Have Fun & Be Safe CAN & Midland Cares Create Cruising Message
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ruising, for better or worse, is a pillar of LGBTQIA+ history and remains a part of our culture today. The act of cruising has evolved from when social stigma forced the community into the shadows of parks after dark and backrooms at bars. While those still exist, cruising has evolved into an open, social activity from bars to the apps, and myriad opportunities in between.
Nearly everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community has cruised at one point and many still do, and that’s who CAN and Midland say they want to reach. “Everyone. Sex is a natural part of life. Our goal is to support our patients' decisions but to still give them information and a medical environment that provides risk reduction for all.”
But one thing hasn’t changed: the chances of getting an STI.
Sex, especially in the LGBTQIA+ healthcare community, is openly discussed. Destigmatizing the discussion among the broader population is key to Midland Cares and CAN. Beltran refers to last year’s Monkeypox crisis as an example. “One of the significant successes was how the spread of Monkeypox could be curtailed by sexually active people being responsible and getting checked. We hope to convey this precisely with the Cruise Responsibly campaign.”
Midland Cares and CAN Community Health (CAN) are working to reduce risk without reducing people’s fun. The campaign is Cruise Responsibly and wants to change the connotation of the word ‘cruising.’ “In our communities, the association with cruising is often negative or so-called risky behaviors,” Greg Beltran, Midland Cares’ Director of Programs and Innovation told OutClique. “We wanted to reclaim that and turn it into a powerful message that emboldens the community and engages them in testing, prevention, and treatment. Paying homage to the cruise culture in the past shows how much has changed and so much has not.” The two entities have a large role in treating South Florida’s LGBTQIA+ health needs. Now the pair have merged and want to use their combined resources to effectively reach South Florida’s cruising community. “Now that the Midland family (Medical, Pharmacy, and Cares) is formally part of the CAN family, we can work together to broaden our reach to continue increasing viral suppression rates, individuals linked to PrEP, and trans-affirming care,” Beltran said. “Any successful pairing, like CAN and Midland, takes a sense of trust and commitment toward a common goal,” CAN’s Chief Communications Officer, Roger Capote, told OutClique. “As our communities have witnessed, both agencies have strived to help people in our communities while creating access points to care.”
Beltran concurred. “If we create a safe and judgmentfree space, people will be more open and willing to speak with their healthcare teams, increasing positive health outcomes and reducing the risk of health complications.” Their reputations precede them, as both groups have been called upon by national healthcare providers. “As one of the region's most extended providers of HIV care with 30 years of experience, we have been tapped by the CDC and HRSA for technical assistance opportunities for others throughout the country on best practices,” Capote said. CAN Community Health (CAN) is a not-for-profit, community-based organization with clinics that reach well beyond the Sunshine State. They serve Arizona, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, providing specialized medical care for over 30 years. What began as a small health clinic founded by trailblazer Susan Terry in 1991 in Sarasota, FL, has now
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