World AIDS Day

Throughout the month of December, Montrose Counseling Center’s Paper Chain of Remembrance will be up in the second floor lobby in observance of World AIDS Day. We invite the public to come write a message of love or hope to persons living with HIV/AIDS, or honor someone’s memory by adding a link to the chain. The chain has been displayed every year since 2005.

MCC will offer free Rapid HIV Testing at 401 Branard Street between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1. If you are not able to make it on that day, please contact our Risk Reduction team at 713.529.0037 or by email to get tested at your convenience.

MCC also will be involved in the third annual City-wide Candlelighting, held outside at Tranquility Park on World AIDS Day, December 1. The observance will be held from 5:30 until 7 p.m., and will move to the City Hall Rotunda if the weather is inclement. Everyone is invited to attend, and the city will lend participants LED candles, provided by Walgreens, to light together to raise awareness about the toll HIV/AIDS has taken on our loved ones.

In addition, MCC is a community partner of the Houston showing of the powerful stage play “You Better Ask Somebody,” which explores the personal relationships between men and women that put us all at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Ex-con Donovan has been released from a two-year stint in prison and is back with his girl, Kendra. To their dismay, Donovan’s “down low” lifestyle while in prison comes back to haunt them both when he is informed that his old cellmate is HIV positive. To make matters worse, Kendra has been having an ongoing affair with a married man, Dan. “You Better Ask Somebody” gives an in-depth look into human behavior. Filled with drama and spoken word poetry, “You Better Ask Somebody” will make you laugh, cry, and think.

The performance will take place on Saturday, December 4, at St. John’s United Methodist Church  at 2019 Crawford Street. Reception at 7 p.m., Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the play begins at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20, and discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase tickets to the event, please click here.