same shoes, many of whom were older.
"There will be a time when you don't even think about it anymore," one guy told me.
"I wouldn't recommend telling anyone!" another warned. "And don't tell anyone about me!"
This was indeed one of the most confusing times in my life, yet it all felt too familiar. I kept wondering where I had heard this kind of stuff
before. And then it hit me: I was in a second closet. Only this time I wasn't a gay kid trying to open up to a heterosexual world. Instead, I was
an HIV positive man trying to find acceptance in a gay world.
From an outside perspective, this doesn't make sense. The gay community is supposed to be both accepting of this disease and extremely
supportive. There are fundraisers, galas, walks and balls galore to benefit HIV. So why would someone feel such shame and the need to go
into hiding about it?
I do no not know the answer to that question, but I regularly witness the shame and hiding. Many of the men I met online discussed the
topic of disclosure, some saying they hid their status from their families. Others talked about how it should be kept out of the workplace.
One guy even kept it secret from his closest friends, gay and straight. He also advised me not to tell any potential sexual hook-ups, and to
wait at least six months before telling anyone that I met. I even saw these trends in my own relationship when my HIV-negative boyfriend had
to tell his volleyball teammates that he would be missing the next game so that we could attend an HIV community forum. Like a magician,
he easily distracted his peers, avoiding any mention of the topic. His intentions were to respect my privacy, but it also felt like he was trying
his best not to "out" me.
From my own personal observation, the second closet seems to occur more in the younger generation, and in the newly diagnosed, like me.
Nearly all the men I met who were over age 40 were out and honest about their HIV status, some even spoke of it as a badge of honor and
survival. And in a way, the long-term survivors are not unlike those who have been to war. The battles may have been different, but watching
your peers die must feel the same.
"Being in the closet about HIV is an insult to those who have died," one man told me over some Chinese food. "Guys today don't know how
lucky they have it with these medications. We weren’t so lucky then. And now they have the balls to hide it? It's offensive!"
Although his viewpoint may seem extreme, I couldn’t help but agree with him. Prior to my diagnosis, I didn't really know anyone with HIV,
especially in my age group, so when I found out I was positive, it left me feeling lonely. Suddenly I was the child on the playground that no
one wanted to play with because he had cooties, and that train of thought can’t be healthy for anyone living with disease.
Younger generations function on a different level than older generations. Whether we like to admit it or not, people in their twenties and
thirties are much more concerned with image. We work harder to get laid than we do to put money in our 401k. Young gay men may think
they are different; may proclaim that they do not care what people think, having worked so hard to accept their own sexuality but, ironically,
it is these same guys who desperately hope that others will notice the Prada label on their shirt.
It is human nature for us to receive social gratification from one other. As sociologist Charles Cooley described it in his theory of the "Looking
Glass Self," we view ourselves as we think others perceive us. With that in mind, it would be naive to think that the stigma associated with
HIV does not come with the risk of social rejection. And when we do experience this rejection, we internalize it and feel even worse about
ourselves, which, in turn, encourages us to stay in this closet. Even though there may be a level of social safety (and probably a better sex
life) when we stay in the closet (and don't disclose), it essentially just continues the cycle of stigma.
This, in turn, reduces the awareness of the disease, sends the message that HIV is not prevalent in our community, and reinforces the mes-
sage that people should feel shame when they are diagnosed. Then when someone new tests positive, that person is likely to feel alone,
scared, and to retreat into the closet. Thus the cycle repeats.
But does coming out about our status really help reduce the stigma? It certainly seems like it to me. Again, it appears to parallel itself with
coming out as gay or lesbian. There was a time when only a few people were out about being gay. These were the social oddities of society--
those whose gayness was difficult to conceal. But the more that people opened up about their sexuality, the more social advancements
were made, and today, ironically, it is the people who reject or conceal their homosexuality that are seen as the social oddities.
Other cities are proving this as well. In far off, progressive lands, like New York and San Francisco, there is so much awareness about HIV
that people in those communities no longer care if you are positive or negative-- as long as you have six pack abs. Granted, Denver is no
New York or San Francisco. Our city may have grown a lot, but we still have a small town attitude towards a lot of things. The Denver-area
community has done an amazing job at raising money for programs and non-profits related to HIV, but now is the time to start raising social
awareness in order to reduce the undeserved stigma of this disease. And social groups like Strength In Numbers are a great place to start. A
group where people don't feel like they have to go into hiding when they hear what may be the worst possible news of their lives.
I personally have not had much time being HIV+. At his point, I still kind of feel like I am dancing with the devil. But that will stop only if I take
the steps to stop it. I know that when I attend SIN events, I gain more comfort with my positive status. Talking to other guys (especially
around my age) can only help me feel normal again. And when I feel comfortable with one group that helps develop the courage to be hon-
est with my fellow gay men outside of the group and helps me avoid entering the closet for a second time. I can show that if HIV can happen
to me, it can happen to anyone. I may receive some criticism along the way. But if I can help just one other person not feel like a freak, then
it will be worth it. —Scott
Strength in Numbers Page 11

Ow!!
IT’S BAAAACCK.. . .
!@*!#%!!
MY EXPERIENCE WITH SYPHILIS
By Chris Kenry
In case you haven't noticed the billboards, and signs on busses, syphilis is back.
I'm not sure it ever really went away, but I'm here to tell you that it is, most cer-
tainly out there. I am also here to tell you that you definitely don't want it and
should probably take some steps to avoid getting it, unless you want to endure
the hassle and humiliation described below.
Initially, I went to the doctor because I thought I was having a really persistent
outbreak of herpes (yeah, I've got that, too. Makes me a real catch, I know).
Anyway, the doctor looked at the sore on my dick and said, "why don't we run
some tests for other STDs."
A few days later he called to say that the tests for Chlamydia and gonorrhea
were negative, but the one for syphilis had come back positive.
Great, I thought. No big deal. A course of antibiotics and I'll be done with it. Unfortunately, treatment of syphilis in HIV+ patients is not quite
so simple, and success depends on the strength of the immune system as much as it does on antibiotic effect. For me, it was determined
that I would need a 3-week course of oral antibiotics, two pills, twice a day, which wasn't great since I'm not wild about having to remember
to take an additional set of pills in addition to all the others, but it seemed doable.
It wasn't.
I had an adverse reaction to this particular flavor of antibiotics and it left me nauseous to the point of vomiting, and generally feeling like I
had the Mother of all hangovers. Three weeks of that was not going to happen so I called the doctor and was told that the only alternative
was to get three rounds of penicillin injections, spread out over a period of three weeks.
Three little shots. Again, no big deal. Whatever it takes to get rid of the oozing sore on my dick.
Well, it was a big deal. A very big deal. I arrived on a Friday for the first round of shots and was told by the doctor that he wanted the interns
to give the injections, "so that they can get the practice."
Practice? How hard can it be to give someone a shot in the ass?
"These shots are different," he said, and then went on to describe the stuff they were going to inject as having "the consistency of cake frost-
ing. They really have to jam it in there," he said, miming something out of a brutal fisting movie.
Not since Bill Clinton met Monica Lewinsky has someone so regretted contact with interns. There were three of them, all prim and virginal,
and probably too young to legally buy alcohol. First, I heard their tittering teenage giggles in the hallway as I waited in the examination room,
then they entered and I suffered the considerable embarrassment of having to drop my pants in front of these barely post-pubescent girls.
And then, the pain. Jesus H. Christ did it hurt! And from the horrified gasps and expressions of "Oh my God!" that came from the interns, I
gather that it was none too pretty to look at, either.
The thing about intramuscularly injected penicillin is that it is designed to be released into the bloodstream over time (hence the cake frost-
ing consistency) and so it balls up in the muscle when they inject it. It hurts, to say the least, and I broke into a cold sweat when they in-
jected it, and I cried real tears. And that was just after the first shot. Then they nailed me with another one in the other cheek and I came
close to passing out. When it was over, I pulled up my pants and walked out to my truck, feeling like I'd just spent several days riding across
bumpy terrain (dare I say "bareback") on a pack mule. Nor did the pain stop once I got to the truck. I rolled up the windows, howled a stream
of four-letter words, and banged my fists on the steering wheel. Eventually the pain died down enought that I could drive back to work, but it
certainly didn't go away-- for three days! When I got home that night, my ass felt like I had spent the better part of the day doing squats and
lunges, followed by a severe and lengthy spanking with a fraternity paddle. It hurt so bad that the only comfortable way I could sit down was
to perch on the edge of a chair. And laying in bed was even worse as the pain would come back each time I rolled one way or the other.
A friend of mine who spent years overseas in the army told me that army doctors used to give penicillin to anyone who whined or com-
plained about anything, not because penicillin was some magical cure-all, but because the injection hurt so much that it would make them
think twice about whining and complaining the next time. It's a skewed logic, of course, but now makes perfect sense to me.
So, this all leads, as T.S. Eliot said, " to an overwhelming question … " Why go through all this shit? I've already got HIV. And herpes. And
have had my share of crabs, non-gonnochocal urethritis, etc. Why subject myself (not to mention others) to this? Why do I never learn? Why
do I always think that this guy's dick, or ass, or mouth is somehow going to be better, or more fascinating, than all the rest? Why do I find it
so difficult to actually put on a condom? The possible answers probably run into the hundreds and range from indifference and despair, to
selfishness and, yes, to a bit of an addiction. But honestly, most of my sleeping around is a clumsy attempt to find a place where I feel I be-
long. At times I've felt that being gay has marginalized me, or enclosed me in a circle. And having HIV, too, is like being enclosed in a smaller
circle within that circle, in which it seems like no one wants to touch you. How many of us can honestly say we haven't bristled with indigna-
tion when we read personal ads that say "D&D free only." Or worse, "Looking for someone clean," the implication being that HIV makes you
somehow dirty. Of course, if I were on the other side of the HIV fence, I would probably be the one posting such ads but, nevertheless, read-
ing things like that can really throw me into a state of existential despair. A state in which it is difficult, if not impossible, to give a shit about
myself, let alone my fellow man. And that, in turn, leads me recklessly out into the streets, not giving a damn about what's out there.
And maybe that's where Strength in Numbers comes in—as a place where I don't have to feel shame about what I've got. A place where I can
feel a part of something instead of feeling apart from everything— included rather than excluded. Sometimes I guess it takes a shot in the
ass (or in this case, six) to realize how important that really is. —Chris
Strength in Numbers Page 12

Shadowcliff is an historic,
S H A D OW C L I F F R E T R E A T S —2008
rustic, & beautiful alpine
lodge bordering Rocky The 2008 HIV Retreats are June 19-22 and July 17-20. The retreats are 3-day events with a full program of
Mountain National Park, interactive workshops & educational seminars, a variety of body therapies, social activities, and various other
Arapaho Forest, Indian sessions. Their purpose is to offer a proactive environment where poz folks can empower themselves with
Peaks Wilderness Area, knowledge and skills about health, living, and coping in a setting of friendship, safety and acceptance by pro-
and the roaring North Inlet viding an affordable 3-day mountain getaway in an awesome setting with a full
Stream. Perched on a cliff agenda of educational, social, and other activities.
overlooking Grand Lake Shadowcliff has a main lodge with a lounge, an annex lodge with a lounge for
Village and the Colorado body therapies, an outdoor area with a fire pit, and another building for work-
"Great Lakes" area, Shad- shops and group sessions. Our retreat has exclusive use of all buildings & facili-
owcliff treats its guests to ties the entire weekend. Sessions for both retreats this year include "Living Well
the magnificent grandeur with HIV, Not Just Longer" presented by Lark Lands; a treatment update by Ben
of the majestic Colorado Young MD in June and by Steve Johnson MD in July; "Creative Visualization"; a
Rocky Mountains. The nutrition workshop; HIV Jeopardy & Wheel of Fortune; and a crash course on
lodge was built over a 40 the pine beetles & sustainability. A variety of body therapies are provided by
year period by volunteers licensed practitioners who volunteer their time all weekend. These include Mas-
from 30 different coun- sage, Energy Work, Acupuncture, Reflexology, and Chiropractic. Each morning
tries, on land that is sacred we offer brief sessions of Yoga, Meditation, T'ai Ji, and Chi Gong. There are na-
to the Native American ture walks in the area, hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (trailheads are
community. The retreat adjacent to the property), a boat ride on Grand Lake, fireside chats & discus-
was founded in 1990 by sion groups, an interactive team challenge, as well as "down time" for hanging
Pat & Warren Rempel, to
out, socializing, reading, games, or just relaxing and taking in the beauty of the environs.
honor their son Scott who
died of AIDS in 1989. The The base cost is $80 (which includes 3 days lodging, all meals, body therapies, and all activities). Each retreat
Lodge is now owned and is limited to 40 participants and 10 volunteers. The retreat prohibits the use of alcohol and illegal drugs (both
operated by a non-profit on and off property). Shadowcliff is a non-smoking facility both inside and outside, but there is a designated
organization whose mis- smoking area down the road off the property. To ensure that everyone is able to attend, we organize a carpool
sion centers around sus- that leaves from a convenient location in Denver at 10 am on Thursday morning. With good traffic, the trip
tainability education and takes 2 hours, and detailed driving directions are provided for everyone.
creating a climate for a Registration forms are available (as a Word doc) by sending an e-mail to: [email protected] (you may
restorative world. also request one by mail at: 303.587.0233). For more information, visit: www.shadowcliffretreat.blogspot.com
(or call Michael at: 303.587.0233).
Strength in Numbers Page 13

THE BUMPY NIGHT By Arthur Powers

In the first and vitally important issue of the SIN newsletter last December, I promised that this column
would focus on HIV/AIDS public policy and political developments as we were about to start the 2008
Colorado Legislative Session. Well, the session that was on the verge of starting then has concluded
now, and this legislative session like all the legislative sessions going back to 1986 (royally) substanti-
ates, in my view, the concept that our communities' interests are best served by full-time representa-
tion of a Person Living With HIV/AIDS working in conjunction with the organizations that, statewide,
serve our communities which are represented by Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS (CORA).
The representation of our interests by a person experiencing living with HIV/AIDS is what I have worked
to provide with various sets of colleagues and dear friends over a span of nearly twenty-two years,
now. And in this second, and very encouraging, issue of the SIN newsletter for which we have Rod
Rushing and hard working SIN volunteers to thank (Rod has the patience of Job), I provide part 1 of my
report as to the most salient developments of the Colorado Legislative Session of this year.
The State legislative session ended relatively well in terms of results. We'll commence with HB 1072:
"Concerning Employment Incentives for Persons With Disabilities Through A Medicaid Buy-In Program,"
one of two bills that represented the highest legislative priorities for the the HIV/AIDS Communities in
the 2008 legislative session, which passed both Houses of the Legislature and is headed to the Governor for signing. I fervently hope that
he does so and I believe you'll agree as you read what this legislation creates. HB 1072 would make possible the option of returning to work
for Persons Living With HIV/AIDS and other disabilities enrolled in Colorado Medicaid without putting their Medicaid participation and eligibil-
ity at risk by establishing a Medicaid Buy-In program.
Presently, serious, programmatic structural impediments exist in Colorado Medicaid related law, rules, and regulations inhibiting Persons
with Disabilities including Persons Living With HIV/AIDS who are on Medicaid from returning to work as "medically improved" individuals. For
Persons With Disabilities and HIV/AIDS on Colorado Medicaid, returning to work could now, all too easily, lead to the loss of Medicaid-
eligibile status and, from there, the loss of the unique, crucial components of health-care provided by Medicaid, such as attendant-care sup-
port services and durable medical equipment provision, that virtually no typical health insurance plan provides. For many Persons with Dis-
abilities on Medicaid, these components of care - including, for example, prescription drug coverage so critical to Persons Living With
HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral drugs - signify the difference literally between life and death. Losing Medicaid eligibility for these components of
care in an effort to return to working-- an effort made possible by becoming "medically improved" because of receiving health-care through
the Medicaid program in the first place-- would be no less than a devastating reversal for Persons With Disabilities and HIV/AIDS, of course,
and ultimately would cause an affected person not to be able to continue working due to the loss of access to Medicaid-provided medical
services, and the deterioration of health and well-being that would result. If you perceive in this scenario a circular, bedevilling, even agoniz-
ing Catch-22 for the disabled on Colorado Medicaid who want to try going back to work with their stabilized health, you would be correct. The
Medicaid Buy-In program proposes to change all this for the better by eliminating the current set of impediments to efforts on the part of the
disabled on Colorado Medicaid to return to working.
As a direct result of the problems HB 1072 would address, many Persons With Disabilities and HIV/AIDS who would like to work are unable
to do so and, instead, spend their lives simply rotting away, unable potentially to improve their all-too-often painful economic plights and,
moreover, to lead creative, productive, fulfilling lives. Thirty-eight other states have various formats of a Medicaid Buy-In program for these
reasons, and we have needed one in Colorado since, well, forever. This bill specifically puts into motion Phases I and II of the process of
implementation of the Medicaid Buy-In program, and paves the way for ultimate operational implementation without the severe constraint of
budget neutrality that plagued the two, historic bills attempting to establish a Medicaid Buy-In program approved by the State Legislature
years ago (the first one over TEN years ago) which rendered them essentially useless. This format of Medicaid Buy-In legislation WITHOUT
budget neutrality, indeed, has been a long time in the "making," but the absence of budget neutrality this time around has fiscal implications
that had to be cleared with the Legislature. And without the efforts of our Community, no question about it, HB1072 would have been lost
specifically in the House Appropriations Committee, a key step in the legislative process involving the funding of the Program by the State
Legislature. It took a lot of work to save the bill, but the effort, of course, was well worth it given all the "disability folks" (thousands, literally)
and the 500 - 800 Persons Living With HIV on Colorado Medicaid who could benefit. In the Senate, our community was able to effect an
important amendment relating to program eligibility and obviating a need mandated in the original version of HB 1072 to spend-down cer-
tain of one's assets and their related income before being able to qualify for the Program.
HB 1390: "Concerning The Cover Colorado Program," which is the health insurance program in our state for persons with medical conditions
of a chronic or terminal nature that renders them significantly uninsurable, also passed the Legislature and is expected to be signed by the
Governor. Primarily, this legislation seeks to stabilize the funding sources sustaining this important health insurance program for largely
uninsurable persons such as Persons Living With HIV/AIDS who, otherwise without this program, would be compelled circumstantially to
support all their medical care and expenses out-of-pocket-- a daunting challenge, indeed! Now Cover Colorado, in my view, and the view of
others, is beset with problems relating to affordability due to the premiums, deductibles, and co-pays being comparatively very high, making
the program inaccessible to many who otherwise would qualify for, and need it acutely. The program also has a problematic, individual life-
time cap on costs and outlays of $1.million. HB 1390 crucially sets the stage for going to the Cover Colorado Board of Directors and petition-
ing them to raise the life-time cap on benefits from the current $1.million to $1.5 million or $2.million. One of the principle arguments in
favor is that the current cap has been in place since the program's inception in 1990 and has never been adjusted upward to account for
the medical rate of inflation that has accrued since. From l990 to 2008, that's a lot of medical inflation not taken into account for persons
on the program who have high cost medical conditions! We are looking forward to furthering the conversation on the subject of the life-time
cost cap, and the issues relating to affordability, with the Board of Directors beyond the pointed testimony provided with regard to these

(Continued on page 14)

Strength in Numbers Page 14

THE BUMPY NIGHT (CONT.)

(Continued from page 13)

issues in the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee when HB 1390 was presented, there.
In the closing days of the Legislative Session, we were able to have approved a "clear" path to the potential establishment of an office of
State Insurance Consumer Ombudsman in the Colorado Division of Insurance/Department of Regulatory Agencies (of which the Division of
Insurance is a part) over the objections of the insurance industry and its forty-two lobbyists. They SWARMED us and the legislators trying to
fight-off the amendment to HB 1216: "Concerning The Creation Of The Consumer Outreach and Education Program Within The Department
Of Regulatory Agencies" creating this position/office, an extremely important office to defend the interests of virtually ALL insurance con-
sumers in Colorado. We had "won" with regard to our original (and ideally crafted and phrased by Senator Bob Hagedorn, the amendment's
sponsor) amendment and the battle in support of it against the insurance industry outright, with the amended bill (sponsored by Senator
Chris Romer and Representative Mark Ferrandino) passed out of the Senate on 3rd reading by a vote of 20 - 15 (the bill had already passed
through the House). But the insurance industry threw a FIT and did so with the Chair of the Joint Budget Committee (a member of the
House, this year) who, we believe, then went to the Senate leadership and compelled the recall to the Senate of HB 1216 as amended, in an
extremely rare maneuver to modify the amendment for the insurance ombudsman to a version that the insurance industry could point to
and "save face," exceedingly frustrating(!). We had, to that moment, every reasonable expectation to believe that we had succeeded out-
right. Still, we did so to a significant degree despite their efforts against the idea of this office on behalf of consumers. The Insurance indus-
try was seething, and the fight took both sets of parties (our four advocates to their forty-two or so lobbyists) right up to the moment the Leg-
islative Session ended on Tuesday evening, May 6th.
There's plenty more to summarize and digest concerning the Legislative Session and its results, especially in terms of broad efforts toward
health-care reform culminating in SB 217: "Centennial Care (health-care) Choices" in its final, amended form, and with regard to HB 1389:
"Concerning Increased Oversight of Health Insurance Rates," a hugely important piece of legislation with impact affecting truly much of the
population of Colorado in terms of health insurance rate regulation. However, this report to this point is all this writer has the strength,
health, and stamina to write, just now, in the aftermath of the Colorado Legislative Session of 2008. I'm exhausted(!), so please under-
stand. In the next issue of the SIN newsletter, this report will be completed, including a report on the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care
Act which affects so many of us as Persons Living With HIV/AIDS in a spectrum of ways from primary health care and the provision of antiret-
roviral drugs to housing. Meanwhile, take care and have a terrific Summer.
Arthur Powers, Managing Director, THRIVE: The Persons Living With HIV/AIDS Initiative of Colorado
[email protected]

HIKING AND FIS HING AND New Support Group

Forming
BEARS, OH MY!
Are you interested in being a
Okay, it’s Colorado, not the land of OZ, but how would you like part of a new support group to
to go out for a day, or maybe several days, and break away from talk about the spiritual side of
the daily grind and just get out in nature. When was the last living with HIV/AIDS? Many
time that you went camping in the woods, or went fishing out on years ago I facilitated a support
a lake or paddled down one of the many great streams around group in Orlando, Florida called
Colorado? How would you like to go out and visit some of the Spiritual Strength For Survival.
The program helped me in so
great Colorado State Parks and some of the National Parks that
many ways that I now have the
are all around us? Maybe you have thought about doing these
desire to start it up again.
things but never had the chance. Well, how about doing it with
If you would be interested in
some of your friends in the Strength In Numbers group? being a part of this group,
I had floated this idea during the winter months and many SIN members expressed an interest, so would like more information
now is the time to get ourselves out doors and enjoy something new. You don’t have to be the super about it, or if you have any
experienced person to go out camping or fishing, or even have fishing tackle (I have plenty of fishing ideas about potential discus-
equipment to share). sion topics, drop me a line at:
I want to go camping— soon and often— so if you have camping equipment, great, get it out and lets [email protected]
go camping. I have access to a nice RV that can transport up to 4 people and we can even get a group This group will be forming in
site and set up extra tents, if needed. Or we might rent a cabin at one of the State Parks. Lets share August or September, 2008,
and meetings will be held at St.
the costs, share the cooking, and share some relaxing times out of the city. Thomas Episcopal Church on
Remember, there really is strength in numbers. We can do it if we do it together! Drop me a line if you 22nd and Dexter.
are interested in any of the activities mentioned above: [email protected] Let’s get back to the basic roots
Also watch for postings on the yahoo Strength in Numbers home page about outings. Let’s do if for our of supporting each other again!
Health and our self. —Patrick (aka Uncle Patrick) —Patrick
Strength in Numbers Page 15

HIV RESOURCE PAGE

CLINICS AND/OR CLINIC REFERRAL:
Denver Health Medical Center Howard Dental Center University of Colorado Hospital
303.602.8710 303.863.0772 720.848.0816
fax: 303.602.8754 fax: 303.832.7823 fax: 720.848.0192
http://www.denverhealth.org http://www.howarddental.org www.uch.edu

AIDS Drug Assistance Program ARTS (Addiction Research and Treat- Children's Hospital HIV Program
303.692.2783 ment Services) 303.764.8233
http://www.atdn.org/access/states/co/ 303.355.1014 http://www.chipteam.org
co.html http://www.artstreatment.com

It Takes a Village Servicios de la Raza Denver Infectious Disease Care

303.367.4747 303.458.5851 303.393.8050
[email protected] www.didc.us
Resource for HIV+ inmates http://www.serviciosdelaraza.org
Contact Gerald Borden

VETERAN’S SERVICES
The American Legion Department of Colorado
John McCartney, Department Service Officer
E-mail: [email protected]
Office: 303.914.5587, Toll Free: 1.877.917.5381

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES:

Mental Health Corp of Denver Denver Health Outpatient Behavioral
303.504.6649 Health Sciences (OBHS)
fax: 303.757.5245 303.36.5690
[email protected] http://alcoholism.about.com/od/tx_co/
qt/dhmc.htm

Cameron Gridley Psy D. Tony Miles PhD Keith Swain, counselor

303.557.0824 303.282.4483 720-252-9575

REGIONAL AIDS PROJECTS:

Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP) Western Colorado AIDS Project
303.444.6121 800.464.4611 (800.765.8594
fax: 303.444.0260 fax: 970.4848.4497 fax: 970.243.5791
http://www.bcap.org http://www.ncaids.org http://www.westcap.info
Colorado AIDS Project (CAP) Southern Colorado AIDS Project
303.837.1501 800.241.5468
fax: 303.837.0388 fax: 719.578.8690
http://www.coloradoaidsproject.org http://www.s-cap.org

The intention of the Resource section is to provide a concise practical HIV guide for the community to reference. If you have a resource, or have
accessed an HIV resource that has been beneficial, please submit it to the SIN website, message section, so that it may be added.
Strength in Numbers Page 16
Numbers

SIN COLORADO
LIST OF UPCOMING EVENTS

June July August

6/17/08 6:00 pm 7/15/08 6:00 pm 8/12/08 6:00 pm
Community Education. Forum Community Education. Forum Community Education. Forum
(topic on p.5) (topic on p.5) (topic on p.5)
Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 9th & Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 9th & Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 9th &
Emerson St. Emerson St. Emerson St.

6/19 – 6/22/08 7/17 – 7/20/08

Shadowcliff Retreat Shadowcliff Retreat

Thursday 6/19/08 Thursday 7/17/08 Thursday 8/21/08

SIN Happy Hour SIN Happy Hour SIN Happy Hour
6 -8 pm 6 -8 pm 6 -8 pm
The Eagle (1475 36th St) Charlie’s (900 E Colfax Ave) The Wrangler (1700 Logan St)
Recurring Events: Recurring Events: Recurring Events:
Sunday Coffee Talk/Brunch Sunday Coffee Talk/Brunch Sunday Coffee Talk/Brunch
6/15/08 & 6/29/08 7/13/08 & 7/27/08 8/10/08 & 8/24/08
11 am – 1 pm 11 am – 1 pm 11 am – 1 pm
Hamburger Mary’s (17th & Washing- Hamburger Mary’s (17th & Washing- Hamburger Mary’s (17th & Washing-
ton St.) ton St.) ton St.)
Free SIN Yoga Free SIN Yoga Free SIN Yoga
Mon. 4:30 pm (2670 S Gilpin) Mon. 4:30 pm (2670 S Gilpin) Mon. 4:30 pm (2670 S Gilpin)
Wed.5:15 pm (770 S Broadway) Wed.5:15 pm (770 S Broadway) Wed.5:15 pm (770 S Broadway)
Sat. 1:00 pm (770 S Broadway) Sat. 1:00 pm (770 S Broadway) Sat. 1:00 pm (770 S Broadway)

All events are subject to change. Check the online calendar to confirm times, dates and locations:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SINColorado/cal///group/SINColorado/?v=2&t=1214812800