“Allies” passes a decade

by Gary Simpson

September 1st marked 11 years for Allies Linked for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (a.l.p.h.a) – and I stopped in last week to find out more about what this great organization has been doing for our community. Founded on September 1 st, 2003 by Duane Quintana, this organization has been faced with a number of challenges.

 

Apparently, my timing for showing up was perfect, as Nathan Aiken, the organization’s new Director of Operations, was conducting orientation for new volunteers. The organization has many opportunities for volunteers to help out. Whether it is managing the front desk, helping out in the food bank, or becoming a tester, volunteers are fully trained in handling each situation.

The organization’s main focus is HIV and AIDS prevention, providing free condoms, and HIV testing at no cost. OraQuick is the first FDA approved oral swab test for hiv-1 and hiv-2, and is the preferred method of testing at a.l.p.ha. It is an oral test, requires no blood, and they offer testing in a safe, confidential environment.
All volunteer testers are educated on the importance of confidentiality; no more than 2 volunteers are allowed in the building to help ensure privacy is maintained. During the test, these trained volunteers are equipped with the knowledge of how the test operates, and they offer counseling services on at-risk behaviors, and what to expect whether the results are positive or negative. HIV Test Counselors are specially trained and receive State Certification from the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare.

If a test comes back positive, a.l.p.h.a offers referrals for treatment, and ongoing support for those who need it. They also offer testing services for gonorrhea and chlamydia, along with Hepatitis C.

Executive director, Jonny Walker, gave further insight into the growth of the organization by letting us know more about their food bank services. a.l.p.h.a. offers their Food Pantry to those affected and infected with HIV and AIDS, and last year distributed over seven thousand pounds of food to those in need. This year, they are looking at distributing over 35,000 lbs of food. This is amazing growth in a single year, and their new location is perfect for offering these services. a.l.p.h.a’s new location is at 575 N 8th St in Boise, ID. Office hours are Monday – Friday: 11 -8 pm, and Saturday: 12-3 pm. Testing services are available Monday Through Wednesday 5 PM -8 PM and Fridays 5-8 PM. You can also drop in on Saturdays between 12-3 PM for testing. Their food pantry is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays between 12-3 PM as well. In addition to the services already mentioned, A.l.p.h.a. also hosts a monthly “condom raid” where volunteer go out into the community on a Saturday evening distributing condoms, and raising awareness on the prevention of spreading STD’s. Help us to congratulate this great organization in celebrating so many years of service, and their continuing growth and support of our community!

For more information, please visit http://alphaidaho.org

Boise Gay Men’s Chorus – Season 2!

After welcoming many talented singers at auditions in September, the Boise Gay Men’s Chorus is forward focused to the upcoming 2014-2015 season. This season, BGMC hopes to create a non-singing volunteer support group, create outreach programs and alliances in Idaho, and begin to fundraise to attend the 2016 GALA Choruses convention in Denver.

 

The mission of the Boise Gay Men’s Chorus is to open hearts and minds through creative expression. This mission stems from its core values that are Love, Integrity, Respect, Ingenuity, and Community. BGMC strives to help create a world in which all people are given a chance to develop a greater compassion for each other and where differences are celebrated. Where all people, or gender identity, have equal access to the arts and the freedom to express their diverse cultural identities. Above all, we strive to create a world in which choral music is appreciated and embraced as being vital to cultural and spiritual health.

We hope to excel as an artistic organization, renowned for its leadership, high standards, and innovation. We will build bridges with communities to create an increased understanding of affection for choral music and the LGBT community. Think of us as a place to nurture and affirm LGBT culture and community. We hope to raise awareness and funds for fledgling groups and allied causes, while providing a caring and safe environment for our members, volunteers and staff.

Among the many contributions that members make, lay a personal responsibility to become a donor of the chorus in the form of dues. Every nonprofit arts organization incurs costs to exist. Along with ticket sales, annual dues are critical to the success of the organization. These dues are used for things such as music rights and purchase, artistic salaries, venue fees, and general operating costs. To help offset cost to members who cannot meet the financial requirements, we offer scholarship and sponsorship opportunities. To find out how you can sponsor a member or even become a volunteer, check out our website at http://www.boisegaymenschorus.com.

Add BGMC on Facebook to see the latest offerings of tickets as well as events held locally. We have a lot to look forward to this upcoming season!

Rebecca Scott

story by Gary Simpson
photo by Chris Mackenthun

 

I wasn’t sure what to expect when sitting down for my first interview. In fact, I was terrified. Let alone, such an amazing person such as Rebecca Scott. I didn’t know much about Rebecca before I met her. In fact, I wasn’t sure she would actually come out. I originally reached out to her through Facebook to let her know about OutBoise Magazine. She was immediately thrilled to help out.

Rebecca has been a part of the music scene in Boise and the Northwest for almost 20 years. She has been voted into the top 3 countless times over for Best Local Musician and was named Best Singer in the Best of Boise Reader’s Choice award by Boise Weekly. I didn’t quite grasp the amount of success this woman has accomplished when I met her. Even so, she was more interested in talking about our upcoming magazine. She was thrilled to be a part of the experience. Rebecca came to our fine city in 1992. When asked if she was “out” her reply was simple “I’ve never been in. I don’t necessarily wear it on my sleeve, though.”

Despite my best efforts to stay on point, and ask the “right” questions, I found Rebecca had more questions for me. She wanted to know about OutBoise, where we were headed, and we discussed a lot about the LGBT Community, and Boise. She seemed to share my own personal opinions and said she believes Boise has come a long way in the past decade. “It’s definitely become more progressive,” she said. Rebecca has performed several times during Boise Pride, and has already voiced her interest in performing for Pride again soon. Currently, she can typically be seen performing at such venues such as Sandbar, Boise’s Art in the Park, and the Hyde Park Street Fair. When asked about her personal life, Rebecca mentioned she has been in a relationship with her partner for over 3 years,
But that they have known each other for over 15 years. “We live our lives just like anyone else, ” she explained.

What do we get to expect from Rebecca Scott in the near future? Next month, she plans to record her 6th studio album. To Rebecca, I wanted to personally thank you for being my first local celebrity interview!

For more information on Rebecca Scott, visit www.rebeccascott.u

Carrot Pie

Submitted by Jerry Nabarrete-Stuart

3 cups of raw peeled carrots (which is about 1.25 lbs or 650 gm by weight) to yield 2 cups of carrot puree. (I use the peeled organic baby carrots from Costco)

1 cups sugar (metric: 200 grams). Instead of sugar, you could use honey (use 0.75 cups), natural sugar (1 cup), agave (1 cup), brown sugar (1 cup),
Stevia (1/3 cup) or Splenda (1.25 cups).

If you are using artificial sweeteners (Splenda or Stevia) you’ll find that they taste pretty good, but you’ll get better results when you do a 50-50 mix with sugar or honey. And diabetics, you can use Stevia or Splenda alone, in place of sugar and get pretty decent results.

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (metric: 6 grams)

1 teaspoon ground allspice (metric: 2 grams)

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (metric: 2 grams)

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (metric: 1.25 grams)

Optional: 1/2 teaspoon mace (which you’ll find in the very old pumpkin pie recipes) (metric: 1.25 grams)

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional) (metric: 20 grams)

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional, I don’t use any)

4 large eggs – to reduce fat and cholesterol, you may use egg whites (like “Egg Beaters) instead, and vegans may want to use Ener-G (see this page for more information about egg substitutes)

1 can (12oz) of evaporated milk (I use the nonfat version) for best results. (metric: each can is about .35 liter, or about a half liter total))

Boil the carrots about 20 min, or until very soft. Make your pie crust and line your pie plate. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Mix the remaining ingredients into the carrots. Pour into pie crust. Bake for 15 minutes then decrease the heat to 350 and continue baking for another 45 to 60 minutes or until a butter knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Living in a Why Not world

By Mikea Hargrove

Boise is a unique community, its friendly, hip and fun. It is very small and the inner circles of friends make living in Boise interesting. Most of the community knows someone who knows someone that either dated someone or is dating someone. It’s a small town so word gets around; this doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing it just means that if you ask around you can find out just about anything, and most people are happy to share what they know.
I’m relatively new to the Boise LGBT community and I was amazed at how easy it is to make friends. It seems as if everyone is tolerant of each other or at least pretends to be. This is an amazing feat because tolerance is what keeps a community happy, vibrant and active. The show of support that the community has for each other and for its projects is fantastic. Some of best ways to meet and network with others is at various events throughout the community. Facebook is one of the best ways to find out what is happening around the valley. There is always something going on and always some place to hangout.
Living in the greater Boise area allows people to experience many things that make Idaho great. We have access to some of the most beautiful parks, rivers and lakes and best of all its free. The green belt is a 20 mile adventure. It’s a great way to experience a little beauty and exercise, walk, run or bike it’s your choice. Why not check it out for yourself and count how many people smile or wave when you pass by. Another fantastic choice is to hike table rock. It is a challenge but a rewarding challenge. It’s a great mix of hiking and walking. Your first trip up the trail may seem like it’s never ending, but once you reach the top and see why Boise is called the city of trees you will be happy you kept going.
Most residents take pride in their community whether its hangout in the north end at coffee shops, eateries, dancing down town at the clubs or admiring the unique art work. Boise seems to have so much to offer but taking full advantage of it can be overwhelming. Being new to the LGBT community I have experienced more in the last year than I have in the previous 28. This has been an amazing experience.

Balance is the most difficult thing I have experienced in the last year. Life is chaotic, balancing Friends, new friends, school friends, and family, but not necessarily in that order. This challenge can suck the life right out of you but it’s something that needs to happen. It took a long time to realize that the friends and family that get upset because you don’t spend enough time with them are really just not good at sharing. It can be a problem but you have to take ownership of the issue and make it a point to get together with them and keep to doing what you committed to do. No one likes to be excited about meeting up and get stood up or canceled on.
The community is very outgoing and accepting, but there are a few things to avoid. It goes back to the things we learned in the first few years of socializing with others. Many call it the golden rule. “Do unto others as you would like done unto you” This rule is really not hard to live by but it can be difficult when others don’t treat you the way you think they should. My advice is to kill them with kindness. The Most important rule is and will always be don’t talk behind peoples back. I have found this to be the most harmful and depraving to some ones social life. It goes back to what your mamma always told you “ if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all” This is a small town and what you say will get back to the person, especially if its negative.
So why not live the way you want, be friendly when you talk to people and really listen to them when they talk to you? Why not let yourself experience what Boise has to offer and enjoy the differences in the people of our community? Why not allow life to be enjoyable, this is meant to encourage everyone to get out there and say “Hi”. Life is too short not to get out and meet others. It could change your life, or you could meet some lifelong friends.
I have met and have made some amazing friends. Most of which are people who would do almost anything to help you out; whether it’s helping you move in to a new place, getting fit or just some great conversation. I have always been shy and have been called timid; however meeting these amazing people in the community has changed my life. I am extremely grateful to call them my friends. Just wanted to say thank you and thank you to the community.

Treasure Valley Unity Project

story and photos by Gary Simpson

 

I moved back here to Boise nearly 3 years ago. Upon arrival, I had no idea what my intentions were going to be. I just got out of a 4 year relationship, and it didn’t end well. I didn’t know anyone, really. And decided to spend some time with people in our community.
I was welcomed quite warmly, but despite the inviting atmosphere, I was quickly met with warnings. Who not to associate with, who to trust, who not to. At first, I chose not to react to what people had to say. I let their comments go, and just continued through life, not really worrying what anyone else had to say. I figured it was just bar chatter.
But the comments added up after a while. It wasn’t just a few people with this opinion. “Boise Sucks,” came from every corner, every demographic within the LGBT community I could find.
It wasn’t until I sat down with a couple of individuals who discussed what life is like for members of our community who choose not to go out to the bars.
The words reflected back were still the same. If you don’t fit into a specific age range, or demographic (typically male 21-35) you were an outcast, and that there weren’t any resources available, and very little interest to make anything better.
It was at that point I realized that they, along with everyone else, were right. I didn’t see anything available as a social outlet, let alone a place where anyone felt like they belonged. Instead, there was too much separation based on social class or “title-holders.”
It shamed me to see that our community had so much of a negative image of itself, let alone each other.
So I set out to try to do something to fix the problem. I had been involved in a number of volunteer opportunities while I lived in Las Vegas. And while they weren’t targeting the LGBT community, it gave me some experience in what should be done.
I set out to try to start a nonprofit organization dedicated to the LGBT community. Our goals were simple: Provide positive social activities, opportunities for community service, and to help discourage discrimination in our community.
I met with a number of community members, involved in existing organizations, and was sarcastically met with “good luck.”
“It’s been done before,” I was told.
“There’s no need to reinvent the wheel…”
“No one will take you seriously,”
“It won’t work, people have tried and failed before…”
These words hurt to hear, but helped me develop a better image of what was happening in the community.
The biggest thing I saw in the community was a lack of inspiration. And that many people were either disappointed, or felt abandoned. And I knew something had to change.
So I set out to do something to change people’s perspectives, and at least try to inspire them to do better.

I began a page on Facebook called the Treasure Valley Unity Project. Immediately, I began inviting every possible person I knew to take part in discussions, and wrote every single day to try to help inspire others to help things change.
And yet, I was still met with criticism. I had people tell me they had little to no confidence that what I was doing would actually work. But I kept trying.
I ran into several obstacles along the way, including finding myself lost and taking a month-long trip to Las Vegas. I felt I wasn’t meeting the goals I wanted to accomplish.
When I came back home, I jumped back in. I started a hiking group, and I started up a Board Game night at the Lucky Dog.

The first week for both events, no one showed up. But the next week, people showed up. The next week, even more.
Since April, we’ve hosted a “Sunday Stroll,” a weekly nature walk designed to get people out of their comfort zone, and doing an activity that was fun and adventurous. Our most dedicated member, Desmond Slowe, has shown up for almost every single hike, and attend Game Night on occasion as well.
In the past 6 months, over 50 people have been in attendance for our hiking group. Dogs are always welcome, and we go at a pace safe for everyone. Music is played, occasionally, and we often meet for brunch afterward to continue the social activities.
We have had members ,both male and female, gay and straight. We’ve had attendees as young as in their 20s, and as old as their 60’s. The one thing we promote: everyone is welcome. It has been a fantastic journey so far, and it has been met with a lot of enthusiasm.
We also chose to adopt the Fort Boise Military Cemetery, and venture out once a month to clean it up. We want to show the LGBT Community, our allies, and the rest of the world that we can do something positive and that we can actually make a difference.
We recently reached over 500 likes on the Facebook page, and we’re still growing. We’re working on a team effort with MPowermentBoi and the Boise Gay Men’s Chorus for Rake Up Boise, hosted by Neighborhood Housing Services, a local organization that helps families in need.

 

We constantly encourage community involvement, and have strong ties with TCC – The Community Center, a.l.p.h.a. (Allies Linked to the Prevention of HIV and AIDS) Mr. Ms. and Miss Gay Idaho, The Imperial Sovereign Gem Court of Idaho, and many other great groups and organizations.
It was from this “project” that OutBoise was born from. We have a strong dedication to our community, and are working to help change peoples’ perspectives of who we are as a group. We want to help to fight discrimination, both from members outside of our community, but also to help end the bullying that happens inside our own community. We want Boise to be a stronger and safer place for everyone.
If you haven’t been a part of any of the events we’ve done, or would like to be involved in making our community a better place, check out TVUnity’s Facebook page, or check out the events through OutBoise. Either way, we hope you take the time to let go of the negativity and help us move toward a brighter future!

 

UPDATE:

As of January 2015, the projects that were listed under the Treasure Valley Unity Project were adopted under the OutBoise umbrella. We felt it there was no need to cause confusion with anyone, and felt it best to ensure brand recognition, as well as make it easier for everyone. We, at OutBoise, continue the same spirit we had under our previous name, but have expanded our reach through our magazine.