Joy and Identity in Every Community

Joy and Identity in Every Community

How affinity groups help serve individuals and unite us all 

GUEST BIO:

Jose Ramos is the founder of Impulse Group, as well as the AHF’s National Director of Sales.

Queen Victoria Ortega is International president of Flux and Chief Visionary Officer at the Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center, as well as a volunteer with AHF.

Edwin Elan is National President of Loud, Latino Outreach and Understanding Division

Chela Demuir is Vice President of Flux, an organization that aims to raise the profile of the trans and gender-nonconforming community.

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[2:07] - About Affinity Groups

An essential role and partnership

Affinity groups are groups that are specific to an individual demographic within the community served by AHF, designed to take more focused advantage of AHF’s resources. It’s about taking a group of people and determining their unique needs and how AHF can serve them and help them most effectively.

[8:27] - More than a Disease

Why sexual health and education are so vital

One of the issues relating to sexual health in communities is pathologizing, or the consideration (and ‘treatment’) of trans communities based only on a mindset of disease and sickness. But this misses the larger context when breaking down the numbers around economic health and other factors in the trans community. Affinity groups and AHF resources work together to generate economic empowerment and community health.

[10:28] - Health & Education in the Latino Community

Overcoming misconceptions and miseducation

In the community of Latinos and gay men as a whole, misconceptions and miseducation abound. It’s important that it’s well known that antivirals are very effective, and there are preventative methods available. New diagnoses can be preventable if people are educated and empowered.

[15:00] - A Narrative of Joy

Changing the perspective on black trans people

Coverage of the black trans community is often bleak, pessimistic, and focused on suffering. But Flux helped change the narrative with a photo series and program called Black Trans Joy, showing the joy, highlights, achievements, and journey of the community and proving that it’s not all trauma. It’s been a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and helping black trans people become seen and heard in their fullness of experience.

RESOURCES:

• [1:21] About Impulse Group
• [1:27] About Flux
• [1:27] About Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center
• [1:41] About the Latino Outreach and Understanding Division

FOLLOW:

• Follow Lauren Hogan: LinkedIn
• Follow AHFter Hours: Instagram

ABOUT AFTER HOURS:

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, operating in 45 countries globally. The mission? Providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy for everyone, regardless of ability to pay.

The After Hours podcast is an official podcast of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, in which host Lauren Hogan is joined by experts in a range of fields to educate, inform, and inspire listeners on topics that go far beyond medical information to cover leadership, creativity, and success. 

Learn more at: https://www.aidshealth.org

ABOUT THE HOST:

Lauren Hogan is the Associate Director of Communications for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and has been working in a ser