Helen Strain has a problem with older people who don’t think they need to get tested for sexually transmitted infections.
“They’re not scared to have sex, but they’re scared to talk about it,” she said. “And seniors can get chlamydia.”
As vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of North Florida, Strain helped organize a concert Saturday night to benefit the Get Yourself Tested campaign, a monthlong movement to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to get tested.
About 100 people gathered at Brophy’s Irish Pub for the show.
The event was the brainchild of Katie Coyne, who has been working at Gainesville’s Planned Parenthood clinic as a family planning assistant since February.
“I think it’s a good way to reach out to the youth of the community,” she said.
Tables had buckets filled with condoms and information packets as centerpieces, and attendees were greeted with red, gold and blue beaded necklaces with condoms as the pendant.
Local indie band The Rochevanies played its first show since October for the benefit. Bassist and vocalist Stefanie Gay said she was excited to help support a good cause.
The Rochevanies was one of three acts that played.
Another performer, folk singer Marce, sang and swayed with her acoustic guitar as a percussionist beat on a hand drum.
Mayor-elect Craig Lowe attended the benefit, saying he felt Planned Parenthood provides a good service to the community.
“I want to make sure everyone in Gainesville is treated fairly,” Lowe said. “I think Planned Parenthood plays an integral part in that.”
Members of UF’s chapter of Voices for Planned Parenthood helped staff the event, which raised $558 to offset the costs of a discounted testing package being offered at Planned Parenthood’s clinic in Gainesville.
UF English senior Christina Garcia de los Rios said Planned Parenthood is an important institution that has been influential in her and her partner’s lives.
“They gave my partner and I answers we couldn’t get anywhere else,” she said.
Staci Fox, chief operating officer for Planned Parenthood of North Florida, said the mission of both the event and campaign is important to Florida because the state tends to have the highest rate for sexually transmitted infections.
According to the most recent national statistics released by the Center for Disease Control, in 2008, Florida had the third most cases of gonorrhea and the fourth most cases of chlamydia and syphilis.
