Jay Lassiter

New Jersey

Reporter and Columnist at InsiderNJ

i have more restraint than I get credit for. Not the porn star. writer.

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Articles

A Somber World AIDS Day 2024 at The White House

Dec 2, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

The AIDS Memorial Quilt was on display for the first time on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on Sunday, December 1, 2024, President Joe Biden’s tribute to World AIDS Day. Advocates, survivors and activists braved a chilly day to hear remarks from the president, as well as First Lady Jill Biden and Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, one of the most consequential figures in the history of AIDS activism.
Insider NJ's 2024 Out 100: LGBT Power List (PDF)

Nov 11, 2024 | insidernj.com | Jay Lassiter |in Edward Edwards

Insider NJ’s 2024 Out 100: LGBT Power List (PDF) Welcome to Insider NJ’s 2024 OUT 100 Power List, a tribute to politically influential LGBTs in NJ Politics. The LGBT Power List in 2018 was intended as a one off. I was tempted to sign off with last year’s list but let’s be honest, it was a juicy year in NJ politics as reflected in the composition of this year’s list.
Appreciating the Latest HIV Treatment Options

Oct 15, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

Daniel Meyer, MD, has been caring for people living with HIV for decades. He’s encouraged by the emergence of long-acting injectables to treat the virus. “This is the future for HIV treatment,” says Meyer. “And I think patients also appreciate the fact that they have another option.” He should know. As the medical director for comprehensive health services, infectious diseases and LGBTQ health at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Meyer speaks from experience.
HIV Treatment Is Intersectional

Oct 15, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

There’s a growing list of reasons why different people living with HIV are switching to long-acting injectable therapy to manage the virus. Some switch because it’s more discreet than taking and storing pills to treat HIV. That’s particularly advantageous for folks who aren’t out about their status to their family or roommates. And since switching maintains their undetectable viral load, they cannot transmit HIV via sex.
Personal Considerations for Switching HIV Treatments

Oct 15, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

Like most people, I love having options. And after living with HIV for over 30 years, the idea of newer, potentially better pharmaceutical options to manage this disease is always an enticing one. When I learned about long-acting injectables to treat HIV that enables people to swap their pills for two shots every over month, I was eager to learn as much as I could about this novel therapy.
Long-Acting Injectables as Harm Reduction

Sep 3, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

The idea that long-acting injectables to treat HIV are useful for marginalized populations isn’t new. Because of the stigma they face, drug users and sex workers in particular would derive great benefit from long-acting injectables, according to Cole Zaccaro, manager of harm reduction services at the Prevention Resource Network in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Zaccaro considers long-acting injectables a harm-reducing imperative.
An American Living With HIV in France

Sep 3, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

Long-acting injectable medications enable people living with HIV to stop taking daily oral treatments. Currently, such injectables can be administered just six times a year. This novel therapy can be a godsend for those who’ve experienced adherence issues with their meds, including unhoused individuals, who may have nowhere to store their meds, as well as anyone with an unpredictable schedule or who travels a lot for work. Matthew is not one of those people.
Long-Acting Injectables as LGBTQ Health Care

Sep 3, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

Family physician Justin Schweitzer, DO, is the director of LGBTQ health at Cooper University Hospital in Collingswood, New Jersey. After opening LBGTQ health centers at multiple hospital systems, Schweitzer’s goals are straightforward: to provide high-quality, culturally competent health care for LGBTQ people in southern New Jersey. Schweitzer’s caseload includes over two dozen people on a long-acting injectable for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV.
Getting Comfortable With Long-Acting Injectables

Jul 15, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

Lamar McMullen of Miami is positively evangelical about long-acting injectables for HIV treatment. Currently, only one such medication is approved for injection every other month; others in the pipeline are intended to last even longer. Since giving up his once-a-day pill for a long-acting injectable, McMullen has been pleased with the results. “My labs are spectacular,” he says without hesitation. McMullen also likes the peace of mind that came with his switch to an injectable.
Heart of the Matter

Jun 24, 2024 | poz.com | Jay Lassiter

Alicia Diggs, MPH, is a busy woman. Currently wrapping up her PhD in public health education, she’s driven by a desire to improve the health care system for women and people of color. A Philadelphia native now residing in Burlington, North Carolina, Diggs splits her time between her academic pursuits and cutting-edge scientific collaborations with some of the most brilliant doctors and clinicians in the game.