Magnet Celebrates 10 Years of Serving the Castro and the Community

On Tuesday Castro's San Francisco AIDS Foundation's (SFAF) sponsored clinic, Magnet, pulled out all the stops and invited the community to come and celebrate 10 successful years of helping keep San Francisco Gay men healthy and stemming the spread of HIV and other STD's. Magnet was packed with over 100 people by 7:30PM on Tuesday with City and State dignitaries, board members, staff, clients and well wishers gathered to commemorate the clinic's fantastic decade of service. Many remarked how when the clinic first opened in 2003 with its fishtank inspired architecture and open space design whether men would come and if it would actually succeed.

"We didn't know if anyone would show up at first in 2003-it was kind of a new and unusual idea," Steve Gibson, Executive Director remarked, "but now ten years later the proof is apparent. Today in fact the clinic served 69 men-the most in one day-since it first opened it's doors." Magnet's core goals are to provide Gay men the right to health and well-being. They believe in an multi-tiered approach to health that has physical, mental, spiritual, and social aspects. Funded by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation the clinic now boasts fifteen employees and ninety volunteers. Magnet's unique care model for Gay men had been repeated in clinics the world over. On hand was Dist. 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener who presented Magnet with a City proclamation for all the good work they've done in fighting AIDS and remarked how important their work continues to be as Federal dollars for fighting HIV is slashed and local governments like San Francisco's must scramble to make up the financial shortfalls.

Jose Cisneros, SF Treasurer, whose partner sits on Magnet's Advisory Board spoke saying, "You should be proud of the work you've done and the services you've provided to so many." Also on hand repping State Senator Mark Leno was his Deputy District Director Anna Damiani who also presented Magnet and Mr. Gibson with a proclamation from the State on behalf of Mr. Leno congratulating and acknowledging all the hard work they've done over the last decade to help keep Gay men healthy. Magnet will soon be relocating and consolidating with two other SFAF programs, Stop AIDS and The Stonewall Project, under on roof into the 15,000 square foot, former Superstar Video Store thanks in no small part to a Board of Supervisor approved zoning change that also took place on Tuesday. The re-zone measure introduced by Sup. Wiener allows a change to the rules clearing the way for the non-profit to apply for a variance permitting them to open on Castro Street amid businesses where it formerly would've been denied. Plans for the new Magnet site are progressing rapidly and SFAF has released this image of how the space will look once all the remodeling-and fundraising-has taken place. New hire, Jared Hemming, who joined Magnet's staff two weeks ago as Community Organizer threw together a great party with a pack of handsome go-go boys/men, refreshments, nibbles and cake all encased in the shimmering mylar glow of the traditional 10 year anniversary silver theme. "I'm really excited to be part of this great tradition and legacy. I'm really looking forward to what the next ten years will look like." Mr. Hemming remarked. Magnet recently expanded it's hours and will now be open at 10 AM, Tuesday through Saturday. You can contact them directly by clicking the link here. They're also always looking for more volunteers and you can click here for more details on how to get involved. Check out the gallery below for more pix from the party and hearty congrats to Magnet from all of us here at the Castro Biscuit.