Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

ntroducing HOT TOPICS, where we round up everything in the news and what's driving conversations in our community.

This week, we're covering:

- Mpox updates to be aware of ahead of the summer.
- The myth of "PrEP belly"
https://www.them.us/story/prep-belly-101-according-to-experts
- The rise of shigella cases
https://www.advocate.com/health/s*xual-health/what-is-shigella
- A reminder about TMVII
- Dr. Demetre Daskalakis discussing the future of HIV care on The Body Pro
https://www.thebodypro.com/podcast/hiv/future-hiv-care-demetre-daskalakis-april-2026

Yesterday, COIN case manager Dania Puerto gave a presentation at the 2026 TGNCNB Health Summit!

Thank you Dania for sharing important information for the s*x work community and to for hosting!

The 5-4-3-2-1 technique is a useful tool for grounding yourself during moments of anxiety and stress. It works by breaking the pattern of thinking about what is upsetting you and getting your mind to focus on your present surroundings. It's super simple to do and you can do it sitting down on a break or going on a quick walk.

Just take slow, deep breaths and start to become aware of what's around you. When you're ready observe the following things:

Look for 5 things you can see.
Now, pick out 4 things you can touch.
Then, listen for 3 things you can hear.
Next, breath in and discover 2 things you can smell.
Finally, focus on one thing you can taste... like a sip of water or just the taste in your mouth.

You don't need to do this in an exact order, and you can change to however it may work best for you and your body. Just take your time and breathe.

With the release of our annual report last week it's important to reflect on Callen-Lorde's purpose and mission. Watch as members of our community and staff reflect on our inspiring successes and the unique challenges we've encountered. We promise to continue pioneering quality care, advocacy and education to drive positive change around the world.

Because we believe healthcare is a human right.

You can learn more by checking out the full report here: https://callen-lorde.org/annualreport/

Our 2025 Annual Report is here! - Callen-Lorde Callen-Lorde’s 2025 Annual Report is now live! The report includes everything you need to know about Callen-Lorde’s journey throughout the past year. It illustrates our steadfast commitment to advancing and upholding LGBTQ+ health equity, now and always, and gives you an inside look into Our pri...

In honor of Chemsx Awareness Week, running from May 11 to 17, we are inviting community members to fight stigma and start conversations about the relationships between s*x and substance use.

To observe this year, we will be hosting an informal discussion on Instagram live on Monday, May 18 at 1PM with our Chief Medical Officer and Registered Nurse and overdose prevention expert, Danielle Pickering to discuss best practices, open communication and the importance of consent.

Join us to learn more and come with any questions you may have.