Smart Health LA

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20, 2020 PH20-306 CONTACT: [email protected]... California Sees an Increase in Rare, Severe Complications from Untreated Gonorrhea SACRAMENTO In recent months, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has received reports of a severe form of gonorrhea called disseminated gonococcal infections (DGI), which is an uncommon, but significant complication of untreated gonorrhea. As an infectious disease and public health physician, I am very concerned that we are seeing completely preventable complications of sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections that went undiagnosed and untreated, likely due to people not seeking care or getting routine testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr. Erica Pan, Acting State Public Health Officer. STD risk has not gone away. There are a few groups we especially want to remind to seek STD screening. If you are a sexually active female 25 years of age or younger, if you are pregnant, if you are a man who has sex with men, or if you are living with HIV, please contact your healthcare provider to get recommended testing for STDs. Disseminated Gonorrhea Infections occur when the sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae spreads beyond the site of infection and invades the bloodstream traveling to distant sites in the body. This can lead to joint pain and swelling from infected joints; small, painless red based skin lesions that have clear fluid or pus in them; infection in the blood; or, on rare occasions, infections of the heart valves or fluid around the brain. Most of the cases in California have presented with joint pain and infected joints. Anyone showing symptoms should immediately reach out to their health care provider. CDPH is working with local health departments and health care providers to understand these infections, and to ensure people with STDs are tested and treated. This includes encouraging emergency department clinicians to routinely test their patients for HIV, STDs, and Hepatitis C, and encouraging people who are at risk to make use of newly available at-home STD and HIV testing technologies. For more information on STDs in California, visit www.std.ca.gov. www.cdph.ca.gov

Valley Community Healthcare with Los Angeles LGBT Center Commemorates Transgender Day of Remembrance In honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance, in memory of those we have lost to violence against the transgender community, Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following statement:... Today, as we mourn the lives and say the names of 36 trans and gender-nonconforming people known to have been murdered in the United States this year, the Los Angeles LGBT Center joins transgender and LGBTQ organizations across the country in denouncing the continued, pervasive and violent attacks against the transgender community, especially against Black and Latina trans women. According to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations’ 2019 Hate Crime Report, reported hate crimes against transgender people skyrocketed by 64 percent from 2018 to 2019. The last four years has seen an onslaught of anti-transgender political actions and rhetoric by the Trump Administration. We are heartened that the new Administration has made a commitment to support the transgender community, and we will supportand monitorthese efforts. Every day is an opportunity to remember the trans community members whose lives were stolen by violence, as well as to fight alongside trans leaders in the fight for trans equality. We celebrate important strides made by trans leaders to advance the rights and recognition of the trans and gender-nonconforming community, including the historic win by Sarah McBride, the first transgender state senator in history, and at least, eight transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming state electoral victories in the November 2020 election. Today, let us recommit ourselves to ending violence against the transgender community and lift up the initiatives and programs that serve trans people. Let us celebrate the diversity and resilience of the transgender communityespecially the Black and Latina trans women who fight every day for their dignity and equality. Our mission is to ensure that all LGBT peopleespecially those most at risk in our trans communitycan thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Until that day is here, our work is far from over. On Friday, November 20, at 8 p.m. PT, the Unique Women’s Coalition will stream TDOR: A Celebration of Love, Life and Resilience. The program, which will be hosted online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will include the reading of the names and a performance by Preti Educat’d. The event will stream on Facebook Live at facebook.com/TheUWC.

Each year, on December 1st, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988. The red ribbon is the universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV. Wearing a ribbon is a great way to raise awareness on and during the run up to World AIDS Day.... Valley Community Healthcare has been on the forefront of this epidemic since 1987, as the first community based organization to offer anonymous HIV testing in the San Fernando Valley. Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme. In 2020, the world’s attention has been focused by the COVID-19 pandemic on health and how pandemics affect lives and livelihoods. COVID-19 is showing once again how health is interlinked with other critical issues, such as reducing inequality, human rights, gender equality, social protection and economic growth. With this in mind, this year the theme of World AIDS Day is Global solidarity, shared responsibility. The theme for the 2020 observance is Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact (Erradicar la epidemia del VIH/SIDA: Resiliencia e Impacto). Smart Health LA at Valley Community Healthcare celebrates this day each year with an AIDS awareness display. A decorated space set up in the North Hollywood clinic lobby, displaying World AIDS Day awareness, as well as providing continued prevention materials and social media messages. Valley Community Healthcare staff has continued fighting this epidemic for over 3 decades by participating in AIDS Walks; running the San Fernando Valley HIV/AIDS Consortium for a decade; and remaining involved with the statewide End The Epidemics work groups. We are helping to change to future of HIV and AIDS in America.

Hey Fam! It’s Election Day! Let’s get ready to celebrate this great democracy we live in and remember no matter what the results are - together we will carry on the legacy of the freedom fighters who’ve come before us, and continue to fight for justice for our communities! A few things to remember:... VOTE! Make sure your voice is heard. If you haven’t voted yet, go to an early polling location. Remember CA allows you to register all the way up until election day. Find your polling place, check out our EtE 2020 Voter Guide and get more information about the election through the End the Epidemics Voter Action Center. Also remind your friends to vote by downloading our I Voted for Health Justice sticker and add it to your social media profiles. JOIN COMMUNITY Be in community with folks to process the results and stay grounded while we wait for results. If you’re planning on watching initial election results - RSVP for our Electionpalooza Watch Party as fab drag queen Juicy Lui, hilarious queer comedians Luna Malbroux and Baruch-Porras Hernandez, and myself help you navigate key issues and and contextualize election results. ELECTIONPALOOZA WATCH PARTY! (Virtual Event) Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 8pm 10pm PST RSVP THROUGH EVENTBRITE! SHARE ON FACEBOOK BE PATIENT & TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF We likely won’t know final results for the election for a while. This is perfectly fine - it means democracy is working and all votes are being counted. Be patient as we wait for results and practice some good self-care while you wait. BE PREPARED TO MOBILIZE IF NECESSARY All votes must be counted. We must be prepared to respond and mobilize the incredible amount of collective power we have if democracy is in danger. Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry we got you! Here are some good resources below of groups organizing to defend democracy through mass mobilizations and targeted strategic actions. These groups have studied effective mass mobilizations in other nations and how to use the power of strategic nonviolent resistance to successfully stop attempted coups and defend democracy. ORGANIZATIONS & COALITIONS o Choose Democracy o Protect the Results HOW TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST A COUP o Hold the Line Guide o Trainings to Defend Democracy EVENTS & MOBILIZATIONS o Find an event in your area HOW TO PROTEST SAFELY o How to more safely protest during a pandemic o How to Protest Safely: What to Bring, What to Do, and What to Avoid

Something you should know. https://www.nytimes.com//10/28/hea/covid-std-testing.html