The Center and Priority Pharmacy are hosting the second annual GLBT Health Fair Saturday, May 31, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Center. This year’s health fair promises to be bigger and better, including a broader variety of organizations, in order to address the health-related issues of the entire community, including nutrition, holistic health, fitness, arthritis, cancer, mental health, child health care, senior and family health care, as well as HIV. There will also be greater representation from agencies of color and more organizations from outside Hillcrest taking part in the event.

In addition, the fair will offer the opportunity to explore employment options within various healthcare fields, offering a unique opportunity for schools, training programs, medical professionals and institutions to recruit trainees and skilled professionals from within the GLBT community.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders will also be appearing at the event. The first African-American Woman to serve as Surgeon General, Elders will speak on issues of health care impacting the GLBT community and communities of color, then answer questions from the audience.

“We are delighted and thrilled this year to have Dr. Joycelyn Elders with us,” Delores Jacobs, executive director of The Center, told the Gay and Lesbian Times. “One of our hopes for the health fair last year was that it would continue to grow and to embrace all diverse aspects of our community, and I think having her here helps put a point on that.

“We’re excited to have even more diverse organizations participating and to bring healthcare professionals here to answer questions and directly address the GLBT community — we think that’s important. We’re thrilled about it.”

“We’ve come to understand that each GLBT Health Fair will be a work in progress throughout the year,” said Stepher Potter of Priority Pharmacy. “Health care issues and the needs of our community change continuously. Because of that, this year we’ve significantly increased the diversity of information, free medical assessments and professionals who will be providing timely information to our community. Having a former U.S. Surgeon General conducting a one-on-one question and answer session is a major step in personalizing the event. Our goal is to help guide San Diego’s GLBT community toward understanding the importance of preventive health care.

“Gone are the days of ‘dressing to the nines’ and being fine,” Potter concluded. “It’s time we get serious and take responsibility for our special health care needs.”

For more information, contact Summer Morse at (619) 692-2077, ext. 247, e-mail smorse@thecentersd.org or contact Shawn Ingram at singram@thecentersd.org.