Callen-Lorde’s 2024 Pride month impact
Throughout June, Callen-Lorde staff helped spread and amplify the organization’s lifesaving mission and care all over the city. Staff marched in Pride parades, tabled at events, hosted National HIV Testing Day, spoke at panels and so much more. Here’s just a sample of the work Callen-Lorde has done in the last month:
June 6: Educating Regeneron staff
Callen-Lorde’s clinical research manager for the research and education department, Ali Harris, presented to the pharmaceutical company’s staff about LGBTQ+ representation gaps in clinical research, why research can be exclusionary and how Callen-Lorde addresses the issue. Ali helped Regeneron employees understand Callen-Lorde’s research process, methods to ensure representation and health equity and opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry to do better.
June 8: Marching at Brooklyn Pride
About a dozen staff members turned out to March in the Brooklyn Pride parade, showing off Callen-Lorde’s spirit, support and Mobile Medical Unit!
June 11: Rallying at City Hall
Early in the month, members of the Callen-Lorde community joined elected officials, other nonprofits and advocacy organizations at City Hall to protest Mayor Eric Adams’ planned cuts to funding for HIV programs and services. Natasha Goykhberg, Callen-Lorde’s director of care coordination, spoke to the crowd about the Undetectables program–and how losing it due to cuts would negatively impact patients that rely on it to maintain their care.
Throughout the month: Corporate groups pack safe sex kits
Volunteers who work at Callen-Lorde’s corporate partner companies Pfizer, Morningstar and Deloitte turned out throughout June to pack safer sex and personal care kits, which helped patients celebrate safely. Two Deloitte teams packed more than 400 personal care packages!
Throughout the month: Educating patients on STI developments
Callen-Lorde helped patients and the community at large understand more about trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII, a fungal infection that recently emerged in New York. The organization’s clinical director of sexual health Dr. Marcus Sandling advised Metro Weekly readers not to panic—but also to stay diligent about their bodies—while the Callen-Lorde website showcased leadership and taught readers what TMVII is.
June 25: Hosted National HIV Testing Day in Union Square
Callen-Lorde partnered with the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Gilead HIV to present this year’s National HIV Testing Day event in Union Square Park. Dozens of health care and community organizations showed up to test people for HIV, including Callen-Lorde’s own MMU, as well as provide patients with resources and celebrate everyone’s individuality. Callen-Lorde provided no shortage of entertainment as the fabulous Brita Filter made the event into an all-day party and everyone danced to DJ Bright Light Bright Light’s funky mix. The festivities didn’t stop till 6:30p.m.
June 27: Educating the legal community
It was Dr. Serena Chang’s turn to educate the legal community about the sensitive and affirming care Callen-Lorde provides later in the month. The interim chief behavioral health officer spoke at a New York County Supreme Court Criminal Term panel discussion, helping attorneys understand Callen-Lorde’s programs and services for LGBTQ+ youth and how they evolve as kids age.
June 28: Raising our voice about potential HIV cuts
Patrick McGovern’s op-ed urging the city to reinstate vital HIV funding went live in New York Nonprofit Media at the end of the month. His piece made Callen-Lorde’s position on the cuts, and the impact of the Undetectables program, more visible to the city’s nonprofit industry at large and ensured Callen-Lorde had a voice in the fight.
Thank you again to all of our community members and staff who showed up and showed out for a very successful Pride. Check back here for a roundup of July education and advocacy events!