For two decades, Metro Wellness and Community Centers has provided HIV services to Tampa Bay. In fact, the organization is the only one of its kind to continuously provide assistance under its own identity, without any kind of mergers or partnerships.
To celebrate its success, and to thank the community for its ongoing support, Metro Tampa Bay will throw an inaugural Gala with a Fire & Ice theme on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Tampa Garden Club from 7-10 p.m.
“We’ve always wanted to have a signature event,” said Lorraine Langlois, Metro’s executive director. “What we didn’t have was the resources to put it on.”
But after two decades, the organization found the resources and the plan is for something very big, and very impressive, the night of Sept. 14.
“It will be night like no other,” said Chris Rudisill, Metro’s director of LGBT community services. “We’re creating two separate spaces, Fire and Ice, and Amy DeMilo will be our emcee for the evening.”
Rudisill said that the night will be intermixed with entertainment, short speeches and a few award presentations.
Langlois wants the night to be comparable to her experience at Obama’s LGBT inaugural ball earlier this year.
“What I witnessed that night was something I wanted to replicate,” Langlois said. “Typically you go to an event and you meet everyone within the first 30 minutes, and then you just circulate with those same people. But the ball kept things moving, entertained and energized. There was music, talk, and there was entertainment. It constantly left you wanting more and you’re thinking, ‘Wow, I could use more of this.'”
The Metro Tampa Bay Gala has three booked speakers, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, model, HIV advocate and reality show star Jack Mackenroth and lesbian comedian Karen Williams. Several local elected officials have also been invited to attend, Rudisill said.
“This is a celebratory fundraiser,” Rudisill explained. “This year’s gala specifically celebrates our 20th anniversary. That’s the key to the Gala and it creates a signature event.”
And it’s an event that will appear annually in Tampa Bay, both Langlois and Rudisill confirmed.
“It may or may not be in September next year,” Rudisill said. “It really depends on how well this goes and what else is going on in the community.”
But it will be back for as long as Metro is in operation, Langlois added.
“The people, our staff, and our mission at Metro has kept us successful,” Langlois said. “Our work isn’t done. HIV education and prevention is still needed and a whole new generation needs to be educated. That’s what we do. That’s why we’re funded.”
The need and want to have sexual contact is human nature, Langlois said. And too often that drive overtakes the drive to protect oneself against HIV.
But with testing practices so readily available, such as with Metro Tampa Bay’s mobile unit, sponsored by Watermark, more people can know their status and prevent the spread of HIV.
“There is a fear in testing, no doubt,” Langlois said. “But I tell people, if you take the test and test negative, you never have to be worried about being positive for the rest of your life!”
Tickets to the Metro Tampa Bay Gala are $100 and include an open bar, food and entertainment. They may be purchased online at MetroTampaBay.org.
