Starting Saturday, July 16, people in Oregon and nationwide who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis will be able to call, text or chat 988 to get compassionate care and support from trained crisis counselors. The new three-digit 988 number will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Recognizing the need for safe, welcoming, and knowledgeable healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community, Portland City Council and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners both voted last month to appropriate funds for a planned new location of Prism Health. The City of Portland will allocate $200,000 for the acquisition of the building, while Multnomah County will provide $90,000 for healthcare-provider staff costs.

July 14th is International Nonbinary People’s Day! We’re celebrating at CAP, Our House and Prism by sharing a bit about the history of this day and sharing resources for our nonbinary community members. International Nonbinary People’s Day was first observed in 2012—10 years ago this year.

Thank you to all who attended last month’s historic opening of the new exhibition, It’s Not Over: 40 Years of HIV/AIDS in Oregon. It was a powerful evening of storytelling, remembrance, and hope for our shared future. Although continuous advocacy from community activists as well as ongoing scientific study have led to tremendous advances in the fight against the disease, the epidemic is not over.

Insurance companies in Oregon have been illegally charging patients for STI screenings and other sexual-health services, according to a new report from the state agency that regulates insurers.

The report confirms what Cascade AIDS Project and other advocates have long observed: Insurance companies commonly charge patients co-pays for procedures that Oregon state law requires them to cover at no cost.

As spring transitions to summer, we find ourselves reflecting on the beauty and power of new beginnings. For decades CAP and Our House has served the HIV/AIDS community, expanding and deepening care into seven locations in Portland and SW Washington. And every day, we witness new beginnings and a fresh start for our clients.

June 27th marks National HIV testing day—a day to raise awareness about available testing options, encourage regular testing, and advocate for breaking down stigma and barriers to accessing this vital form of healthcare. Everyone has a status, so it is important to know yours. Interested in testing? Check out the full article for more info!

June 19th, or Juneteenth, marks the anniversary of the day in 1865 when enslaved communities in Galveston, Texas learned that the Civil War had ended and that they were free from slavery. The day serves to honor and celebrate Black history, community and freedom, as well as look towards a more just future. Read on for ways to celebrate Juneteenth and honor the holiday’s history.

July 12, 2022 marks six years since the tragic mass shooting at Pulse, the beloved gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Now and always, we remember the 49 people who were killed that night. Read on for opportunities to honor their lives and commemorate Pulse Day of Remembrance.

Saturday, June 8th marks Caribbean American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2022 (CAHAAD), a day dedicated to supporting Caribbean communities in the US and promoting access to resources and educational materials to treat and prevent HIV. CAHAAD was first observed in 2006, launched by the Caribbean People International Collective and a working group of US organizations. The day also falls during June, which is Caribbean-American heritage month.

On episode 4 of Vibrant, we are honoring HIV Long Term Survivors Day. As we reflect back on the past 4 decades of the HIV epidemic, we want to honor and remember not only those lost to us, but also uplift those who continue to live and thrive in the face of HIV. Joining us today is our Aging Well Program team lead, Jim Clay, to help us do just that!

May 22nd is Harvey Milk Day—This day honors the late activist, his life, and his dedication to fighting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Milk is remembered as one of the first openly gay men elected to public office in the US and a visionary figure of the LGBTQ+ movement. In Portland, we honor his legacy with SW Harvey Milk Street, which spans a 13-block stretch of the city…

On our third episode of Vibrant, we are diving into the topic of Hepatitis with one of our Prism Health primary care providers, Dr. Ben Sokoloff. May 19th marks National Hepatitis Testing Day, so Dr. Sokoloff is bringing all the hepatitis knowledge to share with you all to make sure you can take charge of your health and be your most vibrant self!

Thursday, May 19th marks National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2022, a day dedicated to reducing HIV stigma in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities and promote prevention, testing and treatment. NAPIHAAD was first observed in 2005 and falls during National Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

May 18th is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, a day to recognize the volunteers, community members, and researchers working to find a safe and effective vaccine to prevent HIV. Such a vaccine, along with existing HIV treatment and prevention strategies, would help achieve the goal of ending the HIV epidemic. The journey to find a viable vaccine to prevent HIV transmission is 4 decades in the making, but recent progress shows that we may be on the cusp of a breakthrough.

We are excited to be launching a new educational series: Sex Ed 101! From PrEP & PEP, to condoms & lube, to HIV & STI prevention, we are here to cover it all so that you have the tools and resources to take charge of your sexual health. Today’s topic is all about PEP. Not sure what PEP is? Well read on below about this important tool in HIV prevention.

On our second episode, we get the distinct pleasure of sitting down with the veritable Kevin Cook (a.k.a. Poison Waters) to talk about their favorite program at CAP: Camp KC (Camp Kids Connection)! Beyond providing a safe, affirming, stigma-free summer camp experience, Camp KC also allows us to connect with these youth to talk about HIV. So in observance of National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day, we hope you will tune in to learn more about this incredible program (and maybe even sign up to volunteer in 2022)!

Last month, Portland City Council officially recognized March 21st – March 25th as LGBTQ+ Health Awareness Week. The proclamation was made following a panel of guests from local health agencies, including Cascade AIDS Project, the Equi Institute, Portland Trans Housing Coalition and Quest Center for Integrative Health. CAP was proud to be represented by Public Policy & Grants Manager Jonathan Frochtzwajg and Prism Health’s RN Gender Care Coordinator Lindsey Sipos.

Didn’t get a chance to tune in live to our curator’s talk on March 31st? Well we have a full recap of the event below for your viewing pleasure! Learn more about our 2022 Curator, Tammy Jo Wilson, and her curatorial process for this years live auction works. And with Poison Waters hosting, its definitely worth the watch (or rewatch)!

I was born in 1980 in southern Oregon. We moved to Portland when I was 7. I became sexually active at the age of 12. When I was 13, my mother allowed my 17-year-old boyfriend to move in with me, her, and my brother, sister, and best friend. To this day, I do not understand why my mom allowed this…