The Public Health HIV/AIDS Program will offer anonymous and confidential HIV counseling and testing at the rally, using both the "oral fluids" test and the standard blood test. The "oral fluids" test uses a mouth swab to test for HIV antibodies, allowing rally-goers to avoid the inconvenience of a blood draw. In years past, over 70 people have received HIV testing and counseling at the Gay Pride Rally. Limited STD screening and referrals will also be offered at the rally.

"Now is the time for gay men who haven't been tested for HIV to get tested without needing to have their blood drawn," said Dr. Bob Wood, Director of the Public Health HIV/AIDS Control Program. "This knowledge can be life-saving with the new medications that everyone in this state can access, with or without insurance."

Public Health's "Hep Squad" will be promoting hepatitis A and B immunizations through referrals to various sites, including 8 Public Health and community clinics that are offering free vaccine to low-income and uninsured gay and bisexual men. The Hep Squad will also distribute educational materials and temporary tattoos to encourage immunizations, and will be conducting a survey of immunization rates and attitudes about hepatitis among gay and bisexual men. Gay and bisexual men in King County are twenty times more likely to get hepatitis A than the general population, and seven times more likely to get hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is the largest cause of cancer that is preventable by vaccine.

Public Health's Tobacco Prevention Program will distribute the "Out and Free" smoking cessation guide, along with quit kits designed specifically for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. Brochures and small giveaways with anti-tobacco messages will also be provided. Studies suggest that gay and lesbian people may use tobacco at a higher rate than the general population, resulting in higher rates of tobacco related diseases.

"Each year tobacco companies spend more and more money in the lesbian and gay community encouraging more of us to smoke," says Greg Hewett, Manager for Public Health's Alcohol & Tobacco Prevention Program. "It's time we say gay pride is not for sale."

Project NEON, which targets gay and bisexual men who use methamphetamines will also be distributing educational materials at the rally. Public Health estimates that approximately 40% of King County gay and bisexual men who use methamphetamines have HIV, over twice the percentage for gay and bisexual men in general.

Rally attendees will also have the opportunity to win prizes by playing the "Wheel of Health Game" and answering health-related questions such as, "Tobacco contains the highly addictive drug nicotine--what common household item also contains nicotine?". Public Health will also offer free, cool bottled water to dehydrated rally-goers, and recipe cards featuring low-cost, nutritious meals.

Other Public Health programs targeting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities include:

• Health Webpages for Sexual Minorities - Through a grant from the National Library of Medicine, Public Health will develop, publish, and promote general health information for gay men, lesbians, and bisexual and transgendered people on its website. This project will launch in July of 2000.
  
  
• Lesbian Health Matters - Last year Public Health developed and implemented a media campaign promoting PAP screening for lesbians. For year 2000, two other components are being implemented: 1) training for health care provider practices on how to best serve lesbians, and 2) identifying and listing lesbian-friendly providers for lesbian consumers.
  
  
• Lesbian Cancer Project - The dual problems of high rates of smoking and low rates of gynecological exams among lesbians may result in increased rates of lung, ovarian, cervical, and breast cancers. Interventions activities include print advertisements, lesbian rave cards, posters, and brochures targeting lesbians and providers.
  
  
• Safe Schools Coalition of Washington - Public Health provides the principle staff support for Coalition activities, which include publishing original research pertaining to anti-gay harassment and violence in schools; facilitating support groups for sexual minority youth, their friends, and family members; and publishing a resource guide, posters, a website (www.safeschools-wa.org), and an email listserv.