Can A Pill Prevent HIV? Maria Garza Explains It All To You

It's not every day that you get a chance to combine community education with an outstanding performance, but if you are in San Francisco, you will get the opportunity this week on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at Gladstone Institutes.

Science for Life: A Gladstone Public Lecture Series presents "A Pill a Day to Keep HIV Away," presented by Robert Grant MD, MPH of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and Associate Professor of Medicine, UCSF.

Can a pill prevent HIV? iPrEx, a large international study led by Grant, said "yes." Dr. Grant will describe these exciting findings and explain a new strategy to stop the IV pandemic.

The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion and a drag performance by The House of Garza.

The House of Garza is a drag legend in San Francisco so EDGE sat down with Garza in advance to talk about the event and hear more about what drives her passion for helping the community and about the event. Not everyone has the same road in life, Garza tells her story and speaks out to the community directly.

For more information on the event visit the Gladstone website. You can also view the event streamed online for anyone not in San Francisco.

EDGE: So I understand you're going to be doing a drag show at a nonprofit biomedical research institute? Gee, what's that all about?

Maria Garza: I don't know if you've ever heard of the Gladstone Institutes, they do research into three key disease areas, one of which is virology. I'll be on stage right after the Science for Life Lecture on June 23 in San Francisco just before PRIDE. The event starts at 6:00 pm PT at Gladstone.

EDGE: Sounds interesting. Tell me more.

Maria Garza: Gladstone is a driving force behind many key advances in HIV prevention and the push towards a cure. For example, they've shown how hormones can help rebuild the immune system in HIV patients. And Gladstone also led an international study that you probably heard about last year. Called iPrEx, the study showed that people at high risk for HIV infection could be protected by a daily tablet containing two widely used HIV medications. More than 20,000 people are currently participating in PrEP trials around the world. There are exciting ways to help stop this epidemic.

EDGE: You are very passionate about the LGBT community, what is your inspiration?

Maria Garza: It is my road to where I am now. I went to a Latino support group in Spanish when I came to America and I found a new family there. Meeting and making new friends and family there inspired my work with the community and to give back. I want to give back this gift to others, this support and encouragement. I am raising awareness for the community. I am living safe in the community in USA. Everything I do for the community.

EDGE: As a Latina from Peru what is your experience in the US vs. Peru? How is being a drag performer different in the US vs. Peru?

Maria Garza: Maria Garza cannot live there, I came to the USA and applied here to stay. I was a ballet dancer in Peru since I was nine years old, I started doing drag when I was young in Lima.

EDGE: You have amazing creativity and are a stunning performer, where do you
get your ideas? How do you get the energy and passion to perform so much?

Maria Garza: My songs match my feelings, I prepare outfits to match my feelings and songs. I try to do something different all of the time but remain elegant and simple at the same time. I try to make it real to enjoy it more. It is about more than moving your mouth with no sound, I sing with a low voice, it is more organic that way.

EDGE: If you could say two sentences (on anything) to the gay community, what would it be?

Maria Garza: Get involved and participate, the community has a lot of rights and privileges but SF is a bubble, when you get outside it is not like this. You are part of a family in SF but it is not like this elsewhere. Get involved and help build your family and community---the same thing you do for your real family do for your LGBT community---make a difference for the world. It is rewarding and it makes you feel good.

To attend, go to the Gladstone website and click on the register button to get a free ticket.

You can also watch the event on a live stream at: http://Fora.tv/live/gladestone/science_for_life.