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Pre-AIDS conference events to focus on gay men’s health, sex workers rights

Gay Men’s Health Summit will take place at GWU on Friday and Saturday

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Gay News, Washington Blade, HIV/AIDS

Latino GLBT History Project President David Pérez (Blade photo by Michael Key)

With about 30,000 people expected in D.C. for the International AIDS Conference; a number of panels and other events are scheduled to take place in D.C. before AIDS 2012 officially opens on Sunday.

The Gay Men’s Health Summit will take place at George Washington University on Friday and Saturday. Whitman-Walker Health, Us Helping Us, the D.C. LGBT Community Center, The GWU School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the National Coalition for LGBT Health and Master Taino’s Leather Family co-sponsored the two-day gathering that will feature more than 40 workshops on a range of topics. These include coming out as an older adult, mental health and addiction among gay and bisexual men.

Activist and researcher Dan O’Neill and Brant Miller of the D.C. Center on Friday will present a workshop on the D.C. FUK!T campaign that uses sexually explicit messages to promote condom and lube use among men who have sex with men. HIV/AIDS activists in Seattle launched a similar initiative last year, but O’Neill told the Blade that he is optimistic that service providers in other cities will create their own FUK!T-inspired safer-sex campaigns.

“Hopefully with the diverse audience that will be there, they can recreate similar programs where they are if they aren’t already there,” he said.

Latino GLBT History Project President David Pérez and others on Saturday will present a workshop on the impact of HIV/AIDS on gay Hispanics. Frank Walker and DeAndre Roberts of Youth Pride Services and DeAndre Preston of Code Red will moderate a panel on young black gay men in the United States on Friday. This workshop will also coincide with the release of a national study that details the experiences of roughly 2,000 black LGBT youth from across the country and Puerto Rico.

“There is something there for everyone,” said Walker, referring to the summit and its focus on gay men’s health. “From what I’ve seen so far, it’s probably one of the best places to get that information with like-minded people.”

In addition to the Gay Men’s Health Summit, the Global Forum on MSM and HIV will take place on Saturday. The International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS conference will take place at Howard University through tomorrow, while Youth Force’s annual gathering at Gallaudet University will conclude on the same day.

Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive will host a pre-conference strategy session at its Northeast Washington offices on Saturday in support of sex-workers’ rights. “The goal is to really get sex workers together to talk about our plans for the conference itself and moving our agenda forward,” said HIPS executive director Cyndee Clay.

Current U.S. immigration policy prohibits sex workers and drug users from entering the country—thousands of sex workers and their allies are expected to gather in Kolkata, India, for a conference that will take place during AIDS 2012. HIPS plans to live-stream this gathering at its Global Village exhibit during the D.C. conference.

Ending this ban is among the four issues outlined in a so-called call to action that urges the federal government to adopt policies that signatories hope will more effectively prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among sex workers.

“The United Nations considers sex workers and their clients to be two of the populations most at risk for HIV infection,” reads the declaration. “Structural issues drive the HIV epidemic within the sex sector – criminalization and stigma compound health disparities already affecting those on the wrong end of racial, economic and gender inequality. Yet when they are empowered to be leaders, connected to services and resources, and supported to address social injustice, sex workers have been some of the most effective communities at curtailing the spread of AIDS. Currently, the U.S. imposes and continues to expand harmful policies affecting sex workers both domestically and abroad, putting them at increased risk for HIV.”

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Health

UNAIDS to commemorate Zero Discrimination Day’s 10th anniversary

UN agency urges global action to protect human rights

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A UNAIDS anti-discrimination exhibit at Tocumen International Airport in Panama in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

As the world marks the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day; UNAIDS is sounding the alarm on the increasing threats to human rights, calling for renewed efforts to protect the rights of all individuals as a fundamental step towards ensuring health for everyone.

Established by UNAIDS a decade ago, Zero Discrimination Day aims to promote equality and fairness regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or HIV status. The progress achieved over the past years is now in jeopardy, however, due to rising attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized the critical link between protecting human rights and safeguarding public health. 

“The attacks on rights are a threat to freedom and democracy and are harmful to health,” she said in a press release. “Stigma and discrimination obstruct HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care and hold back progress towards ending AIDS by 2030. It is only by protecting everyone’s rights that we can protect everyone’s health.”

Despite challenges, there has been notable progress. 

At the onset of the AIDS pandemic more than 40 years ago, two-thirds of countries criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations. They are now decriminalized in two-thirds of countries. An additional 38 countries around the world have pledged to end HIV-related stigma and discrimination, contributing to positive changes that include 50 million more girls attending school compared to 2015.

To sustain and enhance these advancements; UNAIDS urges global support for women’s rights movements, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, economic justice, climate justice and peace initiatives. By standing with communities advocating for their rights, the U.N. aims to reinforce the collective effort towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1.

Events and activities that will take place around the world throughout the month will serve as reminders of the essential lesson and call to action: Protecting everyone’s health is synonymous with protecting everyone’s rights.

“Through upholding rights for all, we will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a safer, fairer, kinder and happier world — for everyone,” said Byanyima.

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Health

New CDC report finds transgender women at higher risk for HIV

More than 1,600 people in seven cities surveyed

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (Photo courtesy of the CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new study report this week that revealed that restricted by employment and housing discrimination and lack of access to needed gender-affirming healthcare for transgender women increasing the risk of contracting HIV. 

Researchers reviewed data from a 2019-2020 survey, the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Among Transgender Women, which found that the demographics of HIV/AIDS have been disproportionally high, especially among Black and Latina trans women, who had experienced employment and housing discrimination coupled with lack of access to gender-affirming healthcare.

The Jan. 25 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was based on data studies of more than 1,600 trans women in seven major urban locales. Participants from Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle were chosen by referrals from people and community-based organizations who knew or were part of the local population of trans women.

The study’s researchers noted: “Employment discrimination occurs at the overlapping nexus of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, health insurance, disability, food insecurity and survival sex work. These issues are interconnected.”

The study stated that trans women’s inability to access quality healthcare, including gender-affirming treatment or access to PrEP, and can expose them to potential incarceration as many turn to “survival sex work” and violence, which increases the risk of contracting HIV. 

The study’s author’s pointed out: “When economically marginalized transgender women are refused employment, this refusal cyclically contributes to economic hardships. This analysis …demonstrates the importance of transgender women working and living with dignity and without fear of unfair treatment.”

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Health

A Whole New Perspective on Well-Being

The Mather’s team recognizes that everyone’s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

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The Mather is incorporating biophilic design—a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns.

It’s easy to spot the distinctive, elegant silhouette of The Mather, a Life Plan Community for those 62+ opening this spring in Tysons, Virginia. What is not apparent to the naked eye is The Mather’s unique wellness philosophy, which is literally built into the community. 

The Mather’s team recognizes that everyone’s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

Nature is one of the important factors that contribute to well-being. So The Mather is incorporating biophilic design—a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns. This can include interior spaces with sightlines to a garden, choosing natural wood and stone as interior materials, or incorporating fragrant flowers and plants indoors to spark memories and provide tactile opportunities such as gardening. 

Residents of The Mather will be able to select from plentiful amenities, programs, and other offerings to target their personal wellness goals and preferences.

“Providing biophilic design within interior settings connects residents to the natural world,” says Mary Leary, CEO and President of Mather, the organization behind The Mather. “Research shows that a connection to nature provides positive benefits to mental states and overall well-being. At The Mather, biophilic design is the intersection of buildings and programs with nature in an urban setting.”

“The Mather is attracting a diverse group of older adults,” says Mary. “As a result, we aim to incorporate wellness practices from around the world, including Wyda movement theory of the Celtic Druids, which helps people achieve harmony with nature and contentment through mindfulness.” This holistic regenerative approach is similar to Qi Gong and yoga, while born in a different part of the world. Mather Institute has a special focus on mindfulness to support older adults’ practice of present moment awareness, which can lead to increased overall well-being, compassion, and joy.

A very different example of a wellness offering at The Mather is the Gharieni Welnamis spa wave bed, which uses computer-controlled vibrational therapy and audio frequencies to train the brain to relax. “The bed increases mindfulness, concentration, and creativity—all of which support our mission of creating Ways to Age Well,SM” says Mary.

These and other personalized ways to wellness will ensure that residents of The Mather can choose from seemingly countless ways to focus on their well-being. In other words, the sky’s the limit!

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