Support/Social Groups

Atlantic Five 0 (875 E. Main St., 249-4922) Group for gay men age 50 and over that meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley Youth Center.

AQA (107 Liberty Pole Way, 420-1400) Support group for transgender people of color meets third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the MOCHA project.

Butch Femme Connection (865-4619, DressyFemme@aol.com) Social support group for lesbian women who identify themselves as butch or femme.

CampusOUT (875 E Main St Suite 500, 244-8640, gayalliance.orgCampusOUT) Student-run youth coalition through the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley that coordinates gay/straight alliance activities, educates on gender and sexual-identity issues, and advocates against institutional discrimination.

Catholic Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry (3288 E. Henrietta Rd, 392-2862) Meets third Thursday of each month at the School of Good Shepherd Church.

Come Out and Play (coap@gayrochester.com) COAP, which began in 1992, is a local gay/lesbian social group geared toward younger adults, but open to everyone. The group meets monthly at the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley.

Cross Dresser Support Group (251-2132, RDSNET@hotmail.com) Meets the first Saturday of each month 6-9 p.m. Call for location.

Dignity-Integrity/Rochester (17 S Fitzhugh St, 234-5092, di-rochester.org) Support group for LGBTI people of faith who are searching for justice in church and society.

Empire Bears (875 E. Main St. Suite 500, empirebears.org) Social group for those who identify themselves as "bears," and those who are "bear"-lovers.

Finger Lakes LGBT Workplace Alliance (2114 Highland Ave, 265-5904, info@fllwa.org) Serves members of the LGBT community with workplace issues, including educating and advocating for inclusive workplaces. Includes many area businesses, including M&T Bank, the University of Rochester, Kodak, and Xerox.

Finger Lakes Pride at Work (482-0862, besswhat@gmail.com) Organization geared toward mobilizing the organized labor movement within the LGBT community. Meets first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at 167 Flanders St.

Fortunate Families (698-6100, fortunatefamilies.com) Offers information and a support network for Catholic parents of LGBT people, and is inclusive of people of other faiths.

Friday Night Gay Men's AA (815 Park Ave., brucew.com/rochester-gayaa.html) Support group is one of four local AA meetings held regularly for the LGBT community. Meetings at 7:30 p.m. are for men only, and are closed, which means only alcoholics and addicts are permitted to attend.

Gay Alliance of the GeneseeValley(875 E. Main St. Suite 500, 244-8640, gayalliance.org) The Gay Alliance is the hub of Rochester's LGBT community, offering youth and violence-prevention programs, bringing speakers and presentations on LGBT issues to Rochester, providing a directory of resources for community members, informing readers through its newspaper, The Empty Closet, and more.

Gay Fathers Group (875 E. Main St. Suite 500, 244-8640, gayalliance.org) Meets every first and third Tuesday at the Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley Community Center.

Gay Life Support Group (webspawner.com/users/gaylifesupport)Group's mission is to facilitate discussion among the gay men of Rochester regarding how to live a healthy, complete life in social, personal, spiritual, sexual, political, and historical aspects.

HIV Positive Gay Men Support Group (1350 University Ave, 442-3051 x 3051) Meets every Monday at 5 p.m. at AIDS Rochester.

Huther-Doyle (360 East Ave, 325-5100, hutherdoyle.com) Offers substance-abuse treatment, with a special track for LGB individuals. There are programs for patients who are not chemically dependent, but who have had issues with substance abuse, and also more intensive programs.

LGBT Support Group (4 Meigs St, 338-3466) Meets at Third Presbyterian Church every first and third Monday 7:30 p.m.

Lifetime Care GLBT Bereavement Group (3111 S Winton Rd, 475-8800, lifetimecare.org) Meets on first and third Thursdays, and allows for discussion and bereavement of family members, friends, or other lost loved ones from a GBLT perspective.

Lilac Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (rcoaster@rochester.rr.com) Support/social group for deaf members of the LGBT community.

More Light Presbyterians (121 N. Fitzhugh St, 325-4000) Support group for gays, lesbians, and friends meets the last Sunday of each month at 12:15 p.m. at the Downtown United Presbyterian Church.

New Freedom, New Happiness Group (AA) (First Unitarian Church, 220 S Winton Rd, brucew.com/rochester-gayaa.html)Meeting is open and available to all members of the LGBT community. Bring family, friends, or anyone else who could serve as an ally.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) (875 E. Main St Suite 500, 244-8640 ext.27, pflag.org)Offers support and advocacy opportunities for LGBT people and their friends, parents, and families. Other, more specific programs include support and education for transgender people and their families, and for heterosexual spouses of LGBT people.

Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (271-7649) Meets every first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Call for location.

Rainbow Seniors of Western New York (121 N. Fitzhugh St, 325-1640, rainbowseniorswny.org) Offers social networking events, and works to promote positive images of older LBGT members within gay and non-gay communities throughout Western New York.

Rochester Community Business Forum (620 Park Ave No. 366, 234-8706, streetsofpride.com) Group works to raise money for the Rochester Gay Pride/Cultural Festival.

Rochester Gay Moms (rochestergaymoms-owner@yahoogroups.com) For "lesbian mommies and wannabe mommies in Rochester." Provides information on adoption, pregnancy, sperm banks, parenting and more. Couples or singles welcome; only women are permitted.

Saturday Night Special (AA) (220 S Winton Rd, brucew.com/rochester-gayaa.html) Meeting is open and available to all members of the LGBT community. Meets at First Unitarian Church Saturdays at 7 p.m. Bring family, friends or anyone else who could serve as an ally.

Transgender Support Group (121 N. Fitzhugh St, 325-4000) Meets the third Wednesday of each month 6:30-9 p.m., and last Saturday of each month 2-5 p.m., at Downtown United Presbyterian Church.

Sports/Recreation

Fishing in the Finger Lakes(288-7208, FishingFolksNY@aol.com) Women-only fishing group for lesbians. NYS fishing license required.

GLBTQI Bikers (478-1565, RochesterGLBTQIbikers@yahoo.com) Open to motorcyclists of all ages, races, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Jones Pond Gay Campground (9835 Old State Rd, Angelica, 567-8100, JonesPond.com) Members-only, clothing-optional gay campground for adult males 21+.

Lambda Car Club (288-3313, lambdacarclub.com) America's largest gay and lesbian car club.

Rochester Frontrunners (rochfrfw@hotmail.com, groups.msn.com/RochesterNYFrontrunners) Group for gay men and women interested in fitness; meets every Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m., and Saturday at 9 a.m., at the George Eastman House parking lot for runs/walks. Participants are not required to be serious runners.

Rochester Rams (rochesterrams.com) Gay motorcyclist group; weekly meetings and social events.

Rochester Historical Bowling League (http://rhbs.it.rit.edu/index.html) Gay and lesbian bowling league has been bowling at Clover Lanes since 1986, and currently bowls on Monday nights from September to April.

Arts/Entertainment

Bassically Treblemakers Band (btrochester.org) LGBT marching band includes musicians, flag corps, twirlers, and color guard. Open to the community, regardless of sexual orientation and level of musical experience.

Bread and Water Theatre (271-5523, breadandwatertheatre.org) Hosts the annual Rainbow Theater Festival and performs other productions throughout the year.

Gay Bingo (Gates Center Bingo, 2145 Buffalo Rd, Gates, 251-7117, rochestercrusaders.org) Held by the Rochester Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps on the first Sunday of every month at 7 p.m.

Gay Square Dance Group (740 Marshall Rd, 520-5358, mfleig@rochester.rr.com) Group meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church.

ImageOUT Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival (274 N Goodman St, 271-2640, imageout.org) Holds its 16th annual festival October 10-19, 2009, and screens other gay-themed movies throughout the year. Also offers other programs, including ImageArt and youth-oriented projects.

Rochester Gay Men's Chorus (121 N Fitzhugh St., Suite 325, 423-0650, thergmc.org) Non-profit, volunteer chorus featuring gay men; puts on several concerts per year. Voice placements for new members can be scheduled by appointment through lwright@thergmc.org.

Rochester Women's Community Chorus (121 N Fitzhugh St. Suite 314, 234-4441, therwcc.org) All-women's chorus (although men are welcome to help out in non-singing roles) open to women of all sexual orientations and cultural backgrounds.

Media

AbOUT Magazine (abOUTmag.com) "The Gay Life Magazine" serves the LGBT community in upstate NY, northern Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada with monthly issues (except February and August). Found in newsstands and coffee shops around town.

The Empty Closet (875 E. Main St. Suite 500, gayalliance.org) Monthly newspaper is the publication of the Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley, and features news, arts and entertainment, and community sections. Look to this paper for LGBT events and news.

GayRochester.com (gayrochester.com) Online resource for Rochester's gay community, including a calendar of events, personal ads, classifieds, and more.

OUT and About Phonebook (myoutandabout.com) Online directory resource provides listings of gay-owned and/or gay-serving businesses in Western New York.

PUMP Radio (myspace.com/pumprochester)Online gay-music station. It also hosts parties at Pearl and Tilt night clubs.

Nightlife

Avenue Pub (522 Monroe Ave, 244-4960) Typically known as "The Pub," has a neighborhood bar kind of feel. Entertainment includes pool tables and darts.

Bachelor Forum (670 University Ave, 271-6930, bachelor4m.com) Leather/Levi bar, which is Rochester's oldest gay-owned and operated bar.

Equal=Grounds (750 South Ave, 242-7840, prideconnection.net) LGBT coffee, pastry, and gift shop featuring live entertainment and free wifi.

Motor (113 State St, 262-2650, freewebs.com/motorbar) Neighborhood gay bar located downtown.

Muther's Bar (40 S. Union St, 325-6216, clubmuthers.com)Known for its drag shows, which start at 11 p.m. Wednesday-Sundays.

Nasty D's (140 Alexander St, 256-1000, nasty-ds.com) Bar/dance club. Weekly events include karaoke on Tuesdays and all-you-can-eat pasta on Saturdays.

Rochester Spa & Body Club (109 Liberty Pole Way, rochesterspa.com) All-male spa and body club.

Tilt NiteClub & Ultra Lounge (444 Central Ave, myspace.com/tiltniteclub) Dance club with occasional drag shows; attracts a primarily younger crowd, being 18 and over most nights.

Two89 (289 Alexander St, 325-2890, two89.com) Bar/club offers "Boys Night Out" every Wednesday specifically for the gay male crowd.

Sexual Health

Action For a Better Community (33 Chestnut St, 262-4330) Offers free and confidential services, including prevention education, case-management services, a resource library, and free, anonymous walk-in HIV testing Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1-4 p.m., and Thursdays 1-4 p.m. (at Aenon Baptist Church, 175 Genesee St.)

AIDSCommunityHealthCenter(87 N. Clinton Ave, 4^th floor, 244-9000) Provides HIV care and primary medical care for those with HIV, their negative partners, and adult family members, among other services, such as substance-abuse counseling.

AIDS Rochester(1350 University Ave, 442-2220, aidsrochester.org) Offers HIV testing Mondays and Thursdays 5-8 p.m., and STD tests specifically for men who have sex with men. Website also offers many online resources for prevention, education, and socialization.

AnthonyL.JordanHealthCenter Prevention & Primary Care Program (82 Holland St, 423-2879, jordanhealth.org) Provides an array of sexual and mental health services. Prevention services and primary care are on a walk-in basis, offered Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., with extended hours on Mondays until 8 p.m.

Catholic Charities AIDS Services (1945 Ridge Rd, Suite 24, 339-9800) Bilingual staff offers case management, bereavement, counseling services, and more.

Center for Health and Behavioral Training of MonroeCounty(853 Main St, 753-5382) Offers training year-round for prevention and management of STDs and related issues, including domestic violence.

Gay Alliance of the GeneseeValley(875 E. Main St. Suite 500, 244-8640, gayalliance.org) Can provide referrals to physicians and service agencies for AIDS or sexual health needs.

Geneva Community Health (601 W. Washington St., Geneva, 315-781-8448) Health center offers HIV testing, specialty, and primary care.

HIV Vaccine Trials Unit (756-2339, vaccineunit.org) Volunteer opportunity that could help to end AIDS. The University of Rochester medical center is looking for healthy, HIV-negative people between the ages of 18 and 50 for the trial.

McCreeMcCullerWelnessCenter at Unity Health's Connection Clinic (89 Genesee St., 3^rd floor, 368-3200) Center offers many sexual health services, regardless of individual ability to pay.

Men of Color Health Awareness Project (107 Liberty Pole Way, 420-1400) HIV-prevention project offers many sexual health resources to its focus group: minority men who have sex with men.

Monroe County Department of Health (855 W. Main St, 753-5481) Resources offered include testing and counseling for HIV and other STDs.

New York State Department of Health (423-8081) Offers free testing for HIV exposure. Deaf or hard-of-hearing people can call 423-8120 for assistance.

Planned Parenthood (114 University Ave, 2824 Ridge Road West, 470 W. Main St; 866-600-8866, plannedparenthood.org) Provides protection (condoms, etc.) and STD/HIV testing, among many other sexual health-related services. Informational pages on the website deal specifically with lesbian sexual health.

Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS (461-3520) Task force is a collaboration of multiple agencies offering many resources to upstate New York.

StrongMemorialHospital(601 Elmwood Ave, 275-2100) Hospital provides HIV medical care, including experimental treatments and testing.

ThresholdCenter for Alternative Youth Services (80 St. Paul St, 454-7530) Offers confidential testing for young people ages 12-25. No one denied service. Free oral HIV testing for this age group is available Thursdays 2-4 p.m.

Westside Health Services (Brown Square Health Center, 175 Lyell Ave; Woodward Health Center, 480 Genesee St; 254-6480, 436-3040) Offers HIV/AIDS services and prevention.