Category Archives: Public Health

How might the Delta variant impact seniors?

By Barrett White Most seniors have received at least one dose of the vaccine.   While headlines may be discouraging, we cannot give up hope. The Delta variant is restarting fear of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and over the last year and a half, guidelines have changed from “guidelines for everyone” to “guidelines for the …

August 20 is Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

By Barrett White Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day raises awareness of the impact HIV has on people living in the Southern U.S.   Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (SHAAD) is observed annually on August 20. The Southern AIDS Coalition originally initiated this observance in 2019 to bring awareness to the disproportionate impact of HIV in the South. …

No more daily pills? PrEP may soon be available as an infrequent injection.

By Barrett White Tired of the blue pill? A new, more effective version is on the way – and you don’t have to take it daily.   We have long touted PrEP as the best tool in our toolkit for ending the HIV epidemic. This sentiment remains true, and with new drugs on the horizon …

World Breastfeeding Week 2021: The Benefits of Breastfeeding Your Baby

By Carolina Boyd, Communications Associate This week is World Breastfeeding Week. Every year since 1992, August 1-7 has been set aside as a time to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding. This year’s global theme is “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility.” With the world still in the midst of a global pandemic, it is …

July is Minority Mental Health Month

Minority Mental Health Houston

By Barrett White TW: Mental health outcomes. Mental health is often overlooked in minority communities in the United States. Let’s change that.   Across the country, millions of people face the reality of living with a mental health condition. Legacy observes National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month each July to bring awareness to the struggles …

July 14 is International Nonbinary People’s Day

By Barrett White July 14 is annually observed as a day where we can especially uplift those who identify as nonbinary, celebrating the great diversity of the LGBTQ+ community.   July 14 is International Non-Binary People’s Day. This observance celebrates the great diversity of the LGBTQ+ community by highlighting gender diverse individuals and telling their …

Ending Asian & Pacific Islander HIV Stigma Starts Here

May 19 is National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. By Barrett White   May 19 is Asian and Pacific Islander HIV Awareness Day. The observance was first celebrated in 2005, an effort spearheaded by API Wellness. In the beginning of the AIDS crisis, the epidemic predominantly affected white gay men. Presently, the most …

Legacy Celebrates the LGBTQ+ Community May 17

May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. By Barrett White   In 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder, a decision that activists called long overdue. In 2004, the anniversary of the decision, May 17, became the international observance day to celebrate and empower the community. The International …

Celebrating Lesbian Visibility Week

By Barrett White Lesbian Visibility Week is observed each year on April 26 – May 2.   Lesbian Visibility Week has been observed every April 26 – May 2 since 2008. Here locally, the lesbian community has a long history of activism, community building, and endless strength in the work for LGBTQ+ equity: one of …

Exciting Progress in the Development of an HIV Vaccine

Evidence suggests an upcoming vaccine trial looks promising. By Barrett White   Preliminary data from a clinical trial by The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California looks promising, and suggests that a new HIV vaccine may be on the horizon. The trial was attached to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). “These are very …