HIV Is Part of Our History. Care Is Part of Our Future.

LGBTQ+ history is all around us, made visible in the moments that have made our communities stronger, safer, and able to thrive on our own terms. October, as LGBTQ+ history month, is a time to celebrate how far we’ve come. Spectrum Medical Care Center in Phoenix honors our heritage by telling the truth about the challenges LGBTQ+ people have faced and remembering those stories to shape how we continue to care for one another as we look toward the future.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is central to our history. It is a period colored by profound loss, grief, and injustice. And yet, it is also a story of remarkable courage: the courage of people to care for friends when others would not, to advocate for system-wide changes, and to promote healthcare that delivers treatment with dignity and humanity. 

The efforts of our LGBTQ+ elders and forebears are why we’re able to provide compassionate, evidence-based HIV care, and that care has come a long way since the early days of the crisis. The virus no longer has the same grim prognosis or heavy stigma it once did, but this history and its impact on our communities is still being written. That’s why culturally competent care, accurate education, testing, treatment, and support without judgement is still so important today.

Dr. Howard Grossman: HIV Care Trailblazer 

As Medical Director at our LGBTQ+ health clinic, Dr. Howard Grossman uses his experience living through the HIV/AIDS epidemic to inform Spectrum Medical’s personalized and respectful care model, from HIV testing to ongoing treatment. In a recent mini documentary, Dr. Grossman shares his perspective from the forefront of HIV care in the 1970s onward, honoring the people and breakthroughs that led to where we are today.

Click here to watch the seven-minute video.

In the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis, there was panic about the “gay plague,” and calls to round up LGBTQ+ people to put them in camps. Through community advocacy and shifts in healthcare, though, people like Dr. Grossman were able to rewrite the narrative and ultimately revolutionize medicine for the better.

“I can give that person who’s newly diagnosed incredible hope,” Dr. Grossman says in the video. “The fact that somebody who’s 23 finding out they’re infected is going to live a normal lifespan and live a healthy life, I didn’t know that was going to happen 25-30 years ago.”

The Crisis Isn’t Over, but Changed 

With more understanding and access to treatment, HIV is no longer incorrectly seen as a “gay” disease, but a virus that we can test for and treat. People living with HIV come from all backgrounds, and can lead full, meaningful lives. Our tools to manage HIV are better than they’ve ever been, including rapid testing, antiretroviral treatment, PrEP, PEP, and the knowledge that people living with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load do not sexually transmit HIV (U=U).

However, while we now know that anyone can contract HIV, certain communities remain vulnerable due to barriers in prevention, testing, treatment, and healthcare access, particularly gay/bisexual men, transgender individuals, and members of Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities. And stigma, misinformation, healthcare inequality, and homophobia are still keeping people from accessing the care they need to be well.

LGBTQ+ history teaches us that the fight against HIV/AIDS may be different now, but it isn’t over. There are still many actions to take to help chart a healthier future for everyone.

Today, over 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, with tens of thousands of people diagnosed every year. In some ways, we are losing ground in the fight to fully suppress the virus; not because the tools aren’t available, but because too many people still lack access to sustained testing, care, and treatment. For some people, this can result from health barriers. For others, a lack of adequate information or the misconception that HIV is over can lead people to contract and/or transmit the virus without realizing it.

Because HIV is still here, that means the work is also.

Act Up, Show Up 

The advocates, patients, and providers who came before us didn’t wait for others to solve the HIV crisis. They organized. They cared for each other. They fought for a healthier future, demanding accountability and dignity from the institutions that were supposed to serve them. As we reflect on this LGBTQ+ history, the continued struggle against HIV is a reminder of the responsibility we share to keep working toward the eradication of the virus.

What does showing up for that look like? Sharing accurate information about HIV and educational resources, supporting people living with HIV, and challenging stigmas about the virus when you hear them. It also looks like being proactive about your individual and community health.

Because every time you get tested, make informed decisions about prevention, or foster open conversations about HIV, you’re helping normalize basic sexual healthcare and making it easier for the next person to do the same. Thankfully, LGBTQ+ individuals have more tools to test for, prevent, and treat HIV than at any other point in our history. The right approach will look different for everyone, so come by Spectrum Medical to speak to a provider in a safe environment to understand your options. We are here to help you make decisions that fully fit your life, relationships, and overall health goals.

HIV tools/resources at Spectrum Medical include:

• HIV testing: Knowing your HIV status is a critical first step to staying informed. CDC guidelines recommend HIV testing at least once for every person aged 13-64, with more frequent testing for people with certain risk factors (such as multiple sexual partners). 
• PrEP: Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP for short, is medication for people who do not have HIV and want ongoing protection against acquiring it. It is available in a daily pill or a regular injection (every 2 or 6 months). A provider will help you determine which form of PrEP is a good fit.
• PEP: Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP for short, is emergency medication that may help prevent HIV after a possible exposure. If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, it’s important to start PEP as soon as possible (within 72 hours). 
• HIV treatment: For people who test positive for HIV, starting and staying on treatment can help reduce the virus in the body to an undetectable level and ensure a long, healthy life. When a person on HIV medication maintains an undetectable viral load, they will not sexually transmit HIV. This is a groundbreaking evidence-based principle known as Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U.
• Ongoing support without stigma: Everyone deserves clear, confidential, and respectful care that’s free from assumptions. Whether you need a test, prevention guidance, HIV care, or partner/family support, Spectrum Medical providers are trained to meet your needs with expertise and compassion.

Your Health Matters

HIV/AIDS may be a difficult history, but it is also a story of people choosing care over indifference and community over isolation. At Spectrum Medical, we are honored to carry that commitment forward through comprehensive, affirming HIV care for Arizona’s LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV. You can also honor this community legacy by making the decision to care for yourself, because that has an impact far beyond one appointment.

Schedule an HIV test, ask about PrEP, connect with HIV treatment, or establish primary care with Spectrum Medical today. Together, we’ll honor where our community has been while focusing on healthier days ahead.