New Website

Please head over and check out our new site.  www.illumenatebtown.com

BRB

Hey Guys,

Don't worry this isn't the end of the line!  We are just moving to a new format.  This Bigger and Better format will be up soon.  It will be the best place for you to "Get Turned On".  So check back in a couple weeks...it will be FULL OF AWESOME!

Also, if any of you are interested in writing articles for Illumenate about anything! We are looking for people to contribute regularly to Illumenate.  Contact Patrick  or call 812| 3533276.

Be Right Back,
The Men of Illumenate!

Party Idea: Safer-Sex Fiesta!

Chef BoyRUGay would like to remind readers to Ask Argenta, if you have any questions about sexual health, relationships, or living life with pride! 

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to watch the elusive Ms. Perón host a game show at La Casa, the Latino Culture Center at Indiana University Bloomington.  The game was a twist on the timeless “Newlywed Game,” in which contestants tried to guess their partners’ answers to questions about relationships (What would your partner give up for love?), sex(Where does your partner prefer to be kissed?) and STI’s(Does your partner know which bodily fluids carry HIV?).  It was obvious that Argenta had done her research, and I was reminded of a few facts I had forgotten. 

The funniest moment came when participants were asked to identify the safest means of STI prevention.  One enthusiastic audience member yelled out what the Chef was already thinking:  “Masturbation!”

This week’s challenge is to share healthy eating habits with others.  Come up with a few invasive questions of your own, and invite friends for stimulating conversation, over these flavorful, nutritious quesadillas.  A note of caution: use a little tact if you plan to invite Argenta over for Taco Night.

The following recipe is courtesy of the South Beach Diet:

Chicken Quesadillas

Ingredients:

4 whole wheat (8-inch) tortillas

2 (6 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pre-cooked and thinly sliced

1 cup, shredded, reduced-fat cheddar or Monterey jack pepper cheese (I like to use ½ cup of eachJ)

1 avocado, pitted, peeled and thinly sliced

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Salt and black pepper

Directions:

Heat oven to 200 degrees.

Heat 1 tortilla in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until warm, about 1 minute.

Sprinkle tortilla with ¼ of the chicken, cheese, avocado, onions, and a pinch of salt and black pepper.

Cover the skillet and cook until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

Use a spatula to remove the tortilla from to a plate or cutting board.  Fold the tortilla in half and place on a baking sheet in the warm oven.

Repeat three times with remaining ingredients.

Cut each quesadilla into 3 triangles.

These quesadillas are very filling!  They served as dinner and next-day lunch for two, when I made them.  Salsa, guacamole and low-fat sour cream (or yogurt)are tasty complements to this dish!

The Chef is Back!

Happy New Year! 

No, Chef BoyRUGay hasn’t flipped his lid.  Quite the opposite; after a research hiatus, I am armed with a series of healthy recipes to help you beat the crap out of holiday weight gain and kick 2012 off right.

I’m sure I’m not alone in noticing that New Year’s resolutions don’t really work.  And why would they?  Six days after two of the fattest holidays of the year, while you’re still wading through leftover ham and nibbling on candy canes, you’re expected to feel inspired by the turn of a calendar page, sit down, write down a few vague objectives and become a paragon of restraint and discipline overnight?  Yeah right!  Wouldn’t it be easier to prepare for the New Year gradually, making lifestyle improvements until you’re in tune with your habits and ready to set some real attainable goals? 

That’s the idea behind “Fit Fridays” here at Illumenate.   Check out our blog every Friday for the next three months (from now until 2012!).  Here, you’ll discover delicious recipes to keep you fit and empowered to politely decline that extra slice of pie at Thanksgiving dinner.

Join us!  Subscribe to the Illumenate blog to get our support as you plan your own strategy for health in the New Year.  Let us know how your efforts are going and share any tips you think others might find helpful.

This week’s recipe serves as a reminder that a healthy breakfast, essential to a productive and focused morning, can be delicious.  Next week, we’ll feature chicken, in case someone asks you which came first…

Introducing: Chef BoyRUGay’s Own Egg White Frittata

(Vegetarian/Gluten-free)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. olive, veggie or canola oil

6 egg whites (yolks discarded)

2 tsp. fat-free milk

Pinch of salt and pepper

2 green onions, chopped

1 small green bell pepper, diced

1 Roma tomato, diced

1 clove of garlic, diced

3 or 4 fresh basil leaves, chopped

2 tbsp. shredded, reduced fat cheese

Directions:

Preheat the broiler on your oven.

Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.

 While the oil is heating, whisk together the egg whites and milk (The more you beat the eggs, the fluffier your frittata will be!).   Season this mixture with salt and pepper.  Set aside.

When the oil begins to change color, toss the diced veggies and herbs into the skillet.

Cook the veggies, stirring gently, until the onions start to become translucent.  Try to distribute veggies evenly over the surface of the skillet.

Pour the seasoned egg mixture over the veggies and let it cook without stirring.

Do not let the eggs cook fully, just until they start to set on the bottom of the skillet.

Sprinkle cheese over the mixture.

Remove the skillet from the flame and place it in the broiler.

Allow the mixture to cook for one minute in the broiler, or until the top is nicely browned.

Remove the skillet from the broiler, allow to cool, cut and serve (feeds 2-4).

It’s fun to play around with vegetable combinations in this frittata!  Mushrooms, artichokes, spinach and Vidalia onions are just a few veggies that would also be great in this dish.

ChefBoyRUGay challenges you to eat a nutritious breakfast every day next week!  Don’t punk out.

For days you’re in a hurry, here are a few quick, healthy breakfast ideas from RealSimple.com

The Very Abridged Life & Times of Harry Potter!

Join us for One Magical Weekend!  Spots are filling fast and there are still some scholarships available. Click Here for More Info!

National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

A Note from Argenta

Dear Queridos,

Yesterday, I had a moment of sadness.  When I learned of Jamey Rodemeyer my heart became heavy.  I became so enraged at what people are doing to our children. I know many of you have experienced this hate first hand.  There is no way for me to apologize for what people have done to you or make it go away.  I can only offer you a safe and fun environment to be yourself…whoever that is! 

Jamey’s story is not unique, unfortunately.   There are so many youth out that have to endure this vile hatred and have had listen to bigots spew poison.  Papis, every day I walk into my office and look at my poster from the Trevor Project.  This poster says “I am glad I failed at suicide because my life is so amazing now” and I think “Me Too, Papi, me too”.   There are way too many unique and beautiful people in our community to lose one.   YOU could cure disease, create masterpieces, change the world…but you have to be here to do it! Who knows, you could be the first gay president…as long as I get to be on the cabinet!  As Mr. Marlo Thomas (Phil Donahue) said “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”

If you, at any time feel depressed, sad, or that you want to harm yourself or others; please talk to someone.  There are many resources in the community.  Many of them are free! I encourage you all to take a moment and connect with a friend and let them know you care.

So take a moment right now to Text, Call, Facebook, G+, Tweet, Morris Code, Smoke Signals, WHATEVER, and tell them that if they need, you will channel Oleta Adams and get there!  

Please Queridos, take care of yourselves and each other!

Un gran beso y un abrazo grande y fuerte,

Argenta

Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party

This production of Abraham Lincoln’s Big, Gay Dance Party and the entire project surrounding it seeks to infuse the IU, Bloomington, and statewide communities with social and academic discourse on Queer History. The project is actively working to empower and enliven Queer History, through a number of mediums, within individuals and within our community. This is not a project which has been undertaken before in this area, especially not on such a far-reaching scale and in the heated political climate which we find ourselves in. This project is a necessary part of the IU LGBTQ community and greater community because it demands a sense of humor when approaching hotly contested issues. The play and the project work to provide meaning in multiple layers as to best facilitate an understanding of the complexities of issues surrounding gay American history, inconvenient truths about American life and past, and even tough realizations about Americans in the present and in our own state of Indiana. This production and this project will enliven the local and hopefully state-wide debate and will inform and challenge aspects of gay history through a double-edged project of scholarship and vaudeville-style theatre. John Waters has been known to call on the gay community to get its humor back again; “Let’s be outlaws again” he said in a recent Advocate interview. Let’s have a big, gay dance party, because it’s exactly what we need right now to reach the seemingly unreachable.

            We are working on multiple exciting components for this project.

            — This production of ALBGDP will be its collegiate premiere. This production will focus on the power dynamics and cross sections of interpolation which exist for rural queers as well as those on a national historic stage. The production will do this through the lens of burlesque — a historically American genre of theatre which features comedy, strip, satire, agitprop and music. All of these elements inform the text of this play, the rehearsal work which will go into it and the layered production choices. This production is the driving force behind the discourse we are working to create in the community and will draw in a diverse crowd from around the state. Specifically, this production will tackle not only rural Queer life, but also the struggle of identity in rural spaces as well as the search for a Queer community to poke fun at itself while exploring its core themes and values.

            — The Pop-Up Museum of Queer History will make its Midwestern debut in Bloomington with Queer art from around the country and the globe as well as pieces made specifically for this show in Bloomington. The Museum will also feature key historic artifacts from the Kinsey Institute as well as a timeline from the Monroe County Historic Society. This exhibition will also feature local Queer musicians and performance artists as it seeks to engage Bloomington’s already thriving creative community in discussions of identity, epistemology, Queer youth and Queer life in a number of spaces (including academic ones).

            — The academic panel discussion of Queer History titled: “Queer History in ‘Real America’; Subjugated Knowledges in 21st Century Education” will offer theoretical and on-the-ground research and discussion on rural Queer life. This panel will be a frank conversation on current issues and promises to invigorate individuals as they seek to identify and participate in the academic discourse on Queer American History.

            — The Forum Theatre Session on personal Queer History will spark physical and emotional work by community members as we collaborate to combat everyday oppression. In contrast to the academic panel, this Session demands immediate physical and emotional work on the part of its participants as they work to combat personal and sometimes communal oppressions. This component of the project is very important, it offers an immediate, on-the-ground experience for what Augusto Boal referred to as spect-actors (rather than spectators, which are passive). This Session comes from the Latin American tradition of the Theatre of the Oppressed which was made known by the late Augusto Boal — it’s work in combatting oppression across the globe is growing daily.

            These components are only the highlight points of this project’s active benefits to the IU, Bloomington, and Indiana communities. Not only is this project working to identify a minority’s history, it is also: creating original art within the IU community, inviting national works and artists to take part in the events, helping to expand and promote IU’s LGBTQ community, engaging a diverse population in a variety of issues, offering academic and social discourse avenues, and it is working to inspire a continuing impact on the IU community. IU has the potential for more than tolerance, it can work to actively promote and engage the LGBTQ community in ways that have not been done in our state or even in our country. This project offers IU the possibility to lead on another social justice issue and to co-create and empower individuals — it is not only a wonderful opportunity, it is a necessary step forward.

            The opportunity to work with a fresh, unproduced piece of theatre is not one often afforded to Indiana University, let alone students. This production of ALBGDP and its entire surrounding project is one that is new, challenging, hilarious and intensely creative.

Illumenation! Halloween Edition

Halloween:  Come Out and Play with the Men of Illumenate for a scary good time!  Come to a place where young gay/bi Ghost and Goblins (ages 18-29) get together to meet new people, talk about sex, relationships, friendships, and much more.   

This edition of Illumenation is Halloween themed! We encourage you to come in your best Halloween gear (costumes) This Illumenation will also feature some fun games and Halloween themed goodness.  It's a great time to get all those burning questions answered and have a LOT of fun doing it! 

All you have to do is bring yourself and we will give you:   FREE FOOD, A TSHIRT, A MONSTER MASH-UP CD, EDUCATION, FUN & SO MUCH MORE! 

Sign up and get your questions answered Here

Guiding Light

Social Based: We create an environment that is fun and safe for young gay/bi men to themselves. We achieve this by hosting social events and meetings with fun activities and lots of good food! See our Calendar!

Community Building: Our goal is to create a community that can help foster a safe environment for young gay/bi men to Come Out & Play.

Gay/BI Positive: For young gay/bi men & by young gay/bi men. Our Core Group makes all the decisions, join us and help develop a positive Gay/Bi Community for young men. This is an opportunity to be whoever you want to be in a safe place.

Sex Positive: This is an attitude towards human sexuality that regards all consensual sexual activities as fundamentally healthy and pleasurable, and encourages sexual pleasure and experimentation. We advocate sex education and safer sex. We provide free condoms and lube at all of our events or just stop by our office!

Empowerment: We encourage everyone to be the best person you can be. (well us and Oprah.) We encourage developing confidence in your own capacities.

Peer Influenced Safer Sex: What a GREAT way to talk about sex with your friends. If you have the knowledge then help us spread the word. Safer Sex is the Hottest Sex! We encourage you to talk to your friends about sex…got questions? We’ve got Answers! Attend Illumenation and we will guide you on your way to becoming a Sexpert!

I Do Not Hook Up

Dear Argenta,

I am looking for something to do on campus, other than hookup…what would you recommend?

Dear Kelly Clarkson,

Querido, that is a GREAT question! There is a TON of stuff to do on campuses across the nation. I can only assume that you are speaking of Indiana University in Bloomington.

Let me think about what I did when I was in college…okay, let me think about what my friends did in college. Papi, there are ton of great organizations; it really just depends on what you want to do or how committed you want to be. There are fraternities, clubs, sports, Illumenate!

I am going to shamelessly plug Illumenate for a second. If you are looking to meet new people and get involved with your community, Illumenate is a great place to start. Join Illumenate Core Group and help plan events and build your community.

Otherwise there are some great LGBT Organizations as well. For more information on those you can talk to Carol or Doug at the GLBT Student Support Services on campus. (Tell ‘em Argenta sent you…it won’t get you anywhere, but at least they will know who sent you).

Here is a list of LGBT groups that I know about:

GLBT SSS

SAGE

Out

Sigma Phi Beta

Click any of those links and you will find some group to start off with.

Also, IU hosts a student involvement fair every year at the IMU. Check that…stop by the Illumenate Booth and say “Hello” (tell ‘em Argenta sent you…again, not really gonna get you anywhere, but they may smile)

Well, that is what I have to say about it. So, I am going to send you un beso grande y un abrazo fuerte!

Gracias Querido for Asking Argenta!

A Message from The Ladies of Positive Link

Positive Link, a program of Indiana University Health Bloomington, offers free HIV testing on Mondays from 2pm to 6pm. We are temporarily using only venipuncture tests for HIV. These tests are as accurate as the rapid, oral HIV tests. Venipuncture testing for Hepatitis C and Syphilis is also available for those who qualify. Venipuncture results take one to two weeks and HIV results must be given face-to-face.

New Core Group!

Sunday Funday Core Group: 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. (Locations will very. Please check our calendar or facebook page for locations.) These meetings offer a light agenda. The agenda part of the evening never goes longer than one hour. When the hour is up, the meeting is over and we get to play!

Committee: 3rd Monday of each Month at 333 East Miller Drive. Committee: Is the ‘nuts and bolts’ meeting. The committee meeting meets for an “indefinite” length of time, until everything is planned and done. We talk, we eat, and we hash out all the details for upcoming events.

What is Core Group?

What's the best way to make new friends at Illumenate? Join The Men of Illumenate (or Core Group) where you can meet all the guys and at the same time get involved with our community. Bring your ideas to life and help plan and decide the activities and events our community needs! Core Group is comprised of young gay/bisexual/transgender men and is open to everyone.

The Core Group’s role is to:

• Plan events for young GBT men in our community.

• Analize problems facing our community.

• Implement solutions to those problems.

• Analyze if the strategies are successful.

Need Free STD Testing?

The Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project is a community-focused research project on men’s health. Our goal is to improve men’s health by better understanding sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates and sexual behaviors of 17-24 year old males in Bloomington communities. The Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project’s community and campus outreach focus means that results can directly inform and improve public health screening and prevention programs for adolescent boys.

Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project staff will work with community members to identify Monroe County locations for screening. At each community location, men 17-24 years old will be approached and informed of the project, and, if interested, enrolled. They will sign a consent form, take a brief survey on a tablet computer, give a specimen for STD testing, and provide contact information for results. The S.T.R.O.N.G. Project will test for three common STDs: Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Trichomonas. All participants will be called with results. Any men with positive STD tests will be referred for treatment, and Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project staff will help with this referral. At the conclusion of the project, results from the Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project will be provided to collaborating community organizations.

What is it called the Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project?

S.T.R.O.N.G. stands for Sexually TRansmitted infections Occurring in our NeiGhborhoods. The S.T.R.O.N.G. project would like to strengthen men’s health through STD screening and referrals to treatment.

Who can participate in the Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project?

Men between the ages 17-24 years old can participate. Parental permission is not required – young men can sign their own consent form. Participation is voluntary.

Why is the study being done?

The project is being done to find out the rates of 3 common STI’s among young men 17-24 years old at community locations in Monroe County and to find relationships between populations and STI rates. The information will be used to strengthen screening and prevention programs for college age men.

What are the benefits to men?

All Participants will receive free STD testing and a $20 gift card. Participants testing positive for an STD will receive counseling information and a referral for STD treatment.

How long will the project take?

The project takes about 25 minutes.

Is the project safe?

The Bloomington Men S.T.R.O.N.G. Project has been approved by the Indiana University Institutional Review Board. The project has special protections for privacy and confidentiality (for example, password protection and encryption of data, using study numbers instead of names, and not sharing an individual’s information). If a participant feels uncomfortable answering questions, they can choose not to answer that question or to stop. If a man needs help, Project staff will refer to an appropriate community provider. All participant information and involvement is kept confidential.

What are the benefits to community and campus organizations?

There are several benefits:

· The S.T.R.O.N.G. project will provide project results back to community organizations to be used for grants, education, and program planning.

· The S.T.R.O.N.G. project will help familiarize and inform men of the community to aspects of sexual health and available resources.

Who is responsible for the study?

This principal investigator is Dr. Mary A. Ott from the Section of Adolescent Medicine in the Indiana University School of Medicine (317-274-8812/ maott@iupui.edu).

How do I get more information about the S.T.R.O.N.G. Project?

Call: (812) 266-1978 or (812) 266-1983

Email: bloomingtonstrong@gmail.com

Illumenation

Come Out. Have Fun. Get Turned On.

September 14th, 2011 7-10pm

Illumenate

333 East Miller Drive

Bloomington, IN 47401

This is a fun and safe environment to make new friends and to discuss sex, relationships, friendships & a lot more! We will provide the education, fun, FREE FOOD, and a free T-shirt...you bring yourself!

Questions? Contact Patrick at pbattani@iuhealth.org or 812/3533276

One Magical Weekend

Click Here!

Oh, Canada!

Greetings from the Great White North! I was just wondering why Americans dislike Canadians? What did we do wrong?

Dear Concerned Canadian,

Querido, who said Americans dislike our brothers to the north? I think it has to do with the revolution Papi.

It goes like this…I think (well if not we can always change Wikipedia right?):

Once upon a time, a fine Papi named United Kingdom met another papi named the Colonies. Like any tragic love story, these papis had a falling out. There was a big fight and a lot of Facebook drama. The Colonies were all passive-aggressive and posted something along the lines of “Fine, we will just be independent!” Well, the UK didn’t like that and said “Whateves, don’t let me catch you out or I will fight you.” Well you know what happened after that.

So you see papi it’s like when you break up with an ex and then have animosity for the person they are currently dating and vice versa. But what are you really “angry” at? Or are you’re feelings hurt? I think it’s time that we both sit down and really think about what the real emotions are. Identifying the real emotion will help you understand where they are coming from and help us resolve the issues you have with them.

It is very important that we respect each other; even when we are hurt. There is no reason to sling mud. I know that sometimes it can be hard to deal with the end of a relationship, but it always is for the best even if you don’t see that at the moment. So if you give us just a little time (like 200 years or so) to deal we can all be friends one day.

PS Could you please send some of those 1 girl 5 gays boys to visit?

I hope that helped.

Gracias Querido for Asking Argenta!

2 Internships Available

We are looking for 2 energetic, committed individuals for a creative, fun, empowering, and peer-run HIV prevention/community-building program designed for young gay and bisexual men ages 18-29 in Bloomington, Indiana.

2 Internships Available.

Small Group Coordinator:  Provide leadership for the Project team, facilitate skills-building workshops, help conduct community-strengthening events, and be involved with community outreach. Recruit participants and facilitate small discussion groups for young gay and bisexual men.

Outreach Coordinator: Recruit volunteers to help design & coordinate fun, creative events to educate and encourage young gay and bisexual men about safer sex. Recruit participants and facilitate small discussion groups for young gay & bisexual men.

For more information and applications, call 812/ 353-3276 or email.

Slippery Slope

Dear Argenta,

What is the best lube for anal sex?

Dear Slippery when Wet,

Querido, there is no one answer to this question.  Try all different kinds to find what works best for you or ask a friend…um…I guessed you asked me, huh? 

Here is my take on it. As long as the lubricant is condom safe (water-based or silicone based) then I would use whatever.  There are a millón opciones!  Anything from Boy Butter (I really like saying that one) to KY.  They also come in all different sizes.  I would recommend that when you are out buying lube that you go to an Adult Bookstore or online, they usually have these little pillow packs that come in all different types.  Try those out! 

My second favorite es gratis, you know the free stuff that the Men of Illumenate give out.  They have these little pillow packs in all kinds of Flavors and types.  You should check it out, Papi! That way you can save money and have some fun doing it! (Ay, I am so pun-y)  

Whatever you choose, Papi; just make sure that you make healthy choices about sex!

Well, that is what I have to say about it.  So, I am sending you un beso grande y un abrazo fuerte! 

Gracias Querido for Asking Argenta!

Dear Argenta,

A friend recently told me that he liked me "More than friends".  I feel like this is a downward slope and I am not interested in anything but friendship from him, what do I do?

Dear Downward Slope,

Querido, this can be a very touchy subject for people.  Nobody likes rejection, however; it’s a fact of life.  My advice to you would be to sit him down and talk to him about this issue, if he is willing.   It takes a lot of courage to actually tell someone you like them.

There are some things that you should be prepared for.  You are going to bring up some emotion for this person and yourself.  It is hard to tell someone you care about that you don’t want to date them; because you don’t want to hurt their feelings.   Unfortunately, you are going to hurt their feelings.  So if your friend pulls away from you a little, that is okay.  Give them time and space to deal with the rejection.  You should also let him know that you don’t want to lose the friendship that you have.   

Sometimes in these situation emotions run deeper then you thought.  This could cause some problems in the way of a lot of rumors, talk, y Drama.  If you care about the relationship you do have you will do what mi mama always said “Cuanto menos se diga, major” (the less said the better).   Just let these things go. (that’s easy, es cierto?) 

Por otro lado, everything could be fine and at least you both understand the situation.  Let’s hope for that one! Pero Querido, don’t dwell on the subject either.  That is the worst thing.  I have una problema with that.  Dwelling on the situation will only make things worse, move forward.  I say this with caution…Move forward, with or without your friend. 

Well, that is what I have to say about it.  So, I am sending you un beso grande y un abrazo fuerte! 

Gracias Querido for Asking Argenta!