When we go out with friends, we sometimes ask questions that surprise people. “Are you on PrEP?”
PrEP is a drug that reduces the risk of HIV infection by about 99% when taken as prescribed. We’re both working on it. And we both talk openly about it. Because too many in our community still haven’t heard of it, don’t have access to it, or are made to feel that asking for it speaks volumes about who they are.
it’s not. Taking PrEP means taking control of your health. It’s that simple.
But getting there wasn’t easy for both of us. Our path to PrEP looked different.
Del Martinez learned this firsthand. When he asked his doctor about PrEP, the answer was judgmental, not medical. I received a lecture instead of a prescription. He had to leave Maryland completely and go to Whitman Walker Hospital in Washington, D.C. just to receive basic preventive care. He serves on the Health Committee and is also on the Public Health Subcommittee. Even he didn’t have access to HIV prevention in his state. That reality was soul-crushing as he immediately thought not only of him, but of all the people in the community who don’t have the resources to find another path.
Philip was introduced to PrEP through his work at Free State Justice, where he learned about the disparities in HIV infection rates and PrEP access for queer people of color. Black Marylanders account for 65 percent of new HIV diagnoses, but only about 35 percent of PrEP users. Latino Marylanders account for about 19 percent of new diagnoses, but less than 8 percent of PrEP users.
Looking at these numbers, he had to ask himself why he wasn’t part of it. When he walked into Chase Brexton’s HIV prevention clinic in Baltimore, the experience was easy and positive, just as it should be for everyone. No judgment, just be aware. It’s an experience every Maryland resident deserves.
The proposed bill would make that the standard in Maryland. HB 1114 would allow people to go to their local pharmacy and access PrEP without having to wait months for a doctor’s appointment, removing insurance barriers that slow things down and providing continuity of care.
Our story is not unique. When we talk to friends about PrEP, and we do regularly, we hear the same thing. People I didn’t know. People who tried and gave up. People who thought they weren’t for me. People who don’t have money or can’t find a provider. Misinformation still exists and prejudice persists. Among Maryland women, most new HIV diagnoses are the result of heterosexual contact, yet PrEP is still rarely included in physician conversations.
When we tell our friends about PrEP, we’re honest. The contents, cost, and destination are as follows. We’ll talk about your different options, including daily pills and long-acting injections. Generic options are available and often free. If you are sexually active, it may be right for you. It’s not a moral issue. This is a question regarding health.
We try to make it feel approachable. We answer all questions because we may be the first person someone has this conversation with. It’s a conversation between people who trust each other. It works, but there are limits when the system itself is still in the way.
We have the medical tools to virtually eliminate new HIV infections. What we need now are policies that ensure everyone can achieve their goals. At a time when the future of federal HIV prevention programs is under attack, Maryland has both an opportunity and a responsibility to lead.
We ask our friends to take care of their health. We’re asking Maryland to make that possible.
If you think PrEP is right for you, talk to your provider. If you know someone who could benefit, please share what you know. And if Maryland wants to get this right, tell your legislators to support HB 1114.
state Congresswoman Ashanti Martinez represents Prince George’s County District 22 in the Maryland State House of Delegates, where she serves as majority whip and serves on the Health Committee. Phillip Westley is the executive director of FreeState Justice, a statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy group in Maryland.
The post “Are you on PrEP?” appeared first on Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
