May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month!

We recognize the diversity within the AAPI community and celebrate what AAPI individuals bring to their communities and thank them for their perspective. Also, we know that many disparities still exist systemically that create additional barriers for AAPI folks in their communities, when seeking health solutions, and in other areas of society!

We designed Q Care Plus with intersectionality in mind. What is intersectionality, you might ask? It’s defined as the complex, cumulative way different forms of discrimination combine, overlap, or intersect.

We recognize that people whose LGBTQ+ or gender identities intersect with marginalized, racial identities typically have more systemic barriers to accessing medical care, especially for HIV!

How does this play out? Here’s an example: The Trevor Project recently released groundbreaking data that concluded LGBTQ+, AAPI youth are at a higher risk of negative mental health outcomes, such as depression and suicide. Why is that? The study found that when young are experiencing an intersection of homophobia and racism, mental health outcomes tend to be more severe than the general population.

Intersectionality also influences health access.

According To the CDC and HIV.gov:

• The number of HIV cases among AAPI folks increased over the past few years.
• Within the AAPI population, gay and bisexual men are the most likely to contract HIV, accounting for 89% of new diagnoses.
• Unfortunately, 1 in 5 AAPI folks living with HIV are unaware that they have the virus.
• 43.1% of Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) have never gotten tested for HIV.
• Asians and Pacific Islanders have low PrEP coverage compared to other ethnic groups in the U.S.

Q Care Plus is Focusing on Intersectionality in HIV Prevention Solutions

No Othering

When seeking medical care, you don’t want to feel “othered.” No one wants to feel like they do not fit into the “normal” profile of a patient seeking treatment. No one wants to speak to a medical provider who does not recognize every aspect of their identity.

At Q Care Plus, we work diligently to hire diverse staff from a variety of backgrounds. We also prioritize patients receiving care in their native language, which is why we work with interpreters who we can connect with in seconds so every patient is communicated with in the way that works best for them!

No Homophobia

We built Q Care Plus from the lens of LGBTQ+ individuals who have received negative care surrounding HIV and wanted to forge a different experience for people moving forward!

Because Q Care Plus hires its own medical staff, we vet our medical providers to make sure they have specialized in care for LGBTQ+ individuals and will respect your chosen name, pronouns, sexual history, and other aspects of your identity.

Because who you are and how you identify matters.

No High Cost Associated With Care 

Within the conversation of intersectionality, we must recognized that marginalized groups have less access to care because of financial cost related to Preventative HIV medication and because of systemic discrimination that leads to greater financial need.

There is no shame in that, and Q Care Plus is here to provide long-term, hassle free HIV prevention care that is at little to no cost!

Talk. Test. Treat.

This month, we encourage everyone to have conversations around the accessibility of HIV. However, we recognize that awareness+action=social change. So, if we want true social change, talking isn’t enough.

Set up a profile with Q Care Plus and we will send a test kit to your door free of charge!

Once you get tested, go get treated! If you are HIV positive, don’t panic. Q Care Plus will help you find an affordable, affirming doctor in your community. If you are negative, let’s get you started on PrEP!

Join the conversation on social media at @getqcareplus and learn about AAPI influencers you should follow.

Sources: The Trevor Project and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention