the monkeypox threat to the lgbtq+ community

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local public health partners, are tracking 3,487 cases of monkeypox in the United States as of July 25, 2022. Although gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men make up a significant proportion of the cases identified to date, the risk is not limited to the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. Monkeypox is not a "gay disease" and we will have to work together as a community to prevent stigma from being attached to a group of people who are already marginalized and discriminated against.

monkeypox symposium

On August 24, 2022, The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network hosted a Zoom summit with local-area healthcare professionals to discuss how to recognize, prevent, and treat the monkeypox virus, which began spreading earlier this year, particularly amongst men who have sex with men.

​Visit www.mass.gov/monkeypox to learn more about the disease and stay informed. If you have monkeypox symptoms, contact your doctor. Seven Hills Behavioral Health in New Bedford is giving out the monkeypox vaccine. Call for an appointment: (774) 634-3725, Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Availability is limited.

thanks to our dedicated healthcare partners

We would like to thank our South Coast partners in health for their support and participation in the 2022 Monkeypox Symposium.