Winter Party Madness

Summary

The article criticizes the National LGBTQ Task Force's decision to proceed with the Winter Party Festival during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the potential health risks to attendees, particularly those with compromised immune systems.

Abstract

The Winter Party Festival, organized by the National LGBTQ Task Force, took place from March 4–10, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The event, which primarily consists of dance parties, has been condemned for potentially endangering attendees, especially those with HIV, seniors, and individuals with underlying health conditions. The article emphasizes that such gatherings could exacerbate the spread of the virus, contradicting public health guidelines for social distancing and avoiding large crowds. Although the Task Force claims to have provided information on best practices to minimize transmission, the article argues that the responsible action would have been to cancel the event, drawing parallels to the HIV/AIDS crisis and the importance of community care. It calls for the Task Force to initiate COVID-19 testing for attendees to monitor and contain the spread of the virus.

Opinions

The decision to run the Winter Party Festival amidst a national health emergency is seen as reckless and potentially harmful to vulnerable populations within the LGBTQ community.
The article expresses that the Task Force, particularly its Executive Director Rea Carey, bears ultimate responsibility for the event and should be held accountable for potentially putting attendees at risk.
The author of the article believes that the Task Force's measures, such as informing attendees about best practices, are insufficient given the severity of the pandemic and the risks posed to those with compromised immune systems.
Dr. Joseph Osmunson is referenced as a key voice advocating for the LGBTQ community to avoid close-proximity events like nightclubs and dance parties to protect those with underlying conditions.
The article suggests that the lessons learned from the HIV/AIDS crisis, particularly the importance of community care and putting others' health before personal interests, should inform the decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The author calls for the Task Force to conduct COVID-19 testing for attendees, arguing that it is a necessary step to potentially save lives and prevent the unmonitored spread of the virus post-event.

Winter Party Madness

Running an LGBTQ circuit party in the middle of a pandemic, with no cure, which disproportionately harms those with comprised immune systems is madness. While conferences and events, like SXSW were postponed or cancelled, the National LGBTQ Task Force’s Winter Party festival ran from March 4–10 over the weekend.

With COVID-19 causing a national health emergency, a dance festival seems reckless and potentially harmful to those with HIV, seniors, and those with other underlying conditions. POZ magazine noted, “Although much remains unknown, it’s clear that older people, those with other health conditions and people with compromised immune systems have a higher likelihood of severe illness. This includes people living with HIV.” Rather than creating incubators for the disease we should be modifying our behavior to care for those among us that could be harmed by the virus. Let’s be clear, I am all for parting during my own personal apocalypse, so long as I am not giving a potentially dangerous virus to members of my queer family.

The ultimate responsibility in this case stops with the Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force Rea Carey. Personally, I like Rea. But there is no justification for this type of event, during these difficult times.

In response to my tweet, saying the Task Force should be ashamed about running this event, the Task Force tweeted back saying:

“We have informed & encouraged our attendees to carry out best practices and standards to minimize the possible transmission of COVID-19, through a harm reduction and wellness lens. For more information please check out the FAQ section on our website. We are following all current local, state, and federal guidelines and best practices. We have been communicating these recommendations to our attendees since this year’s @winter_party started, in emails, on social, and via our website. We are grateful that Mayor Dan Gelber and Commissioners Richardson and Gongora joined us Wednesday night at our Welcome Reception and presented us with a proclamation dedicating this week to Winter Party and The National LGBTQ Task Force.”

Avoiding crowds seems like a key point here. One that would shut down The Winter Party. A key voice on this issue is Dr. Joseph Osmunson who was among the first to call on the LGBTQ community to take a step back from close-proximity nightclubs and dance parties because while we may healthy, we may unknowingly spread COVID-19 to those who have an underlying condition.

So just to recap:

The Winter Party Festival includes members of the LGBTQ family who are living with HIV and other underlying health conditions.

The Massachusetts Department of Health notes, “COVID-19 virus is spread much like influenza: person-to-person through close contact (within about 6 ft.).” Six feet away is tough to do in a mosh pit dance floor

Caring for each other and putting community before self is something that we learned as a lessons of the HIV/AIDS political assassinations of the 1980’s and 1990’s. This is instructive here.

In short, I would call on the Task Force to take the prudent step and begin testing those at the Winter Party Festival for COVID 19. We are experts in doing testing at events and this could save lives. It would be unthinkable to potentially hold an event, have people contract the disease, not test, and then be unable to monitor its spread. This is the least we can do and something that is necessary.