William Harper wants to be clear: the AIDS Association of Pinellas isn’t going anywhere. The charitable organization that provides HIV testing and assists those living with HIV/AIDS is planning on some changes this year.
“There is a rumor out there that we’re closing our doors,” said Harper, director of HIV services at ASAP. “We’re not shutting down, but we didn’t get refunded for the Flamingo Resort project.”
Earlier this year, ASAP opened an HIV testing office inside the new gay resort in south St. Petersburg. Since it opened the satellite site, hundreds of gay men have learned their HIV status.
“That’s what the project is about,” said David Karst, who oversees the Flamingo Project. “It’s important for people to learn their status and we’ve been a great resource for the community.”
The current plan is that the Flamingo site will remain open at least through October, when its current lease runs out. In the meantime, ASAP is looking for different ways to keep funding available for the project, which relied on a state funded program that wastapped out this year.
“We’ve been funded since 2002 so we’ve had a good eight years,” said Mike Bell, a board member of ASAP. “We provide a convenient and non-judgmental place to get tested and we want to maintain that.”
If fundraisers aren’t successful in maintaining the Flamingo office, Karst said ASAP may rely more on its mobile unit, which tours popular LGBT night spots in Tampa Bay to provide free HIV testing.
“Right now we’re seeing what our options are,” he said.
Flamingo staff and management are working with ASAP to try to continue the project, but more assistance from the community is needed to keep the project running, Harper said. The need for volunteers and funds is at an all-time high.
“We have sites throughout Pinellas County where we can provide testing,” Harper said. “But the Flamingo site is a resource and that’s something we’d hate to see the gay community lose.”
For more information on ASAP, visit ASAPServices.org or call 727-328-3260.
