Dining Out for Life

It's the time of year again when great food and a great cause combine for one incredible event. Dining Out for Life is back and it's going to be tastier than ever!

Dining Out for Life is an incredible event in which restaurants come together and donate a portion or all of their proceeds Thursday, April 24 in support of the San Diego LGBT Community Center's HIV services. Currently in its eighth year, the event includes approximately 100 restaurants, which is sure to make this year the best ever.

THE RAGE MONTHLY WAS ABLE TO CHAT WITH EVENT COORDINATOR IAN JOHNSON, ABOUT DINING OUT FOR LIFE AND WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT SO UNIQUE:

He had this to say about why events like Dining Out for Life are special: "There's just so much. Dining Out for Life is an international event held on the same day throughout the United States and Canada. Can you imagine the hundreds of thousands of individuals all dining out for the same reason? At the same moment you are out having breakfast someone in New York is having lunch with the same idea, to raise funds for HIV/AIDS. Every participant, dining out to make a difference in the lives of those living with HIV or AIDS diagnoses."

Johnson continued, "Many people believe that with the advancements in medication and because people are living longer with an HIV diagnosis, that everything is better. Yes, people are living longer lives, but we are still losing friends, family and loved ones. Dining Out for Life is bringing the HIV/AIDS conversation back to the dinner table."

It can be difficult for younger gay men to feel the sense of urgency that past generations felt with all the treatment advances. There is a definite need to make discussions more common regarding HIV and the ongoing epidemic
less stigmatized - events like Dining Out for Life help to do that.

Another facet of the event is the diversity of groups and people who benefit from funds raised. Johnson shed some light on this. "Dining Out for Life benefits some of the 12,500 individuals living with HIV/AIDS that come to the San Diego LGBT Community Center. Some of the funds go to our Youth Services and housing project which provides shelter to formerly homeless youth, some of whom are HIV-positive.

"At the Hillcrest Youth Center, we offer reproductive health education and risk reduction activities regarding HIV and other STD's. Our Behavioral Health Services is one of the largest providers of HIV/AIDS counseling in the county. Multiple discussion groups, support groups, referral services."

Events like Dining Out for Life allow for younger and working-class LGBT people to engage in activism and fundraising without having to be wealthy or even middle class. Though it's impossible to choose which is the "best" part of Dining Out for Life, Johnson had this to say about what he most enjoys: "I've been in every facet of this event: Worked in a restaurant, served as an ambassador and now coordinating it. The best part to me is the buzz and energy that starts early morning each April. You see people going out for breakfast and continuing throughout the day. Places are packed with groups of friends, staff and volunteers all there for the cause. You can see a community coming together to care for those living with HIV/AIDS, who need vital services."

With an event like Dining Out for Life supporting an incredible cause like battling HIV, many LGBT San Diegans are certainly going to want to help out. When asked how to get involved, Johnson offered this, "There are multiple ways, we are currently looking for amazing ambassadors who will be placed throughout the restaurants to represent Dining Out for Life and The Center. They talk with the diners explaining what we are doing and asking for additional donations."

For more information on how to register as an ambassador or to see all of the Dining Out for Life locations click on the "Events" tab at thecentersd.org