Bay Area Community Health Celebrates Pride

Blog Contribution by Bay Area Community Health

As a community health organization, it is a vital part of Bay Area Community Health’s (BACH) mission to serve every member of our community and create as much healthcare equity as possible. One form of this effort shows itself through BACH’s service as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, in which we offer multiple programs as well as actively participate in community events.

Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. During this time there are multiple events such as picnics, workshops, concerts and parades. BACH staff and community members actively participated in multiple events during the month such as the Out at the Fair event at the Alameda County Fair Grounds on June 19, the S.F. TransMarch on June 24, and of course, the S.F. Pride events June 24 and 25 at which BACH hosted two health booths with multiple staff and volunteers to provide support and information about our programming to community members.

Bay Area Community Health’s dedication to the LGBTQ+ community goes far beyond the month of June. BACH’s TransVision Department is an award-winning program recognized internationally as a dedicated ally to the transgender community. The program’s primary goal is to lower HIV infection rates among the Trans community by providing educational information, care services and outreach. This includes the tabling events held at multiple BACH clinics on National HIV Testing Day (June 27) where staff members handed out take home self-test kits as well as answered questions and provided guidance to BACH’s support and programming options.

“It is incredibly rewarding to be a part of an organization that takes the support and care of the Trans and LGBTQ+ community so seriously.” Janelle Vinson, Program Supervisor. Vinson went on to say, “The resources BACH dedicates to the TransVision program continues to grow and allow us to further advance the high level of support we are able to provide our members.”

The TransVision program has now expanded to not only provide education and care to its members, but further support through programs such as the Girls Connection support group held every Tuesday, and the clothing swap program that has grown with the expanded hours of the clinic, now open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m – 5 p.m. Bay Area Community Health is proud to support these, and every community member in its efforts towards quality, accessible and equitable healthcare. If you would like more information on these and other programs BACH has to offer, please visit our website https://bach.health/ or to go directly to our TransVision program visit https://bach.health/transvision.