What We Can Learn from Addressing HIV – #LGBTWellness Roundup

Each week LGBT HealthLink, a Program of CenterLink, and researcher and blogger Corey Prachniak-Rincón bring you a round-up of some of the biggest LGBTQ wellness stories from the past week.

Now you can HEAR your Weekly Wellness Roundup, too! Subscribe to our weekly podcast here: https://apple.co/2lzs5Ti or where ever you podcast.

How Lessons with HIV Can Inform Us Today

UNAIDS published a report on how the human rights-based approach that has been applied to combating HIV can inform the current fight against COVID-19. Recommendations include engaging the communities at every step in the response, in part to build trust; combating discrimination and stigma; and removing barriers to seeking services, be they socioeconomic conditions or misinformation.

Queer Men Struggle After Prostate Cancer

A new study examined the sexual health of gay and bisexual men after being treated for prostate cancer. It found that sexual minority men had unique concerns with respect to sexual health, were dissatisfied with the guidance they received, and had to deal with heteronormativity and homophobia within the system as they dealt with prostate cancer and its aftermath.

New Research on HIV among Trans Folks

Poz Magazine reported on some recent research presented at a virtual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) on HIV among transgender individuals that was presented at a virtual HIV conference. For example, one study looked at HIV among transgender men – an often overlooked group– and found that 43% of the group had been tested and 2.8% were living with HIV. Another study examined risk factors among transgender women and found that older age, homelessness, and (surprisingly) more knowledge about HIV were associated with increased rates.

Substance Use Services Needed

Researchers found that young sexual minority men in Vancouver, Canada who use opioids have a variety of harm reduction strategies in their toolkits but face barriers to safer substance use. The authors recommend locating low-barrier harm reduction opportunities within LGBT spaces like Pride events and LGBT venues, as well as ensuring that existing services for people who inject drugs are LGBT-inclusive.

Treating Transgender Patients with Cancer

Oncology Nurse Advisor explored how to improve services for transgender patients with cancer. They say that more research needs to include transgender populations to help inform providers, 80% of whom say they lack the knowledge to treat transgender patients. The article also recommends making changes to the office environment, from intake forms that do not allow preferred names to “gendering” diseases (for example, using the color pink for materials on breast cancer).

How One Queer Woman Quietly Made History

NBC News reported on the untold story of Kathy Kozachenko, a lesbian woman and human rights activist who was elected to the Ann Arbor City Council in 1974 – three years before Harvey Milk won his first race in California and claimed the mantle of first gay person elected to public office. Kozachenko, Milk, and others helped lead the way to the 800-plus LGBTQ elected officials in office today.