In 2002, Test Positive Awareness Network ( TPAN ) began a yearly event geared specifically towards gay men to discuss matters of health exclusive to the gay male population. TPAN—known as Chicago's peer-led support and education agency for people who are HIV-positive—incorporated its mission to empower and educate into this year's Chicago gay men's health summit, ManAlive.
'This year's biggest improvement was the fact that we had several engaged community partners involved,' said Ron Schnorbus, TPAN's director of development. Though TPAN was unable to host ManAlive in 2006 due to funding constraints, ManAlive was revitalized this year at the Center on Halsted, which collaborated with The Chicago Department of Public Health, Center on Halsted, AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Howard Brown Health Center.
In the past, ManAlive was generally attended by TPAN clientele; however, this year over 200 gay men from all walks of life were present.
Eighteen workshops covered a broad range of topics, including self-esteem, spirituality, safe sex, cancer, nutrition, physical fitness, smoking, and the mobilization of minorities among gay men.
For the first time since ManAlive began, workshops specifically for youth were available. These workshops were geared towards helping younger people find adequate services available in Chicago and also to educate youth about the basics of HIV infection.
'We see an issue in that not everyone knows their HIV status,' Schnorbus told Windy City Times. 'We want people to know their status, to repeat testing, and take an active role in HIV prevention.' TPAN emphasized the importance of HIV prevention and testing during the summit.
ManAlive has sought to diversify its message of improving the health of gay men in Chicago. 'It was born from a national trend to help gay men go beyond HIV when they look at their health,' said Schnorbus. 'It is our intention to continue improving the health summit next year.'
Many felt that one day was not enough, though funding will need to be improved in order to expand the event.
'Our goal is to help gay men be aware of the health issues that impact our community, to take a greater role in championing their health and interfacing with their physicians and becoming educated healthcare consumers,' Schnorbus added.