“The main thought is - still in 2026 - that HIV is only in the LGBT community. And that hasn't been accurate for many, many years.”
LGBTQ+ Healthcare Consortium Executive Director Jennie Knight says there are more people contracting HIV now that aren't part of the LGBT community.
“A lot of that, we think, is just the old stigma and the assumptions that it's a queer disease but it’s in all communities now.”
The Consortium launched its Good Vibes education project, focused on HIV prevention, aiming in part to dismantle decades-old stigmas and current misperceptions.
“Within the LGBT community, there's been a lot of education, and there's a lot of talk about it very openly. But in the cisgender-heterosexual community, we just don't talk about it as much, including in primary care, which is where prevention should happen.”
Knight notes that black and brown populations are also seeing an increase in HIV cases.
Good Vibes is partnering with other organizations sharing prevention materials and online education to reach the communities they serve.
“Because the LGBT community has so much knowledge and history around HIV, it's really a privilege for us to be able to share this with others.”
A Good Vibes Partner Information Session is scheduled for June 9th from 5:30–7:30 PM at Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids.
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