Health PLUS Wellness, JAN-FEB 2025 by Equal Pride

HEALTH

TYLER TERMEER

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY ay caus s i us sid ff c s, including:

 W s ning f pa i is B (HBV) inf c i n Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without ﬁ rst talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.

ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.

BIKTARVY d s n cu HIV-1 AIDS HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

D NOT ak BIKTARVY if y u als ak a dicin a c n ains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

T ll y u al ca p vid if y u:

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks of breastfeeding during treatment with BIKTARVY.

T ll y u al ca p vid ab u all dicin s y u ak :

 Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY ay caus s i us sid ff c s, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 C ang s in y u i un sys Your immune system may get stronger and begin to ﬁght infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.

 Kidn y p bl s, including kidn y failu Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.

 T uc lac ic acid in y u bl d (lac ic acid sis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.

 S v liv p bl s, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.

 T s c n sid ff c s f BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side eff ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Y u al ca p vid ill n d d s s ni y u al b f and du ing a n i BIKTARVY

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY

Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

GET MORE INFORMATION

 This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5.

 If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

#1 PRESCRIBED HIV TREATMENT*

*Source: IQVIA NPA Weekly, 04/19/2019 through 05/19/2023.

“I’ve learned how to live with HIV, and my children and my family are a huge part of that.”

MARICELA SWITCHED TO BIKTARVY®

Ask y u al ca p vid if BIKTARVY is ig f y u F day and

BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Scan visi BIKTARVY c l a n ab u c n BIKTARVY upda s

*This information is an estimate derived from the use of information under license from the following IQVIA information service: IQVIA NPA Weekly, for the period week ending 04/19/2019 through week ending 05/19/2023. IQVIA expressly reserves all rights, including rights of copying, distribution, and republication.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and at BIKTARVY.com.

CHEERS FOR TERMEER!

San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s first Black CEO, Tyler TerMeer, is prepared to fight for marginalized people and communities as we move forward in uncertain times.

Features

14 WELLNESS WARRIOR Gerald Garth is focused on keeping people of color and LGBTQ+ folks happy and healthy.

16 THE WALK OF A LIFETIME AIDS Walk Los Angeles celebrates 40 years of fundraising.

Buzzworthy

5 VAPING EPIDEMIC? Why are LGBTQ+ people smoking more e-cigarettes than straight folks?

6 POST-ELECTION BLUES Many queer and trans youth are feeling down after the 2024 election. We’ve got some tips to help.

7 NOT GOOD NUMBERS LGBTQ+ youth of color are more likely to have a mental health crisis.

Wellness

18 FLU SHOT BASICS These are the facts that older adults should know about getting vaccinated.

19 LET’S TALK ABOUT SHOTS Tips on talking to loved ones about flu and COVID vaccines.

20 SMOOTH START This berry smoothie will give your day a healthy and delicious start.

16 Fitness

22 THE TRUTH ABOUT TRT We chat with a testestorone therapy advocate to get all the facts.

Parting Shot

24 COMEDY QUEENS The Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest just might be the medicine you need.

editor in chief DESIRÉE GUERRERO executive creative director RAINE BASCOS

EDITORIAL

senior editor JOHN CASEY senior copy editor TRUDY RING

ART

graphic designer MARIUSZ WALUS digital photo editor NIKKI AYE

EQUALPRIDE EDITORIAL

vp editorial & special projects TRACY E. GILCHRIST editor in chief, out DANIEL REYNOLDS deputy editor, out.com BERNARDO SIM editor in chief, the advocate DESIRÉE GUERRERO editor in chief, advocate.com ALEX COOPER managing editor, out traveler DONALD PADGETT editor in chief, pride.com RACHEL SHATTO senior editor JOHN CASEY sr. national reporter CHRISTOPHER WIGGINS staff writers RYAN ADAMCZESKI, RICKY CORNISH, MEY RUDE

community editor MARIE-ADÉLINA DE LA FERRIÈRE multimedia producer LAMONT BALDWIN

ADVOCATE CHANNEL

senior executive producer of programming MARY SCHWAGER

vp, executive producer women’s programming & host SONIA BAGHDADY supervising producer, operations manager MICHAEL SMITH senior producer BRIAN KELLEY senior producer CARA GLASS host, producer JAYMES VAUGHAN host, producer STEPHEN WALKER video editors WALTER COLVIN, LACY VALENTI post production editor IRIS WALL

chief executive officer MARK BERRYHILL cofounder, equalpride MICHAEL KELLEY chief financial officer JOE LOVEJOY chief operating officer BERNARD ROOK

jan/feb

senior vice president, editorial KAYLA GAGNET

executive vice president, corporate sales & partnerships STUART BROCKINGTON

chief of staff CHRISTOPHER GO vp & publisher of out, the advocate, & plus MARK ISOM vp, corporate sales JOE VALENTINO

ADVERTISING, BRAND PARTNERSHIPS & INTEGRATED SALES

vp, brand partnerships TIM SNOW vp, brand partnerships JOSH BAREÑO

senior creative director, brand partnerships MICHAEL LOMBARDO

director, corporate sales KAYLYN BLACKMORE managers, brand partnerships ALEX HOFFMAN, ERIN MANLEY, KEIGHTON LEE, JOSE CARDENAS videographer and editor, brand partnerships STUART SOX coordinator, sales & advertising administration LULU DROPO coordinator, brand partnerships JULEAN DEJESUS account manager, corporate sales MARCUS HOEY

ADVERTISING

vp, ad operations STEWART NACHT manager, ad operations TIFFANY KESDEN

MARKETING

manager, social media CHRISTINE LINNELL specialist, social media JADE DELGADO senior marketing designer ERIK BROCK

CIRCULATION

director of circulation ARGUS GALINDO

FINANCE/ACCOUNTING controller, HR director PAULETTE KADIMYAN accounts receivable LORELIE YU

OPERATIONS

vp, technology and development ERIC BUI

ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTIONS

phone 212.242.8100

advertising fax 212.242.8338 subscriptions equalpride.com/plus-subcontact

EDITORIAL

editor.plus@equalpride.com

FREE BULK SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR YOUR OFFICE OR GROUP

Any organization, community-based group, pharmacy, physicians’ office, support group, or other agency can request bulk copies for free distribution at your office, meeting, or facility. To subscribe, visit equalpride.com/plus-print-signup. There is a 10-copy minimum.

FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

Health PLUS Wellness magazine is available free to individual subscribers — a digital copy of each issue can be delivered to the privacy of your computer or reader six times per year. We require only your email address to initiate delivery. You may also share your digital copies with friends.

To subscribe, visit equalpride.com/plus-digi-signup.

NEED SUBSCRIPTION HELP?

If you have any questions or problems with your bulk or individual magazine delivery, please email our circulation department at argus.galindo@equalpride.com

Health PLUS Wellness (ISSN 1522-3086) is published bimonthly by equalpride. Health PLUS Wellness is a registered trademark of equalpride.

Happy 2025 to our wonderful Health PLUS Wellness readers! If you’re reading this now, that means you have an interest in learning more about your health and community — so kudos to you!

We ring in the New Year with our annual Health & The Black Community issue and are proud to welcome the first Black CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Dr. Tyler TerMeer, to our cover once again (the community advocate graced our cover for the March/April 2022 issue). TerMeer remains dedicated to growing SFAF and its many vital programs and services. Flip to page 8 to check out our Senior National Reporter Christopher Wiggins’s talk with TerMeer about the critical work of SFAF. Protecting the health of marginalized people as we move forward under a new presidential administration is top of mind.

Humor and joy are centered in a spread on the Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest (p.24), an annual event that proves laughter can often truly be the best medicine. Not only does Laff Fest support and elevate Black female comics, it brings awareness to important issues with its Mental Health and Wellness Initiative.

Other uplifting stories include our interview with Gerald Garth (p. 14), a health advocate who’s ensuring LGBTQ+ folks and people of color are taking care of themselves — inside and out. And don’t forget to check out our Wellness section, with informative features on testosterone therapy (p. 22), the latest vaccine news (p.18), and a yummy and heart-healthy smoothie recipe (p. 20).

Thank you for perusing our pages — we wish you the happiest and healthiest of times in the year ahead.

Be well,

DESIRÉE GUERRERO editor in chief

a note from our ceo Dear Readers,

As we start the new year, I want to reflect on the incredible strides we’ve made together as a community. 2024, despite the obstacles, was a year of growth, resilience, and purpose. And thanks to each of you, we at equalpride continued to drive meaningful change at a pivotal moment.

Our collective impact has been extraordinary, from celebrating LGBTQ+ voices through our stories to building partnerships that amplify diversity and inclusion. Our team has shown creativity, dedication, and passion. Together, we will continue to bring inspiring stories to our readers throughout the year.

On behalf of equalpride’s family of brands, I offer my sincere thanks. With your support, we will continue our mission to inspire and influence readers through stories that matter most to our community. Because of you, our brands tell stories and champion authenticity, empathy, and innovation.

I wish you all a joyful and resilient 2025. May you spend it surrounded by loved ones and shine joy throughout the year.

Best regards,

Mark Berryhill, Chief Executive Officer advocatemarkb@equalpride.com @advocatemarkb

Mark Berryhill and Sheryl Lee Ralph at the 2024 Out 100 party.el

SMOKEY SITUATION

New research shows that LGBTQ+ people and people of color are more likely to try tobacco products than their straight, white peers.

BY RYAN ADAMCZESKI

LGBTQ+ people are stressed out and being taken advantage of by the tobacco industry, leading to significantly higher rates of smoking and vaping, according to a new report from the surgeon general.

The 837-page report on tobacco use in America found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans are much more likely to try tobacco products than their straight peers due to several environmental factors. Data on other identities was “limited because of the lack of sexual orientation and gender identity inclusion in some federal, state, and local surveillance systems.”

Around 37.8 percent of LGB adults have tried electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices, the report found, including nearly half of bisexual adults, 31.8 percent of gay men, and 26.7 percent of lesbians, compared to just 16.5 percent of heterosexual adults.

LGB adults were also more likely to smoke cigarettes, as 16.3 percent reported being current cigarette smokers in comparison to 12.5 percent of heterosexual adults. This trend has also impacted youth, as 10.4 percent of LGB teenagers said they are current cigarette smokers, nearly twice the number of heterosexual teenagers who said the same at 5.3 percent.

The report identified several factors that contribute to the high rates, including how the tobacco industry “has targeted these groups in its marketing” by launching “a variety of campaigns to promote tobacco products to disparate groups.” People of color — primarily Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans — and those in low-income and rural areas have also been disproportionately affected.

“The tobacco industry has targeted the LGBTQI+ community in multiple ways,” the report explains. “The industry has not only advertised in magazines that market to this group, but has also positioned itself indirectly as a supporter of this community by touting the industry’s donations to organizations focused on addressing HIV/AIDS and its support for LGBTQI+ pride.”

Another factor is the “minority stress theory,” in which members of marginalized groups experience extra stressors from discrimination and prejudice, causing adverse effects on their health and leading many to turn to substances to cope. The report noted that LGB adults who “experienced high levels of pastyear discrimination based on sexual orientation had a statistically significantly greater probability of pastyear cigarette smoking, any tobacco/nicotine use.”

“While there is much to celebrate, the progress has not been equal across all populations or communities. Progress, in the form of improvements in tobacco-related policies, regulations, programs, research, clinical care, and other areas, has not resulted in the same outcomes for everyone,” Rachel L. Levine, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health, said in a statement. “We have not made progress unless we have all made progress.”

IT'S GOING TO get worse before it gets better — but we’ve been there before.

With the results of the 2024 presidential election confirmed, members of the LGBTQ+ community are understandably distressed. Seeing as Donald Trump plans to rollback transgender rights and other protections for queer people, it's clear why 86 percent of LGBTQ+ voters cast their ballots for Kamala Harris, and why 62 percent said they’d be “scared” of a Trump win.

Many are also alarmed that the hateful policies are seemingly what the majority of Americans have endorsed, but Dr. Michelle Forcier, a clinician with LGBTQ+ digital healthcare platform FOLX Health, believes it better to interpret the results in a different way.

“Remember too that despite, yes, Trump won, he really does not represent, in any way, shape or form, a very large number of U.S. citizens,” Forcier says. “We know that unfortunately, many people voted on a single issue, say immigration, the economy, inflation. Many persons decided to vote for someone who represents themselves as a business man, not a politician.”

Holding Out for Hope

The results of the 2024 election are not what many LGBTQ+ people expected, but there are ways to practice self-care even during another four years of Trump.

BY RYAN ADAMCZESKI

“While many of these persons may buy into his words and action regarding racism, sexism, ableism, and trans and homophobia, many persons actually do not. They voted on a single issue, and our community is again collateral. Remember his win represents a very skewed and myopic focus for many — but not all — of the voting public. And we can learn from this win and our community can come back stronger.”

There’s room for despair, Forcier says, but there are ways to help get rid of it, too. Here are some of her tips on how to move forward.

Focus on the little things

One of the most important things to

do over the next four years is to “take each moment one moment at a time” and “take each day one day at a time,” Forcier says. Focus on the little things around you that bring you joy: your family, friends, pets, favorite shows, hobbies — whatever it may be.

“We make space to grieve, and then work through our grief. We make room for hope, since that will help us envision how we move forward,” Forcier says. “We make room for confidence in our strength and abilities, and commitment to a future that is centered on equity and justice.”

Take care of your physical health

Because “we are here” and "we are not going anywhere,” Forcier says “we all need to plan for the long game. And the long game means we need to be whole, healthy, and centered in our best and most authentic selves.”

This means eating healthy, exercising, and sleeping well. It also includes maintaining your social circle and making new connections in your community — not self-isolating.

“We can get good sleep. We can exercise and make sure our nutrition is supporting our bodies and hearts. We connect and reach out to support, get supported, and create support for family, friends,

and community,” Forcier continues. “We stay committed to our idea of what is right and just. We are not going anywhere.”

Stay off social media

For some, it may be cathartic to speak with others online or consume political content. For others, it could make the situation even more distressing. It’s not wrong to want to distract yourself at this moment.

“It is ok to not be all over the internet right now,” Forcier emphasizes. “Ask yourself — what am I looking for? Is the web creating good feelings of support or anxiety? And finally, ask yourself if you might turn off the computer or phone, and focus on the life and friends and family right there with you.”

Spend time around community

You may be able to find comfort in the people around you, or even just the knowledge that many others are feeling like you are right now. Forcier says to “tap into people and communities that make you feel safe and supported.”

“If those communities are online, your faithbased community, a sports or activity group ... whatever, whoever is safe and caring is who we need to be with right now,” she says.

Don't do everything today

There will be calls to action, to mobilize, and to organize in the days ahead. It is not wrong for you to not be feeling up to it now. While using the means you have to fight back can help you to feel empowered, and you should not linger in despair, you do not have to do everything today.

“We don't need to expose ourselves to false news, false narratives, and the hate that is out there. We can take that step back and say, for now, I need time and space to regroup,” Forcier says. “There will be time where many of us will reassess, venture forth and in direct and indirect ways, start taking on the people and systems that oppress us — but that does not have to be today or right now.”

Keep building hope

Hope is not a feeling that comes and goes — it is an ideal you must keep building day after day. As Forcier notes: “This is another 4-year political cycle. We can take from the experience and we can make of the experience what we will of it.”

“Will this be a chance to really explore racism, sexism, trans and homophobia in a meaningful way?” she asks. “Will we have opportunity to work harder, more explicitly to call discrimination and hate what it is? Will we not let them subjugate us, not let them squash our spirit — but raise our voices and our hearts so that love conquers hate?”

“I believe that love and compassion is stronger than ignorance, hate, and bias. I believe we have our work cut out for us, and while I wish we did not, it is what it is,” Forcier continues. “We are strong, smart, capable, and if nothing else, resilient. We will get through this false story line based on lies, hate, and power — and the queer community will still be there, and in all likelihood, even stronger.”

39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. LGBTQ+ youth of color reported higher rates than white peers.

Source: The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People

ONWARD AND UPWARD

Tyler TerMeer, the first Black CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, is focused on protecting the health and wellness of marginalized communities as we move forward under a new administration.

BY CHRISTOPHER WIGGINS

On the Monday following the 2024 presidential election, Dr. Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, was processing its effects. “I’ve got a case of the Mondays,” he said. It was a fleeting moment of levity before discussing weightier topics. Still, TerMeer’s resolve is unshaken, even in the face of the challenges ahead.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss to Donald Trump loomed large for those navigating the intersections of queerness, race, and other marginalized identities. The fear and uncertainty were palpable following election day.

“Honestly, 2016 was a shock to all of us,” TerMeer reflected. “But I don’t think we had yet experienced how the world would live and breathe under a Trump administration. Now we know exactly what we’re walking into. And there could be a million other horrific things we don’t even know about yet.”

As the first Black CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation — and one of only a handful

of leaders in the HIV and AIDS movement living with HIV — TerMeer understands the gravity of the moment. His leadership, while historic, isn’t about symbolism. It’s about action.

Since taking the helm at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation nearly three years ago, TerMeer has prioritized rebuilding trust with communities that have long felt excluded or underserved by major HIV and AIDS organizations. This work has required a willingness to confront the organization’s history while charting a new path forward, he shared.

“I often transport myself back to the moment I was announced as the first person of color to lead the foundation,” he said. “It was a proud moment for me professionally, but as a Black queer person living with HIV, I didn’t fully feel through my body the impact it was going to have on the communities we serve.”

That impact became apparent during one of his first meetings with Black Brothers Esteem, a support group for Black men and trans people.

BELOW & OPPOSITE

Tyler TerMeer, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation, leads the organization with a people-first approach.

As

the first Bl Ack ceO Of the sAn fr AnciscO AIDs fOunDAtiOn — AnD One Of Only A hAnDful Of le ADers in the hIV AnD AIDs mOVement liVing with hIV — termeer unDerstAnDs the weight Of the mOment. his le ADership, while histOric, isn’t ABOut symBOlism. It’s ABOut ActiOn.

TerMeer introduced himself, sharing his story and vision for the foundation, only to be met with silence. “It was my worst nightmare as a CEO — to be vulnerable and then greeted with crickets,” he admitted.

But then a Black woman in the room broke the quiet: “‘Baby,’ she said, ‘It’s not that we don’t know what to say. It’s that we’ve been waiting 40 years for you to get here.’”

The moment, TerMeer said, was transformative. “It made me realize that my identity — my race

— meant so much to people in the Bay Area who had been waiting for the foundation’s leadership to better reflect the communities it serves.”

The foundation has made significant strides in reducing new HIV diagnoses in San Francisco, with fewer than 140 new cases in 2023, a stark contrast to the city’s status as one of the hardest-hit areas during the early years of the epidemic. However, as TerMeer pointed out, disparities persist.

“When you look at the data, the largest disparities continue to exist in the same communities they always have — communities of color, cisgender women of color, and Latino men,” TerMeer said. “We need to figure out how to best reach these communities in ways that feel safe and affirming.”

One of the foundation’s flagship programs under TerMeer’s leadership is the Black Health Access Point initiative, which reimagines HIV care by embedding it into broader community health services. “It’s not just about putting ‘HIV services’ on the door,” TerMeer explained. “It’s about creating spaces where people feel comfortable coming in for what they need, whether it’s food access

or general wellness, and then integrating health screenings and access to PrEP as part of that experience.”

The initiative also reflects a shift in how the foundation sees its role. “We don’t have to be the ones to implement every service,” TerMeer said. “Our name doesn’t have to be on everything. We can focus on training, capacitybuilding, and funding smaller organizations that have long-standing trust in their communities.”

The work is as much about addressing systemic inequities as it is about building sustainable infrastructure. “We’re not just funding programs; we’re investing in the long-term viability of these organizations,” TerMeer said. “That means helping them build capacity, training staff, and making sure they have what they need to thrive for years to come.”

The foundation has addressed barriers to HIV prevention, such as the slow uptake of PrEP among communities of color, TerMeer said. While biomedical advancements like injectable PrEP hold promise, stigma, lack of provider engagement, and systemic inequities continue to hinder access. “There are providers who still have a hard time even discussing sexual health with their patients, let alone talking about PrEP,” TerMeer noted. “This is especially true in rural areas where stigma and lack of training remain significant barriers.”

The foundation has developed programs to train and empower local health workers to combat these challenges, including a clinical assistant program that trains community members as health screeners and educators. Participants can also enroll in phlebotomy training, creating a pathway to careers in health care while directly reinvesting in their communities.

“We’re not just investing in public health strategies for today,” TerMeer said. “We’re building long-term sustainability by ensuring these organizations have the infrastructure and skills to serve their communities for years to come.”

Trump’s reelection has reignited fear and uncertainty in LGBTQ+ communities. Among them is Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine and science denier, as secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has falsely suggested that AIDS was caused in part by “heavy recreational drug use in gay men and drug addicts.” Scientific research has definitively established that AIDS is caused by human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.

“As queer people, as people who sit at the center of so many identities, the weight of this moment is heavy,” he said of the challenges that lie ahead. “We have to figure out how we unite and fight to protect our entire community.”

He expressed particular concern for transgender Americans and communities of color, who he said will likely bear the brunt of new policy attacks. “We know that we have a history of turning on one another, of not lifting up all of the communities that need the dignity and safety to thrive,” he said. “The election results mean increased barriers for those of us living with HIV, higher risks for the whole queer community, and especially for trans folks, who will be at the forefront of so many policy implications from day one.”

Still, TerMeer remains hopeful. “The genesis of anti-Blackness, transphobia, all these attacks — it’s coming from the same place,” he said. “One community alone isn’t going to win this fight. We have to break down the silos that have separated our movements and work together to protect the dignity and rights of all our people.”

LEFT Tyler TerMeer participating in AIDS LifeCycle, an annual fundraiser that benefits SFAF and the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Center. After 30 years, 2025 marks the historic event's last ride.

TAKING CARE OF ALL OF YOU

Health advocate Gerald Garth is making sure people of color and other marginalized folks are prioritizing their mind, body, and soul.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

PHOTO BY DAVIDE LAFFE

In turbulent times, caring for one’s mental and emotional health is more vital than ever. However, avoiding unhealthy coping mechanisms that can lead to addiction issues and other forms of self-harm can be hard under stress. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people are even more at risk, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

One respected grass-roots organization in South Los Angeles is focused on changing that narrative. Originally founded by Dr. Carl Highshaw as a recovery program, AMAAD (Arming Minorities Against Addiction & Disease) has expanded to provide multiple programs, events, and services for Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ communities.

AMAAD’s executive director, Gerald Garth is a devoted advocate for the health and wellbeing of people from marginalized communities.

“I moved to Los Angeles in April 2013 from Baton Rouge, La., originally relocating to write and to act after working years in accounting. While still writing and acting, I wanted to deepen my impact. And with a complete career change at 30 years old, I joined the Black AIDS Institute [BAI] as a part-time administrative and finance assistant,” Garth says. “My role soon expanded into communications. As a writer, I was thrilled for the opportunity to write and eventually served as contributing editor of the Black AIDS Weekly, then the nation’s most read HIV/AIDS newsletter.”

Before long, Garth began contributing to magazines like Essence, Sheen, and a standing column in Heart & Soul called “Positive,” which highlighted Black women doing great work within the HIV movement. He went on to serve as the award-winning editor in chief of Chill magazine, “the premiere print, digital, and social brand for the millennial man of color, for its entire run,” he says.

During his time at BAI, Garth’s role expanded. He eventually established and oversaw the organization’s first HIV testing program and traveled the country, “collaborating on groundbreaking work, bridging gaps, and building relationships with other dynamic leaders.”

Garth joined the AMAAD team in October 2017 and has since helped grow its services portfolio to include support for housing, substance and addiction, behavioral and mental health, HIV services, reentry services, policy and advocacy, and programs centered on building community. He’s held several positions there, working up to his current role as executive director. Under his leadership, AMAAD has grown from a team of three people to 40 — and it continues to grow.

“AMAAD takes a whole-person approach. That is a holistic method that considers all aspects of a person’s well-being. AMAAD goes beyond only looking at physical symptoms and needs, but looks to address emotional, social, and spiritual factors that

contribute to overall health,” Garth explains. “We also recognize that all these elements of a person’s life intersect, and the same can be said of service provision. One cannot have sustainable recovery support without sustainable housing. One cannot have sustainable HIV care without strong mental health. Housing is HIV care. Behavioral health is recovery support, and the list goes on.”

“For so long, providers and organizations have aimed to serve conditions, but to be most effective, we must see people as full human beings with rich and meaningful intersections,” he says. “Providers and community-based organizations must look at the intersection of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, class, and the host of other identities in which people navigate the world. I say all the time, ‘We are the experts of our own experience.’”

This year, AMAAD celebrates 10 years of service and launching “Health, Housing, and Hope,” a yearlong campaign of programs and opportunities to support.

“We all have a role in the health, wellness, celebration, and sustainability of our communities. Find yours,” Garth concludes. “I live by the phrase, ‘None of us have to do everything, if all of us do something.’”

For more information about AMAAD or to connect with Gerald, visit amaad.org.

Gerald Garth (far left) poses with AMAAD staff members and friends at the organization’s 2024 Squad BBQ.

KEEP ON TRUCKIN’

AIDS Walk Los Angeles celebrates four decades of fierce activism and fundraising.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

AIDS WALK LOS Angeles recently reached an important milestone in the event’s history. In October 2024, the Walk celebrated its 40th year of raising funds and awareness around HIV and AIDS. APLA Health, which is also now going four decades strong, is the organization that puts on the inspiring annual event.

We recently got a chance to chat with APLA’s chief marketing and external affairs officer, Craig Bowers, about the past, present, and future of the historic walk and APLA Health. Here’s what he had to say:

Since the first AIDS Walk L.A. happened over 40 years ago, what it means to live with HIV has changed drastically, thanks to the many great advancements in treatment and prevention. Why do you feel it’s still important to have events like the AIDS Walk? We walk in memory of those who were lost to this disease and as a reminder of how different this disease looked 40 years ago. It is still important to walk for these reasons but to also inform and educate people about where we are today. AIDS Walk Los Angeles is a vehicle to inform the greater public that undetectable equals untransmittable. We can inform the greater public that

we can medically prevent someone from contracting HIV through the use of PrEP. We can inform the greater public that culturally competent health care exists for LGBTQ+ people from all walks of life, not just those who can afford it.

Over the past few years, APLA Health has expanded its physical locations quite a bit. Can you tell us why having actual brick-andmortar spaces for people in the community to visit are so vital?

With the passage of Obamacare, APLA became a federally qualified health center and changed its name to APLA Health. Ten years later, we now have eight health centers located throughout Los Angeles County. In spite of the medical advancements that have dramatically lowered the transmission rates of HIV, many people — especially members of the LGBTQ+ community — are not served by the medical establishment in a culturally competent manner. Our brick-and-mortar locations help us bridge this divide by providing worldclass LGBTQ+ empowering health care, including primary care, dental care, mental health, HIV specialty care, food, housing, and other essential support services.

What are some ways people can help support APLA Health and its many great programs and services?

People can support APLA Health with their time or treasure. You can volunteer at our Vance North Necessities of Life food pantry, the nation’s largest food pantry for people with HIV. You can walk with us at AIDS Walk Los Angeles and peer-fundraise. You can buy a ticket to our annual Best In Drag Show fundraising event. Or simply make a donation at aplahealth.org.

For more information about AIDS Walk Los Angeles and how you can be a part, visit aidswalkla.org.

APLA’s Craig Bowers

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (L) onstage with AIDS Walk Los Angeles founder Craig R. Miller in 2019.

Jamie Lee Curtis speaks at AIDS Walk LA in 2003.

Alan Cumming supporting AIDS Walk LA in 2008.

FLU SHOT FACTS

Are you an older adult with questions or concerns about flu and COVID vaccinations? Here’s what you need to know.

Colder weather brings a change in seasons and often an uptick in flu and COVID19 cases. The viruses that cause COVID-19 and flu keep changing and infecting thousands of people each year, with older adults being most at risk. The vaccines are updated to provide protection against the viruses currently circulating in communities.

“Vaccines are the best way to prevent serious illness from flu and COVID-19,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “People who get flu or COVID-19 after getting vaccinated are much less likely than those who did not get a vaccine to get very sick or go to the hospital.”

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about flu and COVID19 vaccines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services RiskLess. DoMore. public education campaign.

Which older adults should get vaccinated?

The CDC says all people ages 6 months and older should get updated 20242025 COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Adults ages 65 and older have the greatest risk of sickness or having to go

to the hospital from infection. Getting these vaccines is important for older people who live in nursing homes or other places where a lot of people live together and viruses can spread easily.

When should older adults get vaccinated?

The best time to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines is in September and October. If that’s not possible, then getting vaccinated later in the fall and winter can still help limit serious symptoms. Getting these vaccines early is not recommended given that immunity may start to wane just as respiratory viruses usually peak.

Can older adults get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines together?

It is safe for older adults to get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. For most people, it’s also simpler to get them during the same visit. Getting the vaccines in different arms is recommended.

Why should older adults get vaccinated?

Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from serious sickness and death. Older adults have a higher risk of serious illness. As people grow

older, their immune systems tend to weaken, and older adults are more likely to have pre-existing health issues that may put them at higher risk. Most people who end up in the hospital for flu or COVID-19 are older adults — especially older adults who have not been vaccinated. More than 95 percent of adults who went to the hospital for COVID-19 last year had not gotten the updated vaccine.

What should people who support older adults with their health care decisions know?

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines help people risk less severe illness and do more of what they enjoy. Yet many people are unaware of the benefits of these vaccines. That’s why it’s important that people talk with their older family members about getting flu and COVID-19 vaccines this season.

Talk to your doctor about the updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines as well as treatment options. You can also learn more at cdc.gov/RiskLessDoMore.

This article is courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Vaccination Conversation

These days, even talking to loved ones about vaccines can be a tough task. Here’s some expert tips on broaching the subject with your family.

DURING THE WINTER months, respiratory infections such as flu, COVID-19, and RSV can surge. People who are vaccinated lower their risk of getting seriously ill and needing medical care if they get infected. About 70 percent of adults in the United States said they probably or definitely will get a flu shot, and more than 50 percent said they probably or definitely will get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. While many people are ready to get this season’s vaccines, others might still have questions.

“It is normal for people to have questions about vaccines,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, which oversees and reviews vaccine clinical trials. “It’s important for everyone to know that all vaccines go through extensive testing before they are approved and that following approval, they are carefully monitored to identify any safety concerns so that they can be addressed quickly. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers have taken part in respiratory vaccine trials. The results tell us that these vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe disease caused by flu, COVID-19 and RSV.”

Here are some ways to talk about the importance of this season’s vaccines with a family member or friend who is unsure about getting vaccinated:

HEAR THEM OUT.

When talking about vaccination, it’s important to make others feel heard. There are many reasons why people may have questions and concerns about vaccines or even the health care system in general. Listen to their thinking and try not to judge. They want to know their thoughts and feelings matter.

FOCUS ON THE FACTS.

Instead of calling out vaccine myths, focus on vaccine truths. Concentrating on myths can cause them to become the topic of your conversation. Instead, speak about the benefits of vaccines. For instance, you can mention vaccines cut your risk of being hospitalized for flu or COVID-19 by about half.

ASK IF THEY NEED HELP GETTING VACCINATED.

Sometimes, people just need some help to find, schedule and get a vaccination. You can help them find a vaccine location at vaccines.gov. They may also need help finding childcare or figuring out whether they can take time off from work. Offering a ride or accompanying them can also be helpful, especially if the closest vaccination site is far away. If English is not their primary language, offer to help them schedule the appointment and arrange for a medical translator if needed. When it’s easier to get vaccinated, people are more likely to take this important step to help protect their health.

Having open, honest, and supportive conversations about vaccines with family members and friends can make all the difference. For more information, visit cdc.gov/RiskLessDoMore or talk to your doctor.

This article is courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A Yummy Start for a Healthy Heart

This delicious breakfast smoothie is the perfect way to start your day.

HOW YOU START your morning can impact the rest of your day. If you’re looking to incorporate healthier choices into your morning routine, try a concept known as “habit stacking.” Building tiny, healthier habits into routines you already have — like enjoying a morning beverage or breakfast before you check your email instead of jumping right into the day’s tasks, can make it easier to stick to a new habit when it’s built into an existing routine.

If you already enjoy the routine of breakfast to start the day, consider swapping sugary drinks for beverages without added sugars like unsweetened green or black tea. When incorporated as part of an overall healthy diet, unsweetened tea can help support heart health.

If you need help getting started, Lipton, a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign, created some easy-to-make, better-for-you tea recipes. A small handful of ingredients make a big splash in this Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothie recipe, ideal for an on-the-go breakfast.

Choosing beverages with no added sugars can contribute to a healthy heart, according to the American Heart Association. Water is needed to keep your body running at its best, and because unsweetened tea is 99.5 percent water, it provides a delicious way to help hydrate.

Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies

Servings: 4 (1 ½ cups per serving)

INGREDIENTS

3 cups water

8 single-serving green tea bags

16 ounces frozen mixed berries (about 3 cups)

2 medium bananas, peeled, cut in half and frozen

1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt

2 teaspoons fresh-grated peeled gingerroot (optional)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)

2 teaspoons chia or flax seeds (optional)

DIRECTIONS

In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.

In food processor or blender, process tea, berries, bananas, and yogurt until smooth. Add gingerroot and vanilla, if desired, and process until smooth. Pour into four glasses. Sprinkle with chia seeds, if desired.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING (WITHOUT OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS):

136 calories

1 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat)

3 mg cholesterol; 23 mg sodium

29 g carbohydrates

5 g fiber

18 g total sugars (0 g added sugars)

8 g protein.

This recipe is courtesy of the American Heart Association. Discover other ways to improve your daily routine at heart.org/eatsmart.

The Tea on T

Nelson Vergel’s been on a lifelong mission to educate people about testosterone therapy since it helped him survive HIV in the early ’90s.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST Nelson Vergel’s journey of how he became an advocate for testosterone therapy is a very personal one. As a long-term survivor of HIV, Vergel is adamant that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) was key to keeping him alive through the early days of the epidemic, before today’s lifesaving antiretroviral treatments were developed. In the three-plus decades since, he’s dedicated his life to helping spread information and inspiration.

Vergel has published three books on the subject of TRT: Built to Survive: A Comprehensive Guide to the Medical Use of Anabolic Therapies, Nutrition and Exercise for HIV (+) People, Testosterone: A Man’s Guide , and the newly published Beyond Testosterone: The Illustrated Guide, a comprehensive encyclopedia of knowledge that will answer any questions or concerns that anyone may have about TRT. And it has pictures!

Over the last 14 years, his online platform excelmale. com, now over 48,000 members strong, has developed into a wonderful safe space and social community for men and others to share their personal stories and experiences. In addition to his books and website, Vergel is currently a patient advocate for Marius Pharmaceuticals, which makes the oral therapy he takes called Kyzatrex. He also started discountedlabs.com, an online telemedicine service that provides easy and convenient ways monitor your current hormone levels. We recently chatted with Vergel about the new book and a bit of his own story. Here’s what he had to say:

Nelson Vergel

You’ve been very open about your history of how life led you to TRT. Can you tell us about that journey and how you then parlayed it into your life’s work?

The transition from dying to living, basically that’s what it was. In the early ’90s, I lived in L.A. and I was losing weight — I’ve been HIV-positive for close to 40 years — and back then we were dying of HIV wasting syndrome. So I got lucky. I met some guys that were into bodybuilding and in a support group and saved my life with information they gave me — basically in the use of testosterone and nandrolone, which is an FDA [approved] product, to increase lean body mass and reverse the wasting syndrome that was killing most of us. Wasting was the number 2 cause of death for HIV-positive people. The number 1 was PCP pneumonia. I regained 35 pounds and looked better than ever, and that was in ’92, before ’93, before protease inhibitors and all that.

Because there was so much fear, ignorance, and stigma around HIV at that time, did you feel extra pressure to look “healthy”?

I was working for Shell, so I was in a double closet there…. People were asking me if I was sick at work, so [the TRT] really made a big difference. And obviously I became obsessed with the whole topic of hormones, health, exercise, and nutrition. I went on disability and devoted my life to educating physicians and patients about the use of hormones for HIV wasting back then. And obviously, after things got better with the new drugs that we had for HIV, wasting slowly but surely disappeared. But we had other issues, metabolic issues, where hormones could still help. So I worked on that and activism and trying to get more clinical studies done. And then obviously HIV got better, thank God. Some of us survived, which is a miracle.

Once things improved due to the advancements in HIV treatment, when did you know so many others could benefit from TRT?

All of the sudden I got hit with this realization that I accumulated so much information, it was time for me to start giving it away to others — anyone basically with issues, especially testosterone.

It’s great that TRT is more accessible these days via telemedicine and specialized clinics — but on the flip side, people are concerned about getting something harmful or that isn’t legit. Any tips on avoiding scams or acquiring dangerous, non-FDA-approved TRT?

In the gyms, some men are getting street products, and mostly because they don’t know how to get a prescription or they don’t qualify for low testosterone. But now that we have so many products, injectables, creams, gels, pellets, oral…make sure it is a [reputable] brand. Don’t buy it from a person at the gym, obviously, because you don’t know what it’s in the product.

But now, with so many doctors prescribing and many telemedicine companies, that really is what’s changed the most. The fact that you can access a prescription through your computer or your cell phone, which was really improved dramatically and actually expanded by COVID. I know that’s probably the worst thing that’s ever happened to the world in general when it comes to disease, but we got one good thing out of COVID, was that it pushed the whole world into telemedicine because people were home. And now telemedicine is here to stay. It’s just not something that we’re doing because we cannot get out of the house.

After more than three decades, what keeps you passionate about providing resources and information about TRT?

I’m 65 and I will probably be doing this until I die — educating people. I just want people to know there’s resources.

HUMOR FOR HEALTH

The upcoming 6th annual Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest combines comedy with self-care.

BY TRACY E. GILCHRIST

Laughter is medicine and there is no better time to enjoy the Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest featuring more than 25 comics over five days spanning Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. And the festival takes to heart the healing effects of humor and joy with its Mental Health and Wellness Initiative.

The festival was “born out of rage and now we have turned our metaphorical rage into punchlines,” a release from comedian and the festival’s director Joanna M. Briley asserts.

“With decades of being left out, unseen, and overlooked in the comedy industry, we decided it was time to have something of our own,” the statement continues. “With an emphasis on all facets of comedy, our goal is to create opportunities for Black Women to be seen, heard, and influential in changing the narrative that we all sound alike and say the same jokes. We are not monolithic!”

In addition to comedy shows, participants can join a Restorative Healing Through Humor Workshop that seeks to “provide a safe and nurturing space for Black women to discuss their mental health needs. Through guided sessions, participants will explore how humor can serve as a powerful tool for healing and resilience,” the Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest site explains.

The workshop will focus on the role of therapeutic humor and restorative practices including mindfulness and relaxation techniques all with an eye on a history of Black women in comedy.

“From Moms Mabley, LaWanda Page, Whoopi Goldberg, Black women have always found the funny!” the site states.

The 6th annual Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest runs from February 26 through March 2 in New York City. Visit bwiclafffest.com for more information.