In June, the Network Celebrates…
HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day (HLTSAD) Juneteenth LGBTQ+ Pride Month Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month
The best science, stories, and strategies related to this month’s national health themes. Check back throughout the month for new additions.
HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day (HLTSAD)
June 5 is HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day. First observed in 2014, it’s a day to honor long-term survivors of HIV and raise awareness about their needs, issues, and journeys.
- HIV and Women: A Primer – Yes, women can and do get HIV. Learn the unique risk factors and complicating factors when it comes to HIV in women.
- Find Free HIV Testing Near You – Get a list of HIV, STI, and hepatitis testing resources near you from the CDC.
- Organizational Spotlight: The Positive Women’s Network (PWN) – Founded in 2008 by 28 diverse women leaders living with HIV, PWN-USA develops a leadership pipeline and policy agenda that applies a gender lens to the domestic HIV epidemic grounded in social justice and human rights. Learn about their resources, programs, and other offerings.
- Women Living with HIV: Patient Stories – Hear from three women living with HIV, in their own words.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
Juneteenth
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, has been a federal holiday since 2021 in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery.
- The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth – Learn the rich history of this holiday, which dates back to the 1860s, from the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
- How to Celebrate Juneteenth Without Misappropriating It – What changes when an informal celebration becomes an official holiday? There’s more commodification and opportunity for pitfalls and mishaps as groups with no previous experience celebrating the holiday try to join in. Learn from Black essayist Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman on how to celebrate Juneteenth in ways that authentically and ethically center Black Americans.
- Advancing Health Equity for Black Americans – Some ways to support Black health and wellbeing: lower health care costs, expand access to quality health care, and strengthen support for children and families.
- Juneteenth Stories and Histories for Kids – Recommendations from the Boston Public Library.
- Three Stories Detailing How Enslaved People Gained Their Freedom – These are stories you won’t soon forget.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Pride Month is an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQAI+ community to history, society and cultures worldwide. In most places, Pride is celebrated throughout the month of June each year in commemoration of its roots in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969.
- Pride Month Origins and History – Did you know that police used to raid bars and arrest people simply for being gay as late as the 1970’s? Or that the first pride parade was a riot? Learn more at history.com.
- Learn Who the Top Health Care Providers are for LGBTQAI+ People by State – The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. Learn more about the criteria, providers, and the Human Rights Campaign’s other initiatives here.
- Trans 101 Podcast Episode – All your questions about being a good trans ally answered.
- How are LGBTQAI+ Young People Doing Mentally? The Trevor Project Tells Us – This national survey of over 18,000 LGBTQAI+ young people revealed that: 1 in 10 attempted suicide, 50% wanted mental health care but were not able to get it, and 90% felt their well-being was negatively impacted by recent politics. Get all the data here.
- LGBTQAI+ People’s Health Status and Access to Care – In this study by KFF, it was found that LGBTQ+ people were in overall worse health than the non LGBTQAI+ population, with worse access to health insurance and more chronic conditions. Learn more here.
- LGBTQAI+ Rights are On State Ballots in 2024 – The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking anti-LGBTQAI+ bills in the U.S. Visit the interactive map here.
- LGBTQAI+ Role Models – Drag queens, civil rights leaders, and activists. Pro athletes. Recently out-of-the-closet celebrities. Executives. Engineers and tech gurus.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Join us in raising awareness this June. The more that people know about Alzheimer’s, the more action we inspire.
- Action Alert! Go Purple to Raise Awareness for Alzheimer’s – There are many ways to raise awareness in June, from wearing purple to sharing you or a loved one’s story to taking the Alzheimer’s Association 30 day challenge. Learn more here.
- Brain Health FAQs – Learn 10 health habits for your brain. Everything you ever wanted to know about dementia. 7 common questions about Alzheimer’s disease.
- Alzheimer’s by the Numbers – Get fast facts on Alzheimer’s prevalence, demographics, caregiving, symptoms, and more.
- Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – What you should know about brain injury and recovery.
- Stories About People Living with Alzheimer’s and Those Who Love Them – Here from patients, caregivers, and care professionals.