Stay Ready: Black Trans Guides for Liberated Living

Let’s be real — for a lot of us, just thinking about getting tested for HIV or STIs can induce anxiety. Whether it’s the waiting, the stigma, or just the awkwardness of it all, testing can bring up a lot. And for Black trans and queer folks, that stress can be even heavier while we’re out here facing doctors who misgender us, clinics that are hours away, and a system that often acts like our health doesn’t matter.

But getting tested is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and your community. We know so much more now than we did a generation ago. Testing is quicker and easier than ever. HIV treatment and prevention have come a long way, and people living with HIV have full, thriving lives and loves. 

Taking control of your sexual health says, I care about my body, my pleasure, and my people. And there’s no reason to let fear or shame stop us.

Here are a few tips on how to make the process feel less like a punishment and more like an act of freedom.

The next few months are dripping with festivals, concerts, day parties, and other large-scale events where spontaneous meetups can be affirming or exhausting, fun or risky, freeing or anxiety-inducing. So how can you protect your peace, your health, and your joy while making the most of everything summer brings your way?

As Memorial Day and the summer season approach, so do many exciting travel plans. Trans and nonbinary folks—especially those who are Black, Brown, Muslim, or visibly gender-expansive—deserve to travel with safety, joy, and dignity. We know that this world can be cruel and target us for our differences, but you don’t have to tolerate mistreatment, and instances of mistreatment are not your fault. In other word — don’t let them people play with you!