Sunday, April 18, is 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐈𝐕/𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲! The University of San Francisco Transgender Center of Excellence and the Center for Disease Control first partnered in April 2016 to observe this day. According to the CDC, transgender people received an HIV diagnoses at three times the national average (2017). This observance is designed to recognize the importance of routine HIV testing, status awareness, and continued focus on HIV prevention and treatment efforts among transgender and gender non-binary people. 

🏳️‍⚧ For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/gender/transgender/ 

HIV Alliance and TransPonder partnered to share information and resources for this week! Keep your eyes on our social media! 

FREE Injection Supply Delivery

🤝 In September 2015, HIV Alliance and TransPonder worked together to create our first needle exchange. Our partnership provided FREE needles, syringes, safer injection supplies, and HIV testing monthly at the We/Us/Our Happy Hour. 

💉 Due to COVID, we are offering FREE injection supply delivery! To learn more and order now, click this link:

https://transponder.community/injection-supply-delivery-program/

Tuesday–STI/STD Awareness

Do you know what safer-sex practices apply to transgender bodies? Do you know what sexual activities put you at risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections or Diseases (STIs & STDs)?  Do you know how to have language-sensitive safer-sex talks with trans/gender diverse folks? 

Check out TransPonder’s easy-to-follow, TRANS-INCLUSIVE, safer-sex handout that is based on sexual behavior and not perceived gender at the link below: 

https://transponder.community/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Trans-STI-Risk-Awareness.pdf

Wednesday–STI Testing

Do you know your status? Have you been tested recently for STIs? Did you know that transgender individuals are at higher risk of contracting an STI due to misinformation, stigma, and marginalization? 

🇰‌🇳‌🇴‌🇼‌🇮‌🇳‌🇬‌ 🇾‌🇴‌🇺‌🇷‌ 🇸‌🇹‌🇦‌🇹‌🇺‌🇸‌ 🇮‌🇸‌ 🇦‌ 🇸‌🇦‌🇫‌🇪‌🇷‌ 🇸‌🇪‌🇽‌ 🇵‌🇷‌🇦‌🇨‌🇹‌🇮‌🇨‌🇪‌. Find out your status. Get tested. HIV Alliance is here to help you! Don’t let cost be a barrier. Get set up to be tested today:  https://hivalliance.org/prevent/testing/

Thursday–PrEP 

💊 Did you know that PrEP also works for transgender people taking gender-affirming hormones?* HIV Alliance has a 𝐏𝐫𝐄𝐏 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 and a 𝐏𝐫𝐄𝐏 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 to help you get PrEP’d! Their providers can help you decide if PrEP is right for you and our PrEP Navigators can help you access PrEP-if you have insurance or don’t!

💊 Learn more about their PrEP Clinic here: https://hivalliance.org/acw/sti-prep-clinic/ 

*Dr. Robert M. Grant, MD, MPH, a co-author of a study presented at the AIDS 2020 conference said, “PrEP using Truvada did not interfere with hormone therapy.” To read the article about the study, click here:

http://ow.ly/ICBs50EqEgE 

Friday–Telehealth 

Thinking about getting tested for HIV or STIs❓ The decision can be difficult! Have other things on your mind❓ Has the pandemic left you feeling isolated❓ Support is important! 

🧑‍💻 TransPonder and HIV Alliance have teamed up to provide free telehealth drop-in counseling for the trans and gender diverse community. 

📱 Drop-in hours are from Mon: Noon-2PM, Tues: 11AM-Noon, and Thurs: 9-11AM. 

📱 Learn more about the program, and sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/ACWdropin

📲 Don’t have a device for telehealth? Let us know! We can provide one for you to use! Text or call 541-321-0453! 

Saturday–Social Support

Taking care of yourself involves more than just getting tested or knowing your status. Whether you are awaiting test results or received a positive result, you don’t have to go through it alone. 🖤🤎❤️🧡💛💚💙💜TransPonder is here to help and offers community connection opportunities every week of the month as well weekend peer support call line.

➡️ Find out about their monthly events here:  https://transponder.community/meetingsevents/

➡️ Learn more about their weekend peer support line here:  https://transponder.community/telehealth-resources/