Center Voices

ANALYSIS &

INSIGHT

According to a recent study by the Williams Institute, approximately 1.2 million LGBTQ adults in the United States identify as nonbinary. Many people do not know the definition of nonbinary, a term which is sometimes recognized only as a default alternative to man or woman, as reported by USA Today:

Excerpt: “And because we’re still using nonbinary as a default term, we’re erasing components of the culture and the community that in some ways have existed before the modern context with the word ‘nonbinary.’ People who don’t speak English, who speak Spanish, who were born outside the U.S., who are a bit older than the age range may have different contexts (for nonbinariness) in their respective cultures.”

Read more at bitly.com/NBpeople EDEN ANAÏ LUNA

Manager – Transgender Economic Empowerment Project Legal Services

The Biden administration has directed health insurance companies to offer PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) without copays or deductibles. When taken daily as prescribed, PrEP is 92%_95% effective in protecting HIV-negative people from transmission. The federal guidance will help PrEP distribution become more equitable, as reported by Bay Area Reporter:

Excerpt: “We commend the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for their guidance to ensure PrEP is more accessible and affordable for everyone who needs it. By dismantling the existing regional and community disparities which prevent access to the life-saving daily medication, we will be another step further in ending the HIV epidemic.”

AARON FOX

Director of Government Relations Public Policy A California study indicates LGBTQ people between the ages of 18 and 29 have increasingly become addicted to substances during the year-long pandemic lockdown. A common thread cited by experts: people’s in-person communities were gone, and loneliness crept in, as reported by Los Angeles Daily News:

Excerpt: “For some folks, I think they didn’t realize they had a problem until the pandemic. If you are someone between the ages of 18 and 26 and your social circle is a lot of your support and when you no longer have that, you start looking for other things. And if you are perhaps 19 years old living at home with a family and you are not out, there is shame around that.” SARAH MCCUSKER

Mental Health Clinician V Health Services

Read more at bitly.com/pandemiclockdown

In response to the pandemic, the Center launched Pride Pantry last year to help feed the most vulnerable members in the community. They sign up online to receive weekly boxes of both non-perishable groceries and fresh produce—and each box receives special attention, as reported by The Thrive Market:

Excerpt: “Our bags contain a variety of fruits and vegetables and 90% of the items can be eaten raw. A typical produce bag will include apples, oranges, carrots, celery, kale, and red leaf lettuce. Providing healthy food has always been a priority to Pride Pantry. Nutrition is important, and we spend a lot of time thinking about what goes in the boxes."

DINA VALENZUELA

Administrative and Events Coordinator Culinary Arts