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The Center E-News | Monday, August 29, 2022
Community Forum & Update
on hMPXV (Monkeypox)

While our CEO, Cara Dessert, is on parental leave, we are excited to feature our fabulous staff members as guest authors. Today, we hear from Gus Hernandez (He/Him), Senior Director of Communications and Marketing at The Center.

Hi everyone!

I’m Gus Hernandez (He/Him) and I am the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing at The San Diego LGBT Community Center. I wanted to take the opportunity as this week’s guest author to tell you about our continued efforts in response to hMPXV, or Monkeypox, and invite you to our virtual Community Forum this Wednesday, August 31st from 6-8pm.
 
hMPXV is a viral infection from the same family as smallpox but is much milder and rarely fatal. Anyone can get hMPXV and cases have been primarily detected among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, but not exclusively. There are 249 confirmed and probable cases in San Diego County as of August 25th. As a gay Latino man living in San Diego, I share the frustration of many in our comunidad who want access to the vaccine, yet are unable to get a shot due to limited quantities. Please know that The Center is actively advocating for increased vaccine supply to San Diego County and we hope to be able to partner with the County to host more vaccination events at The Center, as we have done twice since the outbreak began.
 
Our advocacy isn’t just focused on vaccine supply; we are joining our partners in supporting the County of San Diego in renewing their state of emergency, which must be done every 30 days. By extending this state of emergency, Emergency Medical Services staff can administer hMPXV vaccines, and it will allow the County to gain better access to vaccines and funding resources when they become available. The Board of Supervisors will be voting on renewing the San Diego state of emergency tomorrow, Tuesday, August 30. Please join The Center by calling in to the Board of Supervisors, or sending an eComment supporting the state of emergency renewal - see more information below.  
As part of our continued efforts to keep our community as informed as possible, The Center will be co-hosting a Community Forum this Wednesday, August 31, 2022, from 6-8pm via Zoom. We invite you to add your voice to the conversation about this outbreak, to work together to fight stigma and keep each other safe – all in a sex-affirming LGBTQ space. This event is co-hosted by The Center as well as San Diego Pride, North County LGBTQ Resource Center, Equality California, Hillcrest Town Council, Rainbow Spaces, Institute for Public Strategies, San Ysidro Health, and SBCS. Spanish translation and ASL interpretation will be available.
 
This is a community-centered space where we are inviting members of our LGBTQ community to voice your experiences, concerns, and ideas. Our panelists will include Dr. Ankita Kadakia (she/her) from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, as well as Dr. Carlton Thomas (he/him), who specializes in Queer Health and providing health content on his social media platforms. Our moderators will be Jason Frye (he/him) from the Hillcrest Town Council, and Nathan Serrato (they/he) from Queer Conscious. We will also hear from a community member who will share their experience with hMPXV.
 
Please register at https://bit.ly/hmpxv-sandiego; prior registration is required. We will also continue to share information every week in our E-News, as we have for the last few weeks, from the County of San Diego, California Department of Health, and the CDC, and will provide information on upcoming vaccination events, so please encourage your friends to sign up for our E-News so they too can stay informed. We also update our website, Facebook, and Instagram regularly with the latest information.
 
Our community is resilient and strong, and we are stronger together. Let's continue to take care of ourselves and each other.

En comunidad,
 
Gus Hernandez (He/Him)
Senior Director of Communications and Marketing

P.S. Read this message in Spanish: Lean este mensaje en español.
ADVOCACY UPDATE
Make your voice heard at the County Board of Supervisors Meeting! Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 30th at 9am, is the County Board of Supervisors meeting and you can make your voice heard and advocate for the renewal of the state of emergency for hMPXV (monkeypox). This Public Health Emergency needs to be renewed every 30 days. By extending this state of emergency, Emergency Medical Services staff can administer hMPXV vaccines, and it will allow the County to gain better access to vaccines and funding resources when they become available. 

Please note: Given the amount of negative written public comment already received, please be prepared for hateful language from people who are opposing the state of emergency declaration renewal if you call into the meeting.
  • Community members can join the meeting here on August 30th.
  • To make a comment on agenda item 18, you can make an eComment, OR fill out a form to request to call in. Fill out your name, phone number, email, and select item 18, and select "In Favor"
  • Once you fill out the form, you are given instructions on how to call in
  • If you can't attend the meeting, you can send an eComment by filling out the form and selecting "Support" 
Make your voice heard!

- Rebekah J. Hook-Held, M.A. (Pronouns: She, Her, Hers)
Chief Public Affairs & Civic Engagement Officer
hMPXV (MONKEYPOX) UPDATES & RESOURCES
Get the latest and most up-to-date information directly from the County of San Diego. The County has launched a hMPXV text message alert system which allows San Diego County residents to receive real-time information about hMPXV via text. To sign up, text COSD MONKEYPOX to 468-311. Visit our website at thecentersd.org/hmpxv for the latest information.

August 29, 2022 Update:
  • The County will now be administering second doses of the hMPXV vaccine. Second doses can now be scheduled on MyTurn or with your healthcare system or clinic.
  • hMPXV vaccination appointments will be available at myturn.ca.gov for those without health insurance or healthcare provider. 
    • Please note that today's appointments have already been reserved.
    • To get notifications of vaccine availability, please sign up to the hMPXV alert system by texting COSD MONKEYPOX to 468-311.
  • hMPXV cases are down globally, nationally, in the state, and locally. In San Diego, new cases have been declining over the past two weeks.
The Center's Efforts:
  • Prevention: The Center continues to educate our community with the latest information about hMPXV, and is co-hosting a Community Forum this week to educate our community, and seek answers to questions that community members may have, in a sex-affirming, LGBTQ-centered space.
  • Education: The Center is updating the hMPXV resource page on our website in English and Spanish, and we have been sending out vaccine FAQS and other information in our E-News and on The Center’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. 
  • Advocacy: The Center will be advocating for the renewal of the local state of emergency declaration at the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, August 30th.
We will share information every week from the County of San Diego, California Department of Health, and the CDC, and will provide information to upcoming vaccination events.
RECURSOS Y ACTUALIZACIONES SOBRE hMPXV (VIRUELA DE MONO)
Obtenga la información más reciente y actualizada directamente del condado de San Diego. El condado ha lanzado un sistema de alerta de mensajes de texto hMPXV que permite a los residentes del condado de San Diego recibir información en tiempo real sobre hMPXV a través de mensajes de texto. Para inscribirse, envíe un mensaje de texto con COSD MONKEYPOX al 468-311. Visite nuestro sitio web en thecentersd.org/hmpxv para obtener la información más reciente.

29 de agosto, 2022:

  • El condado ahora administrará segundas dosis de la vacuna hMPXV. Las segundas dosis ahora se pueden programar en MyTurn o con su sistema de salud o clínica.
  • Las citas para la vacunación contra hMPXV estarán disponibles en myturn.ca.gov para quienes no tengan seguro médico ni proveedor de atención médica.
    • Tenga en cuenta que las citas de hoy ya están reservadas.
    • Para recibir notificaciones sobre la disponibilidad de vacunas, regístrese en el sistema de alerta hMPXV enviando un mensaje de texto con COSD MONKEYPOX al 468-311.
  • Los casos de hMPXV han disminuido a nivel mundial, nacional, estatal y local. En San Diego, los nuevos casos han disminuido en las últimas dos semanas.
Los Esfuerzos de The Center:
  • Prevención: El Centro continúa educando a nuestra comunidad con la información más reciente sobre hMPXV, y está copatrocinando un foro comunitario esta semana para educar a nuestra comunidad y buscar respuestas a las preguntas que los miembros de la comunidad puedan tener, en un enfoque de afirmación sexual, en un espacio centrado en la comunidad LGBTQ.
  • Educación: The Center esta actualizando la página de recursos de hMPXV en nuestro sitio web en ingles y en español y enviamos preguntas frecuentes sobre vacunas y otra información en nuestro E-News y en Facebook, Instagram y Twitter.
  • Abogacía: Abogacía: El Centro abogará por la renovación de la declaración del estado de emergencia local en la Junta de Supervisores el martes 30 de agosto.
Compartiremos información cada semana del Condado de San Diego, Departamento de Salud de California, y del CDC y proporcionaremos enlaces a los próximos eventos de vacunación.
WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Welcome to Alberto Bautista (he/him), one of The Center's newest Board Members! Alberto is Sempra’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Early on in his career at Sempra of nearly two decades, he immersed himself as a volunteer for all diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He served as chair and co-chair for the Local Diversity and Inclusion Council and was an active member of the enterprise-wide mentoring program and the Employee Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Externally he served on several boards, including as the D&I Director for the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus. Through his current role as D&I Director, his volunteer work, and as a Mexican immigrant and member of the LGBTQ+ community, he brings diverse and valuable perspectives to his work environment. Welcome, Alberto!

Welcome to Sean Slater (he/him), one of our newest board members! Sean is the Principal-in-Charge of the San Diego office of RDC, an award winning, nationally recognized architectural design firm.  He is a licensed architect in twenty-two states, including California, and has been working in the field for over twenty-five years.  Sean is active both locally and nationally with the Urban Land Institute and serves on leadership for the Entertainment Development Council within that organization.  Sean also served on the Downtown Berkeley Association prior to moving to Southern California. 

Sean has dedicated his career to creating extraordinary projects for his clients and believes deeply in the importance of the public realm in bringing diverse communities together in joyous and meaningful ways. Welcome, Sean!

FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL STI SCREENINGS
Self care is self love! Show yourself some love with our free, confidential HIV/HCV testing and STI screenings. Make your appointment today - call us at 619.692.2077 or email bethegeneration@thecentersd.org to make an appointment. We are open Monday-Friday. Please note that we do not offer hMPXV testing as part of our testing services, please call 211 for testing assistance.

Testing and screening clients are required to be vaccinated and masked while in the building, but exceptions can be made on an individual basis. Please reach out to us to ensure we can accommodate your needs!
YOUR CENTER IS HERE FOR YOU!
The Center is in Phase 3 of reopening and, in addition to our virtual offerings, our in-person services are expanding at 3909 Centre Street, Monday through Friday, from 10am-7pm. For more information, visit our websiteThe Center's Facebook page, or call us at 619.692.2077. 

Masks are required indoors and clients are required to be vaccinated. Flexibility for the mask requirement will be allowed for special health circumstances.

Join us on Saturday, September 24th at 8am for the annual AIDS Walk & Run, San Diego’s largest HIV fundraising event. Back to its original and fabulous one-day event, you’ll enjoy an Opening Ceremony, live musical performances, recognition of top teams and fundraisers, t-shirts, booths spotlighting our event sponsors and funding recipients, an  altar to remember those we have lost, remarks from committed community leaders, and more. Learn more, register, or donate here.
COMMUNITY & PARTNER EVENTS
WE WANT YOU TO JOIN THE CENTER!
The San Diego LGBT Community Center is one of the most rewarding places to work, renowned for dynamic and creative teamwork, professionalism, and unparalleled heart and dedication. Employees experience an amazing environment where community building, compassion, and care are uniquely combined with an insistent striving toward excellence and best practices. We are highlighting just a few of our fabulous positions below -  check out the other exciting job listings here and apply today
COVID-19 UPDATES
Read the latest information about COVID-19 including travel, vaccines, treatment, prevention and more. Here are some resources to help you and yours stay healthy:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Panel recommends vaccines for children 6 months and older. And, The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on boosters for 5 - 11 year olds - read more.

Schedule your vaccine and booster appointment today! Visit sandiegocounty.gov to find a location and you can also schedule an appointment on My Turn.

Order your free at-home COVID-19 tests! Each residential household may order eight at-home tests and will receive them in 7-10 days. Order your test today and explore the site for at-home tests at retailers or pharmacies, free testing sites, and insurance reimbursement for at-home tests.
SHARE THE CENTER'S E-NEWS 
The Center provides important community updates and events and we want you to share. We make it easy to share The Center's weekly E-News - just click this link and forward to a friend! If your friends would like to sign up to stay informed, they can sign up here: https://thecentersd.org
REACH OUT FOR HELP - YOU ARE NOT ALONE
988: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launches new 3-digit number

People experiencing a mental health crisis can now call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and connect with mental health professionals. The Lifeline will provide specialized services for LGBTQ youth. This is a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day. Please note that the calls will be routed to local crisis call centers based on the caller's area code.
If you are in crisis or considering suicide, you are not alone.
There are resources and help available for you - please reach out for help:
  • Trans Lifeline: 1.877.565.8860 - For trans or nonbinary folx in the US
  • Trevor Project Lifeline: 1.866.488.7386 - For LGBT youth (18-24)
  • San Diego Access and Crisis Line: 1.888.724.7240 - Free suicide prevention/intervention hotline in San Diego County
Copyright © 2022 San Diego LGBT Community Center, All rights reserved.


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