Have Fun & Be Safe CAN & Midland Cares Create Cruising Message

Cruising, for better or worse, is a pillar of LGBTQIA+ history and remains a part of our culture today. The act of cruising has evolved from when social stigma forced the community into the shadows of parks after dark and backrooms at bars. While those still exist, cruising has evolved into an open, social activity from bars to the apps, and myriad opportunities in between.

But one thing hasn’t changed: the chances of getting an STI.

Midland Cares and CAN Community Health (CAN) are working to reduce risk without reducing people’s fun. The campaign is Cruise Responsibly and wants to change the connotation of the word ‘cruising.’ “In our communities, the association with cruising is often negative or so-called risky behaviors,” Greg Beltran, Midland Cares’ Director of Programs and Innovation told OutClique . “We wanted to reclaim that and turn it into a powerful message that emboldens the community and engages them in testing, prevention, and treatment. Paying homage to the cruise culture in the past shows how much has changed and so much has not.”

The two entities have a large role in treating South Florida’s LGBTQIA+ health needs. Now the pair have merged and want to use their combined resources to effectively reach South Florida’s cruising community.

“Now that the Midland family (Medical, Pharmacy, and Cares) is formally part of the CAN family, we can work together to broaden our reach to continue increasing viral suppression rates, individuals linked to PrEP, and trans-affirming care,” Beltran said. “Any successful pairing, like CAN and Midland, takes a sense of trust and commitment toward a common goal,” CAN’s Chief Communications Officer, Roger Capote, told OutClique . “As our communities have witnessed, both agencies have strived to help people in our communities while creating access points to care.”

Nearly everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community has cruised at one point and many still do, and that’s who CAN and Midland say they want to reach. “Everyone. Sex is a natural part of life. Our goal is to support our patients' decisions but to still give them information and a medical environment that provides risk reduction for all.”

Sex, especially in the LGBTQIA+ healthcare community, is openly discussed. Destigmatizing the discussion among the broader population is key to Midland Cares and CAN. Beltran refers to last year’s Monkeypox crisis as an example. “One of the significant successes was how the spread of Monkeypox could be curtailed by sexually active people being responsible and getting checked. We hope to convey this precisely with the Cruise Responsibly campaign.”

Beltran concurred. “If we create a safe and judgmentfree space, people will be more open and willing to speak with their healthcare teams, increasing positive health outcomes and reducing the risk of health complications.”

Their reputations precede them, as both groups have been called upon by national healthcare providers. “As one of the region's most extended providers of HIV care with 30 years of experience, we have been tapped by the CDC and HRSA for technical assistance opportunities for others throughout the country on best practices,” Capote said.

CAN Community Health (CAN) is a not-for-profit, community-based organization with clinics that reach well beyond the Sunshine State. They serve Arizona, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, providing specialized medical care for over 30 years. What began as a small health clinic founded by trailblazer Susan Terry in 1991 in Sarasota, FL, has now transitioned into a national healthcare organization serving those affected by HIV, STDs, and Viral Hepatitis.

Beltran says it’s that hybrid of national and local presence that makes the organizations perfect to promote Cruise Responsibly. “With Midlands hyperlocal presence in the South Florida region and CAN’s much larger oversight of different states, we can tackle problems more quickly and efficiently. Now, with Midland being a part of the CAN family, it will lead us to make a more significant difference in the people we serve.”

The timing of the campaign overlaps with Pride of the Americas on February 11, 2023. As premiere sponsors, Capote says they have a big platform to spread their message beyond Broward County.

“With this being one of our backyard's first international Pride festivals, how couldn't we pull out all the stops? Our prevention teams have bilingual and trilingual individuals and marketing in multiple languages to ensure everyone is included in our messaging.”

Thousands of tourists from across the Americas are expected to descend on Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park. With this opportunity to bridge geographic subcultures, Capote hopes to reach all the sexual subcultures. “We firmly commit to having champions lead the charge within these subcultures. But, as in anything, we understand there are arenas in which messaging and conversations are easily digested by folks who may be more identifiable with that group. That is why our diverse staff allows us to get into all of the communities and bolsters folks to know their status and use the necessary tools to stay healthy.”

“Pride is really essential to us,” CAN Practice Administrator Patrice Gray said. “For many years we have participated in several Pride events within our region and beyond. Collaborating with Pride events has linked clients to our PrEP, nPEP, STI, and treatment services. In addition, we have built reputable relationships with several LGBTQ+ friendly organizations. Together, we have enlightened other organizations, businesses, and our community on HIV/ AIDS and HIV prevention.”

Many are aware of Midland Cares and CAN because of their insurance programs. While one of their key goals is to get HIV- people on PrEP and HIV+ patients in treatment, they also offer access to HRT, primary care, and more. Their impact on each patient can be dramatic. “We work with individuals who may be underinsured or insured and get them the quality care they deserve,” Capote said. “With access to programs like these, we provide quality care, increase viral suppression, lower rates of STD/Hep C infections and improve quality of life in communities, and continue to seek collaborative relations with local, state, and national partners to remove treatment barriers for all individuals in care. We are wholeheartedly committed to offering exceptional care and specialized medical services to every community member.”

For Jay Saboe-Rodriguez, Midland’s Medical Outreach and Care Manager, the mission is personal. “The best part of Jay my job is engaging with the community where myself and my friends and family live. With our programs, we are able to provide education on sexual health, safe sex practices, and behavioral health to the LGBTQ+ community.”

CAN and Midland also offer dental care, nutritional services, support groups, and harm reduction education and outreach. Despite the easy, open, and affordable access to services, there is still reluctance by many to sign up. Sach Fiol, CAN’s HIV Prevention Manager, says ending stigma is priority one. “As the HIV Prevention Manager, I am motivated and determined to reduce HIV stigma and increase awareness through trainings, presentations, and all other forms of education. In addition, the Prevention team and I are out in our community day and night, collaborating with our partners to provide testing and linkage to essential services.”

While both are already intimately connected with South Florida, Midland and CAN want to cement and deepen their ties by creating the Champion Advisory Board. The goal is to include community members from various walks of life who want to make an impact. “It will be our job as the lead agencies to support them as allies with capacity building and truly walk with them as allies,” Capote said.

It seems obvious that patient care would be front and center of any medical organization. But between insurance issues, scheduling, and other issues, the patient can get lost in the mix. Midland and CAN say they’re committed to a patient-centered focus now more than ever.

“Developing programs with patients in mind and building them up from there correlates with higher success outcomes with a programmatic focus,” Beltran said. “Everything we do at Midland Cares and CAN focuses on the patients and finding ways for us to assist them and ensure they stay healthy.” The insurance programs are a prime example. “We took the concept of addressing the health needs of the whole person, not just their sexual health, and ended up creating a paradigm that helps with all their healthcare needs. So, for example, the Midland Care Program will add dental and vision this coming year.”

Saboe-Rodriguez says new patients will see the patient first focus immediately. “With the programs at Midland Cares, I am able to provide healthcare services in a safe space for patients of all races, genders, sexual identities, and more. I am excited to see how our ideas can help better the community.” Fiol says CAN and Midland are committed to patients long term. “We strive to continue building effective long-term partnerships and create more avenues to link clients to care, provide testing and education, and, most importantly, end the HIV epidemic.”

When you go to Pride of the Americas or other events, large and small, be on the lookout for CAN and Midland. Their kickoff of Cruise Responsibly on an international stage will be the beginning of a campaign they believe will reach far beyond South Florida. “Pride is how we show the community that we care and are with them. Together, our drive and passion can impact lives all over the world.”

Author: John Hayden

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