Ending the HIV Epidemic 2021 COVID-19 Medical Mistrust in the Meantime Spring 2021 Contents Wants to Be Your 4 6 10 12 ITMT Ending the Rising Above Dr

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Ending the HIV Epidemic 2021 COVID-19 Medical Mistrust In The Meantime Spring 2021 Contents Wants to Be Your 4 6 10 12 ITMT Ending the Rising Above Dr. LaShonda Personal Tester Responds HIV Epidemic Spencer 18 24 28 30 A History of A Profile We Will Collective Wisdom Mistreatment in Courage Always Thrive of the Village

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Message is published quarterly by In The IN THE MEANTIME Meantime Men’s Group, Inc., 2146 W. editor board Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018- and of 2039. Mailing address: Box 29861, Los Angeles, CA 90029-0861, 323-733- publisher directors 4868, [email protected], www.inthemeantimemen.org, Jeffrey C. King Joel Byrd, M.D. Facebook @ inthemeantimemen Gary Houston art Get Te st ed © 2021 In The Meantime Men’s Group, Inc. Stewart Jones All rights reserved. director Jeffrey C. King The slogan “Creating Unity and Affirming Alan Bell Earl Wooten Instant HIV Test Results Available in 1 Minute Our Common Bond” is a trademark of In The Meantime Men’s Group, Inc. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are photography on not necessarily those of ITMT. Publication of the name or photograph of a person Alan Bell the 818-441-1216 or 323-733-4868 does not indicate the sexual orientation cover or HIV status of the person or necessarily Jeff Gritchen constitute an endorsement of ITMT or Dr. LaShonda Spencer In The Meantime Wellness its policies. Message is designed for 2146 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or InTheMeantimeMen.org professional services. Some photographs in this publication use professional models.

Spring 21 MESSAGE 3 YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL ITMT Responds Community Resources Address Both HIV and COVID Pandemics

By Jeffrey C. King

elcome to In The Meantime 2021. Let’s celebrate today BoiRevolution Was we begin to create the world we desire to live in. LA’S HOTTEST URBAN SOCIAL CLUB Today, In The Meantime has answered the call from the commu- Young Black Gay Men 18-29 Years of age nity. We asked you what was most f @BoiRevolution2017 I @inthemeantimemen important to you, and you responded with the following: 323-733-4868 1 We will continue our grab- and-go food service and plan to expand this service for one additional day per week. We will provide Quarterly Social Events you with an update by the end of February. Community Outreach/Condom Distribution 2 The Young Black Gay Men’s Task Force identified housing, mental health, and substance abuse treat- MyLife MyStyle Health Education Empowerment Series ment as the three top issues faced seling sessions, closed group-level by them and their peers. Today, ITMT interventions, and more. offers transitional housing support, 6 Our staple Brothers Reaching Throw It In The Bag mental health services, and sub- Brothers Social Discussion Group has Drop-In Social Discussion Groups stance abuse education and linkage developed a social media life of its services as an answer to your call. own, and is now hosted on Zoom. 3 In The Meantime has ramped LIFE 7 Free condoms and lube are Personal and Professional Development Trainings up its efforts to provide free protective provided upon request and are made gear, including masks, hand sanitizer, available every Tuesday night 5-7 p.m. and gloves. during our grab-and-go give out. The Bridge 4 Our HIV outreach and preven- We are grateful to everyone who Resource Linkage and Referral Service tion capacity efforts have expanded supported our fundraising efforts as we remain committed to providing for the King-Bremond Scholarship HIV testing, STD linkage, and medical In The Meantime Get Tested Fund. We can now start the year with HIV Testing and STI Screenings/Peer Navigation linkage to care services. resources to support those seeking to 5 Our seven-layered My Life My advance themselves through higher Style intervention for young Black gay education. This project is supported by funds received from the U.S. Centers men has been converted to an online for Disease Control and Prevention and the County of Los Angeles Department protocol to include telemedicine and Jeffrey C. King is Founder and Executive of Public Health, Division of HIV and STD Programs case management, one-on-one coun- Director of In The Meantime Men’s Group.

4 MESSAGE Spring 21 Ending the HIV Epidemic A Plan for America

nding the HIV Epidemic: infrastructure of many HHS agencies A Plan for America (EHE) is and offices. In its first phase, the ini- E a bold plan that aims to end tiative is focusing on areas where HIV the HIV epidemic in the United transmission occurs most frequently, States by 2030. In the State of the providing 57 geographic focus areas Union Address on February 5, 2019, with a rapid infusion of additional re- Geographic Hotspots: The 48 counties, plus Washington, DC, and San Juan, PR, where President Donald J. Trump announced sources, expertise, and technology to >50% of HIV diagnoses occurred in 2016 and 2017, and an additional seven states with a his Administration’s goal to end the develop and implement locally tailored substantial number of HIV diagnoses in rural areas. HIV epidemic in the United States EHE plans. within 10 years. EHE is the operational plan developed by agencies across HIV in America of access to HIV prevention, testing, the U.S. Department of Health and Goal and treatment; and a lack of aware- Human Services (HHS) to pursue that The new initiative seeks to reduce HIV has cost America too much ness that HIV remains a significant goal. the number of new HIV infections in for too long and remains a significant public health threat. The plan leverages critical sci- the United States by 75 percent within public health issue: entific advances in HIV prevention, five years, and then by at least 90 per- • More than 700,000 American Right Data and diagnosis, treatment, and outbreak cent within 10 years, for an estimated lives have been lost to HIV since 1981. response by coordinating the highly 250,000 total HIV infections averted. • More than 1.1 million Ameri- Right Tools cans are currently living with HIV and successful programs, resources, and Data tell us that most new many more are at risk of HIV infection. infections occur in a limited num- • While new HIV diagnoses ber of counties and among specific have declined significantly from their populations, giving us the information peak, progress on further reducing needed to target our efforts to those them has stalled with an estimated locales that will make the biggest 40,000 Americans being newly diag- impact on ending the HIV epidemic. nosed each year. Without interven- Further, today we have the tools tion another 400,000 Americans will available to end the HIV epidemic. be newly diagnosed over 10 years Landmark biomedical and scientific despite the available tools to prevent research advances have led to the transmissions. development of many successful HIV • The U.S. government spends treatment regimens, prevention strat- $20 billion in annual direct health egies, and improved care for persons expenditures for HIV prevention and living with HIV. Notably: care. • Thanks to advances in anti- • There is a real risk of an HIV retroviral therapy, the medicine used resurgence due to several factors, to treat HIV, individuals with HIV who including trends in injection drug use; take their medicine as prescribed and, HIV-related stigma; homophobia; lack

6 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 7 as a result, maintain an undetectable viral load can live long, healthy lives Whole-of-Society and have effectively no risk of sexually Initiative transmitting HIV to a partner. Achieving EHE’s goals will require • We have proven models of ef- a whole-of-society effort. In addition fective HIV care and prevention based to the coordination across federal on more than two decades of experi- agencies, the success of this initia- ence engaging and retaining patients tive will also depend on dedicated in effective care. partners working at all sectors of • Pre-exposure prophylaxis society, including people with HIV or (PrEP), a daily regimen of two oral at risk for HIV; city, county, tribal, and antiretroviral drugs in a single pill, has state health departments and other proven to be highly effective in pre- agencies; local clinics and healthcare venting HIV infection for individuals at facilities; healthcare providers; provid- high risk, reducing the risk of acquir- ers of medication-assisted treatment ing HIV by up to 97 percent. for opioid use disorder; professional • New laboratory and epidemio- associations; advocates; community- end the HIV epidemic in the U.S.: Di- And stigma—which can be a logical techniques allow us to pinpoint and faith-based organizations; and agnose, Treat, Prevent, and Respond. debilitating barrier preventing people where HIV infections are spreading academic and research institutions, living with, or at risk for, HIV from re- most rapidly so health officials can among others. Engagement of com- Funding ceiving the health care, services, and respond swiftly with resources to stop munity in developing and implement- respect they need and deserve—still the further spread of new transmis- ing jurisdictional EHE plans as well as The Administration and Congress tragically surrounds HIV. Responding sions. in the planning, design, and delivery have approved additional resources to HIV is not just a biomedical issue, With these powerful data and of local HIV prevention and care to begin this multiyear initiative fo- but a social challenge, too. tools, we have a once-in-a-generation services are vital to the initiative’s cused on ending the HIV epidemic in Effective interventions have driv- opportunity to end the HIV epidemic. success. America by 2030. en the number of new HIV infections down to approximately 40,000 per Right Leadership Challenges year—the lowest level ever. However, Priority Jurisdictions recent data show that our progress This initiative is leveraging critical Despite the game-changing reducing the number of new HIV scientific advances in HIV preven- and Phases developments in HIV prevention and infections has plateaued. Now there tion, diagnosis, treatment, and care For the first five years (Phase I), treatment tools, not everyone is ben- are new threats to the progress we’ve by coordinating the highly success- the EHE initiative will focus on 57 pri- efiting equally from these advances. made, the most significant being the ful programs, resources, and infra- ority jurisdictions, including 48 coun- New infections are highly concen- opioid crisis: One in 10 new HIV infec- structure of many HHS agencies and ties, Washington, DC, and San Juan, trated among men who have sex with tions occurs among people who inject offices, including the: Puerto Rico, where more than 50 per- men; minorities, especially African drugs. • Centers for Disease Control cent of new HIV diagnoses occurred Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and and Prevention (CDC) in 2016 and 2017, and also seven American Indians and Alaska Natives; • Health Resources and Services states with a disproportionate occur- and those who live in the southern Our Opportunity Administration (HRSA) rence of HIV in rural areas. In Phase II, United States. Our nation faces an unprecedent- • Indian Health Service (IHS) efforts will be even more widely dis- Further, recent analysis from ed opportunity once thought impossi- • National Institutes of Health seminated across the nation to reduce CDC shows the vast majority (about ble. The most powerful HIV prevention (NIH) new infections by 90 percent by 2030. 80 percent) of new HIV infections in and treatment tools in history are now • Office of the HHS Assistant In Phase III, intensive case manage- the U.S. in 2016 were transmitted available. Areas where HIV transmis- Secretary for Health (OASH) ment will be implemented to maintain from the nearly 40 percent of people sion is occurring most rapidly can • Substance Abuse and Men- the number of new infections at fewer with HIV who either did not know they also be identified. tal Health Services Administration than 3,000 per year. had HIV, or who had been diagnosed By deploying those tools swiftly (SAMHSA) but were not receiving HIV care. and to greatest effect, the HIV epi- The HHS Office of the Assistant Key Strategies These data underscore the impact of demic in America can end. Secretary for Health is coordinating undiagnosed and untreated HIV in the The time to act is now. this cross-agency Plan. Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan nation and also the critical need to for America focuses on four key strat- expand HIV testing and treatment in egies that, implemented together, can A version of this artical appears on the the United States. CDC’s hiv.gov website.

8 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 9 time. We decided to go for routine with that kind of BS. During that time, [HIV] testing together. After, the doctor my self-confidence was boosted. wanted to speak to us separately. We People were showing interest, and I were both finding out for the first time realized I had to see worth in myself that we were HIV-positive. My partner for others to see it.” With that, Lazarus took it hard. He tried to blame me, but is now happily engaged. the doctor explained the science of it Lazarus has a message for all and confirmed that it was actually the Black same-gender-loving Rising Above him who [transmitted] to me. I was community: “We as a people still able to cope and eventually began to need to look at the stigma, not just of heal, but my partner was never really HIV, but of HIV miseducation. A lot of Lazarus Mathis’ able to bounce back.” people are still afraid of dying or being Fortunately, Lazarus was able alone or becoming really sick, but Tale of Empowerment to connect to treatment and support that doesn’t have to be the case. It’s very early. “There were so many miseducation that keeps people from By Gerald Garth programs and groups I was able to getting tested.” get involved with. I realized I still had And for other people living with a lot to learn. Even after diagnosis, HIV: “Get educated. From medication the power of science and treatment science to HIV treatment options, we prepares you to live with, not die from, should know what’s best for us and he biblical figure Lazarus stands HIV.” be able to speak up for what we need. as a symbol of evolution, and You should be working with your T Lazarus Ray Mathis lives up to any Black men are impacted doctor. I believe that’s one reason his namesake. by HIV. The Centers for why I’ve always been undetectable. Born and raised in Dothan, Ala., MDisease Control and Everything comes with side effects, Lazarus left for Los Angeles, Calif., at Prevention cites: so work with your doctor to do what age 18. “My goal was always to see Black/African American gay, works for you. If we don’t have a good more,” he says. Now 32 years old, bisexual, and other men who reported mindset, it makes a difference. Give Lazarus admits that he had a lot to male-to-male sexual contact are our bodies and minds time to adjust learn. “I was always very sheltered, more affected by HIV than any other and commit to being healthy.” but my mom gave me a lot of insight group in the United States and So much of Lazarus’s evolution about life, too. But still, I wanted to dependent areas. In 2018, Black/ has been based on his outlook. get out and try a few things. I guess African American gay and bisexual “I’ve always been open about my you could say I was a bit of a wild men accounted for 26% (9,712) of the [HIV] status. Being out and being child!” 37,968 new HIV diagnoses and 37% brave shows others how to be brave For Lazarus, life experience was of new diagnoses among all gay and for themselves. For me, I want my his greatest teacher. “I learned that bisexual men. lived experience to point people in a lot of people my age will use you if While he connected to care early the direction of their own care and you let them. And I wouldn’t say it’s a on, Lazarus did have a journey to treatment process.” ‘gay’ thing, but a generational thing. get to empowerment. “After finding For Lazarus, his evolution is I wouldn’t say my experiences were out [my HIV status], even though I continuous as well. “You’re not good or bad, but I definitely learned a started treatment right away, for the less than. Anything can be dealt lot. Some of them were shining, some first five years I felt ugly. I had one with—whatever it is—HIV or anything dog-eat-dog. But I learned from them [HIV-negative] guy I was dating tell else. The first years were a lot, but I all.” me during an argument, ‘You’re lucky overcame and you can too. A lot of One of those life experiences was I’m with you.’ This really lowered times, it’s mostly in your own mind with HIV. “Being from a small town, my self-esteem. And after so much first. Love yourself completely, no HIV just wasn’t taught a lot. There are emotional abuse and being cheated matter what, inside and out.” a lot of stereotypes and miseducation on, I decided to be on my own and in general.” prioritize myself.” Gerald Garth is President and Lead Strategist of the Garth Management Lazarus found out he was HIV- Lazarus stepped away from Group, LLC. He can be reached at www. positive just shy of 21 years of age. dating for five years to focus on geraldgarth.com and www.thegarthgroup. “I was actually with my partner at the himself. “I realized I didn’t have to deal com.

10 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 11 r. LaShonda Y. Spencer is a HIV. Working with my community as physician, community advo- well as underserved communities Dr. LaShonda Dcate, mother, wife, daughter, has always been my dream job,” she friend, and a member of Delta Sigma concluded. Theta Sorority. Anyone who has the With the enhancement of anti- opportunity to meet or know Dr. retroviral medication that started Spencer Spencer will agree that she is truly to come out around this time, Dr. purposed and created to enhance Spencer saw a dramatic change Beyond the Surface community and elevate the medical occur in how she was able to take profession. The community responds care of her patients. “Instead of By Greg Wilson well to her efforts. seeing so much death, it turned Let’s go “beyond the surface” into so much life.” Within the Black and take a look into how she manages community, there’s still a lot of to balance it all with such grace and stigma, still a lot of shame. About a smile. this Dr. Spencer remarked, “It just “Growing up, my mom made continues my drive, to teach and sure that we ere exposed to different educate our community, students, avenues in terms of the medical field,” medical providers, to try to combat said Dr. Spencer. “So we participated some of the stigma that we still see. in summer programs that were related Just because people are living longer to the medical field and that was part doesn’t mean discrimination and of our progression into medicine.” stigma has gone away.” “I didn’t know that I would end up As a Black woman physician in in the field of HIV. If you would have a medical profession that is primarily told me 25 years ago, I would’ve never dominated by white men, I asked Dr. guessed it to be true. I do believe you Spencer to share if she’s been viewed end up where you’re supposed to be, or treated differently, and here is what and this is where I’m supposed to be. she had to say: “I grew up in Utah, so I really liked internal medicine and I’ve always been aware of projected pediatrics a lot, so I ended up with a macro and microaggressions, residency in both internal medicine because when we moved to and pediatrics, and it was during my Utah while I was in high school, I residency training that I fell in love experienced that every day. That was with infectious diseases,” she shared. traumatizing in itself, those micro “My infectious disease training aggressions became my norm. Yes, I was during the height of HIV, taking am treated differently, being a Black care of a lot of individuals with woman physician and certainly in a opportunistic infections, and the male-dominated field—although that fact that the people that I was taking has changed and continues to change care of looked like me and my family over the course of my career. I think I influenced my decision to practice had become used to expecting, or not HIV medicine. It was so important expecting, whatever it was going to for me to be a physician that took be but kept focus on my goals. care of our people, keeping in mind I spent a lot of time at USC, and how we want our people to be taken certainly being one of a few Black care of. This is an illness that is so physicians—I think the Black faculty stigmatizing and can be lonely for at USC is only 3% for the medical those living with HIV who do not school—is noticeable, but I wouldn’t have the support they need to thrive. say that I had any challenges directly I wanted to do the best that I could with my colleagues at MCA Clinic or for our patients that were living with the infectious disease division. I had

Spring 21 MESSAGE 13 a good career there. My former boss cousins, my sisters. We’ve certainly ing HIV treatment and prevention we lived by. She is truly the strongest really did help to develop me into the had community service built into us, education for the community, faculty, person I know and that’s where my physician-researcher that I am today and it’s only strengthened with the students, residents, and allied profes- strength comes from.” and put me in good positions to get work that we do through our sorority sionals at Charles Drew University, as Dr. Spencer offered some per- leadership roles. She was a good and community involvement. One of well as participation in research. spective, based on her experiences mentor.” the greatest things I’ve gained/learned “At Charles Drew and the Oasis and lessons learned, that she wanted from being a Delta is sisterhood. It Clinic, we aim to increase the repre- to share with other Black people who orn in Lynwood, Calif., and feels good to have had another family, sentation of Black people and other may be interested in the medical raised between Harbor City, and we are still all very good friends communities of color involved in profession. BCalif. and Salt Lake City, Utah, to this day.” research studies, because it’s impor- “Just continue to follow your Dr. Spencer has experienced different Professionally, Dr. Spencer cur- tant to be well represented to help in- dream, your passion, and where you contrasts of life, shaping the amazing rently serves as a professor of internal crease the understanding of how our want to be and don’t let minor hic- woman that she has become. medicine and pediatrics and is an bodies respond to different therapies. cups and setbacks get in the way, Life is not all black and white, infectious diseases/HIV specialist at Being at Drew and to have investi- because if this is what you want to do, especially for a wife of 23 years and a Charles R. Drew University of Medi- gators that look like the communi- there will be some. We are resilient mother of two. Dr. Spencer is a proud cine and Science (CDU). She’s also ties that we want to study is really people and we can’t forget that. Keep parent of a 20-year-old daughter and the director of the Center for AIDS Re- important, especially for community going, find someone to support you a 17-year-old son. “The joy of my search, Education and Services (Drew engagement. From that standpoint, through this process, and don’t try to world and the best job I’ve ever had is CARES), as well as the medical direc- amongst others, it really feels good to do it alone. Reach out to find a mentor being a parent, a mom,” she shared. tor for Oasis Clinic, taking over for Dr. be at Drew.” that understands you and can help “Being a parent and working full time Wilbert Jordan as he retires. Certainly, Prior to her current position at support you through your journey. is extremely difficult and challenging, stepping into Dr. Jordan’s shoes and Drew, Dr. Spencer was at USC for 18 The most important thing is to stay and all you can do is the best you can, legacy is a huge undertaking. He’s years. When she left there, she was focused on your end goal. We need for your family and your job.” done so much in South LA for those the medical director at MCA Clinic more Black physicians, we need more Dr. Spencer has been a member living with and affected by HIV, so that and also focused on HIV in com- people of color taking care of com- of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is certainly a huge responsibility; yet munities of color, with a keen eye on munities of color. There are plenty of for almost 30 years. The Deltas are Dr. Spencer is equipped and prepared women, infants, and youth/young studies that show that Black individu- instrumental in her foundation around to take it on. adults infected and affected by HIV. als do better when they’re taken care service in community and work. “My Dr. Spencer’s current responsi- She had also conducted multiple of by Black physicians.” mom’s a Delta. My aunt is a Delta, my bilities at Drew CARES include provid- research studies in the field of HIV Dr. Spencer’s focus obviously is and infectious diseases. “I’ve always our community and having our com- wanted to be a physician since I munity be as healthy as possible. She was a child. I always wanted to be a is also excited about being positioned pediatrician, and I don’t know where to mentor other young students and that came from at all.” Dr. Spencer conduct trainings in this field, and to didn’t come from a family of medical increase our numbers in the medi- professionals. “I come from a family cal field, specifically Black men. Dr. of teachers, so I think that if I wasn’t a Spencer pointed out that we have physician I probably would have been fewer Black male physicians attending a teacher.” medical school now than we did 30 years ago. r. Spencer acknowledges that We all have seen the shifts and her strength comes from her changes of this world, and the blatant Dmother and family. Her parents racism, oppression, and violence divorced when she was 12 years old, inflicted upon Black men. I asked Dr. and no matter what was going on, Spencer how this has impacted her her mother displayed an unbreakable life. She said, “Because of the way strength that she has come to Black men are treated in the United emulate. “She was obtaining her PhD States, raising a Black son has really when her kids were in college as well. been a challenge to me. My daughter She just always instilled in us that you as well, but more so with my son be- can do whatever and be whatever you cause I worry about every little thing wanted, and that was the mindset that he does and worry about what

14 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 15 someone’s going to do to him. It is discussing some of their more stressful. When I first found out I was personal issues. Providers also need pregnant with my son, I was excited to be comfortable asking pertinent because I already had a daughter, questions.” but I cried because I was scared. I When asked if there’s hope for an thought, how am I going to bring this HIV cure in this lifetime, Dr. Spen- Black boy into this world and how am cer did not hesitate to respond, “I’m I going to keep him safe? And that’s a hopeful that we may have a functional big challenge and pressure on Black cure in my lifetime. One in which families to keep their Black boys safe. limited therapies will allow one to We do the best we can to protect our go without taking daily medications. son. We try to prepare him for any- In addition, I’m hopeful that we will thing that may happen. I was talking be able to limit the number of new to one of my colleagues that is white infections if we involve our commu- and has a son the same age as my nity in prevention efforts and develop son, and he was shocked by every- prevention therapy options that are thing that we’ve been doing with our acceptable to our communities at son to protect him, and it just wasn’t risk.” a thought in his mind that he would Dr. LaShonda Spencer has have to do all of that. It’s a reality and always shown up in rooms and sat the world that Black families live in.” at the necessary tables to assure our community is advocated for. Dr. rom her position and stance, Spencer currently serves as a mem- I couldn’t help but to wonder ber of the Los Angeles County Com- Fwhat Dr. Spencer considered to mission on HIV, and when I asked why be some of the greatest challenges a seat at this table is important to her, we face in addressing HIV in the she shared that it’s really important Black community, and what it is that to be at the table where decisions we need to do moving forward. Her are being made about the communi- response was precise and clear, ties you serve and represent. “If you “Education, Trust, and Access.” are not at the table, someone else She further explained, “Health will make those decisions for you; literacy is low around HIV and preven- and although well-intentioned, they tion for some members of the Black may not always represent what you community. Education needs to be envisioned.” intentional and based on science and After mastering the role as a not rumor. We need to talk about HIV, modern-day Black Super Woman, to STIs, and healthy sexual relationships decompress, unplug, and relax, Dr. in settings where people congregate Spencer shares that it’s as simple and in the homes to decrease stigma as being with family, taking walks or and increase awareness. Providers hikes, and gardening that does it for also need to be educated on and be her. comfortable with talking about sexual It was truly incredible getting to history without judgment and/or stig- know Dr. LaShonda Spencer be- matizing individuals based on their yond the surface, and in closing, she sexual choices. shared these final words to any young Medical providers need to Black women that may be reading: understand and acknowledge the “Be you, celebrate your uniqueness, mistrust our community has in the and don’t let others define you.” medical establishment. The provider- client partnership is important to Greg Wilson is the author of develop that trust so that clients are Metamorphosis of a Heart. He can be able to connect and feel comfortable reached at [email protected].

16 MESSAGE Spring 21 producing and delivering 300 million Americans of color have been less doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by Janu- likely to enroll in clinical trials for these ary 2021. vaccines, and others still in develop- The circumstances of the pan- ment. Of the 350,000 people who’ve A History of demic necessitate a quicker than usu- registered online for a coronavirus al development process, which has clinical trial, 10% are Black or Latino, fostered misperceptions from many according to Dr. Jim Kublin, executive Mistreatment Black Americans that corners are director of operations for the CO- being cut. Having a normally yearlong VID-19 Prevention Network. That’s Black Americans process of developing and distributing less than a third of the total U.S. a vaccine telescoped into a matter of population these two groups account months—along with the name Opera- for: 31.9%, according to U.S. Census Distrust the New COVID-19 Vaccines tion Warp Speed—doesn’t instill con- data from 2019. Further, Centers for By Dezimey Kum fidence in many Americans, according Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to Dr. Shirin Mazumder, an infec- data show that more than half of U.S. tious disease specialist at Methodist COVID-19 cases have been among LeBonheur in Memphis, Tenn. “In the Black and Latino people. hen a COVID-19 vaccine ed to reach so-called “herd immuni- vaccine development trials, usually a “Like most of the other trials… becomes widely available to ty”—the level at which the virus will no vaccine takes about 15 to 20 years to the white participation just outpaces W Americans, Brianna Clarke longer be able to spread through the develop, that’s what’s normal,” says BIPOC communities. We need to says she won’t be taking it. population—but Dr. Anthony Fauci, Mazumder. Because of how quickly be very proactive and mindful about “I don’t trust the vaccine,” the the director of the National Institute the COVID-19 vaccines have been ensuring that enough spots are allo- 22-year-old says. “I think it’s too of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, developed, she points out, “we don’t cated to POC so by the time trials are soon to have a vaccine.” Clarke, who predicted at a recent Harvard event, have long-term data. Moderna and over, we don’t see the vast majority lives in Willingboro, N.J., is among a that the number will need to be some- Pfizer have short-term data, it’s only of the spots allocated going to white significant number of Black Americans where between 75% to 85%. a couple of months… the long-term counterparts only,” says Dr. Michele who are skeptical of the healthcare data is pending.” Andrasik, who works at the COVID-19 industry in general and, more specifi- eanwhile, there’s a real That might be one reason that Prevention Network, a government cally, the COVID-19 vaccines recently concern that the distrust developed by pharmaceutical compa- Mpublic health officials face nies Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. with Black Americans could impact Over the past couple of weeks, the country’s ability to reach that goal. the U.S. has averaged in the neighbor- According to a late-August/early- hood of 200,000 new COVID-19 cases September poll by the Kaiser Family per day, and about 2,500 related Foundation and The Undefeated, deaths, according to data compiled by some 70% of Black Americans John Hopkins University. Still, many believe that people are treated Americans like Clarke are reluctant to unfairly based on race or ethnicity get vaccinated. when they seek medical care. It is The rollout of the first autho- a feeling born of unequal access to rized coronavirus vaccine, from care and intensified by the pandemic, Pfizer-BioNTech, began on Dec. 14, which is disproportionately ravaging marking a critical moment in the U.S. Black lives, both physically and ’battle against rising COVID-19 cases. economically. Distribution of Moderna’s vaccine, Since May, the rate at which authorized for emergency use on Dec. the COVID-19 vaccine development 19, began the following week. But for process—what the Trump Admin- these vaccines to truly turn the tide istration dubbed “Operation Warp of the pandemic, there will need to Speed”—is taking place has triggered be near-universal willingness among fear and paranoia, particularly among Americans to get the shot. There’s still Black Americans, that the ultimate uncertainty about exactly what num- product could be unsafe. Operation From 1932 to 1972, in research now known as the Tuskegee Experiments, the U.S. Public ber of Americans need to be vaccinat- Warp Speed has been charged with Health Service lied to African-American men to study the effects of syphilis untreated.

18 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 19 pandemic-response group housed in the mid-1940s. Dozens died as a in the National Institutes of Health. result. The study did not end until it “It’s about ensuring that we are being was exposed by the press in 1972 and transparent, providing accurate in- has gone down as one of the nation’s formation in a timely manner, and we most egregious examples of medical as researchers, as well as a scientific racism. community, are showing that we are But medical racism does not end trustworthy.” there. Researchers have documented A poll released by the Kaiser many ways that Black patients are Family Foundation on Dec. 15 re- treated differently from white patients vealed that among racial and ethnic in the U.S. For example, in its 2018 groups, Black Americans are the annual report, the Agency for Health- most hesitant to get a vaccine, and care Research and Quality, part of they continue to remain skeptical. In the U.S. Department of Health and the survey, 35% of Black adults said Human Services, found that 40% of they definitely or probably would not the measures of healthcare quality get vaccinated, and were more likely the agency assessed were worse for than other groups to cite concerns Black people than whites. about side effects and the newness of the vaccine. That tracks with the ince the era of American Freeman A. Hrabowski III and Jacqueline Hrabowski, who both volunteered for Phase 3 results of a Pew Research Center slavery, Black people have trials of Moderna’s COIVID-19 vaccine. poll published earlier this month, in Sfaced mistreatment from which only 42% of Black Americans many medical institutions. Like the family to even learn of, we have never who are Black, participated in a said they would consider taking the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Henrietta been compensated for it.” Phase 3 clinical trial for the Moderna vaccine, compared to 63% of His- Lacks, who died in 1951 of cervical These examples of malpractice Vaccine, conducted by the University panic and 61% of white adults. These cancer, reflects the profiteering of are far from forgotten by the Black of Maryland School of Medicine. “I surveys come as the nation’s top Black bodies in the name of the community. And all the while, the am from Alabama,” says Hrabowski. health leaders urge Black people to advancement of science. Lacks community has suffered incalculable “All my life, I knew about what was trust the vaccine, hosting live events entered John Hopkins Hospital damage due to ongoing and repre- done to Black men and how they with Black health professionals at the seeking medical attention—and hensible health care disparities— were abused, and the awful tragedy forefront. not receiving the same standard of which have only been exacerbated by of the Tuskegee experiment. So, I In the focus group conducted care as white Americans. During an the current pandemic. A November can understand people questioning in early October by Kaiser and The exam, her white doctor sampled her study by the American Heart As- the motives of people when they talk Undefeated, Black participants cited cells without her consent. For years, sociation showed that Black and about the study.” systemic racism for their vaccine her own family had no knowledge Hispanic people have made up nearly “But we must believe in the hesitancy, noting the infamous, that Lack’s cells were still alive in 60% of COVID-19 hospitalizations in science, in spite of the challenge of government-backed Tuskegee scientists’ labs, until they eventually the U.S; a disproportionate number our history and the way we’ve been Syphilis Study. The U.S. Public Health discovered that scientists had used that researchers attribute to societal treated. The reason I say that is, what Service Study at Tuskegee began those original samples to fuel a structures reinforcing health dispari- choice do we have? Disproportion- in 1932 with the goal of tracking the cell line called “HeLa cells,” which ties among racial and ethnic groups: ately large numbers of Blacks are damage the disease does to the hu- has generated billions of dollars disparities in socioeconomic status, contracting the disease and are dying. man body. Without informed consent, in pharmaceutical research and lack of access to health care, and to It helps for people to know that there the study enrolled 600 Black men, development. Black Americans being more likely to have been people of different back- including 399 who had syphilis, ac- “My great grandmother and work essential jobs that increase the grounds, different racial backgrounds, cording to the CDC. The participants my family is one of the most well- likelihood of exposure. in the development of the vaccine.” were tricked into believing they were known examples of what happens As of Dec. 21, participants in on- receiving free medical care but were to African Americans in a medical reeman A. Hrabowski III, the going Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine stud- instead just observed for a study of industry, in reference to how we president of the University of ies are 10% Black or African Ameri- untreated syphilis. The men were feel about our mistrust issues,” FMaryland at Baltimore County can, 13% Hispanic, and 4% Asian, told they were being treated for “bad says Veronica Robinson, Lack’s (UMBC), and his wife, Jacqueline, according to a company spokesper- blood,” and did not receive any treat- great-granddaughter. “Because want to change attitudes about the son. That’s actually relatively repre- ment for their illness—not even after they launched a multimillion-dollar vaccine in the Black community— sentative of the U.S. population, at penicillin was found to cure syphilis industry, which took 20 years for my and save lives. The Hrabowskis, least compared to the usual make up

20 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 21 Nurse Michael Lowman gets his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Reginald Eadie, president and CEO of Trinity Health of New England, has been nurse practitioner Christie Aiello at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. working to build trust in the new coronavirus vaccines within Black communities.

of drug studies, says Andrasik, of the ethnicity when determining vaccine ing equity across the trials,” says Black community will be critical to get COVID-19 Prevention Network. “They allocation and the way it might be Andrasik. increased buy-in to the vaccine. “Oth- are not perfect, but they are closer to interpreted in court. For instance, A CDC advisory group voted Dec. erwise, we would have a community representing the censuses than the strict judicial scrutiny would not 20 that front-line essential workers will that has unanswered questions and actual disparate impact of COVID.” permit health care workers to skip be next to receive COVID-19 vaccines, unaddressed concerns—a narrative While the medical industry insists white people waiting in line for a in part to address racial disparities that is directing their decisions—and it is moving with deliberate speed vaccine in favor of a person of color, exposed by the pandemic. States and they would, in my opinion, be mak- toward diversity and inclusion in as Lawerence Gostin, a professor local governments have tried different ing a decision that’s not based on the experimental drug trials, some say of global health law at Georgetown strategies to contain the pandemic for facts,” says Eadie. prioritizing racial minorities is unlawful University, wrote in October in the months, including shutting down busi- Eadie has had frequent conversa- and unethical. “The issues with dis- Journal of the American Medical nesses and having people work from tions with Black community leaders to tributing the vaccine and who should Association. Gostin also noted that home. But a recent report from the explain how the development process get the vaccine first are really contro- public health agencies can not legally Urban Institute indicates such strate- works and to address fears of receiv- versial and contentious,” says Jarvis distribute vaccines to geographic gies have little protection for com- ing a vaccine that’s being rolled out in Chen, a social epidemiologist at the locations based solely on race. munities hit hardest by the virus and record time. “There were more than Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Across all clinical trials, the who disproportionately hold jobs that 200 people who attended our last Health. “There has been some… de- National Academies of Sciences, must be done in person. Research- conversation. We did a survey prior to bate on whether we should be target- Engineering, and Medicine says ers found that Black, Hispanic, and our presentation, asking people how ing vaccines by race/ethnicity,” geographic priority should be given Indigenous workers are more likely likely they are to take [the vaccine], “On one hand, communities of to communities that are high on the than white workers to have jobs that and 38% of the audience said yes color have been disproportionately CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index, must be done in person and in close right away.” But after the conversation, affected,” says Chen. “On the other which identifies communities most contact to other employees, putting he found that many of those who had hand, there’s a lot of discomfort and endangered and in need of support them at an increased risk of contract- said no had changed their mind. That, lack of trust.” during or after disasters. The index ing coronavirus. Eadie says, suggests a path forward: utilizes Census data that takes into But allocating vaccines for these “You need to create ambassadors, ith a limited supply of shots, account various socioeconomic, at-risk communities doesn’t solve then that vaccine hesitancy that com- the deadly virus has turned demographic, and housing vulner- the need to overcome the mistrust of munities of color are concerned about Wallocation decisions into an abilities. the health care system that for some will begin to mitigate or disappear.” ethical dilemma. There are ongoing “I don’t think it’s about prioritiz- is deeply rooted. Dr. Reginald Eadie, concerns about the legal objections ing one community over the other; it’s president and CEO of Trinity Health This article originally appeared in Time to any framework that uses race and about ensuring inclusivity and ensur- of New England, says outreach to the magazine.

22 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 23 A Profile in Courage Richard Hamilton Seroconverted at 40; AIDS Turns 40 in 2021

By Victor Yates

n 1996, scientists discovered two about. If your mother belonged to the startling statistics regarding race church, she wouldn’t tell her mission- Iand access (or lack thereof) to ary sisters that her child had AIDS.” healthcare. One, the number of new “The first person I told was my AIDS cases diagnosed in the country stepmother. I was fortunate. Magic declined for the first time since the Johnson announced that he was height of the epidemic in the 80s. positive and he [looked healthy]. Two, the virus remained the leading That’s how she coped with it. She cause of death for Black people liked Magic.” ages 25-44. During the same year, Even though HIV altered the after losing a considerable amount course of his life, the diagnosis pur- of weight, Richard Hamilton visited posed his life. He transitioned from the free clinic in Inglewood. The first working as a full-time in-home health rapid HIV diagnostic test kit had not aide to HIV activism. yet been invented; therefore, Hamilton “One of my greatest accomplish- waited two agonizing weeks, praying ments is [inclusion] in the Faces of for the flu and not his worst fear. Hope photography exhibit. It had peo- Before learning the results, he ple who were battling addiction and stated, “I had a feeling of impending HIV. It had a photo of the person and doom. Most of my circle of friends a statement from them. I was excited had HIV and had expired from AIDS. about doing it and fearful. Besides The first person that I knew that had Magic Johnson, nobody around me or HIV was in 1988 and they died. And I in my neighborhood was open about was waiting to die.” HIV. The people that were open were The test results confirmed his the people who had AIDS and died worst fears that he seroconverted, like Arthur Ashe and Ryan White.” becoming HIV-positive at the age of 40. In 2021, AIDS will turn 40. We n 2002, Hamilton was unanimously spoke with Hamilton about 25 years voted onto the Second Super- of living with HIV, his life before Ivisorial District’s HIV Commis- AIDS, and where he is now with his sion and served on the board from diagnosis. 2002 to 2008, where he represented “The white community embraced HIV-positive men of color. In 2003, white gay men, but the Black com- Hamilton was named chairperson of munity didn’t embrace Black gay the National Black HIV/AIDS Aware- men. It was something you didn’t talk ness Day in Los Angeles.

Spring 21 MESSAGE 25 3 Three ITMT community programs need your help. King-Bremond Youth Scholarship Fund The Safe House Transitional Living Initiative Grab & Go Weekly Food Support

“I received a budget of $2,000. Blvd., right by the [John C. Argue] At the time, I was working for the Swim Stadium. I lived in the Jungle U Minority AIDS Project. We were able and thought my neighbors would to purchase T-shirts and march in recognize me and throw bricks at You can make a difference. the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. my house or burn it down. People We had over 250 people wearing our stopped me and congratulated me.” Help In The Meantime help our community by making a contribution. bright orange T-shirts with National ITMT is a grassroots movement, Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on the rom 1996 to today, the stigma of the people, by the people, for the people. front. When I saw that sea of people surrounding HIV and AIDS has walking down the street I thought Flessened due to advanced that was my biggest accomplishment medications, the discovery that then.” undetectable HIV patients receiving 3 LA’s Martin Luther King, antiretroviral treatment cannot Jr. Parade is America’s largest transmit the virus to an HIV-negative celebration of the life and legacy of sexual partner, and even a potential You can donate three easy ways. Martin Luther King, Jr., attracting cure. In 2019, at the Conference Call 323-733-4868. thousands along the 3-mile parade on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Visit www.inthemeantimemen.org and click the donations button. route to Leimert Park. Infections, scientists announced the Send a check or money order to: “I believe my biggest accomplish- “second cure of a person with HIV” In The Meantime, Box 29861, Los Angeles, CA 90029 ment now is staying alive and surviv- by a bone marrow transplant from a Make your check payable to In The Meantime and indicate ing. I’ve beaten addiction. I’ve beaten donor who was “genetically immune HIV. We got to a place with HIV where to HIV.” Known as the “Berlin Patient” in the note section which program you’d like to support. it wasn’t fearful. Right now, if you ask and the “London Patient,” both people would you want coronavirus or received bone marrow transplants to HIV? People will tell you HIV. We don’t treat life-threatening hematological know a lot about coronavirus [but] we cancer. have a vaccine. We are 35 years into “I’m no longer worried about the [HIV] pandemic and we still don’t HIV. I’m worried about getting older have the vaccine.” in this society. Coronavirus came out “Working in the field of HIV of nowhere and now we have a cure. helped me to be hopeful. I’m more I want [scientists] to also work on a hopeful now than I was in 1996.” cure for HIV.” Arriving at this point in his life took vulnerability and accepting that Victor Yates is a writer, editor, and writing to create greater visibility for HIV in workshop instructor whose debut novel, A Love Like Blood, was recently released by the Black community he had to give it Hillmont Press. His website is victoryates. a face. wordpress.com. You can follow him @ “I was on a billboard on King writervicyates. Join the Movement. Support In The Meantime.

26 MESSAGE Spring 21 relief fund for community members to move health bills forward and that provided groceries and essential remove sexist and racist politicians items and a clothing exchange, while such as West Hollywood City adapting Tribe Chat and Melanin Councilman John Duran from office. Magic group space to virtual to uplift To expand its reach, UWC col- We Will the Black trans community, especially laborated with TransLatina Coalition as pride season began to approach. and FLUX to provide Small Bites, In the third quarter, UWC a daily lunch program. Fundraising Always Thrive continued to do great work in light of went into full gear with UWC produc- the pandemic. It aligned with Break ing a community celebration with The Binary, LLC, and launched the Downbeat Entertainment in August, a Unique Woman’s Coalition “I Want My Roses” campaign to rally virtual event that set a new standard allies to help support Black trans for online gatherings. Needless to say, Celebrates a Full Year of Activities community members by donating UWC hired its first intern to attend to to them directly using CashApp or the growing needs of the community. By Cordelia Donovan Venmo. It also partnered with the To address the epidemic of the Redline Gay Bar & Restaurant to murder of Black trans women, UWC celebrate Stonewall Riot’s 51st launched the “How Many Days Since nique Woman’s Coalition Anniversary by providing the a Trans Person Was Killed” campaign is a West Coast grassroots community with a hot lunch. to bring awareness to the senseless Unot-for-profit community Many community members, killing of Black trans people across service provider established in 1997 including two performers from the world and to get allies activated to by community pioneer Queen Chela RuPaul’s Drag Race, hosted fund stand with and for trans justice. Demuir. It is the largest and longest raisers. Brooke Lynn Hytes hosted running Black-led trans organization a Cameo fundraiser while Gia Gunn n the final quarter of 2020, UWC in Los Angeles. Being a collective hosted virtual workout sessions. celebrated the 20th anniversary of voice to address the emerging needs The Black Lives Matter ITransGiving by providing meals to of Black trans culture is the mission. movement erupted, and UWC was 74 families and successfully trained The strength of this organization there to continue to advance Black aspiring youth as ambassadors as a comes from community engagement trans culture. Visibility and activism part of its Young Leaders Program. and mentorship. became even more paramount. UWC It also coordinated the first “For Us Like many not-for-profits, 2020 and members of the community By Us” Trans Day of Remembrance has been an unusual year. It has been painted the trans flag at the celebration in Los Angeles. The especially challenging for the Black purpose of the event was to center trans community as it faces a triple the lives of Black trans community pandemic. Like previous years, UWC while also celebrating the resilience of members took this opportunity to the trans community. step-up, and show up during these UWC efforts this year could turbulent times. Their year has been not have been made without the full of action and milestones. assistance of community, members, volunteers, and sponsors. n the first quarter, UWC hosted Last year has tested UWC’s a movie screening for Trade, resilience while realigning and re- Ilaunched “The Future is Black” energizing its commitment to Black and #BlackTransHistory campaign in intersection of Santa Monica and trans culture and the community addition to opening the Melanin Magic San Vicente Boulevards in West in which it serves. With this same Healing space. Queen Chela Demuir Hollywood. energy, UWC is poised to continue In the second quarter, COVID-19 The group strategically partnered growing and expanding its service struck and UWC had to shut down community by getting new office with BLAC and became planning and efforts. its offices instantly with California space, taking programming virtually, partners for the All Black Lives Matter You can learn more about the Unique Governor Gavin Newsom’s stay-at- and exploring new partnerships with March. In the spirit of activism and Woman’s Coalition and how you can home orders. UWC had to pivot as its community. UWC responded to heightened political awareness, UWC support the organization by donating time, an organization in order to assist its the pandemic by creating a COVID-19 made calls to senators and governors privilege, or money at thewuwc.org.

28 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 29 thing that I need. Third, I learned to knew God had more for me to do here.” trust myself and hold myself account- A few scientific journals pub- able when decisions are not the best lished peer-reviewed articles on the to make. Fourth, I learned not to wait need to explore alternative therapies Collective Wisdom for someone to do for me what I am for combating coronavirus. The Jour- capable of doing for myself.” nal of Alternative and Complementary Dion continued, “I learned how Medicine published an article by of the Village to edit people, places, and things. I William Bushell in June. Bushell found started cleaning my closets. I didn’t that “certain meditation, yoga asana realize how liberating it was to let go (postures), and pranayama (breathing) 23rd Annual Candlelight Ceremony of things that no longer served my life. practices may possibly be effective People and places fit into that as well.” adjunctive means for treating and/or By Victor Yates Organizing consultant Marie prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection.” Kondo agrees that cleaning has psy- The journal, Cancer, published chological benefits such as boosting an article by Julienne E. Bower in your mood. One of Kondo’s six rules 2015. The study found six weeks of includes asking yourself if an item twenty minutes of “daily mindfulness he word reflection comes from the Jeffery King, the Executive sparks joy. If it does not, get rid of it. meditation resulted in a significant Latin word, reflectere. Reflectere Director led a meaningful meditation downregulation of a proinflammatory Tcontains the prefix “re,” which to create a sacred space and allow he chief medical officer for gene and a significant reduction of means back, and “flectere,” which individuals to pause and focus on their the County Mental Health proinflammatory activity.” means to bend. Therefore, the word breaths. After the meditation, King TDepartment, Dr. Curley Bond, A yoga instructor, Denise, spoke means to bend something back. When posed two questions. The first, what discussed the impact of the pandemic about the unseen benefits of prac- we pause to reflect we bend inward. In helped you get through 2020, and the from the perspective of an essential ticing yoga. “It has been helpful to December, In The Meantime curates a second, what did you learn? worker. “When COVID hit, I was be of service to hundreds of people thoughtful experience to allow guests A long-term supporter, Kenneth, packing for a trip to Italy to study their [through] teaching yoga. To see the to reflect on the year. Because of the opened up the conversation. “Con- health care systems for the mentally joy in people who haven’t moved in a coronavirus pandemic, the 23rd Annual nection, love, service, developing a ill. I didn’t get much sleep for the while.” Candlelight Ceremony moved virtual, daily routine, and learning how to use first couple of months. I have seen Continuing on with alternative but it was covered with beauty, wisdom, my breath of life,” helped him survive the ravages of COVID and how it has therapies, Clive stated, “I use guided and intimacy. the pandemic. affected the homeless, people living meditation because I need extra About 50 white candles lit up the “2020 had a direct impact on in poverty, and especially Black and focus. I use it in the morning, then go main meeting room at the Carl Bean me financially. My business came to brown people.” into yoga.” House as meditation music played. A a screeching halt,” Glenn, an event Over 18.6 million people worked Breyon, a therapist, stated, “Self- three candlestick holder with a bold planner in Palm Springs, said. “I had in the healthcare industry in 2019. care is important. Self-care doesn’t African mask set out in front stood out to learn resilience and how to tap into Among healthcare workers, people have to look like a massage. That can in the dimly lit room. The candlestick the universe.” of color account for the majority of simply look like being at home with holder represents In The Meantime’s Originally from Arkansas, Jeorgie coronavirus cases and deaths. “More yourself and meditating.” mission to center Blackness and com- traveled back home and visited a fam- than half (53%) of confirmed cases The youngest person in atten- prehensive health. ily member’s gravestone. Upon return- among healthcare personnel were dance, Xavier, ended the conversation Senior Manager, Greg Wilson ing to Los Angeles, a sweet smelling among people of color, including with a message of hope. “God pre- started the event by reading an ap- rose bush outside their apartment was 26% who were Black, 12% who were destines things in our lives. Some- propriate poem titled, In The Mean- like a switch allowing Jeorgie to be Hispanic, and 9% who were Asian by times he allows things to happen to time. “In the meantime, I will hear my present. “I’ve been so busy in my life July 2020,” according to the CDC. get us back in alignment.” brother speak his word that all is truly that I never stopped to smell it. My dog Bruce, who moved to Vegas to If language could be converted well within me, within us … and I will did. I saw the bush before the pan- be closer to family, talked about the into medicine, the wisdom spoken acknowledge the truth of my day.” The demic, but I never really looked at it.” harsh reality of COVID. “This summer healed everyone. poem continued, “In the meantime, Dion, a chef from Detroit, sur- time I almost died twice. During the I will hear my brother speak as an prised the group with a laundry list of time that I was in the hospital, I didn’t Victor Yates is a writer, editor, and writing individual and yet affirming that we are lessons learned. know where to go or turn. I was told workshop instructor whose debut novel, A one. In the meantime, I will listen as “I learned that no is okay. No Love Like Blood, was recently released by I would have to be on dialysis for Hillmont Press. His website is victoryates. he is telling his story only to hear him does not diminish me. It [allows me] to the rest of my life. Then, I was told wordpress.com. You can follow him @ telling my story.” redirect. Two, I already have every- I would never have to do dialysis. I writervicyates.

30 MESSAGE Spring 21 Spring 21 MESSAGE 31 What’s Up @ In The Meantime • Brothers Reaching Brothers Weekly Social Discussion Group • PPE Distribution • BoiRevolution Youth Initiative • Grab & Go Food Support • Case Management • Project Elevate (Social Justice Advocacy/Billboard Campaign) • Message Magazine • The Safe House (Housing Assistance Initiative) • 12 Step Recovery Meeting • Black Gay Men’s Wellness Month • PrEP/PEP Education and Navigation • Community Outreach/Condom Distribution • HIV Testing/STD Screening Linkage • King-Bremond Scholarship Fund • One-on-One Peer Counseling In The Meantime Men’s Group The Premier Organization for Black Gay Men in Los Angeles 2146 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 323-733-4868, 818-441-1216 Testing Hotline inthemeantimemen.org • [email protected] f I @inthemeantimemen