PUBLICLY PRIVATE’s Post

Our latest article in collaboration with The Mix Charity has been published! You can check out the article all about how to have safe sex as a young queer person, down below ⬇ A huge thank you to the team at The Mix Charity for collaborating with us to spread awareness about such important topics. #sexualhealth #healthcare #STItesting #digitalhealth

This is why you should invest in smaller black and brown trans-led organizations that’s fighting to end HIV in Virginia. -Virginia is not included in the Grant cycle for the south,our access to funding is limited in Virginia being a rural area. -We are left off of the DMV, eastern Virginia is apart of the DMV,funders please pay close attention to rural stats that’s often left oout of funding. -Normalize building black and brown trans-led,woman of color nonprofits up for success and sustainability, funders fund an program with limited funding and 30% of the nonprofit budget,how can any organization be sustainable off of 30% of funding when your budget is growing with negative dollars. -Stop funding the same Founder/Executive Directors ,nonprofit,and for profits that’s worth millions and have revenue,fund newly established nonprofit organizations that has the foot work to provide. Please donate to: https://lnkd.in/gE5Ek_iT We are worthy please donate to support ETSI HEALTH CLINIC. (Ending Transmission of Sexual Infections ) work, stop discriminating because of my race and gender, we are providing care to everyone in the community. Amoretta Morris Darwin Thompson Jane Stafford Anique Hameed Graham MPA Tarnya Deloatch-McPhatter, MHA P. J. Moton-Poole, LMSW Randevyn Piérre Amber Hollowell🗣️ Shaun Mellors Sherry Norquist, MSN, RN,ACM Gilead Sciences ViiV Healthcare National Center for Transgender Equality Transgender Strategy Center Borealis Philanthropy Akil Meenakshi Sujenth Melissa Ramsey Jay Grant

In addition to defending clients as part of the firm’s Product Liability Litigation Practice Group, Associate Bill Walberg is committed to representing the city’s vulnerable, including members of the LGBTQ+ community at risk for becoming unhoused. Bill is the president of the Board of Directors of SAVE Inc., a Kansas City-based organization that provides housing and emergency services to the city's most vulnerable populations facing homelessness, housing discrimination and other challenges.   SHOOK: How does SAVE Inc. support the LGBTQ+ community's housing needs?  WALBERG: SAVE Inc. started in 1985 as an eight-bed hospice facility, providing a place for those with HIV/AIDS to die with dignity. It was the only facility of its kind in the area at the time. As treatment for HIV has advanced and has no longer become a death sentence, SAVE has evolved into an organization that supports nearly all “high-risk” populations, including those with a history of mental illness and substance abuse. SAVE continues to provide supportive housing for individuals living with HIV and immediate shelter needs for those who identify as LGBTQ+.    SHOOK: Please describe your involvement with SAVE Inc. as president of its Board of Directors.  WALBERG: In short, my job is to connect the KC community with SAVE Inc. through programming and outreach. However, since our previous CEO left, my role has significantly expanded. I stepped in as an interim executive director and worked from the SAVE headquarters for about three months last year, alongside my incredible executive committee members. By the grace of God, we hired an incredible CEO, Patrick McLaughlin, who took over in November 2023. In addition to advising our new CEO, I have helped facilitate our various committees and programming, including HAVEN: the Way Home, which is SAVE’s new annual gala. We raised more than $350,000 and hope to build on that momentum into next year. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2025 date and theme!   SHOOK: What are other ways allies could support the LGBTQ+ community?  WALBERG: Honestly, the best support from allies is through your words and actions in your daily lives. You can do something as simple as using a person's correct pronouns or speaking up if others in the room are criticizing Pride Month, the pride flag, trans people, drag queens, etc. Most people are not inherently bad; they are simply repeating what they heard from someone else or what they saw on the news. Engaging in a calm but direct conversation can begin to shift their mindset from the current vacuum and open them up to a dialogue. We are in a dark period for the LGBTQ+ community after many years of progress and allies standing up for the community is more important than ever. Learn more about Bill: https://lnkd.in/gTGj34-c **** #ShookPrideMonth #PrideMonth

Have you ever wondered how businesses can contribute to the health and well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community? At Publicly Private, we strive to promote accessible and discreet sexual health resources through our efforts, Venture and Explore. Venture provides individuals with easy access to screening for STDs/STIs, including HIV, and baseline PrEP services, all from the comfort of their own home. We understand the disproportionate effect of HIV in the south and aim to make knowing your status simple and convenient. Our testing kits also come with a virtual consultation with a physician to ensure the best possible care. Additionally, Explore aims to educate and promote awareness for the LBTQIA+ community. We provide articles on various topics including Culture, Community, and Health, to help our members educate themselves and learn from one another. Our mission is to provide accessible and discreet resources to promote well-being for those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Connect with us on LinkedIn and learn more about how we're making a difference in people's lives. #PubliclyPrivate Learn More about LGBTQIA+ Health by clicking the link. https://lnkd.in/ghW5WYpH #YouHaveAHome #lgbtq #lgbtcommunity #socialgood #endhiv #hivawareness #healthcareaccess #sexualhealth #STDscreening #HIVtesting #nonprofit

Join Us for a Day of Community, Health, and Giving Back! LGBT Life Center, in collaboration with Stonewall Sports - Norfolk, is excited to invite you to our upcoming Community Health Day and Yard Sale! This event promises not only a fantastic opportunity to declutter and find new treasures but also to engage with our community in a meaningful way, prioritizing health, awareness, and support. Register to sell here: https://bit.ly/3W3DolV Date: May 4, 2024 Time: 11 AM – 4 PM Location: 5360 Robin Hood Road, Norfolk – Look for signs and smiles! What’s Happening: Yard Sale Extravaganza: Have items cluttering up your space? Bring them to our yard sale! It’s the perfect chance to give your belongings a second life with someone who will treasure them. And who knows? You might find some hidden gems to take home too! Free Health Screenings: Your health is your wealth! We’re offering free HIV/STI screenings on-site. Quick, confidential, and conducted by caring professionals, these screenings are a crucial step in taking charge of your health. Learn About PrEP: Heard about PrEP but not sure what it is or how you can likely get it for free (including labs and doctors visits)? We have all the information you need to understand how this medication can work as part of your strategy to prevent HIV. Knowledge is power, and we’re here to empower you! Community Resources: Discover a wealth of resources and support available within our community. Whether you’re looking for support groups, mental health services, or ways to get involved, there’s something for everyone. Why You Should Join Us: This event isn’t just about finding great deals or getting a health check (though those are big pluses!). It’s about coming together as a community to support each other in every aspect of our lives. It’s about creating a space where everyone feels welcome, valued, and heard. So, clear out your closets, grab your friends, and join us for a day filled with positivity, health, and community spirit. Let’s make this day a testament to our unity and our commitment to each other’s well-being. For more information or to volunteer, please contact event organizers at [email protected]. See you there!

Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) is an antibiotic used after sex, to prevent sexually transmitted infections. After having sex, taking the antibiotic doxycycline can help prevent getting certain infections, like syphilis and chlamydia. Studies suggest it’s especially effective for transgender women and men who have sex with men, reducing the risk by about two-thirds.   What STIs does Doxy-PEP help prevent?  Doxy-PEP helps reduce the risk of Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydia. 

On July 25, Nikolay Lunchenkov MD, MSc, ECOM's LGBT Health Coordinator, presented at the conference a poster presentation on the topic «Prevalence and factors associated with intimate partner violence among pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users in pre-war Ukraine». The study, conducted in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich and the University of Connecticut, included 1,176 gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men participating in the PrEP program in Ukraine. The data was collected in January-February 2022, shortly before the start of active hostilities in the country. Key findings of the study: 🔷39% of respondents reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence in the past six months. 🔷The most common forms of violence were emotional (27%), sexual (16%), physical (10%) and economic (8%) violence. 🔷Most of those affected by intimate partner violence had not experienced it before the COVID-19 pandemic. 🔷The risk of violence increased significantly with risky sexual behavior and with increased psychological or economic pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   «The study highlights the high levels of risk and unfavorable conditions faced by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Ukraine. While intimate partner violence occurred frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic, the vulnerability may be exacerbated even further due to the ongoing war», said Nikolay Lunchenkov.

Important read about the myriad of laws criminalizing people living with HIV. #socialwork #socialworkers #lgbtqia #lgbtqrights #racialjustice

Alisa Harrison, PhD, ACC, COC is asking us; "Who are you thinking about this Pride Month?" We knew we wanted to post during Pride Month, but posting because we should was not an option. Humanizing the celebration and commemoration by thinking about the people it is for is a great way to remain humble and genuine. We are grateful for Alisa's words and respectfully share her powerful story here. She reminds us that "Silence equals death" and that "prejudice and bigotry weren't just thoughts and feelings – they were policies and cultural norms that could kill." So, we are thinking about those who were silenced, those who faced prejudice and bigotry, and those who have had to survive in the workplace under these conditions. We remember colleagues who hid their true selves to stay safe, those who were afraid because they showed who they were, and those we never truly knew because we failed to make them feel safe. We acknowledge that while things might seem better, many still experience fear and its impact on their lives. We wonder how our work, providing professional development and humanizing the workplace, best impacts these past or current colleagues. How can we refine our language to ensure members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community feel safe and thrive? As we provide workshops and webinars, what role can we play in ensuring that the open-mindedness and inclusivity felt in a workshop transfer into the workplace? We might not get it right every time, but we owe it to all generations of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, past and future, to try our best and lean into what we know: -Safety is established through actions. -Language has power; we intentionally choose our words to be inclusive and equitable. -We must build others' capacity for acceptance, tolerance, and empathy through enhanced communication skills. Who are you thinking about this Pride Month? #pridemonth #professionaldevelopment #continuededucation #pride2024 #2slgbtqi+ #psychologicalsafety #leaders #leadership #storytelling