Sussex Pride recently joined Centerlink and over 150 LGBTQ community centers around the country calling on the CDC to take additional action to address the recent spread of the hMPXV virus. The hMPXV virus, or monkeypox, was declared a national public health emergency Aug. 4, by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
The letter asks for several specific steps from the CDC, including the following:
- Providing funding that can be distributed to LGBTQ+ community centers that are on the ground daily educating, vaccinating and treating patients
- Increasing the number of available vaccines
- Expanding testing and increasing patient access to testing
- Collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data throughout the duration of the outbreak
- Releasing clear and consistent data so that everyone throughout the U.S. is able to understand the outbreak and make informed decisions on how to protect themselves.
As executive director of Sussex Pride, I see that LGBTQ community centers know firsthand how the hMPXV virus impacts our communities. Now is the time to advocate.
CenterLink is a nonprofit organization and member-based association of LGBTQ centers and other LGBTQ organizations serving their local and regional communities. CenterLink works to strengthen, support and connect LGBTQ community centers. Find out more at www.lgbtcenters.org.
Sussex Pride, a member of CenterLink, is a new nonprofit working to celebrate, strengthen, and support the LGBTQ+ community in Sussex County and the state of Delaware.
To read the full letter, go to sussexpride.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CDC-Letter-2022.pdf.
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