Many people are looking forward to getting a COVID-19 vaccine with excitement, but many have concerns and questions as well. These concerns and questions are valid, and at Chase Brexton, we want to provide our community with accurate, helpful information to address them. Here’s what we know about the COVID-19 vaccines which will soon be available to the public. How do the vaccines work? Both vaccines work by delivering synthetic mRNA into our bodies. The mRNA is a messenger for DNA, which tells our cells what to make in order to fix, build, or maintain things in our bodies. In […]
Intergenerational Conversations with the Stonewall Generation
The experiences of the Stonewall generation will be at the center of the LGBT Health Resource Center’s next virtual ElderPRIDE Power Hour, coming up this Thursday, December 10, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The session will be presented by author Jane Fleishman, PhD, MEd, MS; for information on how to join, visit www.chasebrexton.org/PowerHourDec2020. We asked Jane a few questions about her work around elder sexuality and the importance of LGBT elders sharing their stories and experiences. In your experience, what is the most common misconception about this time in our community’s history? In addition to my work as a […]
Reflecting on the Election, Preparing for Trans Day of Remembrance
We have made it through a high-stakes, and deeply polarized election season. Even folks who don’t engage in electoral politics much have felt the building tension among our communities. Our President and Vice President elect have been projected and announced, and even though there may be ongoing vote counting process and legal wrangling, change appears to be just around the corner. There were many big wins for representation, most noticeably, a glass ceiling has shattered with the selection, campaign, and victory of Vice President elect, Senator Kamala Harris. Election season also brought exciting wins for LGBTQ candidates nationwide. Delaware elected Sarah McBride as state […]
With Darkness Growing All Around, Resources for Coping with LGBT Stress
“Spooky Season” has arrived and the beautiful autumn finds us all…STRESSED. Truly, this has been one of the most stressful periods in many of our living memories. The pandemic has been a game-changer, even for those who have not suffered COVID-19 illness or the loss of a loved one. Tragically, many of us have lost someone, often under heartbreaking circumstances where we didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. Every one of us who survives 2020 will have scars to show for the remainder of our lives. The adjustments our culture has made are remarkable. But they’re also causing us […]
On National Coming Out Day, Come Out For What is Right and Just
October is an important month for LGBTQ people. National LGBT History Month gives us a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the evolution of our equality movement. It’s also National Bullying Prevention Month — in fact, we celebrate Spirit Day on October 15th to increase awareness of the damage done to LGBTQ youth through bullying. One of our most beloved LGBTQ holidays across the year is celebrated on October 11th: National Coming Out Day. When National Coming Out Day (NCOD) was established back in 1988, there were very few well-known LGBTQ Americans. Secrecy was considered an essential protection for many, and yet there was a strong political push to bring LGBTQ […]
Tips for LGBTQ Youth and Families on Navigating a Virtual Return to School
This back-to-school season will be a unique experience for many LGBTQ youth and their families, with school districts in Maryland and elsewhere starting the year with entirely virtual learning. For some youth, this learning environment will bring relief from harassment and allow them to attend school in a safe environment. Others, however, may feel even more isolated and cut off from sources of social support and affirmation. We asked Dr. Elyse Pine, a provider with Chase Brexton Health Care’s Gender JOY program, for some advice on navigating a back-to-school season unlike any other. What unique difficulties can this uncertain, potentially […]
On National Health Center Week, Remembering Chase Brexton’s Roots
This week marked National Health Center Week 2020, an annual celebration to raise awareness about the missions and accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past fifty years, including Chase Brexton Health Care. The theme for this year’s event was, “Lighting the Way for Healthier Communities Today and in The Future,” which I find very inspiring. Community Health Centers serve as a beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. Personally, I am very proud to work in a community health center and to lead the LGBT Health Resource Center of Chase Brexton. In fact, this amazing institution’s history […]
Healing Resources for Black Queer and Trans Communities
In this time of great change, uncertainty, and hope, we at the LGBT Health Resource Center wanted to offer a list of resources to support black members of our communities who may be in need of healing, support, therapy, and self-care. Our Center is here for you as well – visit Resourcecenter.lgbt to learn more. Asterisked items are explicitly LGBTQ / Same Gender Loving-focused services. Healing Yoga with Jessamyn Stanley (Jessamynstanley.com) – Jessamyn Stanley is a black queer fat femme yoga teacher and writer who works to make the practice accessible to all bodies and people of all means. […]
Riding the News Roller Coaster, and Finding Our Place in the Fight
Once again, the news cycle has us on a roller coaster ride of extreme emotions. Late last week, the Trump administration dismantled the LGBT nondiscrimination provisions rule of the Affordable Care Act. The announcement of this action was callously made on the anniversary of the PULSE massacre and during a pandemic. On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that discrimination against LGBT people is covered under the sex discrimination provisions of Title VII. This is a landmark ruling, a sea change. These two announcements contradict each other in every way. The pendulum swing is extreme and confusing. All of this comes […]
Celebrating National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day 2020
With so many LGBT older adults isolated at home and cut off from their usual sources of support, National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day came directly to them this year with online stories, videos, and memories of those who created the path and led the way. Organized by the LGBT Health Resource Center in 2016 and added to the nation’s official registry of days that same year, National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day has grown with each annual celebration. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the celebration to go online, but we received dozens of memories and heartfelt stories from […]