ORION news & new Peer Educator training coming up !

First off, Happy New Year to everyone and let's make 2010 a great one for NOVAM and the community.

ORION will be offering the Peer Educator Training on Saturday & Sunday, January 23rd & 24th. This is a two-day training held from 10am-4pm. It's on a weekend, so it's the perfect time to meet new people, get comfortable with the NOVAM staff and offices, and feast on snacks and food. The training is free for all youth aged 14-24. The ORION Peer Educator training focuses on GLBTQ issues, HIV & STD 101, Substance Abuse, games, films, and is all about active discussion and free speech. TO RSVP please e-mail kvargas@novam.org .

ORION is now offering a personalized support service for African-American GLBTQ youth 14-24. These are one on one sessions, with a few meetings throughout the year. If you think you could benefit from this, or know anyone else who could, please e-mail bjackson@novam.org .

ORION has also been offering one-on-one support sessions for all races and ethnicities for some time now. Please e-mail iaguirre@novam.org to schedule.

The word is getting out there that NOVAM is the premier place to get tested. We have a great staff and great facilities. It is an office environment with a private room for testing. There is no need to worry about white walls, syringes, or that hospital smell (though we smell pretty good). Schedule your appointment at your convenience, and we will accommodate you. To schedule an appointment please e-mail kvargas@novam.org


Hope you use 2010 to help out your local non-profit, NOVAM, by participating in any of the programs we have to offer. They're all free and by participating you agree that the work we do is important and ensure us future funding for these vital programs.

Rainbow Tuesdays Clinic in Alexandria

The Alexandria Health Department is proud to host free HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia testing and Hepatitis A/B immunizations specifically for gay, bisexual, and transgender men each second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 5pm-6:30pm. No appointments are necessary, as it is a walk-in clinic with HIV testing results given that same hour.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity and come get tested this December 22nd.

The Rainbow Tuesdays Clinic at the Alexandria Health Department is located at:
4480 King St
Alexandria, VA 22302 - located in the corner of 28th & King. Free parking is available.

HRC's Back-to-School Reception & Information Fair for GLBTQQ College Students is this week!

This Thursday, September 24th the Human Rights Campaign is hosting a back-to-school reception and information fair for all college students in the DC metro area at their headquarters located at 1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington DC.

Drinks and food will be provided and HRC is expecting about 150-200 students to come by. This is the perfect time (and season!) to socialize, meet new people, and discover what sort of organizations, businesses, and establishments support the gay community and find what they have to offer.


The reception is free and will be held from 6pm-8pm. NOVAM will have a table there so stop by and say hello!

Poll: Do you use condoms each time you have sex?

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Are you at risk ?? Think about it for a second.. Tick tock tick tock..

Hello my Sweet darlings,


Have you had sex with more than one person in the last 6 months?

Have you had sex without using a condom: oral, anal, vaginal, or otherwise?

Have you had sex while you were high or intoxicated?


If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to be tested for HIV today !!!


Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry is here for you.


We are in Falls Church, Va. (NOVAM.org) Call today for your free test darling.


Love ya ,
Miss Mother

ORION is hosting a BBQ on 8/12/09! Join us!

The end of summer is near. No! Students are getting ready to head back to school, last-minute vacations are being taken advantage of. And well, since the summer's drawing to a close, why not draw a fire?

On Wednesday, August 12th, from Noon-4pm, Orion invites you, peers & youth, to come out for a few hours of sun, fun, food, and conversation.

The BBQ, free for our guests, will be held at Lake Accotink Park, located at:
7500 Accotink Park Rd
Springfield, VA 22150

Please shoot up an e-mail as soon as possible to bjackson@novam.org or kvargas@novam.org if you plan on joining us.

Hope to see you there!

"I could feel my concerns over my test results begin to diminish..."

To Whom It May Concern:

The other day I came in to get free HIV testing done, and was understandably nervous. One of your prevention specialists, Bernard, took me into a room with high-backed, comfortable chairs, calmly explained how the test was to be administered, and asked me if there was anything on my mind that I wanted to talk about, or if I had any questions. I was surprised, as I had never encountered such warmth from someone giving me an STD test, so I said no. However, soon after the test had been administered, and the twenty minute waiting period begun, I found myself moving quickly into conversation with Bernard. He was very understanding, and easy to talk to, and as we talked I could feel my concerns over my test results begin to diminish. Before I knew it, the twenty minutes had elapsed, and Bernard gave me very favorable test results.

I think it’s absolutely wonderful that you provide such a valuable service, especially in an area with a large, diverse LGBT community. I know that had I been forced to go to my primary care physician, my results could have potentially been found out by my family, and I wouldn’t have been cared for nearly as much as I was at NOVAM. I hope this letter helps you find funding, or whatever it is that you need to continue your good work.

All the best,
Anonymous