|
|
|
My Body. My Money. My Rights.
 Why does Your Pride Center care about smoking?
Well, as a social justice organization, it's our job to fight for your rights. The tobacco industry has a long history of targeting our community, subtly playing to our second-class status with devious messages designed to get us hooked and keep us addicted. They tell us that smoking is sexy; that it's a cool way to show the world that you're different. They tell us they value us and our business... but have you heard of Project SCUM? Here's an excerpt of an internal tobacco company report: http://gaysmokeout.net/docs/MarlboroAd.pdf
Big Tobacco knows that as a group, LGBT people are more brand-loyal than the general population: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=478
So the marketing dollars they spend to get us addicted to their brand is money well spent.
Sure, everyone knows about the health risks of smoking. But if you're gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, or you consider yourself an ally of ours, and you want to do something to help advance our movement, among many other excellent ways of making a contribution, one thing you might consider is to quit smoking.
Quitting is hard! But here at the Center, we have access to resources proven to increase your odds of success. Call David at 471-4429, or email him at David@YourPrideCenter.org, and sign up for our next series of support classes starting in July, and find out if you are "The Biggest Quitter!" You don't have to make a commitment to quit before you join the class: you can come to the first one and see if it's for you before you sign up. For other helpful resources, you can visit www.SmokeFreeGLBT.org, or call the Colorado QuitLine at 800-Quit-Now.
|
Community News:
Peak Vista Community Health is recommitting to providing transgender heatlh services, including hormone therapy and mental health referrals. Call or email Cara for more information about this.
Did you know that the Denver Planned Parenthood is rolling out a new transgender health program in the Fall? Keep an ear out for more information about that and cross your fingers that the program will come down to Colorado Springs as well.
Asking for help is hard to do. If you're looking for a therapist, keep in mind that it may take some "shopping" around. Don't expect to find a great fit with the first person you call, because it may take a few tries before you find someone you can trust and be comfortable with. It's okay to ask for a free visit to see if it's a good fit and it's okay to change your mind if you don't feel comfortable with a therapist.
Be Healthy. Be Free. Be You.
Tell a friend!
Spread the word about the Center's Community Health Initiative and the services we provide!
Would you like to receive the monthly health news exclusively? Email Cara or David!
New Feature at Colorado Springs PrideFest 2009!
Be sure to check out the Healthy Living Oasis at Springs Pride on Sunday, July 19th!
|
|
The Women's Wellness Program provides FREE pap exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms for eligible women. Eligibility requirements are:
Call or email Cara to find out more information. Cara@yourpridecenter.org
|
|
Did You Know?
|
|
The Pride Center hosts the Pikes Peak GLBT Health Consortium on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. This gathering connects health care providers in the Pikes Peak region, and focuses on improving service to the LGBT community, while focusing on major health topics such as tobacco, women's wellness, HIV, suicide prevention, and more. If you have something you think needs to be addressed, please call Cara or David at 719.471.4429.
|
HIV QUIZ
True or False (answers below):
1. It's safer to have sex with someone younger, since they haven't had as many sexual partners, so they're less likely to be HIV-positive.
2. Compared to anal and vaginal sex, the risk from oral sex is quite low.
3. I've never had any symptoms, so I must be HIV-negative.
4. The top (in gay sex) or the man (in straight sex) is at lower risk for infection than the bottom or the female.
5. When it comes to HIV, there are only four infectious fluids in the human body: blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.
Answers:
1. FALSE. HIV is hitting our youth hard: among men in the U.S., half of all new infections are in the under-25 age group.
2. TRUE. If the lining of your mouth and throat is intact, with no cuts or open sores, going down on someone - and even swallowing - presents almost no risk of HIV infection. Of course, there are other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) that are easily spread by oral, like gonorrhea, chlamydia and even syphilis, so it's still safest to use a condom or dental dam for oral. But those other infections can be cured - HIV cannot.
3. FALSE. There are rarely any outward symptoms of HIV infection, at least in the early years. The only way to find out your status is to get tested. Your Pride Center offers free, confidential rapid testing for HIV to everyone. For men who have sex with men, the official recommendation is to get tested twice a year; for everyone else, an annual test is a good idea.
4. FALSE. The top is at significant risk, too, because HIV can find its way up the urethra.
5. TRUE. HIV is not transmitted through saliva or sweat or urine, so you don't get it from kissing, or from the locker room or the toilet seat.
How did you score? Everyone is at risk for HIV, so everyone should get tested. Email David@YourPrideCenter.org, or call 471-4429, to schedule your free test today!
|
