Queer Discussion Group Held at UW
4 Month Club
Next 4-Month Club Meeting
Date: Friday, October 22, 2010
Location: Health Services Building, University of Waterloo
More details to be announced in late September.
What is the 4-Month Club?
The 4-Month Club is a once-a-term event designed to promote healthy sexuality amongst members of the local queer community. The event combines fun, interactive social events with the opportunity for people to seek advice on and be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)!
The 4-Month Club is a joint effort between the Wednesday Night Discussion Group (WNDG) and the University of Waterloo’s Health Services to promote healthy sexuality amongst the local queer community!
A Social Event… and STI Testing?
This might seem like a very weird combination, but there is a method to the madness! Regular testing for STIs is recommended for any sexually active individual – regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. However, participants in the Wednesday Night Discussion Group (WNDG) have occasionally reported that it can sometimes be uncomfortable getting tested regularly. Having to disclose one’s sexuality and gender identity to health care professionals can be difficult for some and while there are confidential public clinics available, sitting in a large room waiting for your number to be called can be intimidating for some. There is also a negative “social stigma” surrounding STI testing for some people that can further complicate matters. The end result is that some people wait too long between tests or avoid testing all together – which is not a good thing!
How Does this Encourage People to Get Tested?
By combining STI testing with a social event, the idea is to take away the negative social stigma and make the experience fun rather than intimidating! We do this in a number of ways:
- Fun Social Events: You do not have to sit quietly in a large room waiting for your number to be called! 4-Month Club events have food, movies, board games and other activities to participate in while you wait!
- Trained and Trustworthy Health Care Providers: There is no need to worry about disclosing your sexuality or gender identity at these clinics. All professionals know the target audience for the clinic and are supportive of the queer community!
- You Are Not Alone! Everyone in attendance is encouraged to get tested or speak to a health care professional to see if testing is recommended. With everyone participating, there is no need to feel that you are going through the experience alone!
Can Anyone Attend and Get Tested?
The 4-Month Club is open to everyone! You can participate in the event regardless of whether or not you are affiliated with the University of Waterloo. However, as all medical services associated with the event are being coordinated by UW Health Services, testing is only available to UW Students at this time. Doctor’s must be able to follow-up on any positive test results with patients after the event and, unfortunately, UW Health Services does not have the mandate to do this with people outside the UW Campus Community. However everyone is able to meet with a health professional for advice/guidance and information on other testing opportunities in the wider community will be available.
Note that 4-Month Club organizers are hoping to partner with Waterloo Region Public Health so that testing can be available for everyone for future events. There was not enough time to coordinate everything for the June 9th event, but we hope to have them on board for the Fall 2010 term!
I Still Have Questions… Who Can I Contact?
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the WNDG Facilitator by e-mailing: wndg-owner<at>lists.uwaterloo.ca (replace the <at> with the @ sign).