A month after I notified the Virginia Beach Director of Parks and Recreation Amy Woodson in early May that I was planning to return to Mt. Trashmore and educate more youth about the HIV home test kits, nothing happened except the bureaucratic dragging of feet.  I knew that I did not have to seek permission but I felt it was the responsible thing to do so her staff would not be surprised.

We had rented the park on April 7 to hold a 5K Run to Stop Youth AIDS and conduct live public testing. WAVY TV reported on the event and used the figure of 1,000 people but the number of onlookers for the two separate live tests was closer to a couple hundred each for the historic event.  The Park staff observed the tests and raised no objections – neither did the two representatives from the city’s Health Department or the ones from the Sheriff’s Department. The city received no complaints from the public and TA-PC heard nothing except praise.

That was then. This is now.  Finally after weeks of delaying tactics, our team of seven showed up outside the skateboard park as teens started to arrive. We found three willing participants, two 18 and one 19. However,  the calls began coming in fast and furiously from park supervisors demanding we stop. We did not because the needs of ill-informed, sexually active youth outweighed attempts to deny free speech on a matter of life and death.

On Wednesday, June 5, I met with eight Virginia Beach  officials in the city’s Law Offices in City Hall to discuss the order banning our ability to talk with consenting youth. Reporters from WAVY TV and the Virginian Pilot, invited by me, were also in attendance for the 50 minute meeting. I began by reading a two page document answering their previous questions and concerns.

There was a cordial but spirited back and forth discussion. It ended with Deputy City Attorney Roderick Ingram admitting that TeenAIDS was  allowed to exercise free speech in a public park. However, he stated his office was seeking an advisory ruling from Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and warned there could be sanctions and fines up to $10,000.

I am still waiting to see evidence of a letter sent to Cuccinelli from the Virginia Beach Attorney’s Office requesting a ruling on my street outreach to test consenting older teens.

Is there one? Or is this another delaying tactic?

We are hitting the streets again this week now that school is out — except we will not be giving prior warning of our signature “AIDS Attacks.”