Pride Month 2020

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Pride NOT dampened

by Coronavirus

Pandemic may have killed parade, but not Bronx Pride

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From AIDS to the Coronavirus and Beyond:

Let’s break the shackles of history, together

By Arthur Fitting BSN, RN, LGBTQ Program Manager, Visiting Nurse Service of New York As a public health nurse, a gay man and a New Yorker, I have lived, cared and lost through the AIDS crisis and the coronavirus pandemic. Across the span of four decades, I see far more similarities than I’d like in how we are dealing with both pandemics.

I also see—and am fortunate to be part of—a better way forward, which starts with making plans to ensure that all vulnerable people in our society have access to and are linked to healthcare, bringing all communities to the healthcare table and learning as Americans that we are all connected to one another.

Yet it must be noted, especially at this moment in time, when PRIDE events are coinciding with ongoing Black Lives Matter protests throughout the nation, how deeply discrimination still tarnishes the freedoms we’ve fought so hard to win.

In the 1980s, I spent frightening and mentally exhausting months caring for my partner as his life was being quickly taken away by AIDS. Recently, I’ve been monitoring oxygen levels, arranging telehealth visits with our doctor, delivering trays of food, and compulsively washing hands and surfaces to care for my husband, who is finally on the long road to recovery from COVID-19—neither of us knowing what would happen next at each step along the way. I was more than uncomfortable with

frequent flashbacks of my experience during the AIDS crisis. The exhaustion itself, a new reminder of inner and outer protests from the past.

As a public health nurse, then and now, I have cared for so many others—individuals and, person by person, whole communities—suffering from these two devastating, isolating diseases.

A painful history can be seen in the cruelty and heartbreak of people dying alone, having no known treatment and not knowing what would be happening next. In the 1980s and 1990s, the isolation was because of stigma, fear of a disease about which so little was known, and fear, by association, of gay men, who were on the margins of society in the first place.

As a young nurse with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) doing infusions for desperately ill AIDS patients in their homes, I saw far too many patients and friends die of a disease that spared no one,(at that time) I redoubled my commitment to be part of VNSNY’s pioneering health care force, which leads the way in not only delivering clinical care but also disseminating information, helping patients navigate stigma and isolation, and creating home health care programs to support vital quality care at home.

With coronavirus, it’s the easy transmissibility that isolates people from their loved ones in their final days. Family and friends cannot see loved

ones or mourn together.

Health care workers—in head-to-toe protective gear—stand in for loved ones where they can. This includes some of my courageous, compassionate nursing colleagues in VNSNY Hospice, who have told me stories of convening tearful FaceTime goodbyes, holding a hand in the final moments, and blowing a kiss to a dying mother at a grieving daughter’s request.

Coronavirus, like AIDS, preys disproportionately on people in black, ethnic and other minority at-risk groups and in underserved communities. My younger self—a nurse during the AIDS crisis, comforting largely marginalized people facing what was then a certain death sentence—would have been surprised to see how little progress we’ve made in closing the gaps in health disparities. Progress remains painfully slow in making sure people have access to the care, food, housing and support they need to live healthy lives, whether during the current pandemic, a new mysterious disease, or in response to America’s ongoing epidemic of chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

At the same time, my younger self also would have been proud—and indeed I am—of how community health organizations, like the one I still work for, are addressing social determinants of health. Through forward-looking collaborative partnerships, we bring comprehensive

quality care directly into the home, taking a holistic view that includes making sure people have food in the refrigerator, adequate heat and air-conditioning, and a way to obtain and correctly take needed medications as well as other day-to-day necessities.

We in the LGBTQ community stand on stronger footing now than ever before. Forty years after the emergence of the AIDS crisis and 50 years after Stonewall, LGBTQ Americans find themselves living in a world of more emerging “normalcy,” PRIDE, and marriage equality. When I am caregiving for my husband during an epidemic with so many unknowns, it is no small consolation to know that we are married under the law, with certain bedrock rights, as referenced in the NYC Department of Health LGBTQ Health Care Bill of Rights.

But there is more to do.

LGBTQ New Yorkers who are 55 and older— the people I serve most closely in my role as LGBTQ Program Director for VNSNY—are once again in a high-risk group during a pandemic, and social isolation is again the order of the day. Even before the virus, LGBTQ seniors were much more likely than their non-LGBTQ peers to avoid the health care system as they age— which is when they need access most—and to report feeling more isolated and vulnerable, according to SAGE, the advocacy group for LGBTQ seniors.

I am again proud of our

organization for ensuring that every employee— from senior leadership to top managers, to administrative assistants and clinicians across all divisions—has taken SAGE training in how to provide safe, culturally sensitive and trusted care to this population.

This June, as we connect in PRIDE while social distancing, it is more important than ever to ensure that LGBTQ seniors of all backgrounds are able to age more safely and in better health. To help make that happen, VNSNY’s Center for Home Care Policy and Research has teamed up with SAGE on a survey of LGBTQ New Yorkers age 55 and up. Data from the survey will be used to understand how older adults perceive and experience their own communities, to pinpoint barriers to aging well, accessing health care, transportation and adequate housing— and to create solutions.

We encourage all 55+ LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to fill out the survey at: bit. ly/SAGE-NYC-LGBTQSurvey.

To bridge isolation and create the connections we yearn for these days, we must continue to raise our voices—an important quality of being proud, but also of being heard on these essential matters of healthcare and aging.

If we look closely across the decades, we can see the real path forward to healthier living and the antidote to dying alone: living, learning and moving forward together.

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LGBTQ care, Pride continues through the Pandemic

By Alana Murphy, Program Chair to Healthcare Equality Index for Human Rights Campaign at Montefiore Health System This year, Pride takes on a new meaning for all of us. As the world continues to recover from a pandemic, we have already witnessed Pride in our collective admiration for all the

healthcare heroes helping to keep us safe every day.

We witnessed Pride in the celebration of these heroes each night with clapping, ringing bells, and banging on pots and pans in appreciation for those risking their own lives for the lives of others.

Pride speaks to the confidence and self-respect of everyone who

is or has been socially marginalized by others based on their race, culture, identity or sexual orientation. We use Pride as a measurement of our progress and continued movement toward social justice for all.

Montefiore was proud to be the first health system in New York to join the NYC Pride March in 2015. Last

June, our “Your Home for LGBTQ Care” float joined 5 million others rolling down 5th Avenue celebrating World Pride. Although we cannot join the parade physically this year, we stay committed to serving our LGBTQ associates, patients, and community during this time.

We are committed to creating a safe working environment for Montefiore’s diverse workforce through policy & education by ensuring that associates are able to share benefits with their same-sex spouses, use their preferred name and pronouns, and receive LGBTQ cultural competency training to create awareness and explore biases. We know creating a safe space for our associates will translate into better healthcare for patients.

Along with continuing to see patients through Montefiore FIRST video visits throughout the pandemic, the Oval Center at Montefiore partnered with the Department of Health to

send out at-home HIV test kits to patients.

These kits allowed patients to continue getting their PrEP and PEP prescriptions refilled without coming into the clinic to get the required test. The clinic is now open to see patients physically with appropriate policies for social distancing and screening in place.

We partner with the CDC-funded MPowerment program to build community and provide sexual health resources for queer youth in the Bronx. In the lead up to Pride Month, the MPowerment program held a weekly virtual talent show on Instagram and weekly zoom group meetings throughout the month of May to combat isolation and bring community together. Attendees to the virtual event were also able to receive free sexual health screenings.

To learn more about how you can receive LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare all year long, visit montefiore.org/LGBTQcare.

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Celebrating pride and protecting your health

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By Veronica Noel As Bronx residents join New York and the rest of the world in celebrating Pride Month, it’s important to remember this is a time not only for celebration, but also reflection and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

As a Bronx native, I understand how difficult it has been over the past few months for many of my friends, neighbors and the LGBTQ+ community, especially when it comes to accessing and receiving quality health care.

As regional manager for EmblemHealth’s Neighborhood Care center in Harlem, my work focuses entirely on serving our community.

At EmblemHealth, we strive to ensure all of our members feel included, understood and respected. We see our members as individuals, with personal stories and unique needs. Unfortunately, people who identify as LGBTQ+ often tend to face more barriers to accessing health care than other groups.

In fact, the LGBTQ+ community often experiences worse health outcomes than other groups for a number of reasons. Many suffer from ongoing stress and anxiety from living in a society where LGBTQ+ individuals are often stigmatized. Those who do have access to medical care often struggle to find providers to meet their needs.

The federal government’s reversal of anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people earlier this month will only increase these challenges. At EmblemHealth, we believe in quality health care for all, and are committed to protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community with the care and resources you deserve.

If you are not comfortable with your doctor, you are more likely to leave out information pertinent to your health, which will directly affect the level of care you receive. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and do not feel comfortable with your current health care provider, find a doctor that you feel more at ease. EmblemHealth’s provider group, AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY), takes a “whole you” approach to care that responds to and respects all the factors that make up your identity and contribute to your whole health picture, including your gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Many of our providers have undergone special training on providing responsive and respectful care to LGBTQ+ patients. ACPNY’s affiliate, BronxDocs, has three convenient locations in the Bronx

and offers virtual visits.

While physical health is important, our mental health should also be a top priority, as LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience mental health conditions and are at a higher risk for suicidal thoughts. Help is available through local and national resources, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) and the Trevor Project, which is dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

Let’s also remember that health care goes beyond the doctor’s office. Make sure to consistently check in on how you are feeling, since a lot has happened over the last few months. If you are experiencing feelings of uncertainty and helplessness, those can actually be forms of grief. Try to limit your news consumption and find ways to help your mind and body.

Some ways to feel good in these difficult times can include deep breathing, meditation, or just simply stretching your body and walking around the block. EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care offers free health and wellness programs to help, including virtually during COVID-19.

While these are uncertain and stressful times, it’s important to remember that Pride Month is also about celebrating what we’ve accomplished as a community.

Celebrate safely by taking advantage of one of the dozens of virtual events taking place around New York City. The Bronx is hosting virtual celebrations that include a ceremony at the Bronx Borough Hall along with dance parties, readings, and more—all which you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Social me-

dia channels and apps like MeetUp and Facebook are also great ways to find virtual events to join and meet new people while joining in the celebrations. For something more intimate with family and friends, why not schedule your own Pride party through Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime?

It’s important to remember we are not alone, even if we are still social distancing. We’ve made progress as a community, but there is still much work to be done.

EmblemHealth is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community, and committed to making sure our members have access to the care they deserve to lead a healthy, happy life—one in which they can truly be proud.

Veronica Noel is a Regional Manager at EmblemHealth.

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