from Michael Dale Kimmel of Life Beyond Therapy: I'm not Catholic, but I have been a fan of Pope Francis from the get-go. He seemed to be a harbinger of change for the Catholic Church: he said, "Who am I to judge?" when asked a question about gay people in 2013.

People living with and vulnerable to HIV, along with HIV providers, scientists, and advocates, face a draconian tipping point: the Trump Administration proposes to radically cut HIV prevention, treatment, and research for life-saving and cost-saving services and interventions. In recent weeks, several offices of critical importance to the national HIV response within the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, have been targeted for severe program and staffing cuts. If there were any doubt of the administration's intent to neuter federally funded HIV infrastructure, this week a leaked copy of the administration's forthcoming FY 2026 HHS budget request would clearly eviscerate funding for HIV prevention, research and other efforts to end HIV as an epidemic.

Allentown, PA Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is proud to announce that Admiral (ret) Rachel Levine, MD and Adrian Shanker will be joining us as featured speakers at our 2025 PA LGBTQIA+ Health Summit on June 3rd at the Mack Experience Center.

The Erie County HIV Task Force invites everyone to participate in the 8th Annual HIV / AIDS Awareness Walk on Monday, May 19th. We will meet behind the stage in East Perry Square, 575 State Street, Erie, PA, at 5 PM. We will walk around North and South Park Row, circling Perry Square, and everyone is encouraged to wear red to help raise HIV awareness. PA Thrive Partnership is providing on-site HIV testing. All ages are welcome, and the event is child and pet-friendly. (Please be prepared to clean up after your own pets.) People participating as organizations are welcome to represent their group/organization. If you don't wish to walk the entire route, you are welcome to join us at any point along the sidewalk around Perry Square.

From Michael Dale Kimmel of Life Beyond Therapy: Mirror work is something I first tried about forty years' ago. I went to a workshop where author/teacher Louise Hay encouraged people to talk to themselves in the mirror. I thought it was pretty weird and resisted it, at first. But today I frequently use it in my counseling practice and in my personal life.