Filipino Man's Coming Out Story Selected as PBS Short Film Festival Finalist

The Webby Award-nominated PBS Short Film Festival returns for a ninth year from Monday, July 13 – Friday, July 24 to all PBS and station digital platforms, including PBS.org, YouTube and Facebook.

The festival, part of a multiplatform initiative to increase the reach and visibility of independent filmmakers, and to provide a showcase for diverse storytelling that both inspires and engages, features 25 short-form independent films presented in five categories: culture, environment, family, humanity and race.

One of this year’s selections, “In This Family,” in conjunction with public media partner with Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), gives viewers an intimate look at how one Filipino family reacts to having a gay son. Revisiting unreleased audio recordings of fights from inside his own home, documentary filmmaker Drama Del Rosario shares his story of being outed by his teacher and dealing with his family’s reaction. Beyond coming out, the film explores how parents learn to embrace their children unconditionally.

​Viewers can check out “In This Family” from Monday, July 13 – Friday, July 24 on all PBS and station digital platforms, including PBS.org, YouTube and Facebook.

In addition, the PBS Short Film Festival will also be holding a Facebook Watch Party (Film Category: Humanity) for each of the 25 films. “In This Family” is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

MAP Education & Action During COVID-19 Series: Housing & Homelessness

The COVID-19 pandemic has made even more visible the extent to which more than half a million people in the United States lack a stable, safe place to sleep. For people experiencing homelessness, the pandemic has brought added challenges to already difficult circumstances. People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for contracting COVID-19 and for becoming sicker and dying of COVID-19. That’s because they often have underlying health conditions, lack access to quality health care, and have limited ways to quarantine safely.

Research shows that of people experiencing homelessness in the United States, people of color, people with mental health challenges, and LGBTQ adults and youth are overrepresented. For example, LGBTQ youth were 2.2 times more likely to experience homelessness than their peers, with Black LGBTQ youth at the highest risk. And 17% of sexual minority adults have experienced homelessness in their lifetime—twice the rate of the general population.

Despite the economic turmoil the pandemic has brought, there’s only a limited extent to which governments have stepped in to provide financial assistance and protection from evictions and foreclosures. Yet the number of people in the United States who may be experiencing homelessness has likely increased over the past few months. When evictions moratorium end, economists predict homelessness rates could increase by 40%, with an estimated 250,000 more people experiencing homelessness by the end of 2020.

In some places, cities and counties have secured hotel and motel rooms for particularly high-risk people who might otherwise be sleeping in overcrowded shelters or on the streets. These are important efforts designed to serve an acute need and they demonstrate that there can be ways, and political will, to rapidly house people.

The question remains of what happens to people as the public health crisis wanes. Will they be left to return to the streets? Will municipalities and social service agencies work to develop plans to address homelessness and help people find stable, secure housing beyond the pandemic? What’s more, many service providers have responded to public health guidelines and the need to protect people’s health by reducing the number of people shelters can house, reducing services, and even closing.

In the midst of the pandemic and knowing what risks exist for people experiencing homelessness, on July 1, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a new proposed rule that would allow HUD-funded shelters to turn away transgender people. Being denied access to a shelter is particularly detrimental to transgender people who are at increased risk for homelessness, violence, and harassment.

According to the U.S. Transgender Discrimination Survey, 29% of transgender people lived in poverty in 2015 and one in three transgender people in the United States has experienced homelessness at some point in their lifetimes. A recent analysis of nationally representative surveys by the Williams Institute found that 8% of transgender people reported experiencing homelessness in the past year alone, compared to 1% of straight cisgender people. The HUD proposed rule came just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that discrimination based on sex includes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, a ruling that impacts federal housing laws which prohibit discrimination based on sex.

Homelessness itself is its own public emergency, and will only continue to grow as new hotspots for the pandemic emerge. Elected leaders and city officials must expand efforts to address affordable housing and homelessness to keep everyone safe.

Resources on Housing & Homelessness

• National Alliance to End Homelessness: How to Get Help If You Are Experiencing Homelessness
• Learn more about Point Source Youth and their goal of increasing housing options for youth, especially queer youth: pointsourceyouth.org
• Read more about the experiences of LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.

Take Action
• Consider joining your local mutual aid network to help individuals and families who are homeless or were previously homeless.
• If you’re able, donate to a COVID-19 Relief Fund that helps support LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit young people 26 and under who have experienced homelessness. You can also help spread the word about the fund on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

MMAA Featured on NPR Morning Edition

This morning on NPR Morning Edition, MMAA was featured in a story about their lawsuit challenging the Trump-Pence administration's unconstitutional transgender military ban.

The story focuses on why the Supreme Court's recent decision protecting LGBTQ workers from discrimination gives the organization hope that justice will prevail in their lawsuit challenging the ban.

Listen to MMAA Legal and Policy Director Peter Perkowski explain why.

Gabon Votes to Reverse Criminalization of Same-Sex Relations

In a landmark decision, on Monday, July 6, the Senate of Gabon voted to decriminalize same-sex relations with 59 votes in favor, 17 against and 4 abstentions. The move to decriminalize was supported by the lower house of Parliament on June 23.

Unlike numerous countries across the African continent, Gabon did not have a colonial-era ban on same-sex relations. Instead, a ban had been introduced in 2019 criminalizing same-sex relations between both men and women. This ban has now been reversed. The reversal of the ban has been met with controversy and a strong backlash from religious leaders and others, leading to mounting hate speech and driving LGBTIQ activists and people into hiding for fear of retaliation.

Executive Director of OutRight Action International, Jessica Stern, comments:
“We commend both Houses of Parliament of Gabon on repealing a ban on same-sex relations. It is shocking that over a third of the world's countries continue to criminalize same-sex love, in stark contrast to basic human dignity and international human rights standards. The decision in Gabon decreases the total number of countries criminalizing same-sex relations by one. This is not only an affirmation of the right of LGBTIQ people in Gabon to love whom they choose, but also an inspiration to activists in countries in which these bans still exist or are being considered. We hope to see authorities in Gabon take steps to reduce hate speech and promote acceptance of its LGBTIQ citizens.”

67 countries continue to criminalize same-sex relations across the world, Egypt, Indonesia and Equatorial Guinea are considering new bans, and territorial bans also exist in a number of places. In May 2019 the High Court in Kenya decided to maintain a colonial era ban on same-sex relations. A colonial-era ban was overturned in the High Court in Botswana in June 2019, but the government is appealing this decision. In March 2020 the High Court in Singapore dismissed challenges to its ban on same-sex relations.

AHF Labels Gilead ‘War Profiteer’ and ‘Greedy Bastards!’ after Company Sets COVID Drug Price at $2K to $3K

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today harshly criticized Gilead Sciences over its pricing of remdesivir, the newly approved COVID-19 treatment. Gilead, which developed the drug years earlier (with as much $70 million in government research and development funding) as a possible Ebola treatment, announced earlier today that it has set the price for remdesivir between $2,300 and $3,100 per patient for a five day course of treatment.

According to Zachary Brennan reporting in PoliticoPro (6/29/20), Gilead “…set the price for its coronavirus treatment remdesvir at $390 per vial for the U.S. government and developed countries. That puts the price of a five-day treatment course at $2,340 per patient for people enrolled in federal health programs like Medicare and Medicaid — but private insurers will pay $520 per vial, or $3,120 for five days of treatment, the company said Monday. The U.S. is the only country for which Gilead has set tiered pricing.”

“Gilead Sciences unmasked itself today as both a war profiteer and greedy bastards—a depressing feat and spectacularly tone-deaf response to a global pandemic that has so far killed over half-a-million people worldwide, including more than 120,000 deaths in the U.S.,” said AHF President Michael Weinstein. “U.S. taxpayers paid for much of the research for this drug. Now, Medicaid and Medicare are going to pay a premium for the prescriptions for this drug for patients in the United States and patients covered by private insurers will pay even more. It’s unconscionable.”

In early May, AHF issued a statement demanding that Gilead price remdesivir at no more than one U.S. dollar per dose. AHF further demanded that Gilead Sciences also disclose all its public research and development costs and all public investments in connection with the development of remdesivir.

AHF’s dollar per dose demand is based on a University of Liverpool research study, “Minimum costs to manufacture new treatments for COVID-19” that allows for recovery of the cost of manufacturing plus a reasonable profit.

“Gilead’s move today--and the likely acquiescence by both government and private insurers without a real challenge or fight—set a terrible, terrible precedent,” added Weinstein. “This out-of-whack pricing by Gilead now pits this disease against all others for governments trying as best they can to cope with the economic, social and medical havoc wreaked by COVID-19—as well as against governments trying to feed and shelter their people during this crisis. This also sets the baseline for pricing of any and all future COVID-19 treatments, something we saw with AIDS and the pricing of its first drug, AZT—drug pricing repercussions we still live, and die with today.”

NACCHO Highlights Key Role of Local Health Departments for National HIV Testing Day

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), in advance of National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) (June 27), highlights the important role that local health departments play to increase access and utilization of HIV testing, support their community members living with the virus, and work towards ending the HIV epidemic.

Local health departments are uniquely positioned to engage with community partners and healthcare providers to ensure that HIV testing is available and that testing efforts are reaching priority populations, including communities of color, gay and bisexual men, transgender men and women, youth, and people who inject drugs.

Local health departments traditionally provide HIV testing at clinics and through community outreach efforts. This year, however, COVID-19 has forced many local health departments to suspend or reduce HIV testing and prevention services, as clinics have closed and staff have been reassigned from HIV-related activities to support the COVID-19-response. While the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted traditional HIV services, local health departments are implementing innovative solutions to maintain key testing and treatment options via self -testing. These include using telehealth services and the provisions of free or low-cost self-testing options via mail. You can learn more about these programs here.

An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV. One in seven—or nearly 162,000 people—are unaware of their status, despite CDC recommending HIV testing for every person between the ages of 13-64. This year’s NHTD theme is the power of “Knowing” — knowing your HIV status, as well as knowing the new ways to take an HIV test now that facility-based services and in-person contact are limited by the coronavirus pandemic.

As outlined in the federal government’s Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, HIV testing is critical in diagnosing HIV, identifying acute infections, and referring to HIV treatment or prevention options such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily pill that is highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition. Ensuring that people know their HIV status is the first step in getting connected to HIV care and treatment for those who are HIV-positive. People with HIV who take medication as prescribed and maintain viral suppression are known to have improved health outcomes and reduce chance of transmission to others. To achieve the full benefits of HIV treatment and prevention options, HIV testing must be simple, accessible, and routine.

One Colorado: REGISTER TODAY for a town hall with Rep. Jason Crow on LGBTQ issues

By Daniel Ramos, Executive Director, One Colorado

One Colorado is proud to host a virtual LGBTQ town hall event with with Congressman Jason Crow, representing Colorado’s sixth congressional district. This is your opportunity to hear directly from Representative Crow on important issues impacting LGBTQ Coloradans and their families within the district. The virtual town hall will be on Monday, June 29th from 5:00-5:30 PM.

When you register online, you can submit a question or issue for the Congressman to address during the town hall. Please keep in mind that not all questions submitted will be able to be answered during the town hall. Click here to sign up for the virtual town hall.

We can't wait to see you there!

Human Rights Campaign Report Details Historic Progress Ahead of Fifth Anniversary of Landmark Marriage Equality Decision

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, released a report chronicling the historic progress and road ahead for the LGBTQ community as the nation marks five years since Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing marriage equality nationwide.

“We celebrate the five-year anniversary of marriage equality on the heels of another significant victory in the United States Supreme Court. Looking back on the five years since Obergefell v. Hodges, the LGBTQ community has made some truly remarkable progress,” said HRC President Alphonso David.  “Same-sex couples can legally marry across our country, public support for equality continues to grow to unprecedented levels and LGBTQ workers are now undeniably protected from discrimination under federal law. But we also must acknowledge that LGBTQ people continue to face discriminatory attacks from anti-equality politicians, that there are no nationwide nondiscrimination protections in the public square and that we are living through an epidemic of violence that particularly targets Black transgender women.”

David continued, “This is not a time to slow down -- this is a time to harness our momentum, finish the work at hand and ensure that our progress is truly felt by all, no matter who you are or where you live.”

Published more than fifty years since the Stonewall Riots, five years since Obergefell v. Hodges and one week since Bostock v. Clayton County, the report lays out the monumental shift in both legal protections and societal support for LGBTQ people. New analysis from HRC Foundation shows that public support for marriage equality has increased dramatically in thirty years, rising from just 12% in 1988 to 68% in 2018 -- including a nearly ten percent increase since the Obergefell decision. Globally, the number of countries with marriage equality has grown from one -- the Netherlands -- in 2001 to 29 and counting. Costa Rica, the latest to adopt marriage equality, became the first Central American country to do so this past May.

In the United States, marriage equality has generated significant economic benefit. The Williams Institute estimates that wedding-related spending since marriage equality has generated over 3 billion dollars of economic activity, over 500 million dollars in wedding guest-related economic activity, over 200 million dollars in generated sales tax revenues and the security of 45 thousand jobs.  

The report also notes the barriers that remain for LGBTQ people throughout the United States and the path ahead toward full equality. Despite legal progress at the city, state and federal level, discrimination presists for LGBTQ people throughout daily life. In many states, LGBTQ people can be refused services and denied access to government social safety net programs. Last year, at least 27 transgender and gender non-conforming people were killed, nearly all Black transgender women.

The ongoing discrimination and gaps in non-discrimination protections underscore the urgent need for passage of the Equality Act, legislation that would explicitly protect LGBTQ people throughout daily life while modernizing existing federal civil rights laws to enhance protections for all.

MOBY RICH DROPS MUSIC VIDEO FOR “friends*” FEATURING BISHOP BRIGGS

Alt-pop duo Moby Rich releases the music video for their latest single “friends*” feat. Bishop Briggs today—watch it HERE!

The video depicts a modern same-sex take on a classic tale of unrequited love among friends. The protagonist wakes up from a long night only to dream of his best friend falling in love with him. As the story unfolds, the colorful clip captures feelings of longing set to the song’s bass-heavy production, distorted guitars and powerful push-and-pull between Moby Rich and Bishop Briggs.

Of the video, Moby Rich says, “We wanted to show the journey that we all have been on when we start developing feelings for a friend. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. From not knowing how to convey how you feel to second guessing every little thing you say over text. We’ve all been there and know the gut-wrenching anxiety that comes with it. So, we wanted to show that experience and how we all navigate it within our minds and the fantasies that arise when thinking about being more than friends with a friend*.”

Bishop Briggs adds, “It felt important to have a visual for the chaotic back and forth that comes with liking someone as more than a friend. I loved the idea of including the anxiety around texting, as well as the far-fetched fantasies that can arise during this frustrating period. But we felt it was important to include that secretly hopeful feeling of ‘anything can happen’ in not only the song but also the music video.”

"Pose-A-Thon" Special Event to Air Friday on FX and Freeform

Live, Work, Pose-A-Thon! As a part of Pride month, Disney Television Studios and FX today announced the launch of “Pose-A-Thon,” a commercial free one-hour virtual event, showcasing the cast and producers of “Pose” to raise awareness for three notable organizations that work to support LGBTQ+ education, social change for sexual and gender minority people of color, and transgender equality through legal services and policy efforts. The special emceed by Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-award winning actor and activist Billy Porter along with co-star Mj Rodriguez will air Friday, June 26 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on FX and Freeform. Viewers can also tune-in same day starting at 7:00 p.m. PT at www.poseathon.com.

“I'm so proud of our cast and producers for coming together to present an uplifting hour of song and stories,” said co-creator, executive producer, writer, and director Steven Canals. “In the spirit of ‘Pose,’ our goal is to celebrate joy, love and, of course, pride, from our family to yours.”

Executive producer, writer, and director Janet Mock added, “Since we’ve been unable to shoot the show we love, we jumped at the chance to reunite our ‘Pose’ family and partner with the studio and network to raise spirits and awareness about the plight of LGBTQ+ people of color during such a turbulent time. This Pride month special is a commemoration of our forebears’ efforts, a memorial for trans lives lost, and a celebration of the life-saving work of LGBTQ+ organizations.”

“Pose-A-Thon” unites the voices behind the critically-acclaimed drama series “Pose,” featuring music and anecdotes from Porter, Rodriguez, Angel Bismark Curiel, Sandra Bernhard, Dyllón Burnside, Steven Canals, Dominique Jackson, Jeremy McClain, Janet Mock, Indya Moore, Our Lady J, Jason Rodriguez, Angelica Ross, Hailie Sahar, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Charlayne Woodard, and Patti LuPone. “Pose” supervising producer Tanase Popa serves as producer of the special.

The special event will encourage viewers to support three of the many charitable LGBTQ+ organizations: GLSEN, Hetrick-Martin Institute, and Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.

FAB THE DUO debut "Our Love Is Resistance"

Fab The Duo, a biracial glam pop-rock duo and real-life couple, have released their brand new EP, Our Love Is Resistance. Buy/stream the EP HERE. The band has also released the new music video for the title track “Our Love Is Resistance.” The video follows the duo as they march down the streets of Manhattan towards The Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the gay rights movement.

Of the title track and music video, Fab The Duo says: “We recorded this song and music video at the beginning of 2020 in a world that feels very different from the one we live in now. Yet this track and its message seem more relevant than ever. We must fight against the hate and injustices of the world at all costs and know that love will prevail.”

Of the Our Love Is Resistance EP, Fab The Duo says: “We are proud to be making history as the first gay couple to make waves in the music industry. This EP is a culmination of love from each other and what we have received. Love is and always will be the ultimate form of resistance, and we hope that by listening to this EP, people will learn to love a little bit more and feel inspired to be their true selves.”

Fab The Duo, who met each other on Tinder, are aiming to change the cultural narrative about love in the LGBTQ space. The duo previously released music videos for the EP tracks “I Want A Man” and “No Prince Charming (feat. MariahLynn).”

Pride Live to Host Third Annual Stonewall Day Presented by WarnerMedia, Nasdaq, and Pride Media

Pride Live, a social advocacy and community engagement organization for the LGBTQ+ community, today announced its third annual Stonewall Day, a global campaign to elevate awareness and support for the Stonewall legacy and the continuing fight for full LGBTQ+ equality.

On Friday, June 26th, in partnership with WarnerMedia, Nasdaq, and Pride Media, Stonewall Day will present a virtual fundraising event to raise critical funds for four LGBTQ+ organizations severely affected by COVID-19 and the recent events highlighting the need for fair and equal treatment under the law for all: Trans LifeLife, Brave Space Alliance, TransLatin@Coalition, and The Ally Coalition.

The livestream event will run from 12:45PM EST – 3:00PM EST on Logo’s YouTube and Facebook pages. Stonewall Day will include a special message to the LGBTQ+ community from President Barack Obama. Other guests and performers include Taylor Swift, Ellen DeGeneres, Cynthia Erivo, Kesha, Hayley Kiyoko, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Christian Siriano, George Takei, Donatella Versace, Lilly Wachowski, Sir Richard Branson, Jonny Beauchamp, Valentina Sampaio, Dustin Lance Black, Blossom C. Brown, Chelsea Clinton, Luke Evans, Valerie Jarrett, Stella Maxwell, Imara Jones, Bethany C. Meyers, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Justin Tranter, Josephine Skriver, Kellen Stancil, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Nico Tortorella, Alok Vaid-Menon, Chely Wright, Conchita WURST, as well as Stonewall Day National Chair, trans model and advocate Geena Rocero, and Pride Live Board President Dr. Yvette C. Burton.

Stonewall Day, launched by Pride Live in 2018, is a national day of awareness to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. This year’s event will speak out in support of #BlackLivesMatter and address LGBTQ+ issues including the dangerous rise of violence facing transgender women, especially Black trans women.

“COVID-19, and the recent events that have placed a national and global spotlight on the need for fair and equal treatment for all people, has impacted so many around the world and the LGBTQ+ community has not been immune. This has resulted in vital and life-saving LGBTQ+ organizations having to severely amend their budgets and programs. Our hopes are Stonewall Day can assist our beneficiaries in continuing their work and service to the community,” said Dr. Yvette C. Burton, President of the Pride Live board of directors.

“From Marsha P. Johnson’s revolution at Stonewall, to the recent murders of Dominique Fells and Riah Milton, the protection of trans people of color continues to be the litmus test of freedom and equal opportunities. Policies such as the Trump administration’s reversed protections for transgender people in the U.S. health care system, adds the disproportionate effect of fatal violence, impacted by the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia across communities and families,” added Dr. Burton.

Central to this year’s event is a Text2Give campaign, with proceeds benefitting the resources, programming, and services offered by the four Stonewall Day beneficiaries. Simply text REBEL to 243725 to donate to the Pride Live Stonewall Day fund. When prompted, reply YES to confirm the donation.

Organizations that will receive funds from Stonewall Day 2020 include:

Ally Coalition: The Ally Coalition provides critical support for grassroots non-profit organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of LGBTQ+ Youth.

Brave Space Alliance: Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, + services for LGBTQ individuals on the South + West sides of the city.

TransLatina Coalition: Since its inception The TransLatina Coalition has done advocacy work across the US to ensure the voices of Trans Latins are heard. The TransLatina Coalition’s sole purpose is to address the unique and specific challenges and needs of Trans Latinas who live in the United States.

Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. Due to #COVID19, their peer-support Hotline and Microgrants are particularly needed as trans people disproportionately face isolation and economic insecurity.

Most Gender Dysphoria Established by Age 7, Study Finds

Research by urologist Maurice Garcia, MD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Transgender Surgery and Health Program, shows that the majority of transgender patients experience gender dysphoria in early childhood. Photo by Cedars-Sinai.

Gender dysphoria manifests early in childhood and can persist for years before patients undergo counseling and treatment, a Cedars-Sinai study has found. The findings also reveal that untreated gender dysphoria can result in poor quality of life for transgender people, beginning in childhood and lasting throughout adolescence and adulthood.

Gender dysphoria refers to the strong discomfort or distress often caused by a discrepancy between a person's gender identity and their biological sex assigned at birth, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition. Gender dysphoria worsens as those experiencing it grapple with expected social gender roles and sex characteristics that do not align with, or reflect, their internal sense of gender identity.

Federal and state population studies from 2016 estimate that 1.4 million to 1.65 million U.S. adults – or 0.6%-0.7% of the U.S. population – identify as transgender, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.

The Cedars-Sinai study, published recently in JAMA Network Open, a journal of the American Medical Association, was led by urologist Maurice Garcia, MD, director of the Cedars-Sinai Transgender Surgery and Health Program. The study included 155 transgender women – those who identify as women but whose sex assigned at birth was male – and 55 transgender men – those who identify as men but whose sex assigned at birth was female. All of the participants were adult patients seeking gender-affirming surgery.

The study findings revealed that 73% of the transgender women and 78% of the transgender men first experienced gender dysphoria by age 7.

"While policies regarding transgender people's rights are evolving, what is still clear and unchanged is the unequivocal need for accessible health care for transgender and gender nonconforming people of all ages," Garcia said.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits workplace discrimination against gay and transgender workers, which could help transgender patients who rely on employer-sponsored health insurance.

That decision followed a rule finalized by the Trump Administration last week that overturns protections for transgender people against sex discrimination in health care. Those protections, established in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, generally allowed people to choose how they identify rather than be determined by the sex assigned at birth.

The study authors also sought to compare the age of earliest general – non-gender-related – memories with the age of participants’ first gender dysphoria experiences. The study results showed that the mean age of the transgender women’s earliest general memory and first experience of gender dysphoria were 4.5 and 6.7 years, respectively. For transgender men they were 4.7 and 6.2 years, respectively.

Transgender women lived an average 27.1 years and transgender men 22.9 years before they began social transition and/or hormonal therapy treatments. In other words, their life experiences, beginning with their earliest memories, included the distress and negative health effects brought on by a lack of early counseling and support services that would have eased their gender transition period, Garcia said.

"All of the study participants came to my clinic asking for surgery and every one of them said they experienced gender dysphoria around the same early age," Garcia said. "What they experienced earlier in life was not a ‘passing phase,’ which is often suggested about transgender people seeking surgery. They knew exactly when their gender dysphoria started. It’s like asking about your mom’s birthdate – you just know it."

Garcia said he undertook the study because he was struck by the universality of early age onset of gender dysphoria his patients report, and the high rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and feelings of hopelessness his patients say they experienced.

He said that he hopes that the results from the Cedars-Sinai study will draw attention to the plight of the transgender population and open the doors to greater societal acceptance of and earlier intervention for them. He said that the majority of transgender people who receive transition-related counseling and care "thrive."

Garcia also noted the urgent need for support for families whose children are undergoing the transgender transition process.

"Family is the second patient in the room," Garcia said. "Like their kids, parents often feel that they’re the only ones going through this experience. It’s our job to provide guidance and reassurance for them, too. Children and families should be aware of how care providers and parents can help, and the many options available for children early on and when they enter adulthood. They can receive the help they need to successfully navigate the future more confidently and smoothly."

PrEP Action Kit Gives Health Centers New Tool for Combatting HIV Infections

Fenway Health, a nationally known LGBTQIA+ focused community health center, has long made it their mission to serve the underserved. With roots in the AIDS crisis of the early 1980s that largely impacted gay men and trans women, Fenway Health remains a leader in HIV education and resources. The advent of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been a game-changer in the fight to prevent new HIV cases, 70% of which occur among men who have sex with men (MSM). Recently, Fenway Health’s National LGBT Health Education Center published the PrEP Action Kit, which provides a roadmap for health care organizations to implement and/or advance an existing PrEP prescription program.

“Advancements in PrEP have been life-changing for the sexual and gender minority communities, especially within communities of color who are disproportionally impacted by HIV,” said Dr. Alex Keuroghlian, Director of Education and Training Programs at The Fenway Institute. “One in two Black MSM and one in four Latinx MSM will contract HIV in their lifetime. Black transgender women have an especially high risk. The PrEP Action Kit will add real value to health care centers serving Black and Latinx communities at increased risk for HIV.”

Currently, two medications are available for PrEP: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/em¬tricitabine (TDF/FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (TAF/FTC), and both have shown to be well-tolerated by patients. Studies show that daily PrEP use can lower the risk of HIV transmission by more than 90% with strict adherence to the PrEP regimen. The CDC estimates that over one million people could benefit from taking PrEP. While CDC specifies three groups who may benefit from PrEP use—MSM, heterosexually active people who engage in condomless sex, and people who inject drugs—usage has also been found to be effective among transgender women, cisgender women, and adolescents who are at risk for HIV.

The PrEP Action Kit lays out the case for PrEP use to prevent new HIV infections and provides other health care organizations with a ready-made plan to navigate the complexities of PrEP for HIV prevention. The comprehensive Kit includes information on establishing and managing an organization’s PrEP prescription program, provides the steps needed for implementation of the program, discusses patient engagement, and provides answers to common clinical questions.

The creation of the PrEP Action Kit is just one of the many ways Fenway Health and the National LGBT Health Education Center work to transform the health care landscape and educate health care providers. For nearly 50 years, Fenway Health has been a driving force in elevating the issues that directly impact the LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized communities. The PrEP Action Kit will help health care centers around the country learn more about the benefits of PrEP use and contribute to the fight to end new HIV infections.

Discover Scenic Byways and Small Towns During a Colorado Summer Road Trip

COVID-19 has unquestionably impacted American lives and summer travel plans in many unexpected ways. In Colorado, while how we travel might look a little different this year, communities across the state are on a steady and thoughtful path to welcoming travelers back -- continuing to provide a world-class vacation experience while allowing for social distancing, adhering to strict health guidelines and Caring for Coloradans.

This summer, there’s no better way for Coloradans to explore their state than behind the wheel of a car. From Colorado’s diverse landscape of arid deserts and river canyons to pristine plains and snow-capped mountains, Coloradans can experience some of the best kept secret small towns of the state and the most scenic roads connecting them. Many of Colorado’s storied mountain passes including Independence Pass, Cottonwood Pass and Trail Ridge Road, have recently opened for the season offering breathtaking routes to the state’s mountain towns.

SCENIC & HISTORIC BYWAYS
New for Summer 2020, the Colorado Tourism Office has launched an interactive micro-site highlighting the state’s 26 Scenic & Historic Byways. The site includes an interactive map, which clicks through to each byway and allows travelers to sort by region, interest or season. Guests can take a deep dive into each byway to discover trip tips, side-trip suggestions and more. A few highlights include:

Southern Colorado’s Highway of Legends Historic and Scenic Byway: Travel beneath the iconic Spanish Peaks on the Highway of Legends Scenic Byway. The lore of this area is vivid, swirling in spiritual myths of the American Indians and the history of their clashes with Spanish explorers.

Silver Thread Scenic Byway: This Byway travels through breathtaking, only-in-Colorado views and stretches of land so remote travelers will feel as though they’re trekking through uncharted territory while discovering hidden treasures in two historic districts, Creede and Lake City.

Trail of the Ancients Byway: Colorado's Trail of The Ancients takes visitors to two remote national monuments and Mesa Verde National Park. This National Scenic Byway near Cortez and Dolores takes road trippers through the heart of the landscape and unique history of the American Southwest.

The Alpine Loop: This Byway travels through a surreal landscape of treeless tundra, wildflower meadows and the dramatic San Juan Mountains — passing over mining roads established in the late 1800s near Silverton, Ouray and Lake City.

Gold Belt Scenic Byway: Colorado’s Gold Belt Tour showcases some of the most productive gold mining areas in the world. Along the belt lies Cripple Creek and Victor, where travelers can participate in tours of old mines, as well as view active operations. Preserved in the wild landscape within the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument are fossils from an ancient ecosystem dating back 34 million years ago.

The Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway: Snow-capped mountains, jagged canyons, carpeted meadows, and aspen-covered hillsides make the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway one of the most stunning drives in Colorado. Travelers can also pass through Florence and Westcliffe along The Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway Arts and Antiques Tour and get lost in the treasures of Colorado.

COLO-ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES
For more ideas on how to explore the Centennial State via car, the Colorado Tourism Office has assembled an extensive collection of more than 150 Colo-Road Trip Itineraries that take travelers on multi-day adventures across the state. Each itinerary is flexible and highlights historic attractions, adventure activities and cultural offerings, as well as places to eat and stay along the way.

Colo-Road Tripping Without a Car: Low emissions. High equity. Zero worry. Travelers to Colorado can ditch the wheels but not the adventure and utilize public transportation while exploring the state. This itinerary encourages visitors to travel Colorado’s cityscapes and mountains, while supporting local communities and minimizing their carbon footprint.

Discover the Great West: Visitors can walk in the steps of dinosaurs, indulge in a hot springs soak, hike to a waterfall, explore adorable towns and more on this six-day trip through Colorado's Great West region.

Three Days of Fun Along The Top of The Rockies: Roadtrippers will travel along the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway through Leadville, Twin Lakes and Aspen, which are known for their high alpine peaks, acres upon acres of forest land, charming Victorian architecture and Wild West history.

Tour De NoCo: Explore the natural beauty of Northern Colorado on this 150-plus mile journey that includes a genetically-pure buffalo herd, an authentic drive-in movie theater, a Colorado Scenic Byway, a Wild & Scenic River, a yurt stay, a National Wildlife Refuge and so much more.

3 Days on the Pioneering Plains: Travelers can unwind and enjoy a laid-back vacation through the history of the Colorado plains including a visit to Jackson Lake State Park, the “Oasis of the Plains.” For the history-buffs, Burlington offers a step back through time into the wild west.

HIT THE TRAIL
Coloradans can also explore along any of the state’s impressive trails that connect communities across the state by highlighting favorite activities and pastimes.

Colorado Stargazing: Colorado Stargazing: Experience the Night connects several remote Colorado locations known for their dark skies and incredible stargazing opportunities. It also highlights dark-sky events and encourages the conservation and preservation of all of Colorado’s natural and cultural resources.

Historic Hot Springs Loop: Thermal hot springs flow abundantly throughout the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Soaking in natural mineral water is a time-honored tradition to enhance wellness. There’s never been a better time to explore along the Historic Hot Springs Loop which offers stops in communities including Steamboat Springs, Buena Vista, Salida, Pagosa Springs, Ridgway, Ouray and Glenwood Springs.

Colorado Spirits Trail: Colorado boasts one of the largest and most vibrant distilling communities in the country. To inspire the discovery of spirits pioneered by some of the most creative makers in the industry, 61 Colorado craft distilleries have joined together to create the Colorado Spirits Trail that takes travelers across the state to taste some of the best libations.

Colorado Creative Corridor: Featuring five state-certified Creative Districts nestled in the mountains of western Colorado: Carbondale, Paonia, Crested Butte, Ridgway and Salida, the Colorado Creative Corridor offers a collective experience of unique event programming and activities alongside mountain-town eclecticism, majestic vistas, outdoor recreation and authentic mountain culture.

Colorado Wine Trails: There are wineries all over Colorado, but a prime spot to enjoy their tasting rooms is the heart of Colorado’s wine country: the Western Slope. Nestled throughout the desert mountains of northwest Colorado near Grand Junction and Palisade, there are a handful of wine trails to help guide an unforgettable adventure in tasting.

Complete Your Road Trip with the Proper Playlist: The perfect Colo-Road Trip requires the perfect playlist with classic tunes that capture Colorado’s soul. Travelers are encouraged to download this playlist for inspiration as they journey along the state’s storied roads.