Following a month of activities and events promoting the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary, queer, and intersex (LGBTQ+) New Yorkers.
The Health Department is proud to announce it will participate in the 53rd NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Manhattan.
Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan and Health Department staff will join the march and Health Department staff will be on hand at the march and at NYC PrideFest, to distribute free safer sex products and health promotional materials.
“Every year we look forward to showing our pride,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The Health Department is proud to be a part of this weekend’s events and to join with the community to promote health, happiness, love, and liberation.”
On June 17, 2022, Mayor Adams announced nearly $6.7 million in funding to support new and expanded services and programming for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.
The Health Department will lead several of these initiatives, including faith-based healing services for LGBTQ+ people who have experienced religious hate; educational workshops, parent support groups, and social marketing campaigns to promote family acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth; evaluation of the City’s LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights and updates to the Health Department’s transgender health guides; and expansion of HIV and sexual health services to advance the NYC 2020 Ending the HIV Epidemic Plan.
“Pride is a joyous time to celebrate our LGBTQ+ communities and the strides we have made together to advance LGBTQ+ health,” said Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Disease Control Dr. Celia Quinn. “I am excited about our new and expanded LGBTQ+ programs and look forward to continuing our work to promote health and health equity for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.”
As part of its commitment to serving LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, the Health Department continues to expand its LGBTQ+ services and programming.
After two successful cycles in 2019 and 2021, the Health Department is launching the third cycle of its Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, and Non-Binary (TGNCNB) Community Advisory Board (TCAB).
The TCAB is comprised of TGNCNB people who advise the Health Department on its work related to TGNCNB health, clinical services, training curricula, educational materials, health marketing campaigns, research, and best practices for collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data.
The Health Department also updated its webpage on LGBTQ+ health and launched two new web pages on intersex health and women who have sex with women (WSW).
Earlier this year, the Health Department awarded funding to Destination Tomorrow and Mount Sinai to implement Psychosocial Support Services for Transgender, Intersex, Gender Non-Conforming, and Non-Binary (TIGNCNB) People with HIV, a new program through which organizations offer trauma-informed, culturally appropriate services, including individualized supportive counseling, linkage to HIV care and treatment services, and referrals to medical and supportive services, including gender-affirming care.
The Health Department also recently expanded its harm reduction services for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people who have sex with men, and who use crystal methamphetamine.
Apicha Community Health Center and Callen-Lorde Community Health Center programs will join Re-Charge, an HIV status neutral, sex-positive, and non-judgmental harm reduction program led by Housing Works in providing supportive services addressing substance use and sexual health, mental health, and overall health needs.
“As states across the country are taking steps to attack transgender people and curtail our already limited access to health care, it is so important to see institutions like the Health Department take a proactive stance in support of all LGBTQ+ people, especially the transgender community,” said Cecilia Gentili, Principal Consultant and Founder at Transgender Equity Consulting. “Participating in the NYC Pride March is a beautiful way to show support and inclusion, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their ongoing commitment to making health care more equitable and accessible for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.”
“We are delighted with the progress New York City has made under the leadership of the Health Department toward ending HIV as an epidemic in New York City,” said Charles King, CEO at Housing Works. “We have much work to do decreasing new infections among LGBTQ+ people of color, including a dramatic expansion of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), so we welcome Health Department leadership in this area.”
“The Health Department has always been a leader in serving LGBTQ+ communities and we are excited that they will be expanding their work to ensure all of New York’s LGBTQ+ people and families get the services and support they need and deserve,” said David Kilmnick, President and CEO at the LGBT Network. “As an LGBTQ- led organization, we could not be more grateful to partner with the Health Department in improving the lives of every LGBTQ+ New Yorker.”
“It takes strong collaboration and commitment to expand our community’s access to affirming services and spaces where they can care for their mental and physical health,” said Glennda Testone, Executive Director at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center. “We are excited to celebrate Pride alongside the Health Department, and to work in tandem year-round on supporting the well-being of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.”
“Harlem United is proud to be in partnership with the Health Department in our shared vision of a city that embraces Pride and advances LGBTQ+ health and wellness,” said Jacquelyn Kilmer, CEO of Harlem United. “We applaud the courageous leadership at the Health Department and their collaboration with community-based organizations to expand LGBTQ+ services. Together we will continue to work towards a New York City that is free of stigma, celebrates joy, and furthers our collective goals in the fight for equity!”
“We commend the Health Department for showing up for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers during Pride and beyond,” said Michael Adams, CEO at SAGE. “The health and wellbeing of our community, especially the elders who led the way at Stonewall, is crucial. We are grateful for the Health Department’s partnership as we work to ensure that older LGBTQ+ New Yorkers can age with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The Health Department continues to offer all New Yorkers, including LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, services, and resources to enable access to culturally affirming health care.
The Health Department’s Sexual Health Clinics and telemedicine hotline offer low- to no-cost services for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, for anyone ages 12 or older, regardless of immigration status (parental consent is not required).
The Sexual Health Clinic Hotline is available at 347-396-7959, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more information on the Sexual Health Clinics and Hotline, including services, locations, and hours of operation, visit nyc.gov/health/clinics.
The Health Department also maintains a list of over 120 LGBTQ+ health service providers across New York City on the NYC Health Map and continues to promote its LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights, which details the health care protections available to LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, now available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
For more information, visit nyc.gov/health/lgbtq.
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