Meet Michael Downs,
by Sasha Hnatkovich
Scott Whittier hugs Scott Pomfret
August 2005 - When I met Michael Downs, he was wearing a T-shirt
with a faded “Super Friends” print of DC Comics favorites
Superman and Wonder Woman. I thought this a fitting introduction to Health
Awareness Services’ Director of Community Education, a man who runs
four different social and educational groups for the gay community of
Central Massachusetts.
Located at 405 Grove Street, Health Awareness offers a wide range of services
including free contraceptives, free HIV testing and counseling, STD testing
and treatment, family planning services, and group education programs
and speakers. The agency has had a long, supportive relationship with
the gay community of Central Massachusetts.
“When the HIV epidemic hit in the late 80s,” says Downs, “it
hit gay men.” So when Health Awareness decided to include HIV testing
and counseling in its services, it knew it had to focus on that community.
As a result, the agency hires gay staff and offers programs to gay and
bisexual men and women.
Currently, Health Awareness offers four social and educational groups:
HERE for lesbian and bi-sexual women of all ages, the Gay and Bi Men’s
Group for men over 30, MPOWER for gay and bi men between the ages of 18
and 30, and SIGNS for HIV positive gay and bi-sexual men. “There
are not a lot of social opportunities that don’t revolve around
bars and the internet,” says Downs, “especially for young
men and college students.” He says that, beginning in August, he
hopes to start holding regular movie nights and that anyone interested
should also keep an eye out for special events beginning in September.
“I’ve always been in social service work,” says Downs, who has worked
for Health Awareness for four years. He is from a small town in New Hampshire
“We just got our first stop light!” He attended Gordon College, a Christian
university located on the North Shore of Massachusetts, where he studied
Youth Ministry. Downs first worked in mental health at an adolescent facility
in New Hampshire.
“Then I met somebody,” Downs admits, “fell in love, and moved to Worcester.”
After coming here, he continued to work in the social service sector,
supervising group homes for Community Healthlink. Since joining the staff
at Health Awareness, Downs has become involved in both the general and
gay communities of Worcester. He is currently the chair of the HIV Consortium
and helped establish the HIV Memorial Garden at Park Avenue and Lovell
Street. He is also a member of ENFORCERS NE, a leather group that does
charity work for HIV and AIDS.
“Don’t print that,” Downs said after admitting that
he is a “huge” comic collector with a collection of over 8,000
action figures. “I’ll never get a date again.” He says
that his grandfather used to take him out to eat every Saturday and afterwards
they would go to the corner store where he was allowed to get one or two
comics. He was close with his grandfather and he says that his collection
is an extension of that relationship.
“I’m a purist,” Downs said when I asked him what his
favorite comic is. “I love DC – Batman, Superman, the classics.”
Look for him on Wednesdays at That’s Entertainment on Park Ave.
Downs is also a fan of the Red Sox, Patriots, and WWE wrestling and is
an avid hiker. He says that he just discovered Broad Meadow Brook on Massasoit
Road and loves it. When I asked Downs if he had any advice for our readers,
he said, “I hate getting on my soapbox.” However, he did add
“...not to be afraid to ask questions. Communicate with your partners.
Be open. You can’t always tell if somebody has an STD – getting
tested is the best rule of thumb. Don’t be afraid of seeking treatment
and services.”
HERE meets on the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. The Gay and Bi
Men’s Group meets on the fourth Monday of every month at 7 p.m.
MPOWER meets every week on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. And SIGNS meets every
week on Thursday.
Most meetings are held at Health Awareness Services, 2nd Floor, 405 Grove
Street. For more information call (800) 637-5466 or (508) 756- 7123 and
check out www.hascm.org.
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