Minding Your Health - Study Looks at the Mortality of HIV-Positive Smokers

A new Danish study found that HIV-positive individuals who smoke lose more years of life to tobacco than to the HIV virus. It is important to note that Missouri and the Midwest are in one of the few areas in the nation where HIV is still on the rise. It is also important to note that smoking rates are higher in this part of the country than in many other areas. The study found that a 35-year-old HIV patient who did not smoke was likely to live to age 78, while one who smoked was likely to die before age 63. Learn more about this study at: www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/health/smoking-cuts-hiv-patients-lives-more-than-virus-study-says.html?_r=2&
The battle continues in the courts over gay conversion therapy and two states, California and New Jersey. They are trying to prove why it is unethical and dangerous. The biggest problem with Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (conversion or reparative therapy) is that it most likely keeps clients in a mode of self-deprecating thinking. The premise of reparative therapy focuses on heteronormativity (heterosexual expressions of sexuality) as being the only valid form of sexual expression. This could create an internal conflict that perpetuates a cycle of inadequacy. It’s important to remember that every major medical association in the United States has deemed conversion therapy as an inappropriate and ineffective treatment approach. Learn more about the legal cases pending in both states: www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/01/21/gvsb0121.htm
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a report in response to the Institute of Medicine’s “The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding.” The NIH announced plans for expanding research regarding LGBT health-care disparities. There is a call for stronger data collection, a focus on career development, an emphasis on smoking and health, as well as a focus on specific underserved populations, such as transgender people. A response to the report can be found at: www.nih.gov/about/director/01032013_lgbt_plan.htm
Treating transgender children and adolescents has become an area of controversy over recent years, as more enlightened parents and their gender-variant children are being referred to gender treatment earlier in life. Questions include: Should treatment be aimed at helping transgender kids accept the bodies into which they were born, or should parents, clinicians, and schools accommodate their wishes to transition? Gender Spectrum is a great resource for parents seeking more information on their gender-variant children: www.genderspectrum.org/. The Journal of Homosexuality recently published a special issue focused on treating gender-variant children and adolescents, including clinical approaches and responses. The special issue was reprinted as a book, recently released by Routledge press: www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415634823/

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

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by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

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Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

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