A Sexy, Intergalactic Adventure

ARC Ohio Hosts Masquerage 2008

(*Note: This is an old article from 2008 that I lost in a computer crash. I found a copy and am now reposting it.)

Your feet glide along an alien terrain, seemingly urged forward by the thrumming electronic rhythms, the sound coming down in a crashing metallic crescendo held together by a pulsating bass hum. The multicolored lights, seemingly from a thousand worlds, pulsate and twinkle, some with the brilliance of a supernova exploding in the vacuum of space. Other creatures, wrapped in strange and exotic garb, inhabit this world. They move and sway within the nebulous haze as lasers and light beams slice through the hazy atmosphere; yet there is no fear here...only celebration. Have your masks ready...this is the Masquerage.

Presented by the AIDS Resource Center – Ohio (ARC Ohio), Masquerage has become one of the premier events held in the region. This year's theme, A Sexy Intergalactic Adventure, has been selected with Barbarella and Flash Gordon firmly in mind. As always, a fully stocked bar and an astounding array of food from the far reaches of the galaxy will be available, as well as a line up of entertainment that is out of this world.

The Soul Fire Tribe will once again light up the night with their fire art based on the poi dancing of the Maori tribe. The ever effervescent Rubi Girls will grace the stage with their dynamically comedic drag performances, drawing the revelers in by creating an atmosphere of unpretentious levity, while Dance Trance and Porsche will move the crowd back out into cosmos.

An eclectic selection of exotic foods and a variety of liquid refreshments, most of which are native to Terra Firma, will be on hand, provided by The Dayton Independents. The Hawaiian Paradise Raffle will be offering a trip that is out of this world (figuratively at least) which consists of up to a fourteen night stay on Maui's stunning Kaanapali Beach. This will be held in conjunction with other auctions throughout the night, including items and services from local area businesses, not the least of which is a 42' Proscan LCD HDTV and a Sony Blu-Ray Disc Player. Local artists like Bing Davis, James Michael and Michael Elsass, among other, have donated their time and energy to create works that will be put up for auction to offset ARC Ohio's mounting costs in their ongoing mission to preserve life.

The purpose of this, and other events hosted by ARC Ohio, stems from a tragic necessity and a compelling need to provide prevention education within our region concerning AIDS. There are those that may feel that the subject of AIDS has been in the spotlight for so long, that surely everyone is well versed on the disease and subsequent prevention methods. Statistics, however, would prove otherwise. One fifth of those belonging in the highest risk categories of contracting AIDS do not receive annual screenings for the virus and a full 80% of the gay/bisexual community aren't being reached with vital evidence-based prevention activities. Worldwide, the average age of almost half of new cases of AIDS are between fifteen and twenty-four years old, which illustrates that there is a whole new generation that needs to be informed.

On the topic of statistics, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently announced this past summer that due to a grave miscalculation, the estimates of annual AIDS cases are actually 40% higher than had previously been determined. Through back-calculating the past fifteen years, it places the annual estimates into the realm of 56,000 new cases of AIDS each year. While the numbers, including the revised estimates, seem grim, there has been progress. Comparatively to the time when AIDS was first recognized, when the median life expectancy after diagnosis was placed at around eighteen months, the average life expectancy now spans many years and even into decades.

The latest hindrance in the war on AIDS is one that all people will recognize; lack of funds. Over the past five years, the CDC has watched as its annual budget for HIV prevention programs were drastically cut by $30 million, which in turn strips those agencies on the local level of most of their outreach, prevention, counseling and education budgets, making an increase in the number of AIDS cases extremely likely. Paradoxically, abstinence programs, which statistically place teenagers at a higher risk of contracting an STD as well as failing in its promise to curb unwanted pregnancies, has received hundreds of millions of dollars. By way of comparison, ARC Ohio has had its budget slashed, all while seeing a 36% increase in the number of clients it serves.

Competition for the dwindling funding is fierce and once a little bit of money is secured, the heart wrenching process of prioritizing what programs receive the lion's share and which ones are destined to starve begins. Is it more important to provide educational material and screenings to prevent a new case or is it just as crucial to provide counseling to those already afflicted so that they do not spiral down into suicidal despair? Both decisions hold lives in the balance and, without the proper funding, a decision will eventually have to be made as to which one receives adequate funding.

The Masquerage is an evening for celebrating life. A celebration of the lives of the masked revelers as well as the lives of those that may be saved with the money that is raised. Masquerage will be held this year at 26 Wyandot St. (formerly The Foundry) and a mask is required. General Martian Admission is $50 and includes a complimentary drink and hors d'oeuvres. Red Ribbon Supernova Level is $140 for admission and includes access to the Red Ribbon Lounge, swag bags and the chance to take home a stellar set of 3.67 carat diamond earrings. An after party will be held at Club Masque and admission is free with Masquerage 2008 ticket stub. Tickets are available through various locations throughout the region and are listed at http://www.masquerage.org/ or http://www.arcohio.org/ or you can call (937) 461-2437 (ext. 2025) for more information.

(This article originally appeared in the October 15, 2008 issue of the Dayton City Paper. This is the article as I originally wrote it.)