Health Resources, Vaccines Available For LGBTQ+ This Month

LGBTQ people have some additional opportunities to access health care and COVID vaccines this month. 

Oklahoma City Pride Alliance PrideFest organizers are hosting vendors to offer medical resources to LGBTQ people at the three-day event June 25-27. 

Freedom Oklahoma executive director Allie Shinn said that this community has a history of uncomfortable medical care. 

“LGBTQ people have some mistrust with medical communities. This can range from doctors not understanding sexual orientation and gender identity issues, to not understanding how medicines will interact with your hormones,” she said. 

At PrideFest, which is located in Scissortail Park, there will be opportunities for LGBTQ people to seek medical resources designed for them. 

Variety Care will have a presence at PrideFest all weekend. Their teen clinic will have a booth with games, prizes and information on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

Organizers are working to provide confidential rapid HIV testing on Sunday.

ASP Cares pharmacy will be providing STD screenings. 

At PrEP in the Park from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, ASP Cares and some of their community partners will be writing prescriptions for PrEP, a medication that reduces the risk of HIV infection.

“We believe in lived equality, and what that looks like is education and programming and intentional visibility to show people that you belong,” said Rachael Leonhart, board member with OKC Pride Alliance. 

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department and the Diversity Center partnered with Freedom Oklahoma to provide COVID vaccine clinics suited for this community. 

The next clinic is June 18 at the Diversity Center on 39th Street. 

You can sign up for a vaccination appointment at freedomoklahoma.org, and the clinic also accepts walk-ins.