TheBody.com

Nov 19, 2024 | thebody.com | Alex George

We often hear about the struggles that trans women face. These include discrimination, structural violence, physical violence, and lost employment opportunities because of their gender expression. Such stress can literally kill a person, and for trans women with HIV, new research shows that this may be more common than previously known. Stress factors into a leading cause of death among trans women with HIV: cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Jun 2, 2024 | thebody.com | Alex George

Last week, I learned that my longtime friend Joey had died. It feels inappropriate to call him simply a “friend” when, for most of our relationship, he served as my gay father. His sudden passing is a painful loss to his partner, family, and friends. It is also a clear reminder to our community of how important advance care planning is.

May 16, 2024 | thebody.com | Alfredo Moreno

Like many other countries, Mexico has experienced its fair share of stigma against people living with HIV. As occurs in the U.S., the cause is religious bigotry, homophobia, or machismo―the perceived link between being born male and acting masculine enough―as well as a general lack of education regarding sexual health. Fortunately, there has been progress in recent years, thanks in no small part to Alaín Pinzón. 14 years ago, Pinzón learned that he was living with HIV.

Mar 26, 2024 | thebody.com | Andy Carstens

The endocrine system is a group of glands and organs that make hormones to help control many other systems in your body. For example, the endocrine system supports metabolism and reproduction, it can influence your sex drive, and it helps you respond to stress and injuries. “Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, it’s been noticed that various endocrine systems have been affected,” says Todd Brown, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University.

Mar 1, 2024 | thebody.com | Ekemini Ekpo

In a 1982 interview, author, filmmaker, and activist Toni Cade Bambara stated, “As a cultural worker who belongs to an oppressed people, my job is to make revolution irresistible.” The power of her statement impressed upon readers that if the severity of injustice alone were enough to inspire radical change, it would be hard to imagine there being anything left to fix.