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We know this is a stressful time, we hope that our resources are able to bring some comfort in this unstable time. We are experiencing this together!
Consent and Sexual Health Conversation Disclaimer:
Consent and Sexual Health Conversation Disclaimer:
It's important that we increase health awareness around the topics of sex, because sexual partners are sharing fluids and bodily contact, which can permanently affect one's health. Being aware of all the health positives and awareness of potential negatives, is what allows for a person to make an informed decision, which is required for proper Consent. No one should ever be pressured into having sex, which includes any type of convincing, talking someone into, or suggesting something should happen. Consent should be clear and enthusiastic, for all partners involved. Someone should never be so caught up in their own pleasure, that another person's pleasure, comfort, or consent is over-ridden or ignored.
Often people who want to have conversations about sex, are not doing so in a way that is comfortable, consensual, and/or without assumption. These traits can build habits that are predatory, and unsafe for people to engage with. It's vitally important that we learn how to de-sexualize the conversations around sex, so that we can be both clinical and caring about the way we interact with eachother's bodies. If there are people significantly older than you, or that have power over your position in a work place, try to engage in conversations about sex (specifically without your invitation); its likely that they often participate in that type of predatory behavior.
Often people in community don't want to call out the prevalence of the predatory nature in romantic, platonic, and sexual relationships around them, which can cause direct harm to the community. However, we also have to understand the historical roots of abuse and manipulation of AFAB people, and how most AFAB people are constantly at risk of violence from men. When an AFAB person is pregnant, the most likely way for them to die is murder by a man. 1 in 6 AFAB people have been sexually assaulted; all AFAB people know someone whose been sexually assaulted. While these often only mention the extremes, all forms of violence, manipulation, abuse, and assault, are never okay; and we should do everything in our power to not let these systems continue to hold power and take hold of over lives. When people are able to manipulate the systems of which a person must live within, there will always be a lack of consent. Even when we believe we are taking the time to care about autonomy, we need to check in with the people around us to see what we can be doing better. Furthermore, when it is safe, we should do what we can to check in with the safe people around us when we are experiencing potentially abusive behaviors from any person. We have seen the extremes of these ideals throughout the darkest times in our human history, however these hateful and abusive ideals still run strong today. Among the many reasons people should take more time getting to know one another and learning the respect that people are willing to have for one another.
Sexual Education is a vital part of growing up, but not having the information can be dangerous and threatening to their ability to consent and stop unwanted or dangerous behavior from others.
We want to end this with the important statement: When you want to help vulnerable people, and when you want to help people be vulnerable, those environments will always attract predators. Predators are always actively looking for the types of groups and people that will allow them to flourish. It is important that when we do any work, from education on health to activism in the streets, we have to be eyes wide open for predatory behavior /nature in our peers. When handling that predatory behavior we have to be willing to let people respond to being told they are reproducing predatory behaviors or social constructs that cause harm. We must be able to call out these systems that oppress us by being predatory in our communities.
Protection from STI/STDs:
Protection from STI/STDs:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections, (STDs & STIs) are common and need to be taken seriously in order to avoid them. There are many protection options against STD &STIs that include physical barriers between fluids transmission, like condoms and dental dams, but we also have vaccinations and medications that we can get to further protect ourselves from diseases that can also increase our chance of getting cancer.
Condoms
Condoms
Condoms are a typically made of very thin latex (rubber), polyurethane or polyisoprene, that is in a shape that will cover the penis like a tight sock. Condoms are made with several different types of lubricants, some even have spermicide in the lubricant to have an added protectant. As many people will discuss, condoms are not always comfortable for the user or other participants in a sexual act; however, this does not given someone the right to refuse to wear a condom when asked by the other participant(s). Condoms can only be used once per erection. So for every new erection you need to put on a new condom. Condoms also protect from STD transmission but are not always going to be 100% effective, so still get tested often when having sexual intercourse with new individuals.
Dental Dams
Dental Dams
Dental Dams are used when performing oral sex on a vagina, to separate the vagina and the person who is orally stimulating the other person. This protects the saliva from mixing with the secretions of the vagina to protect both individuals from STD transmission. These are often overlooked as a form of protection but can be very helpful to prevent the transmission of anything that could cause further irritation.
Gloves
Gloves
This is a form of protection that is often overlooked, but is easy to access and applies to almost every community participating in sexual activity. If you plan to stimulate someone with your hands and fluids or penetration will be apart of that act, you may want to get yourself some medical grade gloves to use. This also prevents nails and dirt from the hands to cause irritation of the vagina and/or other body parts.
Many people when they are going through puberty receive a set of vaccines to prevent the spread of some extremely common viruses that can actually cause even worse health issues including cancer. For people assigned female at birth, cervical cancer is a large fear, and increase risk has been detected when they have previously contracted HPV in the vaginal canal. The most common vaccine given to both sexes is Gardasil 9, the newest version protecting against even more types of sexually transmitted diseases that lead to other health issues.
"GARDASIL 9 helps protect individuals ages 9 to 45 against the following diseases caused by 9 types of HPV: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females, anal cancer, certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers and genital warts in both males and females." @GARDASIL
For more information on whether or not this is a vaccine right for you, talk to your doctor or contact a local physician to talk about your options.
What is HIV and AIDs?
What is HIV and AIDs?
HIV and AIDS are two components of each other. HIV is the initial infection and the syndrome that occurs in the body with extreme immuno-affects is the AIDS diagnoses. When someone is diagnosed with HIV in our current day, they can likely go on meds to make sure they are not effected as much by the infection and are less likely to infect others.
When the HIV and AIDS epidemic began in the late 70s and 80s, the government of the United States refused to call for nation attention and concern. Instead they delayed research and refused treatment for 100,000+ people, majority of which were homosexual, black, and considered a group not worth helping. For 10-20 years HIV and AIDS was considered a homosexually transmitted disease- which we now know is never a plausible statement. For 2 of those early years, we didn't know what to name HIV, and it was named GRID (Gay-Relations Immuno-Deficiency); and was changed 2 years later to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV and AIDS has for a long time come with a stigma and fear from others that the virus can be transmitted easily, while we know it can only be transmitted via blood and semen or vagina fluids.
Since HIV can be transmitted via blood, it's important that we talk about how you can also get HIV and AIDS from sharing needles and certain drug methods. If you believe you could become exposed or have been exposed to HIV make sure to go to a local hospital or doctor to get a prescription for PEP or PrEP. These drugs save lives, and should be discussed more publicly to call attention to how we can slow the transmision of some diseases.
In recent years we have come out with several drugs that have effectively ended a majority of AIDS diagnoses after HIV diagnoses. People who believe they may be exposed to or could become exposed to, can take one of two drugs below, so that their chances of getting an infection from the virus is less likely.
Prep (the medicine)
Prep (the medicine)
Prep is a medicine used prodominently by people who are possibly likely to encounter a transmission of HIV from a person who is infected. The drug effectively prepares the body to evacuate and fight the transmission. The drugs effectiveness is 99.9% when taken regularly to stop the transmission of HIV. Of course call your doctor to see if any of these medicines would be right for you.
PEP
PEP
PEP is a medicine used predominantly by people who have encountered a possible transmission of HIV from a person who is infected. The drug effectively enters the body to evacuate and fight the transmitted HIV viruses. The drug's effectiveness is dependent on how fast you are able to take the durg after intercourse. After 72 hours the effectiveness is much less, and is often taken in precaution regardless of testing status of the possible transmitter. You can often receive it through an emergency care office or the ER hospital in your area (as it is considered an emergency precaution). Of course call your doctor to see if any of these medicines would be right for you.
Planned Parenthood Sexual Health Glossary (From Different Health Conditions to Activism Information)
Planned Parenthood Sexual Health Glossary (From Different Health Conditions to Activism Information)
Disclaimer: All people can get STDs, Stevie's video goes in depth on what types and when and how to get tested for STIs and STDs.
"The microbiome is the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that naturally live on our bodies and inside us. Although microbes are so small that they require a microscope to see them, they contribute in big ways to human health and wellness. They protect us against pathogens, help our immune system develop, and enable us to digest food to produce energy.
Because the microbiome is a key interface between the body and the environment, these microbes can affect health in many ways and can even affect how we respond to certain environmental substances. Some microbes alter environmental substances in ways that make them more toxic, while others act as a buffer and make environmental substances less harmful."
Why is it important that we discuss the relationships we have with other people when it comes to the hygiene of our immune system and body? Well there are many reasons, but to start: we share our microbiome with our closest community members. When we share food, space, bodily fluids, etc. with our community, we are sharing our microbiomes. If you live with other people, you share dominant parts of your microbiome with them. We all share many of the same biometric make up in our microbiomes without directly sharing those microbes; however, the specific types or mutations can vary person-to-person.
When we are sharing our enviroment with others we have to ask ourselves if the environment were in is conducive to good hygiene practices. We are aware that many people don't have readily access to safe hygienic environments, due to the criminalization of homelessness and lack of access for most health conditions. We have people in our community who have to take their health very seriously, and for these individuals, thinking about their community support can be hard without us all having access to microbiome education. It's vitally important that we remember disability, and immunocompromisation is not someone's choice, they are forced to live their life under those regulations, because if they don't they are at a higher risk of death.
There are many good microbes, and as we've learned there is one microbe-cell for every human-cell in our bocies. We know that our personal, communal, and regional microbiomes are a big piece of our health and hygiene puzzle. When we are moving long distances, or changing our environment all together, we are more likely to experience exposure to microbes that could become pathogens for us.
Sharing space with community should be fun and without social pressure to risk your health, thats why having shared-community-values can help people feel better about sharing that space. We know that the more we lack strength in our community values, the more we are likely to be exposed to things we didn't consent to. Having a good sense of your community, through conversation and criticism, can make one feel a lot better about the potential risks of being in that shared space.
There is always more research being done!
There is always more research being done!
If you would like to help us write about commonly silenced areas or personal experiences you may have with these topics, contact us at thisisactivism2023@gmail.com or fill out our Comments page. We want our website to be a continuous growth of knowledge to share with each other in a positive way. There are so many things we don't talk about and we should!
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