Plus Magazine, September-October 2023

BECAUSE YOU’RE MORE THAN YOUR STATUS

This HIV Ally Is Spicing Up Sexual Health

PEDRO CORONADO

OUR ANNUAL LATINX ISSUE

REMEMBERING REV. STEVE PIETERS

WOMEN & HIV

THE HEALING POWERS OF ART

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. 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 does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.

Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:

 dofetilide

 rifampin

 any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

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

 Have any other health problems.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.

 Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:

 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 a ect 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 may cause serious side e ects, including:

 Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.

 Changes in your immune system. 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.

 Kidney problems, including kidney failure. 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.

 Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), 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.

 Severe liver problems, 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.

 The most common side e ects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

These are not all the possible side e ects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

You are encouraged to report negative side e ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with 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.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0250 04/23

#1 PRESCRIBED HIV TREATMENT*

No matter where life takes you,

ELIAS SWITCHED TO BIKTARVY

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

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.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.

Person featured takes BIKTARVY and is compensated by Gilead.

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

ON

THE COVER LEADER IN LEATHER

Sex-positive

community health

worker Pedro

has been helping those affected by HIV in the Latinx community for over 20 years. And now, he's bringing kink into the conversation.

Coronado

Pedro Coronado photographed by RVJ Studios Inc.

FEATURES

34 ART OF SELF-LOVE

An artist uses creativity to heal from homophobia and stigma.

38 IT'S MY STORY

This writer isn't about to let HIV slow him down.

40 BUDGET BLUES

A historic L.A. AIDS monument is threatened by funding loss.

42 BEAUTIFUL MOVES

A dancer and culture expert living with HIV is inspiring others.

BUZZWORTHY

6 CELEBRATING STEVE

We remember the life and work of a legendary HIV pioneer.

8 OH NO HE DIDN'T!

A comic schools a friend for disclosing another person's HIV status.

11 PRISONER OF IGNORANCE

A trans woman living with HIV fights back after being mistreated while incarcerated.

12 DANGEROUS IDEAS

The far-right has now set its sights on a long-running federal HIV program.

DAILY DOSE

31 SISTERS IN NEED

Trans Latinas are among the hardest hit by LGBTQ+ organizations' funding cuts. SEX & HEALTH 44 SHE'S PREPARED

editorial director NEAL BROVERMAN

editor in chief DESIRÉE GUERRERO

EDITORIAL

senior copy editor TRUDY RING

contributing editor MARK S. KING

mental health editor GARY MCCLAIN

contributing writers ANDREW J. STILLMAN, MIKELLE STREET, NIC AUSTIN, EDUARDO GARCIA

ART

graphic designer MARIUSZ WALUS

digital photo editor NICOLE ARSENEAULT

EQUALPRIDE EDITORIAL

editorial director NEAL BROVERMAN

executive creative director RAINE BASCOS editor in chief, the advocate DESIRÉE GUERRERO digital director, the advocate ALEX COOPER senior editor, the advocate JOHN CASEY sr. national reporter, the advocate CHRISTOPHER WIGGINS staff writer, the advocate & out MEY RUDE

editor in chief, out DANIEL REYNOLDS digital director, out RAFFY ERMAC

associate digital director, out & pride.com BERNARDO SIM editor in chief, out traveler JACOB ANDERSON-MINSHALL managing editor, out traveler DONALD PADGETT editor in chief, pride.com RACHEL SHATTO

ADVOCATE CHANNEL

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Entire contents ©2023 by equalpride. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

by desirée guerrero

religion and machismo. The good news is there are also many within this community working hard to change all this. Our cover star, Pedro Coronado, a sex-positive community health worker and HIV ally of over 20 years, is getting people to talk about subjects like HIV, sexual health, and more in the most fun way possible — through kink. “Hey, we also live in this world of kink and fetish, and it should be celebrated,” he tells Plus. “And we need to understand so we can better serve our communities.” Read the full interview (in English and español) starting on page 14.

Welcome to our annual Latinx issue, in which we focus on HIV and other important topics within this beautiful and diverse community. As a Latina born and raised in the East Los Angeles area, and someone who lost loved ones to HIV complications in the 1980s and ’90s, this issue of Plus holds a special place in my heart.

Latinx Americans accounted for almost 30 percent of all new HIV cases in 2019, according to the Office of Minority Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Latinos are four times as likely to have HIV than white males and twice as likely to die of HIV-related causes. Numbers like these are proof that we, as a community, as friends and family and neighbors and lovers, need to start talking about HIV and its related issues.

One of the biggest obstacles in getting people to talk about HIV in Latinx circles is its stigma. The virus’s connection to homosexuality has perpetuated this stigma since the beginning of the epidemic, in large part due to cultural factors like

Another big issue facing Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities right now is money — or rather, a lack thereof. In this issue, we bring stories of some vital organizations currently threatened by major budget cuts and lack of funding. Read the commentary piece by Eduardo García (senior policy manager at the Latino Community Foundation in San Francisco) on page 31 about how orgs that help transgender Latinas are among the hardest hit by such funding issues. And on page 40, read about a beloved AIDS monument in Los Angeles in danger due to recent budget cuts.

For some much-needed hope and inspiration, we highlight some truly amazing folks living with HIV. Meet a visual artist who is healing through creating (page 34); a Latino writer living his best life (page 38); a classically trained dancer and culture expert (page 42); and two amazing young moms who share their stories in an award-winning documentary produced by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (page 46).

We also bring you all the latest news affecting our community and world — like the loss of beloved HIV/AIDS activist, Rev. Steve Pieters (page 6). And check out a fun story about how a gay comedian reads a friend to filth for revealing someone else’s HIV status (page 8).

Thank you for picking up this very special issue. I hope that you’ll find all you’re seeking and more!

Be well,

DESIRÉE GUERRERO editor in chief

Dear Valued Readers, I trust that you all had a joy-filled and relaxing summer. As we step into fall, we have some exciting content lined up for you.

We are proud to feature Gio Benitez, the brilliant GMA Weekend anchor, in our September/October issue of Plus ’s sister publication, The Advocate. As an out (and married!) journalist, his story is an emblem of courage and honesty, vital attributes for the times we live in.

The September/October cover of Out (another sister publication) showcases the dynamic stars from the gripping miniseries, Fellow Travelers . The narrative, capturing a decades-long romance between two men amid the trials of McCarthyism, is more relevant than ever, in an era marked by the resurgence of hate politics.

Despite recent Supreme Court rulings limiting LGBTQ+ protections, we at equalpride are unwavering in our advocacy. The spate of antiLGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation only strengthens our resolve to uplift voices championing equality.

Our mission goes beyond storytelling; we are working to build a culture where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, including people living with HIV. We encourage you to join us in this endeavor. Subscribe to our outlets, share our stories on social media, and download our new Advocate Channel app for 24/7 access to inspiring and impactful narratives. Together, let’s create a world where love outshines hate. Please reach out via email at advocatemarkb@equalpride.com, IG @advocatemarkb.

Warmest Regards,

Mark Berryhill, Chief Executive Officer

(GUERRERO); ROLAND FITZ (BERRYHILL)

a note from our ceo

STEVE PIETERS: AN HIV PIONEER

With Tammy Faye Bakker’s help, Rev. Pieters challenged HIV stigma at the height of AIDS panic.

BY TRUDY RING

The Rev. Steven Pieters, a longtime HIV survivor and activist who became famous when interviewed by televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in 1985, died July 8 of complications from cancer at age 71.

Pieters had gastrointestinal cancer that had metastasized, the Los Angeles Blade reported.

Pieters was a minister and administrator in the Metropolitan Community Church. He was pastor of the MCC in Hartford, Conn., from 1979 to 1982, then moved to Los Angeles, where he eventually became field director for the denomination’s AIDS ministry. There, he was diagnosed with AIDS and two forms of cancer, lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma. In 1984, one doctor predicted he would not live to see the next year.

But he did, and in 1985 he became the first patient in a clinical trial of the first anti-HIV drug, Suramin, which sent his cancers into remission. Use of the drug for treatment of HIV and AIDS eventually ceased due to its toxic side effects.

That year also saw his interview with Tammy Faye on Tammy’s House Party on the PTL network, which she ran with her husband, Jim Bakker. It came at a time when most evangelical Christian leaders either ignored AIDS or called it divine punishment for being gay. But Tammy Faye had a more accepting attitude, and “she wanted to be the first televangelist to interview a gay man with AIDS,” Pieters told People in 2021.

The interview was conducted via satellite; the Bakkers were willing to have Pieters in their North Carolina studio, but they feared their staff would

be uncomfortable around a person with AIDS. That indicated how the disease was stigmatized at the time, and Pieters told Tammy Faye about other incidents of stigma — someone he knew was afraid to let Pieters use the bathroom in their home — and about receiving support from other people and organizations, such as the MCC. She assured him that God loved him, and so did many Christians.

“I was struck by her compassion and supportiveness and affirmation right away,” Pieters said in the People interview. “She had a ministry to the LGBTQ population and to people with AIDS that was very different than your typical televangelist.”

Reverend Steve Pieters and Jessica Chastain attend the 94th Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 7, 2022 in Los Angeles

His interview with Bakker was re-created in the 2021 film The Eyes of Tammy Faye, for which Jessica Chastain won the Best Actress Oscar for playing Tammy Faye. Randy Havens played Pieters. Chastain met the real man, though, and she tweeted in remembrance of him.

“Steve Pieters was an inspiration and advocate for those living with HIV/AIDS for over 35 years,” Chastain shared alongside a video that gave an overview of his life and achievements. “He was a constant reminder that God is LOVE. Rest In Peace sweet angel Steve. You made a difference in the lives of so many and you will be missed.”

Brad Bessey, director of communications at Project Angel Food, an AIDS charity in Los Angeles, posted this tribute to Pieters on Facebook: “Oh man. Rev. Steve Pieters, activist, inspiration and sober brother has passed away after a journey with GI cancer that metastasized. I spent time with him as his story was featured in our Lead with Love special on @ktla5news in June. He told me, as we sat in his house, ‘The quality of life is not measured by the length of life but by the fullness with which we enter into each present moment, and as long as we are alive we are called upon to love.’ And, he personified love. What a gift it was to get to know Steve in his final days on earth before this amazing man took flight in the heavenly plane.”

Pieters’s AIDS activism continued throughout his life. In his field director position at MCC, which he held for 11 years, he “traveled the world, teaching and preaching about hope, grief, and surviving AIDS,” the Blade notes. He was a volunteer chaplain at an AIDS hospice in Los Angeles, a member of the Los Angeles AIDS Task Force, and a board member at AIDS Project Los Angeles and the AIDS National Interfaith Network.

He was profiled in national magazines and appeared on many television shows. In 1993, he was a guest at President Bill Clinton’s prayer breakfast, and Clinton mentioned him in his World AIDS Day address that year.

Last August, he received the Humanitarian Voice Award from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. He had endured many health complications over the years, including pancreatitis, but when he accepted the award, he performed a song that highlighted his longterm survival, the Los Angeles Times reports.

“Now many years have passed and I’m as healthy as a horse can be / It’s certainly a miracle for anyone with faith to see,” he sang to the tune of “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. “But still in journals medical, in science and oncology / I am the very model of a medical anomaly!”

In 2021’s The Eyes of Tammy Faye, actors Jessica Chastain (right) and Randy Havens (on TV screen) re-enact when Tammy Faye Bakker interviewed Rev. Steve Pieters and discussed the AIDS crisis on her Christian-themed television show in 1985

SHUTTING DOWN STIGMA

Comedian Michael Henry schools a friend on why disclosing someone else’s HIV status is totally not cool.

BY MARK S. KING

WRITER AND COMEDIAN Michael Henry has become a sly critic of gay culture and sexual politics, regularly tackling issues such as body image, masculinity, and every aspect of queer desire you might imagine. His sharp wit and social insight have endeared him to nearly 200,000 YouTube subscribers, and if you’re a queer man on social media you’ve very likely giggled at one of his videos on your feed.

A video he released this summer called “Status” begins with the promise of his usual shenanigans, set at a West Hollywood pool party overflowing with hard bodies and catty banter.

And then the comedian pulls the rug out from under his audience.

A character named Jeremy spies Michael (who plays a version of himself) making out with a guy named Rex, and when Rex steps away Jeremy takes it upon himself to give Michael some important information about the guy Michael has been canoodling with.

“Rex is HIV-positive,” Jeremy whispers into Michael’s ear.

The look of revelation on Michael’s face is simply brilliant (don’t let it be said that comics aren’t gifted actors). It is a stunned look of betrayal and disbelief – but not in the way some might expect. Michael is shocked that Jeremy would dare disclose the status of someone else, and poor, judgmental, ignorant Jeremy is about to be schooled on HIV stigma and disclosure.

The evisceration that follows must be seen to be enjoyed in all its glory and righteousness. Michael lays out for Jeremy, and for all of us watching, why disclosing someone’s status to a third party is uncool, outdated, and damaging. Michael explains that he is quite capable of making healthy decisions for himself, thankyouverymuch, and throws in an “undetectable equals untransmittable” message for good measure.

AMANDA EDWARDS/ GETTY IMAGES (HENRY); YOUTUBE/ MICHAEL HENRY (VIDEO STILL)

ABOVE Comedian and YouTuber Michael Henry BELOW Henry educates a friend about respecting people’s privacy

Welcome to long-acting HIV treatment.

Jayson

Stays undetectable with CABENUVA

Results may vary.

CABENUVA is the only complete, long-acting injectable prescription used to replace daily HIV pills in certain adults and adolescents who have their doctor’s approval.

Every-other-month CABENUVA is given by a healthcare provider as 2 injections, initially 1 month apart for 2 months. It works continuously to help you stay undetectable* for 2 months.

Attend all appointments.

Important Facts About CABENUVA

This is only a brief summary of important information about CABENUVA and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment. (kab’ en ue vah)

ABOUT CABENUVA

CABENUVA is a complete prescription regimen used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents ≥12 years who weigh at least 77 lbs (35 kg) and are replacing their current HIV-1 treatment when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements.

HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Defi ciency Syndrome (AIDS).

CABENUVA contains 2 different medicines:

• cabotegravir

• rilpivirine

It is not known if CABENUVA is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 77 lbs (35 kg).

DO NOT RECEIVE CABENUVA IF YOU

• have ever had an allergic reaction to cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

• are taking the following medicines:

° carbamazepine

° oxcarbazepine

° phenobarbital

° phenytoin

° rifabutin

° rifampin

° rifapentine

° dexamethasone (more than a single-dose treatment)

° St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Ask your doctor about CABENUVA

BEFORE RECEIVING CABENUVA

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have ever had a skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

• have ever had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have ever had mental health problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if CABENUVA will harm your unborn baby. CABENUVA can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after the last injection.

Please see additional Important Facts About CABENUVA on the following page.

*Undetectable means the amount of HIV in the blood is below the level that can be measured by a lab test. Results may vary. Jayson has been compensated by ViiV Healthcare.

“With every-other-month CABENUVA, I’m good to go.”

Important Facts About CABENUVA (cont'd)

BEFORE RECEIVING CABENUVA (cont'd)

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: (cont'd)

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take CABENUVA.

° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. It is not known if CABENUVA can pass to your baby in your breast milk.

° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with CABENUVA.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines interact with CABENUVA. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with CABENUVA. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take CABENUVA with other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF CABENUVA

CABENUVA may cause serious side effects, including:

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with CABENUVA. Stop receiving CABENUVA and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms:

° fever

° generally ill feeling

° tiredness

° muscle or joint aches

° trouble breathing

° blisters or sores in mouth

° blisters

° redness or swelling of the eyes

° swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue

• Post-injection reactions have happened within minutes in some people after receiving their rilpivirine injection. Most symptoms resolved within minutes after the injection. Symptoms may include:

° trouble breathing

° narrowing of airways

° stomach cramps

° sweating

° numbness of your mouth

° pain (e.g., back and chest)

° feeling anxious

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF CABENUVA (cont’d)

CABENUVA may cause serious side effects, including:(cont’d)

• Liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus or people who have certain liver function test changes may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during CABENUVA treatment. Liver problems have also happened in people without history of liver problems or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver function. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems:

° your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice)

° dark or “tea-colored” urine

° light-colored stools (bowel movements)

° nausea or vomiting

° loss of appetite

° pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area

° itching

• Depression or mood changes. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

° feeling sad or hopeless

° feeling anxious or restless

° have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself

The most common side effects of CABENUVA include:

• pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, and warmth at the injection site

• fever

• tiredness

• headache

• muscle or bone pain

• nausea

• sleep problems

• dizziness

• rash

These are not all the possible side effects of CABENUVA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

GET MORE INFORMATION

° feeling warm

° rash

° feeling light-headed or feeling like you are going to pass out (faint)

° blood pressure changes

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to CABENUVA.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

March 2022 CBN:4PIL

Trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Segregated by Status

A Missouri inmate allegedly endured solitary confinement for years just because she was living with HIV.

BY DONALD PADGETT

A TRANSGENDER WOMAN and former inmate who was held in solitary confinement for six years is suing the Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC) for what is described as its “unconstitutional and discriminatory policy against people living with HIV.”

The plaintiff, identified only as Jane Roe, claims in the lawsuit filed last week she was held in solitary confinement between 2015 and 2021 at the Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC) because she was living with HIV. She is represented by Lambda Legal, the MacArthur Justice Center, and the law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

“No person should be subjected to the inhumane and devastating effects of longterm solitary confinement, conditions that Ms. Roe faced every day for more than six years,” Richard Saenz, Lambda Legal senior attorney, criminal justice and police misconduct strategist, said in a statement. “We filed this lawsuit to hold the Missouri Department of Corrections accountable for its use of an unconstitutional and discriminatory policy that singles out people living with HIV.”

“Ms. Roe was trapped in isolation with no way to challenge her conditions,” MacArthur Justice Center attorney, Shubra Ohri, said. “Six years of that led Ms.

Roe to self-harm, suicidal ideation, and actual suicide attempts. This tracks with widespread consensus among the human rights experts, psychologists, physicians, and mental health authorities who say solitary confinement is torturous and should be abolished.”

“We seek justice for our client who endured six years of unwarranted solitary confinement. We will work to prevent this from ever happening to another human being,” Gregory Woo, a Shook partner, said in a statement.

The lawsuit, Roe v. Precythe, et. al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, and claims “MODOC’s policy on incarcerated people living with HIV lacks any consideration of modern medicine and does not engage in individualized assessments.”

The lawsuit alleges that MODOC’s policies and actions violated Roe’s Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Roe claimed she was denied the services, programs, and activities offered to other inmates because of her HIV status. Roe is seeking policy changes by MOCOD, monetary damages, and other unspecified relief.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned that someone you know may be, resources are available to help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 is for people of all ages and identities. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/help or text START to 678678.

11,810 persons with HIV were in the custody of state and federal correctional authorities at the end of 2021, down from 12,060 in 2020.

10,600 of those HIV-positive individuals in prison in 2021 were in state custody (as opposed to federal custody), with Florida (1,863) and Texas (1,583) having the largest number of persons with HIV in state custody. The population of state and federal prisoners living with HIV has fallen for 23 straight years from its peak of 25,980 in 1998.

Source: The Bureau of Justice Statistics, via HIV.gov

Politicians Take Aim at PEPFAR

After demonizing abortion services and marriage rights, Republicans now declare war on a program that has saved millions of lives.

BY JOHN CASEY

YOU MIGHT ASSUME that Dr. Anthony Fauci, after 54 years working at the National Institutes of Health and helping save countless lives, has retired so he can rest. However, Dr. Fauci doesn’t have time to retire.

Last month, Fauci joined Georgetown University School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases as a Distinguished Professor. He was also appointed to the university’s McCourt School of Public Policy.

“I’ve also been busy lecturing and writing my memoir, and since I’ve been out of the NIH for seven months, I’m not following the ins and outs of the government, but I am paying attention to what’s going on with PEPFAR,” he tells me.

PEPFAR is the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which was signed into law 20 years ago this summer by President George W. Bush. It serves as a conduit to providing HIV medications to individuals in impoverished nations who would otherwise lack access to these drugs.

When I spoke to Fauci a couple years ago years ago on the 40th anniversary of the discovery of HIV, he cited the opportunity to be the architect of PEPFAR as one of his greatest achievements. “It is the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history,” he told me. “It’s been an honor to help lead this. I really value my participation in this program that has already saved 15-18 million (in 2021) lives around the world.”

“PEPFAR impact has been truly remarkable,” Fauci told me during our more recent phone call. “It is one of this country’s greatest global health policies in history. It’s been a resounding success, and has saved at least 25 million lives worldwide and it provides antiretroviral treatments for over 20 million people worldwide.”

However, groundless claims from anti-abortion activists have put the program in jeopardy. Conservative and antiabortion groups sent a letter to Republicans in Congress who are responsible for PEPFAR’s reauthorization. The letter said that PEPFAR funds are “used by nongovernmental organizations that promote abortions and push a radical gender ideology abroad.” They provided no evidence to back their claim.

Also, the ultra-conservative Heritage Organization released a report that said Congress needs to “reassess” PEPFAR. The report claimed, “The Biden Administration has misused the program as a well-funded vehicle to promote its domestic radical social agenda overseas, as it has done with other foreign aid programs.” This so-called report also did not provide any proof.

As a result, Republicans in Congress are threatening not to reauthorize the program.

“The idea that this program would be interrupted, despite its overwhelming success, is unfortunate,” Fauci said. “There’s a real danger to associate the program with cultural issues as opposed to scientific ones that clearly show PEPFAR is saving lives.”

“it seems paradoxical that [anti]-abortion rights groups who fight for life want to interfere with a program that has saved millions of lives,” Fauci pointed out. “If the program doesn’t function, lives aren’t saved, millions of them.”

Instead of castigating the program, shouldn’t these groups, as well as all Americans, be celebrating the 20th anniversary of this milestone? “What’s ironic is that it was signed into law by a conservative Republican President, and it is without question George W. Bush’s greatest achievement. It took years to put together, in a bipartisan way, and it is one of the world’s signature global health initiatives. The thought of it not being authorized is not only dangerous, but disastrous.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks at a World AIDS Day reception at the Hay Adams Hotel on December 2, 2022 in Washington, D.C.

EQUALITY HAPPENS HERE!

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BEING KINKY FOR THE CURE

This community health worker and educator is smashing stigma — and putting the “sex” back into sexual health.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

LA PERVERSIÓN COMO CURA

Este educador y trabajador comunitario de la salud está acabando con el estigma y devolviendo el “sexo” a la salud sexual.

POR DESIRÉE GUERRERO

Pedro Coronado speaks onstage at the 2022 National Latinx Conference on HIV, HCV, & SUD

Pedro Coronado habla en la Conferencia Nacional Latinx 2022 sobre VIH, VHC, & SUD

It was actually the experience of getting tested for HIV over two decades ago that first led Pedro Coronado to his career in community health work.

“Well actually, it really all started when I went to go get an HIV test. I think I was 19 years old, after a breakup,” Coronado recalls. “A friend of mine referred me [to a local clinic] and he’s like, ‘Oh, there’s a place in downtown Brownsville, you can get tested there and you can get condoms.’ But when I went to go get tested, they had a sign that they were hiring for a youth advocate, to work with youth and try to get them to get tested and all of that good stuff.”

“So I got tested — and this was 20 years ago, when they had to draw your blood, send it out… you had to wait two weeks,” he says. “When I came back two weeks later, they were still hiring. I got my results; it came up that I didn’t have HIV. And then I said, ‘Hey, this is pretty cool what you all do. Are you all still hiring for that position?’ I applied again and I kept bugging them for three months until they hired me. I was persistent.”

Fue en realidad la experiencia de hacerse la prueba del VIH hace más de dos décadas lo que llevó por primera vez a Pedro Coronado a su carrera en el trabajo comunitario de la salud.

“Bueno, en verdad, todo empezó cuando fui a hacerme la prueba del VIH. Creo que tenía 19 años, después de una ruptura,” recuerda Coronado. “Un amigo mío me refirió [a una clínica local] y me dijo: ‘Hay un sitio en el centro de Brownsville, ahí puedes hacerte la prueba y también conseguir condones.’ Pero cuando fui a hacerme la prueba, tenían un cartel que decía que estaban contratando a un representante juvenil, para trabajar con los jóvenes e intentar que se hicieran la prueba y todas esas cosas buenas.”

“Así que me hice la prueba — y esto fue hace 20 años, cuando tenían que sacarte sangre, enviarla... tenías que esperar dos semanas,” dice. “Cuando volví dos semanas después, todavía estaban contratando. Me dieron los resultados; salió que no tenía el VIH. Y entonces dije: ‘Oigan, esto que hacen ustedes está genial. ¿Aún están contratando para ese puesto?’ Volví a hacer la solicitud y seguí insistiéndoles durante tres meses hasta que me contrataron. Me mantuve firme.”

Participants walk in the March of Love in New Orleans, in May 2023 Los participantes caminan en la Marcha del Amor en Nueva Orleans, en mayo de 2023

Ironically, Coronado says that the first person he ever gave positive HIV test results to was the same friend that he went to get tested with previously at the clinic. He says this personal connection only fueled his passion further for working in HIV prevention and care.

“Weeks later he ended up at the hospital diagnosed with AIDS, that was stage 3 HIV, and then I think that’s what really…just at that moment, I was like, This is where I need to be at,” he recalls. “I need to make sure that my community gets tested, my friends, everybody that I care for. Even those that I don’t care for, they need to get tested anyway, know about their status. And starting within that position, just doing different things in this organization have always…driven me to do more because I’m never going to be done here until we find a cure.”

In the 20 years since his hiring, Coronado has worked his way up at Valley AIDS Council, a health care network that provides HIV prevention, education, and testing as well as medical care and supportive services for people living with HIV. VAC primarily serves the Rio Grande Valley area near to the U.S./Mexico border, located at the southernmost tip of Texas. This is also where Coronado was born and raised.

Irónicamente, Coronado dice que la primera persona a quien tuvo que darle un resultado positivo en la prueba del VIH fue el mismo amigo con el que había ido antes a hacerse la prueba. Dice que esta conexión personal no hizo sino avivar aún más su pasión por trabajar en la prevención y la atención del VIH.

“Semanas después acabó en el hospital con un diagnóstico de sida, era la fase 3 del VIH, y entonces creo que eso fue lo que en verdad... justo en ese momento, me dije: Aquí es donde tengo que estar,” recordó. “Necesito asegurarme de que mi comunidad se haga las pruebas, mis amigos, todos los que me importan. Incluso aquellos que no me importan, necesitan hacerse la prueba de todos modos, conocer su estado. Y empezar dentro de ese puesto, simplemente haciendo cosas diferentes en esta organización siempre me ha... impulsado a hacer más porque no voy a terminar nunca aquí hasta que encontremos una cura.”

En los 20 años que han pasado desde su contratación, Coronado ha ascendido en el Consejo del SIDA del Valle, una red de atención médica que ofrece prevención, educación y pruebas del VIH, así como atención médica y servicios de apoyo a las personas que viven con VIH. El VAC atiende principalmente la zona del Valle del Río Grande, cerca de la frontera entre EE.UU. y México, situada en el extremo sur de Texas. Aquí es donde también nació y creció Coronado.

Pedro Coronado (far right) and other panelists listen to Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the U.S. Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (center), at the 2023 conference in New Orleans Pedro Coronado (derecho) y otros panelistas escuchan al Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, director de la División de Prevención del VIH/ SIDA de EE. UU. (centro), en la conferencia de 2023 en Nueva Orleans

After his initial position at VAC as a youth outreach worker, Coronado moved on to work with people living with HIV. He created support groups, a peer mentor program, and managed the food pantry program. In 2012 Coronado and a colleague started a Linkage to Care program, which expanded to a Retention to Care program, and eventually added case management and Ryan White eligibility. Today he is the vice president of access and continuity of care and the South Central AETC manager at VAC.

Coronado is also part of a multidisciplinary team that launched the annual National Latinx Conference on HIV, HCV & SUD, which focuses on the best practices for those working in health care within the Latinx community. He currently serves as the conference’s director and says he and his fellow organizers have really tried to infuse a lot of fun and positivity into the event — because after all, sex and sexual health should go hand in hand, shouldn’t they?

Tras su puesto inicial en VAC como trabajador de difusión juvenil, Coronado pasó a trabajar con personas seropositivas. Creó grupos de apoyo, un programa de mentores entre iguales y gestionó el programa de despensas de alimentos. En 2012, Coronado y un colega iniciaron un programa de vinculación a la atención, que se amplió a un programa de permanencia en la atención y, con el tiempo, añadió la gestión de casos y la admisibilidad Ryan White. En la actualidad es vicepresidente de acceso y continuidad de la atención y gerente del AETC Centro Sur en VAC. Coronado también forma parte del equipo multidisciplinar que lanzó la conferencia anual de Latinos sobre el VIH, el VHC y el SUD, que se centra en las mejores prácticas para quienes trabajan en la atención médica dentro de la comunidad latina. Actualmente es el director de la conferencia y afirma que él y sus compañeros organizadores han intentado infundir mucha diversión y positividad al evento, porque después de todo, el sexo y la salud sexual deberían ir de la mano, ¿no?

Guests and participants conga the night away at the 2022 National Latinx Conference on HIV, HCV, & SUD

Invitados y participantes forman una línea de conga en la Conferencia Nacional Latinx sobre VIH, VHC y SUD de 2022

LONG- C ING

APRETUDE is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (at least 35 kg).

i he fi n nl l ng- ing, inje le f e ing he i f ge ing HIV-1

I ’ n inje i n given eve he m n h, in e f pill e eve

S ie in HIV-1 neg ive i gen e men, n gen e w men, n i gen e w men i f ge ing HIV-1

APRETUDE is given every other month by a healthcare provider after initiation injections have been given 1 month apart for 2 consecutive months. Stay under a provider’s care while receiving APRETUDE. You must receive it as scheduled. If you will miss a scheduled injection by more than 7 days, call your provider right away.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT APRETUDE

This is only a brief summary of important information about APRETUDE and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine.

AP-reh-tood

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT APRETUDE

Important information for people who receive APRETUDE to help reduce their risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, also called pre-exposure prophylaxis or “PrEP”:

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT APRETUDE (cont'd)

Before receiving APRETUDE to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1:

• You must be HIV-1 negative to start APRETUDE. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection.

• Do not receive APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.

• Some HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting APRETUDE or at any time while receiving APRETUDE. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include: tiredness; joint or muscle aches; sore throat; rash; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin; fever; headache; vomiting or diarrhea; night sweats. Please see additional Important Facts About APRETUDE at right.

Eligible patients may p li le $0 -p pe inje i n on prescribed APRETUDE.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT APRETUDE (cont'd)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT APRETUDE (cont'd)

While you are receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP:

• APRETUDE does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections. Practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to reduce the risk of getting sexually transmitted infections.

• You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP.

° Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.

° Ask your partners with HIV-1 if they are taking anti-HIV-1 medicines and have an undetectable viral load. An undetectable viral load is when the amount of virus in the blood is too low to be measured in a lab test. To maintain an undetectable viral load, your partners must keep taking HIV-1 medicine as prescribed. Your risk of getting HIV-1 is lower if your partners with HIV-1 are taking effective treatment.

° Get tested for HIV-1 with each APRETUDE injection or when your healthcare provider tells you. You should not miss any HIV-1 tests. If you become HIV-1 infected and continue receiving APRETUDE because you do not know you are HIV-1 infected, the HIV-1 infection may become harder to treat.

° Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. These infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you.

° If you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. They may want to do more tests to be sure you are still HIV-1 negative.

° Get information and support to help reduce sexual risk behaviors.

° Do not miss any injections of APRETUDE. Missing injections increases your risk of getting HIV-1 infection.

° If you do become HIV-1 positive, you will need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE is not approved for treatment of HIV-1.

If you have HIV-1 and receive only APRETUDE, over time your HIV-1 may become harder to treat.

ABOUT APRETUDE

APRETUDE is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (at least 35 kg). HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

It is not known if APRETUDE is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 77 pounds (less than 35 kg).

DO NOT RECEIVE APRETUDE IF YOU:

• already have HIV-1 infection. If you are HIV-1 positive, you will need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE is not approved for treatment of HIV-1.

• do not know your HIV-1 infection status. You may already be HIV-1 positive. You need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE can only help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection before you are infected.

• are allergic to cabotegravir.

• are taking any of the following medicines: carbamazepine; oxcarbazepine; phenobarbital; phenytoin; rifampin; rifapentine.

BEFORE RECEIVING APRETUDE

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have ever had a skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain cabotegravir.

• have or have had liver problems.

• have ever had mental health problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if APRETUDE will harm your unborn baby. APRETUDE can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after the last injection. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while receiving APRETUDE.

BEFORE RECEIVING APRETUDE (cont'd)

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if APRETUDE can pass to your baby in your breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while receiving APRETUDE.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with APRETUDE. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with APRETUDE.

Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to receive APRETUDE with other medicines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF APRETUDE

APRETUDE may cause serious side effects, including:

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with APRETUDE. Stop receiving APRETUDE and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; trouble breathing; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.

• Liver problems. Liver problems have happened in people with or without a history of liver problems or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver function. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or "tea-colored" urine; lightcolored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area; itching.

• Depression or mood changes. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless; feeling anxious or restless; have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself.

The most common side effects of APRETUDE include: pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, bruising, redness, itching, warmth, loss of sensation at the injection site, abscess, and discoloration; diarrhea; headache; fever; tiredness; sleep problems; nausea; dizziness; passing gas; stomach pain; vomiting; muscle pain; rash; loss of appetite; drowsiness; back pain; upper respiratory infection. These are not all the possible side effects of APRETUDE.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

GET MORE INFORMATION

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to APRETUDE.com or call 1-877-844-8872 where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

December 2021 APR:1PIL

Trademark is owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. ©2022 ViiV Healthcare or licensor.

CBTADVT220011 August 2022

Produced in USA.

A performer shows off their moves and kinky boots at the 2023 National Latinx Conference on HIV, HCV, & SUD; The March of Love, which traveled through the streets of New Orleans’s French Quarter, is just one of many fun events to attend at the conference.

Un artista muestra sus movimientos y botas rizadas en la Conferencia Nacional Latinx sobre VIH, VHC, & SUD de 2023; La Marcha del Amor, que recorrió las calles del Barrio Francés de Nueva Orleans, es solo uno de los muchos eventos divertidos a los que asistir en la conferencia.

A gorgeous drag queen performs at the 2022 conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Una hermosa drag queen se presenta en la conferencia 2022 en Albuquerque, Nuevo México

“This time around, for some reason it just felt like we got this jolt of energy from everybody,” Coronado says of 2023’s conference, which took place in May in New Orleans. “So we did quite a few different things this time around, also being in New Orleans. We did a parade down Jackson Square all the way to Bourbon Street…. We incorporated a lot more art, [gave it] an artsy feel. We did an ‘Unplugged’ session, like MTV Unplugged , with one of our hep C providers in one of the general sessions. We literally had a band that would play music, and it was music relating to harm reduction, and then the clinician would jump in and talk about how they would relate that to hep C work. It was really, really interesting.”

Coronado says they continued to use unconventional, outside-the-box tactics throughout the conference, which proved to be a bit hit with attendees.

“We closed it off with a kink and fetish talk at the very end,” he says. “We talk about Latinx communities [and] that kink and fetish are not just for white people or heterosexual people. We wanted to make sure that anybody who serves Latino communities, that they also understand that. Hey, we also live in this world of kink and fetish, and it should be celebrated. And we need to understand so we can better serve our communities.”

“Esta vez, por alguna razón, sentí como si todo el mundo nos diera esta sacudida de energía,” dice Coronado sobre la conferencia de 2023, que tuvo lugar en mayo en Nueva Orleans. “Así que hicimos muchas cosas distintas esta vez, también estando en Nueva Orleans. Hicimos un desfile por Jackson Square hasta Bourbon Street... Incorporamos mucho más arte, un ambiente artístico. Hicimos una sesión “Unplugged,” como MTV Unplugged , con uno de nuestros proveedores de hepatitis C en una de las sesiones generales. Teníamos literalmente una banda tocando y se trataba de música relacionada con la reducción de daños, y luego el clínico intervenía y hablaba sobre cómo relacionaría eso con el trabajo de la hepatitis C. Fue muy interesante.”

Coronado dice que siguieron utilizando tácticas poco convencionales y fuera de lo común durante toda la conferencia, lo que resultó ser un éxito entre los asistentes.

“Cerramos la conferencia con una charla sobre perversión y fetichismo, justo al final,” dice. “Hablamos de las comunidades latinas [y] de que lo pervertido y el fetichismo no son sólo para la gente blanca o heterosexual. Queríamos asegurarnos de que cualquiera que atienda a las comunidades latinas, también lo entienda. También vivimos en este mundo de perversión y fetichismo, y hay que celebrarlo. Y tenemos que entenderlo para poder servir mejor a nuestras comunidades.”

A local jazz band keeps the Big Easy vibes flowing at this year’s March of Love in New Orleans

Una banda de jazz local mantiene las vibraciones de Big Easy fluyendo en March of Love de este año en Nueva Orleans

Event organizers strike a pose during this year’s conference in New Orleans Los organizadores de eventos posan durante la conferencia de este año en Nueva Orleans

Coronado’s own adventuring into the fetish world has helped him see the unique opportunity this connection provides. It certainly is a fun and fresh way to start conversations around sex, health, and HIV rather than overwhelming, or worse yet, boring people with the often colder, clinical approach many similar conferences have utilized in years past.

“I’ve been trying to connect a lot of what I do in my own personal life with the work that I do, because this is it, right?” he says. “My life is everything about what I do here at work. So recently, I’ve been involved in the leather competitions. I competed for a local title, then I got the title of Mr. RGV Leather. My thing with that is to be able to promote sexual health awareness and normalize that, hey, people have their kinks and fetishes and whatever, and we want to make sure people feel comfortable talking about it and talking to their health care provider about it. So in a lot of the messaging of any events that I’m at, it’s always like, ‘Hey, if you’re not on PrEP, get on PrEP, and I can get you connected.’ Or, ‘Hey, if you’re a person with HIV, remember U=U [undetectable equals untransmittable].’”

Coronado also explains why the conference specifically combines the issues of HIV, HCV (hepatitis C virus), and SUD (substance use disorder).

“The first thing that came to mind when we put this conference together is addressing three chronic conditions — and one of them has a cure, hep C — but these conditions, for the most part, all carry stigma,” he says. “So the whole goal of the conference has always been to be able to provide any health care provider with additional tools or knowledge on how to better serve the Latinx community…. One size does not fit all, even for our community, having so many different Latin American countries and people that represent those countries here in the U.S.”

MI VIDA GIRA EN TORNO A LO QUE HAGO AQUÍ EN EL TRABAJO.

La propia aventura de Coronado en el mundo del fetichismo lo ha ayudado a ver la oportunidad única que brinda esta conexión. Sin duda, es una forma divertida y fresca de iniciar conversaciones en torno al sexo, la salud y el VIH, en lugar de abrumar, o peor aún, aburrir a la gente con el enfoque a menudo más frío y clínico que muchas conferencias similares han utilizado en años anteriores.

“He intentado conectar mucho de lo que hago en mi vida personal con el trabajo que realizo, porque de eso se trata,” afirma. “Mi vida gira en torno a lo que hago aquí en el trabajo. Así que últimamente he participado en competiciones de cuero. Competí por un título local y luego conseguí el título de Mr. Cuero en RGV. Lo mío con eso es poder promover la concienciación sobre la salud sexual y normalizar que, bueno, la gente tiene sus perversiones y fetiches y lo que sea, y queremos asegurarnos de que la gente se siente cómoda hablando de ello y hablando con su proveedor de atención médica al respecto. Así que en muchos de los mensajes de los eventos en los que estoy, siempre es como, ‘Oye, si no estás en PrEP, involúcrate, yo puedo conectarte.’ O, ‘Oye, si eres una persona con VIH, recuerda I=I [indetectable es igual a intransmisible].’”

Coronado también explica por qué la conferencia combina específicamente los temas del VIH, el VHC (virus de la hepatitis C) y el SUD (trastorno por consumo de sustancias).

“Lo primero que se nos ocurrió cuando organizamos esta conferencia fue abordar tres enfermedades crónicas — y una de ellas tiene cura, la hepatitis C — pero todas estas enfermedades, en su mayoría, arrastran un estigma,” afirma. “Así que todo el objetivo de la conferencia ha sido siempre poder proporcionar a cualquier proveedor de atención médica herramientas o conocimientos adicionales sobre cómo atender mejor a la comunidad latina... Una talla no sirve para todos, ni siquiera para nuestra comunidad, al tener tantos países latinoamericanos diferentes y personas que representan a esos países aquí en EE.UU.”

MY LIFE IS EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT I DO HERE AT WORK.

Want to stay undetectable* with fewer medicines?

Important Facts About DOVATO

This is only a brief summary of important information about DOVATO and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?

If you have both human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• Resistant HBV. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV infection before you start treatment with DOVATO. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the HBV can change (mutate) during your treatment with DOVATO and become harder to treat (resistant). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in people who have HIV-1 and HBV infection.

• Worsening of HBV infection. If you have HBV infection and take DOVATO, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking DOVATO. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before.

° Do not run out of DOVATO. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your DOVATO is all gone.

Ask

DOVATO is different: unlike other HIV treatments that contain 3 or 4 medicines, DOVATO contains just 2 medicines in 1 pill.

DOVATO is a complete prescription regimen for adults new to HIV-1 treatment or replacing their current HIV-1 regimen when their doctor determines they meet certain requirements.

Learn

° Do not stop DOVATO without first talking to your healthcare provider.

° If you stop taking DOVATO, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your liver function and monitor your HBV infection. It may be necessary to give you a medicine to treat hepatitis B. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or unusual symptoms you may have after you stop taking DOVATO.

For more information about side effects, see “What are possible side effects of DOVATO?”

What is DOVATO?

DOVATO is a prescription medicine that is used without other HIV-1 medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in adults: who have not received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines when their healthcare provider determines that they meet certain requirements. HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in children.

Please see additional Important Facts About DOVATO on the following page.

No other complete HIV pill uses fewer medicines to help keep you undetectable.†

Important Facts About DOVATO (cont’d)

Who should not take DOVATO?

Do not take DOVATO if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains dolutegravir or lamivudine.

• take dofetilide. Taking DOVATO and dofetilide can cause side effects that may be serious or life-threatening.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DOVATO?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have kidney problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. One of the medicines in DOVATO (dolutegravir) may harm your unborn baby.

° Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine than DOVATO if you are planning to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

° If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider may perform a pregnancy test before you start treatment with DOVATO.

° If you can become pregnant, you and your healthcare provider should talk about the use of effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with DOVATO.

° Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are planning to become pregnant, you become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant during treatment with DOVATO.

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take DOVATO.

° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.

° DOVATO passes to your baby in your breast milk.

° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines interact with DOVATO. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with DOVATO.

• Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take DOVATO with other medicines.

What are possible side effects of DOVATO?

DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about DOVATO?”

What are possible side effects of DOVATO? (cont’d)

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with DOVATO. Stop taking DOVATO and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of the skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; problems breathing.

• Liver problems.People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with DOVATO. Liver problems, including liver failure, have also happened in people without a history of liver disease or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis).Too much lactic acid is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death.Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: feel very weak or tired; unusual (not normal) muscle pain; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Lactic acidosis can also lead to severe liver problems, which can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms of liver problems which are listed above under “Liver problems.”

• You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female or very overweight (obese).

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking DOVATO.

• The most common side effects of DOVATO include: headache; nausea; diarrhea; trouble sleeping; tiredness; and anxiety.

These are not all the possible side effects of DOVATO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where can I find more information?

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to DOVATO.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

October 2022 DVT:7PIL

©2022 ViiV Healthcare or licensor.

DLLADVT220020 November 2022

Produced in USA.

CASH CRISIS

Gentrification and funding shortages are squeezing LGBTQ+ organizations.

Few Pride seasons have felt as contentious as the one we recently lived through. Over the past year, we’ve seen violent disputes among parents over LGBTQI-inclusive curriculum being taught at schools, backlash against gay and transfriendly marketing campaigns, and numerous attacks on Pride flags and symbols waving in local communities. These are reminders that even in progressive strongholds like California — which has witnessed a dramatic spike in antigay hate crimes in recent years — the struggle for inclusivity is ongoing.

When Pride Month festivities end, and the news media collectively turns the page, the stakes continue to be high for LGBTQI+ people, especially for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. In the same way that gay bars have gained a reputation as safe havens for queer expression and joy, community-based organizations function as hubs for LGBTQI+ people to access essential social services, including gender-affirming health care, legal aid, and housing. Without proper funding, these organizations may cease to exist.

For years, California’s soaring rents have threatened to displace these organizations. Last year, Nicole Santamaria, executive director of the transgender Latina-serving nonprofit El/La Para TransLatinas, learned her organization would need to find a new home

A woman seeking services at El/La Para TransLatinas in San Francisco holds up a photo of her late friend; high rates of violence are just one of the many issues facing trans women of color

after operating from San Francisco’s historic Redstone Building for 25 years. Despite years of organizing by tenants, including Santamaria, to keep the building in community hands, the building sold to a real estate company in 2021. El/La Para TransLatinas had no other option but to relocate.

LGBTQI+ nonprofit leaders should not be forced to cope with the pressures of rising rents to avoid being priced out of the communities in which they serve. Philanthropy and government must ally with LGBTQI-led organizations to acquire the capital they need to establish permanent homes. This would free up nonprofit leaders to focus their energy on protecting the progress that has been achieved on issues facing queer and trans communities; especially now when that progress is under attack.

Trans-led nonprofit organizations have faced enormous challenges when it comes to accessing resources to operate. For every $100 awarded by philanthropic organizations in the United States, only 4 cents go to supporting transgender communities. Lack of funding severely limits the ability for these organizations to hire and retain staff, undermining their scope of impact.

People like Bamby Salcedo, a respected community leader and the executive director of the TransLatin@ Coalition (TLC) in Los Angeles, understands the gravity of California’s affordability crisis and its impact on nonprofits. This spring, she started campaigning for the L.A. city council to provide TLC with multiyear funding to build a wellness center. She’s not backing down.

Not only will the construction of the wellness center allow for Bamby to expand the reach of services TLC offers; her capital campaign aims to acquire a permanent home to operate from, regardless of the future ebbs and flows in the state’s housing market. Now, she needs philanthropy to step in and commit funds, too.

The LGBTQI+ movement in California can’t break new ground if its community leaders are too consumed with how they’re going to pay next month’s rent. These community leaders and the organizations they steward need to be resourced, during Pride season and beyond.

EDUARDO GARCÍA is the senior policy manager at the Latino Community Foundation (latinocf.org) in San Francisco, CA.

Longtime trans advocate Bamby Salcedo attends the Latino Equality Alliance’s 8th Annual Purple Lily Awards at The East Angel in June in Los Angeles

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THE ART OF HEALING

One artist shares his journey of overcoming homophobia and HIV stigma.

BY MIKELLE STREET

When Jorge A. Sánchez was growing up in Caguas, Puerto Rico, he had some of his happiest moments with his Uncle Gardo. The pair would watch telenovelas in his grandmother’s house as his parents worked. They would pretend to be the characters of La Usurpadora or other shows.

“It was OK to be my authentic self with him that I wasn’t able to with the rest of my family,” Sánchez says, now sitting in the living room of his Manhattan apartment surrounded by plants and books about art. “We both knew we were different, and I think he went out of his way to let me know it was OK. It was a bizarre relationship in that I knew he represented something I would become.”

Gardo was gay and at the time living with HIV. After his seroconversion, he had become addicted to heroin. “I think it was very linked with the rejection from my family to his sexuality and the social conditions of HIV and AIDS at the moment that really triggered him to disassociate and not want to be present in his life,” Sánchez says. And yet, before his death, his uncle found small ways to make space for Jorge, allowing him moments of respite in the otherwise oppressively heterosexual landscape that was Puerto Rico.

The bond was significant to Jorge and was likely formative to his current path: Sánchez is now an artist with a practice that centers interpersonal bonds and community. His multipart body of work, Ojos de Loca, reflects on the things that have helped shape him. In a polaroid series from it, he shoots his own friends and lovers, memorializing the bonds there. A selection of photographs from it were recently included in AMIGXS Radicales, an exhibit that explored the “cuir/queer diasporic friends between artists, collectives, and their archives.” The people in the series provided Sánchez with food, fellowship, and community, often in place of a mostly estranged family.

In an in-progress book from the same body of work, he recounts experiences that shaped him in a different way. In one, readers relive the moment that, as a five-year-old, Sánchez’s working-class parents took him to the living room and told him to put his hands in his pockets while speaking to limit his maricon (“queer”) gestures. In another, readers are thrust into a moment where he confesses to a friend online that he likes boys, and the friend prints the conversation and distributes it around school.

“It’s very violent in a sense but it’s also very transcendental, where it makes the reader see how they may have treated someone else,” Sánchez says, noting that the inspiration is

Jorge Sánchez self-portrait

pulled partially from Claudia Rankin’s Citizen. All of this — the photographs and the stories — through the eyes of a queer, as the name translates. (Depending on who you ask, loca can be used as a misogynistic slur for women or queer men.)

It’s been a long road to this point for the 36-year-old. Growing up on the island he was subjected to “healing masses” to turn him straight and othering by friends and family. He fled in 2005 for Tufts University in Massachusetts (his mother made a condition of her co-signing his student loans that he be confirmed in the Catholic church) and embarked on the career path of being an attorney. Though he had nurtured a creative side — mostly through poetry and literature all his life — it wasn’t until 2013, living in Newark, N.J., that he began to solidify that, turning his apartment into an art space for small exhibits and collaborations.

“I think it was a place for me to feel more at home,” he says. “I think when I was working and studying I was pretty miserable. I needed some space where I could do something that really moved me.” It was what he called the “Wonder Woman” era of his life, where he would dress in suits as an attorney and then rush into a Starbucks bathroom to don more gender-neutral garb (maybe a dress or a skirt) before heading out to do things related to art. The strict separation came in part from shame that he wasn’t doing what he wanted to in his life.

The year 2018 ushered in a major change. Sánchez went in to be tested for HIV after feeling sick and tested negative. In hindsight, his viral load was too low to register.

“It was a system failure,” he explains. “That was the perfect moment to have put me on PEP. I still have some unresolved anger around that.” Months went by and his symptoms

CLOCKWISE FROM TOPLEFT Polaroid images from Ojos de Loca, a conceptual art project by Jorge Sánchez

worsened to the point that he couldn’t walk. After googling, he went in for another test.

“It’s kind of terrible when you’re telling the provider what you think it is and, because of stigma, they are all very shaky taking the blood,” he recounts. “It was all very dark.” It was the friends in his life that helped pull him out of that darkness, suggesting that he leave the U.S. and apply for a scholarship to do independent studies at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona in 2019.

“That’s how the healing started,” he says. “I was just like, ‘Fuck law and fuck trying to fix the system.’ I just decided to work on myself and what I think I was meant to do, which is art-making and art writing.”

This fall, he will relocate back to New Jersey to start doctoral studies in art history at Princeton University. It’s the latest move in a career that now addresses perspectives centering Latinx, queer/cuir, as well as HIV/ AIDS experiences — a career based on and made richer by the bonds of these communities.

“It’s really through these deep, meaningful connections with other people that you can say to yourself, ‘Ok, I’m not crazy,’” he says. “These people are just ignorant.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOPLEFT Andy Robert, Carlos Martiel, Aliza Nissembaum, unidentified couple

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The Bright Side

Writer and performer Charles Sanchez says living with HIV doesn’t mean living without pleasure or fun.

BY NIC AUSTIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROLAND FITZ

For writer and performer Charles Sanchez, HIV has a profound effect on his work. As a contributing editor for The Body, as well as having written for WritingRaw.com and HuffPost ’s Queer Voices, Sanchez finds a way to incorporate his diagnosis into his work, even when he isn’t asked to. A lot of why Sanchez utilizes HIV in everything that he does can be summed up in the synopsis for his web series, Merce

“

Merce is a hilarious, award-winning musical comedy series about a middleaged, HIV-positive man living in New York City. He is unashamedly and flamboyantly gay, a Pollyanna who sees some events in his life through an MGM lens. Merce is bawdy, outrageous and fun, proving that...life can be positive when you’re positive!”

Sanchez knows the impact having an HIV-positive character who isn’t sad, sick, or dying has for representation in his community and battling the stigma that plagues people thriving with HIV. Some of the topics Sanchez covers in his work include dating while living with HIV, slut-shaming, taking PrEP, and the significance of U=U. But even though an increasing amount of HIV-positive performers like Sanchez are speaking up about their realities, Sanchez admits misconceptions about the disease still linger.

“You have to develop a soft heart and a thick skin when dealing with stigma,” Sanchez says. “I’m still surprised by the negative reactions I get when I share my status with people. There’s a fine balance you have to walk, where you’re meeting people halfway to help them understand HIV without getting your heart trampled on.”

But Sanchez continues to fight, understanding that boundaries have to be pushed to get the message across. When it comes to the role of sex and living with HIV, Sanchez doesn’t shy away from the importance of pleasure.

“In my work, it’s taken a lifetime to feel no shame with my sexuality, and then having HIV and body image issues on top of that. But it’s important for people to feel able to enjoy the pleasures of sex regardless of their status, and for people to truly explore themselves and get to know themselves,” Sanchez says.

The ability to truly enjoy oneself in bed is so affected by anti-HIV stigma, Sanchez says, adding that people without the disease have to do their part to chip away at those deeply ingrained fears and stereotypes.

“There are laws being pushed across the country that are based out of fear, not science or facts, but fear,” Sanchez points out. “If people are able to listen to the science of the issues instead of what they’re afraid of, that would help not only people living with HIV but the entire LGBTQ+ community.”

Sanchez also knows that having a variety of treatment options is another way people with HIV can live without limits.

“I’ve been on a variety of treatment regimens and now I only take one pill

a day, but I love the idea of long-term medication treatments like injectables, and I’m looking forward to getting my six-month injectable at my next check-up, so it’s not a drag if I miss a dose,” Sanchez shares.

When looking to the years ahead, Sanchez speaks of focusing much of his energy on not only career goals, but personal fulfillment.

“I’m looking forward to the small moments in life,” he says. “It’s important to focus on those moments and to really engage with learning more about who I am and leaning into that authenticity of being me.”

Visit mercetheseries.com to watch Merce and learn more about Sanchez’s work.

WALL WOES

A community is reeling after funds are suddenly pulled from a beloved Latinx AIDS monument in Los Angeles.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

For nearly 20 years, The Wall Las Memorias AIDS project in Los Angeles’s Lincoln Park neighborhood has been uniting and servicing the local community in many ways. The beautiful monument is more than just a space to honor and remember loved ones lost to HIV/AIDS, as The Wall’s founder and executive director Richard Zaldivar explained when we spoke to him in September of 2022:

“We dedicated the monument in 2004, and since then we’ve expanded all of our services. We provide HIV prevention and testing, substance abuse prevention to Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities, mental health prevention services to the LGBTQ transitional-age youth…. Recently, we just rolled out the Act Now Against Meth Coalition.”

But now, the monument and the organization behind it are in danger due to recent large loss of funding. In June, Zaldivar discovered that $500,000 that was previously allocated to The Wall had suddenly been pulled. “And that money was to go towards the monument’s maintenance, the outreach, staffing — because we do a lot of tours for youth groups and education.”

BELOW The Wall Las Memorias monument at Lincoln Park in Los Angeles

Zaldivar explains that this money was initially given to The Wall by the city via discretionary funds for City Council District 1, where the momument resides. But when a new councilperson, Eunisses Hernandez, took over that district earlier this year, the funds were quickly taken from the monument and reclaimed by the District 1 office.

What the district plans to use the funds for was unknown as of press time. Zaldivar says he was a bit surprised by the move from Councilwoman Hernandez, a Latina Democrat, since the city had historically been very supportive of the monument.

“So now we’re going back to city council to fight for that $500,000. And the base thing is, for us, this is not a good time,” Zaldivar tells Plus. “If you look in the city of Los Angeles, there’s 15 council districts — [Council District 1] has the highest rate of new HIV cases.”

He adds that, in light of all the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and pushback going on nationwide, it’s a bad time to cut funding from something as important as The Wall. “L.A. still has pockets of tremendous homophobia and transphobia… And so this is not a time to be pulling money away from an HIV/LGBT organization. It really isn’t, especially a Latino one.”

As of press time, The Wall had been granted a continuance in its request for the money, but a final decision was not yet known. Go to hivplusmag.com for the latest updates or visit thewalllasmemorias.org for more information.

ABOVE

A closer look at some of the artwork displayed at The Wall Las Memorias

Power Moves

Multi-hyphenate Juan Michael Porter II discusses his journey with HIV advocacy and the issues facing the community.

BY NIC AUSTIN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROLAND FITZ

JUAN MICHAEL PORTER II is a health journalist, HIV advocate, and cultural critic who uses his position within the theater community to advocate for people living with HIV. Although Porter segued from being a professional dancer to an HIV writer and activist, he never expected the disease to be a part of his life’s narrative. When he went with a friend to get an STI test and learned he was positive, Porter was upset — but not for the reasons you may think.

“When I got tested I found out I was positive, and I was not fine. My partner got tested and when he found out he had HIV, he admitted he had been sleeping with other people. And people ask me if I were upset with him or with getting HIV, and I tell them, ‘No. I’m upset with the system,’” Porter explains.

Porter was referring to a culture that limits representation of those living with HIV and builds barriers for those people to get support and care. Witnessing this and hearing the stories from people in his community, Porter knew he needed to use his platform to amplify the message.

“I’m a notable dance and theater critic and hearing stories from people while doing my reporting, I’ve learned

that our stories are vastly not being told, or told from the perspective of someone who isn’t living with HIV, and I wanted to shift my work of writing and advocating to that,” Porter shares.

As a senior editor for TheBody.com, Porter covers medical and political news as it relates to people living with HIV. Although he is very knowledgeable of the laws surrounding health care, he fights for those who may not have that same familiarity.

“The issue is blame, and how people blame those living with HIV,” Porter says. “I was once denied access to my medication and I stood my ground because I knew the laws, but what about someone living in a rural area that doesn’t know the laws? And the cost associated with care, and the stigma attached to people living with HIV, it’s a constant fight. It keeps me fighting.”

Porter comes at ignorant perceptions with hard facts, relying on scientific evidence to break through stigma about HIV. Also, as someone who will always have dance in their blood, Porter incorporates the joy he gets from movement into his health messages.

“By showing myself living my life and thriving — like I’m on vacation in Italy, dancing — I’m showing others that

people who have HIV can still have joy, that we can still live our lives. It’s like how I lecture at universities, and I rarely lecture about HIV, about dance, or race. But I show people that I’m thriving, and that changes how they think,” Porter explains.

Porter also realizes that a variety of treatment options and sticking to a regimen is paramount to living a long, healthy life, citing the joy in being able to take one antiretroviral pill a day. But he still stresses that access and the stigma around HIV hampers treatment.

“The day that I can walk into a treatment center and ask for my prescription without the fear of getting beat up or having to fight for my medication, and the same for anyone else, that will be the day,” he says.

With his podcast, The Future of HIV Care, Porter continues to amplify other voices and build stronger bonds in the HIV sphere.

“I want to teach people how to be happy, I think that’s the way I bring my community together,” he says. “I had a friend ask me whether I would choose to be happy — and it’s simple, but important to remember that you have that choice to be happy regardless of anything. And I want all of us to be happy.”

PROTECT HER, TOO

We need to stop pretending only gay and bisexual men need HIV prevention methods.

BY MIKELLE STREET

When most people think of pre-exposure prophylaxis, known commonly as PrEP, they think of gay and bisexual men. A variety of public health campaigns, as well as startups like Mistr, have blanketed the community with so much marketing that it’s ingrained in the culture and has made it to meme status. But in the past five years there have been efforts made by the Centers for Disease Control and others to expand that messaging to other groups because, ultimately, PrEP is for anyone regularly engaging in behaviors that could put them at risk for contracting HIV.

“PrEP has normally been associated with men who have sex with men and there’s been little awareness for everyone else,” says Stephanie Estey, cofounder of TBD Health, which recently started offering PrEP with their telehealth services. “We wanted to make sure that everyone knew PrEP is not just for men who have sex with men but is a good way to think about preventing HIV if you’re anyone with multiple partners, or if you have a partner who is positive for HIV.”

TBD Health was started in an effort to remove stigma and anxiety from the sexual health process. It was created to be sex positive and slightly playful, as well as a resource. “We wanted a place where we could really talk about all the different aspects of sex, whether that’s the medical side or the pleasure side, or how to talk to

partners. We wanted to create the best place to really celebrate sexual health, sexual wellness, and to help people live their best lives.”

This is mostly conducted through the use of at-home STI testing kits that are offered by team of trauma-aware, sensitivity-trained clinicians. The at-home services are available in 49 states (New York is excluded), while Las Vegas also boasts an in-person clinic near the downtown area. PrEP comes in addition to the tests and STI meds, so TBD Health is equipped to handle sexual health in a comprehensive way.

According to the CDC, there are “no known interactions between PrEP and hormone-based birth control methods.” And if someone with a vagina is breastfeeding, pregnant, or hoping to become pregnant, PrEP could reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

While TBD is currently only cash-pay, meaning they do not accept insurance, the company uses cost counseling and often utilizes generic forms of medications to keep pricing affordable. A “superbill” can also be issued for reimbursement from health insurance companies.

“We’ve been absolutely blown away by the response and for us, PrEP was something that so many of our patients came and asked about,” Estey says. “It just made sense for us to create an offering that really answered what our patients were asking for.”

SUPER WOMEN

Meet two amazing young moms helping Black women affected by HIV in the rural South.

BY DESIRÉE GUERRERO

One of the least talked about groups of people affected by HIV is cisgender women — particularly women of color, who are, ironically, the most affected group among cis women. But recently a big step forward was made in sharing the stories of Black women affected by HIV, thanks to the award-winning documentary Unexpected by Zeberiah Newman and co-produced by Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph.

We had the pleasure of speaking with the Emmy-winning Ralph about Unexpected last December, as she and Newman prepared to promote it during this year’s film festival circuit.

“I was so sick and tired of the silence around Black people and Hispanic people [and their] stories not being told, names not included in things like the [AIDS] Quilt,” said Ralph, who’s been advocating for HIV causes since the beginning of her four-decade long career. “I was just like, Oh no, not on my watch. I know better, so let me do better.”

Now, less than a year later, the film has received much critical acclaim and accolades, including an Impact Docs! Award of Excellence. The documentary was also recently part of the Essence Film Festival in New Orleans, which held an accompanying panel discussion with the film’s stars and filmmakers.

This time, we got a chance to catch up with the main two subjects of Unexpected, Masonia Traylor and Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin — two amazing, inspiring women whose stories will change many folks’ perceptions about Black women and HIV.

“Oh, the irony,” says Covin with a laugh when asked how she came to be involved in the project. “It was so…unexpected. I just happened to be in Atlanta and there was somebody that was requesting stories of women that were living with HIV. But I don’t live in the South, I was diagnosed in the South.”

Both Covin and Traylor have worked in the realm of HIV advocacy and activism for several years now — and both are incredibly busy working moms.

Traylor, a mother of two, is the CEO and founder of the nonprofit Lady BurgAndy (ladyburgandy.org), which services women and youth impacted by HIV. While her additional accomplishments and organizations she’s worked with are too numerous to list, Traylor also sits on the Global Community Advisory Board for The Well Project, is part of the

BELOW The poster for the documentary short Unexpected, a film that highlights the stories of two young Black women affected by HIV

Executive Health Committee for the National Council for Negro Women, and is 2nd vicechair of the Metropolitan Atlanta HIV Health Services Planning Council. She also runs a private social media support group for women living with HIV.

In addition to caring for her two children and father, who recently suffered a stroke, and working towards a doctorate in human services, Covin works as program manager at The Well Project, a nonprofit that serves women and girls living with HIV across the gender spectrum. “And within that work, I have been really pulled to the breast and chest feeding and HIV work that is happening now.”

Covin also maintains a blog called Healing Is Voluntary (healingisvoluntary.com), which she created to “inspire people to rebuild their lives after trauma” through daily positive affirmations, intimate storytelling sessions, and feel-good apparel.

The film shines a light on the particular problems of those affected by HIV in the rural South — such as lack of access to testing,

treatment, care, and education, as well as housing and transportation issues — which is especially why Covin wanted to share her story.

“I was born in Philly and that’s where I contracted the virus, and then was diagnosed in the rural South,” Covin explains. “I went to the University of Georgia…. And the access to care down there, it was a lot different than what I’ve experienced here in the north.”

Traylor also discussed her reasons for wanting to be a part of the documentary. “I believe that with HIV…I learned people have way more compassion towards other illnesses,” she says. “When a woman is pregnant with HIV, you garner compassion…. But right after she gives birth to that baby — where’s the care for the mom?”

“Going through Ci Ci’s pregnancy,” adds Traylor, “it just brought back a lot of emotions — but it felt really, really good to be there for her in ways in which I wish other people could have been there for me…. I think that every woman deserves not only what Ci Ci had, but even more, I wish there was more we could

ABOVE (LEFT TO RIGHT) Ciarra “Ci Ci” Covin, Zeberiah Newman, and Masonia Traylor share a laugh while taking a rare break from their work

have done for Ci Ci, particularly right after she gave birth. And for this documentary, I think it just scratches the surface just a little bit of what the need truly is.”

On putting her personal story out there in such a public way, Covin says she didn’t hesitate to do so. “It was not hard…. It was phenomenal for people who had seen the film, that they might not have otherwise gotten the information that they got it. That’s the true definition of community outreach, we’re bringing that information to them. That feels great.”

“For me it doesn’t feel brave, but for others it’s perceived as a brave space to be able to stand firmly in your truth,” Covin adds. “For me, that happens to be HIV and how that empowers, inspires, and motivates other folks. I’m thankful that we’ve got a platform to be able to share these stories, because…they’re not often heard of. So you got that woman that’s newly diagnosed, maybe pregnant, who doesn’t think that she can live and give birth to a negative baby, but now she can see herself doing it.”

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Ci Ci Covin, Unexpected’s co-producer Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Masonia Traylor attend the 2023 Essence Film Festival

U=U and you

Today, a major goal for HIV treatment is helping you reach an undetectable viral load. When your viral load is undetectable, there is so little virus in your blood that a lab test can’t measure it.

Current research shows that taking HIV treatment as prescribed and getting to an undetectable viral load and staying undetectable prevents the transmission of HIV to others through sex. Reaching and staying undetectable is only possible by sticking with your treatment.

There are many resources for education and information to help you get to and stay undetectable, including the link below.

And always remember, speak openly and honestly with your healthcare provider to learn about HIV and what is best for you.