Not knowing }«)11r IIIIV status does not mean you are negative. Oral l‘IIVtesting GetTeSt€d~ Rutlrmd .7 7 South Main Street l‘l"e(Ir1e..s'cIzz_)r 10 am -1 pm ' 5-588-1 ° 3 I1.-'lI'ngr0n 361 Pearl .S't1'er«'f .-I1mz(Ia_vs 4-7 pm 802-863-243 7 .lI01rt])r'liei' 73 rllain St. Suite -'l01_ Fri. April 1 and 15 2-5 8I)()-6-J9-243 7 St. .]oIursl>zu'y 1235 Hospital Dr. Suite 1 I-I-"edr1r'.s'd(1_i* 3-6 pm 802-7-I-5’-9061 VERMONT , Znmmiftpw fnr AID‘? Rpsnnrrzaa: Fdvmzronn Z Q5-ruirtw FREE, ANONYMOUS, NO NEEDLES, NO EXCUSES Nancy Ellen Judd, MA Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY i802§863 . 2084 2 CHURCH STREET. BURLINGTON VT 05401 TEENS I ADULTS l INDIVIDUALS l COUPLES AMELIA S UNDERGROUND FIXING SOCIETY is celebrating its 25th Anniversary Lesbians out and proud since 1980 If you were part of this community, or just want to commemorate the longest living lesbian group in VT/NH, come join us for a night to remember. Saturday, June 25 at the Outing Club at Dartmouth College ' Hanover, NH For more info check www.bamey.orgI25annivIhome,html or call New Victoria at 1-800-326-5297 Reservations required educig a sbi in HIV Prevention t age 13, I told my dad I was gay, to some tears and anxiety. At 18, I let him know my mohawk-wearin’ boyfriend would be my prom date, provoking nary a reaction. At age 20, I mentioned that for the long- ‘ term I might not be looking for a monogamous relationship, that maybe one partner wasn’t quite enough, to which my dad replied he had pretty well picked up on that already. Two years later, realizing I wasn’t really the butchest boy on the block,I shared that the way I wore my gender seemed a little arbitrary, and that I was exploring how to express myself honestly and comfortably. This line of dis- cussion — hardly a shocker, really - caught him off guard. I’m still fig- uring myself out, and he’s still talking circuitously around the day I came out as not-strictly-guy. To this day I grapple with why gender would be so domineering a con- cept as to cause anxiety in those we turn to for love and respect. How come our society’s broader conversations about gender seem to progress so slowly? As Vermont considers adding gender identity to its nondiscrimination law, I’ve been focusing on how Vermont pro- vides, or doesn’t provide, compre- hensive HIV prevention to trans- people. These opportunities and barriers, systemic or otherwise, to effecting real change might be summarized briefly as follows: V Many decision-makers lack the information, or even the language, needed to wholeheartedly incorpo- rate transpeople into larger health promotion programs. V Transphobia has been demon- strated to dramatically increase HIV risks, including transphobia from within and without the queer community. Transphobia, which for many serves to alienate, isolate, and stigmatize, may lead to an increase in other social pressures, including poverty, substance abuse, or unemployment. V Word of mouth about which medical providers and social serv- ice organizations provide trans- friendly service spreads slowly, and it’s challenging (though not impossible) to provide helpful resources when we’re not sure where there might be service gaps, or where providers might be unknowledgeable or even hostile. V Safer sex materials aren’t always designed with transpeople’s bodies in mind. Condom manufac- turers, for instance, don’t seem to design barriers for a variety of bodies having all sorts of fun sex: they’re pretty well focused on penises. V For transpeople anxious about partners’ perceptions of genitalia or bodies generally, urging safer sex can be challenging, especially if appropriate barriers aren’t readi- ly available. V Needle exchanges need to be sure they will readily accept syringes from people who may use them for hormones or silicone. V Lastly, rates of HIV infection among transpeople nationwide are higher than average. According to the Surgeon General, rates may be between 14 and 69-percent in cer- tain groups, though it’s worth not- ing that many of the studies referred to are surveys of sex workers who are at increased risk regardless of gender identity. In some cities, HIV infection rates may be as high as one in four among transpeople, 90 times high- er than the national infection rate of 0.3 percent. A world discouraging nuanced conversations about gen- der would compound HIV risks exponentially. But fortunately, in Vermont we’re having significant conversations about gender, and as a result HIV prevention can better provide comprehensive, compas- sionate, effective services. I’ve attended a handful of conferences and workshops dis- cussing positive health for trans- people, all of which have offered great solutions to the challenges listed above. From new solutions for barrier use and production to designing comprehensive research and needs assessments_ within trans communities, the messages are consistent. One recurring theme: communication is key. Our med- ical providers, legislators, bus driv- ers, social“ service organizations, and police officers will learn how to work with all of us given time, diligence, and thoughtful educa- tion. If you’re uncomfortable hav- ing those conversations, ask a friend or neighbor to advocate on your behalf. Or ask Outright Vermont or R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center or Vermont CARES or the Vermont Diversity Health Project or Equality Vennont.‘ Furthermore, for all the “bad news” published by the CDC and other health authorities, you should know there’s great news out there too. For instance, formal and informal studies show that sex drive increases as people begin taking hormones (estrogens and testosterone), sexual fluidity lends itself more easily to satisfying sex, and people more comfortable with their gender identity are more like- ly to have long-terrn relationships and better sex (see www.trans- health.com for more information). Whenever you begin ana- lyzing your gender, and whatever identity or expression feels most like you, please know that one of the many things we all deserve is access to appropriate healthcare and HIV prevention. Know also that there are people who are ready and able to support you, through- out Vermont. V V Peter Jacobsen is Vermont CARES’ Prevention Director and volunteers time for the Vermont Diversity Health Project. He can be reached at peter@vtcares.0rg.