Today is National HIV Testing Day in the USA and some other parts of the world. Observed on June 27, annually, this date is designated to remind us all of the importance of knowing our HIV status and in doing so, enhance our health. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is no longer the life-threatening condition that it once was and through treatment and medication, it is now a manageable disease. It remains, however, a communicable infection with serious consequences if untreated. That is the reason testing for HIV is very important to our health.
Tag: information
ReNude Pride This Week
This week is the final week of June, 2018. It is also the last week of 2018 GLBTQ Nude Pride Month. I am making a slight change in my publishing schedule for this week so as to accommodate all the necessary posts that should be covered before we begin a new month. This revised schedule is effective this week only, as hopefully, afterwards, I can return to the usual Monday and Friday posting routine. If anyone finds the time this week, please read the posts here. I will publish (today) this post, Wednesday (National HIV Testing Day), Thursday (annual Stonewall Riots anniversary), Friday (monthly Reflections post) and Saturday (Bottom’s-Up!).
Friday Footnote: GLBTQ Proud Veteran
I remember the day well. It was December, 2010, and the breaking news of the day was that then-President Barack Obama, the 44th president of the USA, had just signed an important piece of historical legislation. When his signature was affixed to the act, the centuries-old ban of allowing gays, lesbians and bisexuals to openly serve in the U. S. military forces was officially ended. Keeping to his campaign promise, President Obama put an end to another chapter in government sanctioned discrimination.
World Naked Bike Ride
Now that we are rapidly approaching the official beginning of the Summer, 2018, season, I wouldn’t be a very respectful same gender loving (gay) bare practitioner (naturist/nudist) blogger if I failed to extol the annual World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) events taking place all throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The WNBR takes place in the Southern Hemisphere as well, but as the seasons are reversed, most of those have already taken place. The WNBR began as a primarily environmentally focused activity
Queer Sign Language
As most of those who regularly visit ReNude Pride already know, I am profoundly Deaf. My first language as a child (and the same is true of my identical twin brother) was signed. The same is true today. My parents were taught GSL (Greek Sign Language) as children and that enabled them to communicate with Twin (Alex) and me. Once we started school, American Sign Language (ASL) was taught to us and we, in turn, instructed our parents and our brothers.
Is GLBTQ Pride Relevant?
As June is GLBTQ Pride Month, many of my acquaintances ask themselves and others the same question: “Is Pride still relevant today?” I think that many of us ask ourselves the exact same question. What may have seemed radical and trendy fifty years ago – is it just as important today? We have evolved as a society and in many ways being GLBTQ no longer carries the stigma that it may have invoked “back in the day.” With the amount of progress that we have made, “Is pride still necessary?”
Award!
Towards the middle of this past month, May 17, to be exact, this site, ReNude Pride, received a very unexpected honor of being nominated by a fellow blogger for the Blogger Recognition Award. I was quite surprised and – naturally – flattered to be even considered a nominee. I delayed announcing this until now as I thought it would be appropriate to post the announcement during Pride Month. Anytime a fellow blogger decides to recognize another is indeed an accomplishment worthy of pride, at least in my humble opinion.
USA: Memorial Day
Today, Monday, May 28, is the Memorial Day holiday in the USA. It is observed on the last Monday in the month of May, annually. This is the day designated by the U. S. legislature to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their lives – in the service of their country. This custom originated in 1868 as Decoration Day, as people decorated the graves of those who died in the U. S. Civil War with miniature flags and flowers. As the deceased were often buried hundreds of miles from their homes and families, local residents visited the cemeteries on behalf of families unable to do so.
Protect Yourself!
This weekend is the Memorial Day weekend here in the USA. Monday is a national holiday which makes this the first 3-day weekend of the 2018 Summer season. Summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21 but most meteorologists recognize this long weekend as the the unofficial beginning of the season of sand, sun and surf. The sunlight is at its zenith and so are the opportunities for sunburn – the skin discomfort as evidenced on the back of the gentleman in the above picture.
Classroom Time!
Last week, as an afterthought, I was sent to the my state’s conference on HIV/AIDS which is held annually throughout the state. It has been a number of years since I’ve attended one and I was anxious to see what, if any, personnel changes had occurred since the last time I was present at one. The convocation was sponsored by the state-wide health department and featured a number of guest presenters from across the southeastern region of the USA.
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 