Did you know that, in Shelby County, 87 percent of men living with HIV/AIDS and 92 percent of women with the disease are African American?

Yep, it's true. Those numbers come from the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department. As millions of Americans gnaw on hot wings and celery during SuperBowl XLIV (go Saints!) this Sunday, February 7th, they should take a moment to reflect on the AIDS epidemic on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

In recognition of the day, Planned Parenthood of Memphis is offering several days of free testing for anyone, regardless of race.

Monday, February 8th - Memphis Towers Community Room - 4pm - 6pm

Wednesday, February 10th - Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center - 6pm - 9pm

Artist Ellyhana Watts-Hall's previously scheduled art show at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC) was canceled last Friday due to inclement weather. But Watts-Hall's first public art show has been rescheduled at MGLCC (892 S. Cooper) from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, February 5th.

If you order tickets for Opera Memphis' January 31st production of Orpheus , mention "MGLCC" and $5 of the ticket price will be donated to the life-saving programs at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center.

To order tickets and make a donation, call 257-3100

Artist Ellyhana Watts-Hall will showcase her work in her first public art show at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper) from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, January 29th.

State representative Stacey Campfield's "Don't Say Gay" bill, which bans teaching or providing materials on any sexuality other than heterosexuality in grades K-8, will be heard in committee tomorrow.

• Stacey Campfield

The Flyer has been following this controversial bill for several years. Go here to read our original story on Campfield's bill. Just for fun, here's an excerpt of Campfield reasoning why he thinks such a bill is necessary:

"If I were to say 'Jack and Jill went up the hill' or 'George Washington and Martha Washington were husband and wife,' there are groups out there that would say we were pushing a heterosexual agenda. To keep those lawsuits from coming, I thought we should still be able to talk about that side of it," Campfield says.

Those who wish to fight against such legislation are encouraged to attend the Tennessee Equality Project's (TEP) Lobbying 101 Workshop on Thursday, January 28th at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper) from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information on the workshop, go here.

What's the holdup with the Memphis non-discrimination ordinance protecting city employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity? That's the topic of discussion at this month's Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) Shelby County Committee meeting on Tuesday, January 26th.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper). For more information, go here.

Those interested in advancing equality for transgender people in Tennessee might gain some insight on the matter at the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition's (TTPC) statewide winter meeting in Nashville.

The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd, and potential attendees are asked to e-mail or call TTPC for location information. The organization can be reached at (615) 293-6199.

Among the items likely to be discussed are the National Center for Transgender Equality Congressional Lobby Days in Washington, D.C. from March 14th through the 16th. At that time, trans people and supporters will gather in the capital to urge members of Congress to adopt the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

TTPC is an organization designed to educate and advocate on behalf of transgender-related legislation at the federal, state and local levels.

For most of the '90s, Meristem in Cooper-Young served as the city's only LGBT bookstore. It closed down in 1998, but a new women's book club has just launched in its honor.

The Meristem Book Club is open to all lesbian, bisexual, and straight women interested in reading books by women and LGBT authors. It meets on the first and third Monday and second Wednesday of every month at the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper).

Members are expected to read at least part of the agreed-upon book, and all women will have an opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions during book club meetings.

For more information, e-mail Audrey.

The Nashville Post reported this week that U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Nashville is among 37 members of Congress and two senators attempting to fight Washington, D.C.'s gay marriage law.

• Marsha Blackburn

Blackburn and the others signed onto a friend of the court brief supporting a referendum on D.C.'s legalizing of gay marriage. That referendum could overturn the D.C. City Council's decision to allow gay marriage in the nation's capital. D.C.'s election board has ruled that the referendum would discriminate against gays and lesbians.

The D.C. City Council voted to legalize gay marriage in mid-December, putting the capital in the ranks with five other states that now allow same-sex marriage.

Start 2010 off on the right foot and get tested for HIV at the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (892 S. Cooper).

MGLCC offers free oral swab testing every Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. Counselors are on hand to give advice on HIV prevention, and trained professionals are available to answer sexual health questions. The HIV test should take no longer than 20 minutes.

For more information, go to MGLCC's website.

With the exception of the anti-gay marriage Prop 8 passage in California, 2009 was a decent year for gay rights advances.

President Barack Obama signed a LGBT-inclusive federal hate crimes bill into law. Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty signed the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009, granting marriage equality to same-sex couples in the nation’s capital.

New York Governor David Paterson issued an executive order extending anti-discrimination policies to gender identity for state employees. New Hampshire legalized same-sex marriage. Locally, the Shelby County Commission passed a non-discrimination ordinance protecting LGBT employees. The list goes on.

Celebrate these advances (and those to come in 2010) on New Year's Eve. Here's a guide to gay New Year's Eve happenings in the Bluff City:

* The Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center is hosting an early New Year's Eve get-together from 6 to 9 p.m. at the center (892 S. Cooper). Stop in before heading to your party of choice.

* Backstreet Memphis (2018 Court) celebrates 15 years at its annual New Year's bash. There's a special New Year's Eve drag show in the Coliseum room at 11 p.m. and a $5,000 balloon drop at midnight.

* The Pumping Station (1382 Poplar) is hosting a New Year's Eve bash for a measly $5 cover. Doors open at 6 p.m.

* It's a regular night at Dru's Place (1474 Madison) with karaoke and darts.

Happy New Year!