CAP + Our House + Prism Health are proud to sponsor the 2023 QDoc Film Festival! Founded in 2007 by Russ Gage and David Weissman, and directed by Molly King and Deb Kemp since 2017, QDoc has shown award-winning films fresh from Sundance, Berlin, Hot Docs, Tribeca, Amsterdam and other top-tier festivals. We have shown historical films, personal stories, artist biographies, experimental work and topical films dealing with current controversies.

November is Native American Heritage Month, a recognition of the ancestry and traditions of Native American and Indigenous Peoples within the context of what is now called the United States, and globally. As described by the National Congress of American Indians, this month “is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native People.”

Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is held on November 20th to honor those who have been killed as a result of transphobia, as well as to draw attention to the violence faced by many in the trans community. TDOR was established in 1999 by activist Gwendolyn Anne Smith as a memorial to Rita Hester, a trans woman who was murdered in 1998. This initial local vigil expanded and is now commemorated annually across the world.

November 1 officially kicks off Open Enrollment, the time of year when most people in the US shop and enroll in health coverage. But did you know, you can get complimentary health insurance navigation and other benefit navigations services at CAP? Joining us today is Rusty Shorey, one of the incredible Benefits Navigators here at CAP to discuss the various ways in which we can help you sort through all the noice of Open Enrollment, Benefits Navigation, and more!

As nonprofits that serve or advocate for LGBTQ+ people experiencing houselessness, Basic Rights Oregon, Cascade AIDS Project, the PDX Trans Housing Coalition, and Pride Northwest oppose Mayor Wheeler and Commissioner Ryan’s proposal to ban unsanctioned public camping and force people living outdoors to move to mass shelters (Resolution 901).

October 11th marks Coming Out Day, an effort started over three decades ago. The day was started by Rob Eichberg, a psychologist and gay rights activist, and Jean O'Leary, the head of National Gay Rights Advocates at the time. They wanted to "create a holiday that celebrated queer identities in order to decrease stigma and homophobia,"

Saturday, October 15th marks National Latino AIDS Awareness Day 2022. Goals of NLAAD include stopping HIV stigma, addressing the disproportionate impact of HIV on Latino communities, and promoting testing, prevention and education. The day also falls on the last day of Latino Heritage Month (also known as Hispanic Heritage Month).

With Election Day right around the corner on November 8th, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to dive into CAP's Public Policy & Advocacy work! Joining us for our seventh episode today is Jonathan Frochtzwajg, CAP's Public Policy and Grants Manager, to give us the inside scoop on our policy initiative, advocacy work, and a plethora of resources, including our 2022 Voter Resource Guide, to help you get prepared for the upcoming elections.

Our event photos from the 2022 AIDS Walk Northwest are LIVE! Find you team photo, check out the amazing candid shots, and relive the abundant love and vibrancy of our community!

Our sixth episode of Vibrant features a great conversation with Tim Smith, one of our incredible HIV & STI testers at Pivot, a testing program of CAP. With AIDS Walk Northwest coming up next week and National Gay Men's HIV & AIDS Awareness day following closely on its heels on September 27th, the topic of HIV testing is popping up a lot. So Tim is here to give us a look into the services Pivot provides, and why these services are so critical to reducing HIV & STI transmission in our men who have sex with men (MSM) communities.

Did you know that 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ people aren't registered to vote? And that Black and Latinx people are less likely to be registered than whites? As a health-focused organization, we believe that our community's well-being depends not only on our physical and mental health, but also our "civic health": the ability to influence the policies that affect our health and healthcare. That's why CAP is urging all eligible voters to make sure they're registered to vote and cast their ballots in the November 8 election!

On our fifth episode of Vibrant, we are getting to know a bit more about one of Our House's core client programs: the Neighborhood Housing & Care Program (NHCP). Joseph Caver, Manager of NHCP, joins us today to give us the inside scoop on the work the NHCP team does to meet clients where they live to continue to provide the wrap-around compassionate affirming care that ensures their continued health, wellbeing, and sense of community!

Faith plays a major role in the lives of many Americans. Many find faith to be a connection to a spiritual being, deity or creator. Unfortunately for many Americans living with HIV, faith communities can turn from a place of refuge to a source of stigma and turmoil.

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!