OWNER/PUBLISHER
Rick Todd
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Ryan Williams-Jent
CENTRAL FLORIDA BUREAU CHIEF
Bellanee Plaza
CREATIVE DESIGNERS
Caitlin Sause
Dylan Todd
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Kay Yingling
SALES DIRECTOR
Danny Garcia
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Aidan Carmody
Scott Bertani
FOUNDER AND GUIDING LIGHT
Tom Dyer
LGBTQ+-inclusive pharmacies fill community needs
Ryan Williams-Jent
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, LGBTQ+ Americans are twice as likely to experience discrimination in health care.
The nonprofit is the nation’s leading nonpartisan health policy organization. They released the results of their Racism, Discrimination and Health Survey in 2024, which focused on individuals’ experiences with health care from 2020-2023.
Nearly a quarter of respondents shared that negative experiences led to a decline in their health, something that’s likely to have been impacted even more in the years since. KFF released its Health Policy 101: LGBTQ+ Health Policy report in Oct. 2025 which explains why.
“All people’s health and health care experiences are informed by the socioeconomic context in which they live, including the policy environment,” it reads. “Federal and state policy can facilitate or impede access to health care for LGBTQ+ people.”
KFF specifically notes that the federal government has taken executive action to “limit data collection, lessen civil rights protections, restrict access to care, and remove acknowledgement of diverse sexual and gender identities” since the 2024 election.
That’s paired with “a rapid increase in the number of laws and policies impacting LGBTQ+ people’s health, especially, though not exclusively, that of young people,” KFF notes, something Floridians have experienced in recent years, particularly those who are
transgender. Lawmakers passed the state’s largest slate of anti-LGBTQ+ laws in history in 2023.
Advocates say all of this makes prioritizing LGBTQ+-inclusive healthcare essential, services that extend beyond providers and into pharmacies. These partnerships are benefiting patients across Central Florida and Tampa Bay.
Bell Pharmacy is one organization that champions LGBTQ+ health. It opened its St. Petersburg flagship in 2023 to foster “partnerships that ensure access to essential medications without compromising financial stability.”
“When I worked in larger pharmacies, I found that the focus was more on the financial side, the metric side, than it was on the patients,” Bell Pharmacy CEO Dr. Tony Trunzo told Watermark Out News at the time. “We know you by name and we know your needs.”
Bell has since expanded to seven locations across Tampa Bay. Michelle Simmons, part-owner and billing specialist, says that’s because there was a need to do so.
“Bell Pharmacy is what a pharmacy should be,” she explains. “Whether you're contacting us on the phone, whether you're coming to see us face to face, whether you see us out in the community, everybody that works for Bell Pharmacy actually cares about the patient as a whole.
“We try to break down every barrier we possibly can that would prevent somebody from getting medication, whether it be pricing or insurance with a copay that is too high, whatever it is,” Simmons continues. “We try to take away those barriers so that everybody has the opportunity to come in and get what they need.”
That includes transgender patients. In addition to working with Tampa Bay’s Inclusive Care Group and other organizations, Bell specifically partnered with the transgenderfocused nonprofit Trans Network to launch a Trans Health Fund.
Trans, nonbinary and gender expansive individuals with a Florida prescription can receive free Hormone Replacement Therapy and mental health medications at its St. Petersburg location, or via mail after their original visit.
Elevating trans care was critical “because they're part of our community — and when you label yourself a community pharmacy, you're there for everybody in the community,” Simmons says.
“I feel like the transgender community is at the top of the list for whatever's going on politically … and we've seen through partnering with Trans Network just how important it is
“Let the Journey Begin”
Alan Zupka
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, NCC, MA
Teleheath Provider
Serving All Florida Counties
Services are avaliable from the privacy & comfort of your own home.
Most major insurance are accepted
Specializing in LGBTQ+ Issues for:
I am not just an ally, I am family. I provide LGBTQ+-affirming therapy that celebrates your identity.” Together, we create a safe space for healing, growth, and authenticity.
for these patients to get the medications they need,” she continues. “We also employ a lot of people from the LGBTQ+ community, so when you’re walking in, you do feel like you’re family.”
A number of LGBTQ+-inclusive health care organizations are also working to make a difference for patients through the 340B program. It helps vulnerable communities as a part of the Public Health Service Act, which requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to eligible healthcare providers.
Metro Healthy Communities uses its own pharmacy in this way. The organization, formerly Metro Inclusive Health, announced its 2025 rebrand to reflect “the most modern-day version” of its 33-year history as “a network of regional health centers creating healthier communities across Tampa Bay.”
Those efforts have helped grow its Copay It Forward program, launched in 2018. It allows insured patients to support those who are uninsured or underinsured by using the Metro Inclusive Health Pharmacy or one of 60+ partner pharmacies.
As a result, a total of $769,244 in free care and services were provided to patients in 2024. Since 2018, Metro says it’s generated more than $2 million in free and reduced-cost healthcare services through the program.
The organization also offers free prescription delivery, copay support and other benefits, complementing the “quality health and wellness services that are comprehensive, relevant, supportive and represent the lifetime continuum of the people in our community.”
“We’ve witnessed first-hand how expanding regional access supports the growth and long-term sustainability of our Copay It Forward model, strengthening care for those in need,” Metro Healthy Communities CEO Priya Rajkumar says.
The LGBT+ Center Orlando opened its own 340B contract pharmacy in 2025, a partnership with NPS Pharmacy. The initiative
expanded access to affordable prescriptions and medications for the community that the nonprofit has served for over four decades.
It was an extension of its mission to promote and empower the region’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies through advocacy, education, information and support, CEO George Wallace says.
“The Center was exploring 340B for the past couple years,” he explains. He first connected with NPS during a Dining Out for Life conference, the annual fundraiser which supports local HIV service organizations like The Center.
“I spoke with a few other 340B pharmacy companies and decided that NPS was the best fit,” he says. “They work with other LGBT Centers, so I knew they understood our model and community philosophy.”
“We don't look or act like any other pharmacy you've ever seen, and that's by design,” the NPS website notes. “Since our beginning in 2001, NPS has been committed to providing unique, tailored and caring service for our customers, taking healthcare and sense of community to the next level.”
Director of Marketing & Communications David Woodell adds that inclusive pharmacies “play a vital role in making healthcare accessible, affirming and safe for everyone. For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings have created real barriers to getting the care they deserve.
“An inclusive pharmacy ensures all patients are treated with dignity and respect. No assumptions and no judgement,” he continues. “Our pharmacists understand
diverse health needs, including genderaffirming care, PrEP & HIV treatment, mental health support, chronic condition management, and everything in between. Every patient of NPS Pharmacy should feel seen, supported and cared for.”
Wallace says partnerships like these are crucial for the community.
“Talking to a culturally competent provider openly and freely is important to your overall wellbeing,” he explains. “Orlando has many amazing providers and pharmacies already, and The Center hopes to add to the services we are already offering.
“As one of the largest HIV testers in the region, people are familiar with The Center and trust us,” Wallace continues. “We hope to continue growing our inclusive healthcare options and remain a safe space for the community.”
The partnership marked an expansion into Florida for NPS. Woodell says the company focuses “on the patient’s whole health,” noting that “the patient is more than a prescription — they’re a person.”
“Expanding to Orlando means we can be closer to the people and partners who share our commitment to whole-person care,” he says. “We’re not just filling prescriptions — we’re building relationships, supporting an incredible community center at The Center Orlando as well as local healthcare providers, and helping our Orlando neighbors live healthier, fuller lives.
“This is so important because community care isn’t just a service, it’s part of our mission,” he stresses. “We need this compassionate care now more than ever with everything going on in our country, especially toward LGBTQ+ individuals.”
For more information about services and the locations of Bell Pharmacy, Metro Healthy Communities, the LGBT+ Center Orlando and NPS Pharmacy, visit BellPharmacy.com, MetroTampaBay.org, TheCenterOrlando.org and NPSPharmacy.com.
One person’s journey through IVF and into the health care industry
Choosing to have two children by in vitro fertilization as a solo mother was something Athena Reich was ready for.
Reich knew she wanted to have kids but as a queer, 36-year-old woman who was single she understood personal obstacles. Before she researched intrauterine insemination procedures, she got her blood work done and found out she was in perimenopause.
Reich’s levels were up, and her egg quality was likely not good. After being referred to an infertility specialist, she was told she couldn’t do IUI as she wasn’t going to conceive a child with her own eggs.
“I remember thinking there's no way I could rush and co-parent at this point,” Reich recalls. “…My parents got divorced when I was five. They both found love later … there's no reason why I can't just have love and kids, but in a different order.”
IUI is different from IVF because in an IUI procedure, fertilization occurs in a person’s body. A sperm sample is collected and is inserted into the uterus with a catheter during ovulation. This method helps the sperm get to the egg more easily in hope that fertilization will happen. With IVF, the sperm and egg are fertilized in a lab and then placed in the uterus as an embryo.
While Reich did look into adoption and fostering, she knew the best way for her was to have a baby through an egg donor.
Reich has a boy and girl who are three and a half years apart in age. She received support from her mother to be a solo mom by choice as her mother raised Reich and worked full-time.
“What I found really interesting is that all the people my age were panicked for me,” Reich notes. “Like, ‘oh my God, what are you doing? This is a terrible idea.’ And all the women, the older generation, they would grab
me like, ‘this is a really smart idea.’”
From doing research, Reich saw that choosing to be a single mom is different than in other circumstances. She says the main defining factor is economics. As she researched more, she found a whole community of women who are raising kids by choice and doing so alone. The group is called Single Mom by Choice.
“I started to get to know everybody and the research shows that kids do very well,” Reich says. “If you're a single mom by choice then A, if you're going to overcome all of society's stigma, you really want the kid and B, you can afford it.”
More than 8 million babies have been born from IVF since 1978. It’s one of the most effective assisted reproductive technologies available, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Reich isn’t just a mother. She is also a medical student at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine and a national researcher on LGBTQ+ healthcare professional experiences. Her study was conducted under the auspices of OCOM.
She says she noticed that there are healthcare disparities and saw a need for healthcare professionals who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, which led her to pursue a career in the industry. She says the medical community has been trying to reduce disparities among minorities and that the same work is needed to have LGBTQ+ representation on the medical side.
“There's historical mistrust from the medical community, and we should have that because psychiatrists would try to make us straight. So what we found works among Black, indigenous, people of color is to have
representation,” Reich shares.
“My research considered that if we're not comfortable being out, then we're not representing,” she continues. “Of course we should recruit more queer people … but we also have to be safe enough to come out.”
Reich interviewed 40 people in a mix of doctors, nurses and medical students for her study, where she presented the findings at the OCOM Research Symposium. She asked all of them if they have ever experienced or witnessed microaggression due to being a sexual or gender minority. She says two thirds had and that two thirds of respondents were closeted at work.
Her research was presented at the Gay Lesbian Medical Association in Minneapolis. The full study will be published in Cureus Journal.
She acknowledges that patients shouldn’t be afraid to find a healthcare provider they want. Her doctor is queer and makes her feel comfortable to talk about her gender issues.
Whether it’s in seeking to become a parent or any other matter, Reich says LGBTQ+ patients shouldn’t be judged and should find the care they deserve.
To learn more about Athena Reich, visit AthenaReich.com.
The U.S. approved Yeztugo in June 2025, the first and only twice-yearly injectable shot seen by health professionals as the first step in a global rollout that could prevent HIV for millions of people.
The HIV prevention drug is a form of PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis. Routinely taking the prescription medication before a person comes into contact with HIV helps prevent getting HIV through sex, though it does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections.
The drug lenacapavir is made by Gilead Sciences and sold as Yeztugo for preventative measures. It is administered every six months after starter doses.
“This is a historic day in the decades-long fight against HIV,” said Daniel O’Day, chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences after the approval. “Yeztugo is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time and offers a very real opportunity to help end the HIV epidemic.”
Data from Gilead showed that ≥99.9% of participants who received Yeztugo in Phase 3 of its two trials remained HIV negative.
Gilead evaluated it in two “double-blind, randomized controlled trials conducted in HIV-negative individuals, including those who are often underrepresented in HIV prevention trials despite being disproportionately affected by HIV,” they explain.
Its Purpose 1 study included pregnant and lactating women 16-25 years old in South Africa and Uganda. Researchers reported in 2024 that shots administered to around 5,000 young women were 100% effective in preventing new infections.
Its Purpose 2 study included cisgender men, transgender women and men, nonbinary individuals and people who were sexually active with male partners in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South African, Thailand and the U.S.
Organizations in Central Florida and Tampa Bay were among participants, including CAN Community Health.
“CAN researchers helped lead this breakthrough as part of the Purpose 2 study,” they shared in June 2025. “After nearly two decades of findings, Yeztugo offers six months of high-efficacy protection, helping reduce stigma, improve adherence and give people more control over their prevention journey … This is progress. This is action. This is empowering wellness through prevention — on your terms.”
Since Yeztugo is used for adults and adolescents weighing at least 77 pounds, and patients must be HIV negative before and while receiving the drug, obtaining a prescription begins with talking to a healthcare
provider.
Gilead says they will ask you about your medical history, any prescriptions, your sexual health, any past HIV and STI test results and more. Once your provider determines Yeztugo may be the right fit, the next step is to complete an HIV test.
Upon a negative result, providers will prescribe Yeztugo and take the next steps for patients to receive it. For those with insurance, that means receiving coverage approval.
Since the shots must be administered in a medical setting by a professional, providers will then schedule a patient’s injections. The first appointment includes an oral starter dose of two pills. Two injections will follow before two additional pills are taken at home the following day.
“After Yeztugo is injected it stays under the skin and slowly releases over time,” Gilead explains. “Some people may notice … a lump or bump at the injection site while others may not. Yeztugo works regardless.”
Staying on schedule “is key to HIV prevention,” Gilead also notes. “Each dose of two injections is scheduled with your healthcare provider up to two weeks before or two weeks after your six-month mark.”
HIV prevention also requires regular HIV testing. Providers will require negative test results to continue the process — something that is already happening throughout Central Florida and Tampa Bay.
“It’s a very exciting time in HIV prevention to have so many choices for our patients in offering prevention,” says Dr. Antonio Luis, founder of Tampa Bay’s Inclusive Care Group.
“I think the biggest barrier has been access and evaluating people correctly,” he notes. “It’s so important to see a patient and talk to them about all aspects of their life to see where we can impact and offer preventative care options and lifestyle modification.”
The region’s Metro Healthy Communities also offers it. Chief Marketing & Experience Officer Brian Bailey says they “created a waitlist early on for patients that were interested so we could get them on as soon as their insurance providers would cover it.”
“We think it's a great alternative for folks that have difficulty with daily pills,” he adds.
Central Florida’s Embrace Health says the journey has been an exciting one. Founder and President Vickie Cobb-Lucien shares that
their first injections of Yeztugo were given to a Black woman and a queer, Black man.
“Being able to offer Yeztugo to a Black woman — who we later found out was actually the first Black woman in the region to get it — was really special,” Cobb-Lucien says. “The process itself couldn’t have been easier. It’s just two small injections that take less than five minutes total. It’s actually simpler than giving Apretude or Cabenuva!”
Apretude is an injectable medication that you receive every two months to help prevent HIV. Cabenuva is a combination medication that's used for HIV treatment, and it consists of two back-to-back injections on the same day every one to two months.
The challenge Dr. Carl Millner, Chief of Medicine at AIDS Healthcare Foundation, notices with Yeztugo is medical billing versus pharmacy billing.
This means that if it is medical billing the patient has to get prior authorization. He says the pharmaceutical company is aiming to make it less difficult for patients to receive Yeztugo due to the “incredible results this drug has given.”
When it comes to the price of Yeztugo, copays can vary and the medicine is $28,000 a year out of pocket. In the U.S., Gilead is working closely with insurers, healthcare systems and other payers with the goal of ensuring broad insurance coverage for Yeztugo.
Their Advancing Access patient support program can help find financial support options and understand coverage information once prescribed. Providers may have other assistance options and you can learn more at PrEP.AdvancingAccess.com.
“We have found with, particularly if it's a pharmacy benefit, there's usually not a lot of copay,” Millner shares. “When you have to do a prior authorization, someone might have $50,
someone might have a $100 copay. I don't think I've ever seen anything more than that, and that's not every insurance plan. It is always contingent upon what their insurance plan is.”
Cobb-Lucien says most plans including Medicaid are covering Yeztugo without big issues. She notes that Embrace Health never wants cost to be the reason someone can’t access care.
“We actually covered a high copay for one of our patients so she could switch from Truvada to Yeztugo — that’s how strongly we believe in it,” Cobb-Lucien says.
Cobb-Lucien wants patients to know that Embrace Health is not just offering another medication, it is helping them make sure that Black, queer and other underrepresented communities have access to the latest, most effective HIV prevention options.
AHF is the largest provider of HIV PrEP in the country with around 27,000 patients on PrEP. Millner says conversations still need to happen, so people know what to do when taking PrEP and knowing their options as not everyone wants to receive the preventative by a needle.
“The biggest issue with this medication ... is retention on the drug, because people take it episodically; when they're having sex, they're going to take it, when they're not they're probably going to stop,” Millner explains. “But our goal is to make sure that we continue to identify people who need to be on this drug and make sure we have conversations and to make sure people retain and stay on this drug.”
With a drug like Yeztugo, barriers can be broken as Cobb-Lucien thinks it will be much easier for patients to get appointments with only needing to come in two times a year. She has noticed it can be tough for patients to come in every two to three months for labs or refills.
There is also peace of mind that is given to providers, Cobb-Lucien notes. They know patients are covered for the full six months and don’t have to worry about missed doses or people falling outside that seven-day window like with other PrEP options.
“I really believe Yeztugo could be the key to ending the HIV epidemic,” Cobb-Lucien shares. “If every provider offered it as confidently as we promote COVID or flu vaccines, we’d make huge progress in preventing new infections. This medication makes HIV prevention easier, more accessible and more consistent — and that’s exactly what we need to finally turn the tide.”
Learn more about Yeztugo at Yeztugo.com. For more information about services and the locations of AIDS Healthcare Foundation and CAN Community Health, visit AIDSHealth.org and CANCommunityHealth.org. For Embrace Health, Inclusive Care Group and Metro Healthy Communities, visit EmbraceMyHealth.org, InclusiveCareGroup.com and MetroTampaBay.org.
Accessible and affordable vaginal and breast care options are available to those who are assigned female at birth and need it in the Central Florida and Tampa Bay areas. Here are some options that cater to all genders and are empathetic to the LGBTQ+ community.
Harmony Healthcare offers wellness exams for all AFAB patients and are conducted to assess any cervical or breast abnormalities such as cancer or infections. These exams provide pap smears or cervical exams, breast exams and pelvic exams to ensure there is no cancer forming.
"By building a solid foundation of understanding, respect and integrity, we hope to impact as many lives as possible and improve the health of the community," Harmony Healthcare shares on their website.
Early detection of cervical and breast cancers increases the likelihood of survival from these types of cancers. “Approximately 11,500 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed, and about 4,000 people die from this type of cancer,” according to the CDC.
Harmony Healthcare is a not-for-profit organization and has offices in Orlando, Tampa and Kissimmee. Walk-ins are welcome and appointments can be made online.
All Women’s Health Center of Orlando abortion clinic focuses on pregnancy options for AFAB patients. It offers gynecological care, birth control, morning after pills, weight loss services and has specialized doctors for medical abortions. There are ushers that will guide patients safely inside to ensure no patients are harassed when seeking medical care at their clinics.
"All Women’s Health Center of Orlando maintains a caring, confidential and supportive atmosphere at all times," All Women's Health
Center of Orlando states online.
Besides abortion procedures, they have a full range of all gynecological services for AFAB patients offering reduced costs to patients that need financial assistance. All Women's Health Center has numerous offices across the state in Altamonte Springs, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa Orlando, Jacksonville and Gainesville.
Across St. Petersburg, Tampa and Orlando individuals who are in need of healthcare and resources can visit their local Hope & Help center for the necessary care that they need provided by health professions that understand the nuances of LGBTQ+ health care.
Hope & Help has gynecologists at each of their locations in order to provide necessary vaginal care to patients, including wellness exams. Hormone therapy is also provided to patients that are seeking gender-affirming care.
They offer primary care physicians, telehealth appointments, mental health counseling and HIV/STI testing and treatments. They also provide immunizations, condoms, clean syringes and a food pantry.
"Hope & Help also has affordable self-pay options to suit everyone's budget. If you need help paying for your health care needs, ask a team member if Hope Connect is right for you," Hope & Help states on their website. Insurance providers are accepted but not required. Appointments are necessary and can be made online.
Planned Parenthood is a trusted non-profit health care provider, specializing in health care for AFAB patients and sexual wellness with a full range of gynecology services.
They offer low-cost procedures for uninsured patients with smaller procedures. For larger procedures such as abortion, Planned Parenthood can help patients that qualify receive treatment with financial assistance. Patients traveling to an office over 60 miles can be entitled to abortion-related travel expenses if they qualify.
Due to new laws restricting Florida Medicaid recipients from using Planned Parenthood as a service provider they are unable to accept Medicaid. Patients affected by this new law can call 1-800-230-PLAN for help and resources to still access the health care that they need.
All Florida offices offer discounted pricing for teenagers, with offices in Palm Beach County providing some services at low or no cost through grant funding.
Regardless of income, AFAB individuals can seek low-cost help options for their reproductive and gender affirming health care across the state. Local organizations are accepting new patients with open arms and empathetic care.
For more information about services and the locations of Harmony Healthcare, All Women's Health Center, Hope and Health and Planned Parenthood, visit MyHHO.org, FloridaAbortion.com, HopeAndHelp.org and PlannedParenthood.org.
Across Central Florida and Tampa Bay, LGBTQ+ Pride means many things — from Orlando where crowds gather around Lake Eola in October to St. Peterburg’s Grand Central District and the Ybor celebration that makes Pride in Tampa a statewide anchor.
Together, these moments form something larger than any one city. They’re a reflection of how community endures, even in a state where visibility can sometimes feel like resistance. And it’s here that the words of past Prides — like Orlando’s “We the People” — still ring true, even today. Affirmations that community and care go hand-in-hand, and that health belongs to everyone.
That same central spirit continues to guide how LGBTQ+ communities confront ongoing public health challenges like mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). By late October 2025, Florida reported 78 mpox cases, including 26 across greater Central Florida (factoring in Orlando, Tampa and St. Petersburg). That’s progress, but not closure — and for a virus that isn’t necessarily considered a sexually transmitted infection, the patterns are clear: when bodies come together, especially in ways that involve sustained skin-to-skin exposure and the virus is present, transmission can (and does) happen.
All of this underscores why a broad network of LGBTQ+ and HIV service providers across Greater Central Florida play such vital roles in keeping health conversations moving. Clinics like 26Health and Miracle of Love in Orlando, Metro Healthy Communities across Tampa Bay, and Hope & Help in Sanford continue to provide mpox vaccination, treatment and prevention education alongside their HIV and sexual health programs.
Community partners like The Center Orlando, Empath Partners in Care and the Orlando Youth Alliance help connect people to those services, ensuring no one is left out of care or conversation.
A person might first come for an HIV test or a mental health check-in, and that moment of trust opens the door to talk about mpox vaccination or how to navigate a confusing health system. Even without an active mpox outbreak, prevention still depends on
consistent access and affordability in care built by trusted networks and providers.
Most cases — since 2022 and on — have involved gay, bisexual, and samegender-loving men, as well as transgender and nonbinary people. Those who are immunocompromised and living with uncontrolled HIV — often facing ongoing challenges to care — have been hit particularly hard. Across these groups, many — but not all — develop a rash or small, painful sores (like blisters) that can last two to four weeks. Some describe it as feeling like the flu at first — with fatigue, fever or body aches before the rash appears.
All have been linked to Clade II, the milder strain still circulating in the U.S., with a few confirmed Clade I (or Ib—the more severe strain) infections in Long Beach and Los Angeles, California (September 2025) in people who had no recent travel history. Prior wastewater detections of Clade I in Tacoma, WA, and Charlotte, NC, could suggest possible undiagnosed transmission, despite no reported cases. It’s a reminder that real preparedness means keeping education active, vaccination routine, and trust between providers and communities strong.
Getting vaccinated for mpox (or any FDAapproved vaccine, for that matter) shouldn’t feel like an event; it should be as ordinary as managing a refill or picking up groceries on the way home. The same mindset applies to primary, mental and behavioral health, where steady access matters as much as urgency. Building care that lasts beyond crisis response means doing simple things well, like training affirming clinicians, funding local peer navigators and creating spaces where people can ask questions without fear of stigma. That’s the heart of community-based healthcare.
These same networks sustain Central Florida and Tampa Bay’s health response, linking mpox vaccination to HIV care, mental health support, and housing navigation for people living with HIV. In a state where LGBTQ+ programs face shrinking budgets and growing restrictions, that flexibility is what keeps communities ready — proving that LGBTQ+ Pride here isn’t just celebration, it’s the infrastructure of care — and with mpox, it’s fundamental.
Scott Bertani is Director of Advocacy for The National Coalition for LGBTQ Health, which represents the entire LGBTQ+ community, including clinicians, researchers, service providers, and advocates who serve individuals of every sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and age, regardless of disability, income, education, and geography.
The Coalition works to improve LGBTQ health through advocacy, medical and consumer education, communications, capacity building and health services research. It hosts the national Mpox Resource Center and leads The Q National LGBTQ Health Training Center. Learn more at HealthLGBTQ.org.
CRYOSCULPT BODY LAB
407-955-5644
CryosculptBodyLab.com
HEALTH AND
AIDS HEALTCHCARE FOUNDATION –AHF
https://hivcare.org/locations/
CAN COMMUNITY HEALTH
CANCommunityHealth.org
CREW HEALTH
407-605-2252
CrewHealth.org
HARMONY HEALTH
866-553-6755
MyHHO.org
HOPE AND HELP
407-645-2577
HopeandHelp.org
INCLUSIVE CARE GROUP
727-753-7787 ICGFL.com
LOVE THE GOLDEN RULE
727-826-0700
LoveTheGoldenRule.com
MIDWAY SPECIALTY CARE CENTER
813-733-8224 | 407-745-1171
MidwayCare.org
PINEAPPLE HEALTHCARE
PIÑERO PREVENTIVE MEDICAL CARE
407-426-9693
PineroMedical.com
PHC Health & Wellness
727-322-2925
PHCHealthAndWellness.com
HARMONY HEALTH
866-553-6755
MyHHO.org
THE LGBT+ CENTER ORLANDO
407-228-8272
TheCenterOrlando.org
BEST INSURANCE YET, INC.
727-515-4733
BestInsuranceYet.com
Watermark Out News
407-481-2243/813-655-9890
WatermarkOutNews.com
Wine Wine Not: A Queer Podcast
407-481-2243
WatermarkOutNews.com/Wine-Wine-NotPodcast/
COUNSELING A ZUPKA COUNSELING 407-986-2888
AZupkaCounseling.com
PHARMACY
NPS PHARMACY
NPSPharmacy.com
PHYSICAL THERAPY
DAVENPORT PELVIC THERAPY
863-486-3708
DavenportPelvic.com
DYLAN TODD PHOTGRAPHY
727-310-1212
DylanToddPhotography.com
FAIRVILLA
407-425-6005
Fairvilla.com
CREW HEALTH
407-605-2252
CrewHealth.org
HARMONY HEALTH
866-553-6755
MyHHO.org
HARMONY HEALTH
866-553-6755
