If you missed the brilliant one-night only drag performance of "Thank You For Being A Friend: A Very Golden Benefit For ALC" last month in L.A., then you're in luck! You can now see video of the show AND still support the three LifeCycle participants involved!!

Any good card-carrying gay or pop aficionado knows that the Eurovision grand finale is fast approaching, but you don’t need to be in Sweden to get in on this year’s action.

L.A.‘s biggest Eurovision viewing party is taking place this Saturday starting at noon—and best of all, you can support AIDS/LifeCycle while you rejoice in some cheesy pop goodness!

It all kicks off at noon at Angel City Brewery, where great food and beer—not to mention some awesome prizes—will be available all afternoon. There will be 90 minutes of performances followed by 60 minutes of scoring. During the scoring there will be a "dress as your favorite Eurovision Song Contest star" costume contest, a few rounds of trivia and a live auction!

In my first year of riding, I was 22 years old and I had just moved to San Francisco. My friend, Christopher Vasquez, invited me along on some long distance bike rides, and I didn't think anything of it. More interested in the personal challenge of riding further than I ever had before, I came along for some rides. As I grew closer to some of the other riders, I realized that I had unknowingly become woven into the ALC community.

I originally signed up for my first AIDS Ride back in 2000 from Amsterdam to Paris. At the time, I wanted to do the ride for the challenge and to see the European countryside, all while supporting a good cause. Although circumstances prevented me from fulfilling my goal, my desire to see it through has never wavered.

Fast forward to last year, when I became involved with the AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) community, even before I became a participant. I spent a substantial amount of time helping my friend (now boyfriend), Jeremy, raise more than $11,000 for his first ALC. Over the course of that year, I met several people who significantly benefited from the money raised from the S.F.-L.A. ride. I also got to “experience” the ride...

Instinct Magazine is proud to help kick-off Legendary Bingo's 15th anniversary extravaganza with a extra-special TUESDAY night of bingo—benefitting AIDS/LifeCyce!

April 9!
7 p.m. at Hamburger Mary's, WeHo

This extra-special bingo blowout will feature special guest call ballers including Ana Gasteyer, Chris Parnell and Carly Chaikin from ABC's Suburgatory, Kevin Alejandro and Bonnie Somerville from CBS' Golden Boy, So You Think You Can Dance stars Travis Wall and Nick Lazzarini, favorites from RuPaul's Drag Race and more!

And since it's a special occasion, we're making this night of bingo even bigger! $35 per person donation includes all bingo cards, champagne toast and drag/burlesque show following bingo.

Some of our awesome prizes...

I was 19 when my best friend called to tell me he was HIV positive. I had no idea what to say and fell back on platitudes. I told him that living HIV was no longer a death sentence. I told him about recently watching the documentary Silverlake Life: The View From Here. I told him that I could hardly imagine what he must be feeling at this moment. I told him that we would love him no matter what happened. Yet, in reality, I was scared and carried with me the very real heaviness that every aspect of his life was going to change. 

Over the years, I experienced many moments like this. I heard stories of friends becoming homeless when their parents found out they were HIV positive, stories of feeling alone, stories of feeling like ...

Bay Area peeps, it’s time to get on your bikes and get down to business. The AIDS/LifeCycle NorCal Kick Off Party & Expo is around the corner—and we want to see you there!

The Kick Off Party and Expo combines the best of the AIDS/LifeCycle community with a chance to meet fellow riders and roadies, community support businesses and ALC staff—as well as a chance to win some fabulous prize packages!

Join us in the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. On the party side of the building DJ MarkO will be spinning the sounds and we'll nosh on some yummy food and beverages. On the Expo side, ALC Community Partners will have great deals on bike and camping gear, provide expert training and bike advice and even offer free ...

Now that the new year is underway, it’s time to really kick that ALC spirit into high gear! So, all SoCal riders, roadies, past and possible future participants, come join us at the AIDS/LifeCycle Soiree! 

Prepare to be amused, enchanted, mystified and amazed the historic Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery is transformed into a whimsical cirque-style affair, Saturday, Jan. 19, complete with dazzling performances, games and prizes, including a drawing for a bike from AIDS/LifeCycle sponsor Cannondale.

Food and drinks will be provided, including some of your favorite treats from the ride route. And keep your eyes peeled for some ALC traditions. Dress to impress—whether that means full formal attire, your favorite 'red dress,'...

If you find yourself in NorCal or SoCal this weekend, join AIDS/LifeCycle for one of their World AIDS Day events happening in California on Saturday, Dec. 1.

In L.A, ALC will host a special ride and candlelight vigil in West Hollywood. The 37-mile ride meet time is at 1 p.m. at Bikes and Hikes LA, followed by a ceremony at 5 p.m. All are welcome to join for either (or both!) portions of the event. More details for the SoCal event can be found here. 

ALC will also host a special World AIDS Day event in San Francisco at the Castro Theatre on Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. There will be an exclusive screening of the short doc Why We Ride: The Story of AIDS/LifeCycle, which is currently being shown at film festivals across the country...

Dust off those cycling shoes and pump up your tires, because the AIDS/LifeCycle SoCal Training Ride Kickoff is here!! Details on the THREE different route options happening this weekend, after the jump!

And we want YOU to ride with US!

Register today at aidslifecycle.org/register and enter code word "Instinct" (case sensitive) for a special $20 discount off the registration fee! Then e-mail your confirmation to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll throw in a complimentary one-year subscription to Instinct, too!!

Are you ready to ride?! AIDS/LifeCycle 2013 will hit the road June 2-8.

For more info, visit aidslifecycle.org

Here I go again! Beginning June 3, 2012, I will once again ride my bicycle 545 miles along with thousands of others in support of the  AIDS/LifeCycle.

I am not a doctor or even a research technician. I cannot myself find a cure, but I can ride with the support—financial and emotional—of my friends and family to raise funds and awareness about HIV and AIDS. I have to do something to make an impact! For me, there are three aspects to the impact of this endeavor: the past, the present and the future.