For Positive Men (ForPM) was an independent peer social and support group that encouraged growth, knowledge, self esteem, and acceptance. We were open to participation by all poz (HIV+) guys, 18 or older.
Farewell ForPM
After 17 years, the current members of For Positive Men have decided it is time for the group to disband. We celebrated our founding and our closing on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Our first meeting was held on July 14, 2005, so this is a nice bookend.
The first half the meeting was a potluck supper (Yes, Eric will bring the deviled eggs). For the second half, we had a bit of a regular meeting, seeing how everyone has been doing and remembering the last 17 years. We invited folks from the church to join us ad gave them a plaque thanking them for hosting us all these years.
Please spread the word to other friends of the group who may not have have heard yet.
Weekly Meetings
Our group meetings were held every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Casa De Cristo, 1029 East Turney Ave, Phoenix, AZ (directions). Afterwards, most of us descended on a nearby restaurant for food and more talk.
The meetings were free and open to all HIV+ (poz) guys, 18 and over. You’re welcome to bring a guest, but we ask that your guest respect the same confidentiality rules that we all follow, “What’s said here, stays here”.
We usually have 5 to 10 people attend each meeting. Ages range from 18 to 60+, and include guys who are newly diagnosed all the way to 25+ year survivors. Topics cover everything from meds and doctors to disclosure to current movies and cell phone accessories to substance abuse to ADAP and Medicare.
The format of the meeting is simple. We start at 6:30 PM with a quick reading of the rules and go around the room with everyone saying their name and how long they’ve been positive. After any announcements, we open up the group to whatever topics people want to bring up — serious and not so serious. There’s a 10-15 minute break around 7:30 PM and we end at 8:30 PM.
If you’re running late, don’t worry, just come on in. You can also join us at the 7:30 PM break if you prefer not to make “an entrance”.
We are a peer social and support group. Some call it “support lite”. We do not do “check in’s” or require you to tell all about your life. If you have an issue or problem you’d like to bring up, we’ll be glad to listen and offer support and ideas for working thru them. There’s a lot of experience within this group. If you are looking for a heavy-duty, in-depth support group to help you work thru specific issues in your life, we can recommend other groups in the area (check out Southwest Center’s offerings).
Other Activities
We plan to restart our movie nights, pool parties, and the like.
You can get more information on upcoming events at the weekly meetings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the group?
We usually have between 5 & 10 people at each Thursday night meeting. As we resume the group after Covid-19, we hope that number will increase.
Who can attend?
The group is open to all guys, 18 and over, who are HIV+. The meetings are free of charge.
You guys meet at a church! Is this some sort of religious group?
In a word, no. We are an independent group of HIV+ guys. Topics include sexuality, drugs, and whatever is going on in our lives. There is no limits on topics because of where we meet. Casa de Cristo is very generous and allows us to meet free of charge. They do it simply as an service to the community.
Can I get referrals to doctors and services?
Yes! Come to one of our weekly meetings and we’ll be glad to recommend doctors and agencies in the area. We do not provide referrals via e-mail.
History & Organization
For Positive Men is a peer social and support group. We were originally a support group of Body Positive (now Southwest Center) and spun off as a separate group on July 14, 2005.
The goals of the group are to…
- host a weekly drop-in support group on Thursday evenings,
- create a safe space for HIV-positive men to discuss their lives,
- provide peer-based support that encourages personal growth, knowledge, self esteem, and acceptance, and
- encourage our members to create and/or enlarge a social support network of friends.
One of our keys to success is that we have a very flat organization. There are no elected officials, dues, or bank accounts. Everyone at a planning meeting has equal say. We rotate the moderator position at the Thursday meetings so that no one dominates or gets burnt out. Members are encouraged to create outside activities.
We’ve found that the combination of both support and social activities keeps the group going. The social activities (dinner after the meeting, monthly events, etc.) provides a place where we can relax and be among people who understand what we’re going thru. The support component allows us to get to know each other and make the friendships and find the support that we need in our lives. We’re not just a bunch of guys staring at each other in a bar, but we know a little about each other and can care and support each other when needed.
Click here to view a complete copy of our guidelines.
We want to thank Casa de Cristo for sponsoring the Thursday night meetings and providing us with a place to meet at no charge. We also want to thank Lodestone Systems for sponsoring this web site, again at no charge.