Visibility Matters
By Sarah Bahnson , LGBTQI+ Initiatives Specialist HIV Revisited
On-going events: Advance registration required to attend: soazseniorpride.org GBTQI+ Mens Loss Group ; weekly on Tuesday; 1:30–3pm; in-person LBTQI+ Women’s Grief Support ; weekly on Monday; Noon-1:30pm; in-person Gayme Day; second Tuessday; 1–3pm; in-person Advances in medicine and nationalized access to HIV care for all (like Ryan White grant funding programs), mean most people diagnosed with HIV can live long and healthy lives. Like a diabetes diagnosis, HIV must be managed; medication and overall health decisions around things like diet and exercise impact the severity and progression of the disease. But medication is no longer blood, semen, vaginal fluid, rectal fluids, or breast milk. HIV generally cannot be transmitted through healthy, unbroken skin, and casual contact with a person living with HIV does not risk transmission. Myths that HIV only impacts gay men and illicit drug users are also false. Like any virus, HIV does not care about sexual orientation or substance abuse. Anyone can contract HIV. Higher risk activities are: 1) Vaginal or anal sex with someone who has HIV without the proper use of a condom 2) Sharing injection equipment like needles or syringes, as well as other drug injection equipment (works) To learn more about transmission visit hiv.gov . HIV Today and U=U
Aging with Pride
So. AZ Senior Pride celebrating, supporting and uniting LGBTQI+ older adults (520) 312-8923; info@soazseniorpride.org There are many events each month, so check out our website: soazseniorpride.org Masks now optional for all in-person, indoor events like viruses. When untreated, HIV can progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a late stage of HIV and indicates a collection of one or more opportunistic infections. If a person has an AIDS diagnosis, they have HIV. But a person with HIV, may not necessarily progress to having an AIDS diagnosis. Transmission Early misconceptions about HIV involve how it is transmitted and who can contract it. Stories about contracting HIV from mosquitos or toilet seats are myths. HIV is only transmitted through direct human-to- human contact through the exchange of More than 40 years since HIV/AIDS entered the national consciousness, what we know about transmission, medication, and disease management has evolved. Some early myths are no longer circulated, but some have persevered-- and new myths about HIV make this topic worth revisiting. The Basics Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens human immune systems by attacking the body’s T-cells which identify things in the body that shouldn’t be there,
Book Club ; third Wednesday; 2–3:30pm; via Zoom Gathering in Himmel Park ; third Saturday; time varies; in-person Walk and Roll ; Enjoy an outdoor activity with friendly people; third Monday; time varies; in-person Community Potluck ; last Saturday; Noon-1:30pm; in-person a “toxic cocktail” with brutal side effects. Antiretroviral therapies (ART) can manage HIV with one to two pills per day, or sometimes monthly injections. Side effects are mostly manageable and dissipate in a short matter of time. U=U stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable. When HIV is well managed, an “undetectable” status is possible. That means that the viral load in the body is so low that it is not detectable on tests looking for the virus. It also means the virus’s impact on the body is minimal, and transmitting the virus to another person is not possible through sexual contact. While there is still no “cure” for HIV, advances in care mean that folks living with HIV are more likely to need access to aging care services. PCOA welcomes aging populations regardless of HIV status. To learn more about aging care, contact PCOA’s Helpline at (520) 790-7262. To learn more about HIV or to schedule a test, contact Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation at (520) 628-7223.
Page 28 | August 2023, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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