Navigating Sexual Health: Effective Ways to Protect Your Partner
September is Sexual Health Awareness Month, a timely reminder of the importance of practicing safe sex and understanding how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Sexual health is a vital yet often uncomfortable topic, but addressing it openly can significantly impact your well-being. In this blog, we will explore key strategies for safe sex, including condom use, regular testing, and open communication with your partner. Embrace the Essentials of Safe Sex Sexual health is fundamental to overall well-being, yet discussions around it can be shrouded in discomfort and taboo. Educating yourself and practicing safe sex are crucial for reducing the …
Celebrating National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day was October 11. It was first celebrated in 1988 to mark the first anniversary of the National March for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Washington. Later, the observance commemorated people of the LGBTQ+ community who came out and decided to live freely. Even though it started in America, National Coming Out Day has become extremely important for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. Coming out is an experience unique to every individual. Unlike popular opinion, coming out is also not a one-time event. LGBTQ+ individuals often come out multiple times – in front of their family, friends, relatives, school, …
How much are you really drinking?
This blog aims to help you understand the different types of alcohol and how much you drink. If you look up alcohol consumption guidelines, they will tell you that a “drink” is 12 fluid ounces of beer, five fluid ounces of wine or 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof liquor like vodka or rum. But how do we know if every can of beer has the same amount? Is there more to learn? Why do we have alcohol guidelines? There are many reasons folks turn to alcoholic beverages; lately, those reasons appear insurmountable. “Consuming alcohol as part of a balanced lifestyle …
How to be an ally to the LGBTQ community
June is Pride Month, and it is the perfect time for the straight community to celebrate and reacquaint themselves with the LGBTQ community through education. According to a recent CNN article, here are eight suggestions to try. Get familiar with the spectrum. Sexual identity can be confusing, but a good place to start is to know the range of identities on the LGBTQ spectrum. Start with terms like gender fluid, transgender, pansexual, bisexual, asexual, cisgender, intersex, queer, genderqueer. Ask the question. Use the appropriate pronouns by asking your friends how they prefer to identify. This act shows sensitivity and, more importantly, respect. Make a small gesture …
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is just right around the corner, which means mental health awareness month is near. According to recent statistics, about 21 percent of adults in the US experienced some kind of mental illness. This means 1 out of 5 adults in the US are fighting various mental issues. However, less than 50 percent of these adults receive proper treatment. And if this isn’t enough to show why talking about mental health is so important, it is critical to note that deteriorating mental health comes with a ripple effect. For instance, people who undergo depression have a 40 percent higher risk of developing metabolic …
The Effects of HIV Stigma and Discrimination
Today approximately 1.2 Americans are living with HIV. Luckily due to advances in medicines and treatments, HIV does not have to be the death sentence it once was, nor does it have to progress to AIDS. However, of those 1.2 Americans living with HIV, 13% of them are infected with the virus and do not know it. There has been a decline in transmission over the last few decades, and based on this, we know that education and safe sex practices work to stop the spread. By 2022 we will be more than accustomed to living with viruses in our midst. As …
5 Dating Apps for HIV People
As an HIV-positive person, dating can be challenging as you want to find love, but maintain privacy about your status so you can live a happy and stress-free life with your prospective partner. You have to be as honest as possible about your medical condition and, as you know, talking about such a condition can be very challenging. Others may not fully understand what you’re going through, and you will need to disclose as much information as possible before engaging in any sexual activity. Thankfully, there are many dating apps available to alleviate the fears of HIV-positive people as they …
New Year, New Opportunities: Breakthroughs in HIV Research
HIV was first identified in the 1980s and has been a constant subject of research and debate. While there wasn’t much information available regarding this disease back then, we have a wealth of information readily available to us now, from when it began to how it causes illness in humans. Since its origination, over 700,000 people have lost their lives to this infection, and 1.7 million more have been infected by it. Global Impact of HIV The world took a significant hit when people became infected by HIV in 2019 alone. Approximately 38 million people worldwide live with HIV in their systems, …
Mental Health During the Holidays
The holiday season means parties, family gatherings, eating more food than usual, and spending time with people you love. People are expected to spend this special time with their families, but it can be challenging for those struggling with mental illness. The struggle with mental health, especially during the holidays, is genuine. That’s why we want to make it a bit easier this year. To help you enjoy your time with family and friends, we’ve put together these tips. Take care of yourself. The last two years were some of the toughest that we have faced. Not only has COVID …
LGBTQ Community + The Vaccine
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, but particularly those in the LGBTQ community. The recent data around the impact of the pandemic has highlighted the importance of inclusivity and equality when it comes to health, safety, and wellbeing. Nobody could have expected the pandemic to spread across the world in the way that it did in early 2020. Even now, there is still a level of unpredictability surrounding the world’s future as we know it. The LGBTQ Community and COVID-19 This unpredictability is proving difficult for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer people, who already faced huge difficulties …
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