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 Gay health care in San Francisco has taken a leap into the future. A new health clinic, aimed at addressing the priorities of local queers, has opened, with the help of a pharmaceutical giant and Da Mayor. Magnet, located in the heart of the Castro, provides sexual health services for gay men in a convenient and welcoming environment. Initial funding for Magnet originated from Bristol-Myers Squibb Virology and the San Francisco Mayor's Office to combat rising rates of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among gay men in San Francisco.  A Community Advisory Board, consisting of more than 40 members, has overseen Magnet's development over the past two-years. Four staff persons will be responsible for the day-to-day operations at Magnet's storefront located at 4122 18th Street, near Castro Street."This is the type of private-public partnership that maximizes resources and goes straight to the heart of the community needs," said Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. "For more than 10 years, Bristol-Myers Squibb has been dedicated to helping people living with HIV," said Martin Lewis, associate director of patient and community affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb. "At the core of BMS' mission is our commitment to extend and enhance the lives of people. The services that Magnet is designed to deliver will help work towards sustained health and well-being within the community." "Magnet is definitely not your typical 'VD clinic', said Steven Gibson, Magnet's director. "Our community planning efforts showed that gay men wanted a place that provided sexual health services, but that wasn't just about diseases. We believe that expanding the way that gay men define health, will improve our individual and collective health, body and mind."  Magnet has been a true collaboration of the San Francisco design community. Over $30,000 of in-kind donations including services, finishes, and furnishings have been provided. The completely renovated 1,600-square-foot storefront is the design collaboration of Miller Kelley Architects and Hamilton & Company, along with lighting designers h.e.Banks & Associates.The concept for the space, according to David Meckley of Miller Kelley, was to create "A Hotel Lobby for the Castro." Taking inspiration from the Ian Schrager hotels like The Clift, the team combined inexpensive interior finishes, innovative lighting, and a variety of (soon to arrive) flexible furniture to develop an active, friendly, even fun atmosphere. "Schrager hotels have completely revitalized the boutique hotel industry. We applied many of the same type of design elements to create a more open and inviting environment," states Meckley. Prominently featured along one side is a galvanized steel wall. Visible from the street and covered with alphabet magnets, this giant "refrigerator door" invites visitors to spell out their own thoughts. Just beyond the wall is a large nook where upcoming community events will be posted. This area also features printed materials and access to the Internet, allowing men to research any health related topic.  The wall opposite is designed as a gallery wall, initially highlighting the works of various photographers depicting diverse images of gay male sexuality. Near the back of the space are several small rooms for private consultations and small meetings. The remainder of the space is designed to be completely flexible so that Magnet can host a variety of formal and informal neighborhood gatherings.Magnet's staff and community partners will offer an array of services including HIV testing, screening and testing for STDs, as well as professional staff trained to understand the complex social and sexual factors that influence the decisions gay men make that affect their health. Magnet recently launched its Community Partners Campaign to help support this innovative, community-centered approach to gay men's health. Additional funding for Magnet comes from private foundations, corporations and events in order to avoid restrictions placed on agencies that receive federal HIV prevention funds. Magnet is open Wednesday through Friday from 3-9pm, and Saturday from noon until 6pm. Magnet is hosting a series of events during the month of July to celebrate its opening. For more information, visit www.magnetsf.org.
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