QRC hosts Queer Health Fair today

The Queer Resource Center is hosting the first annual Queer Health Fair, which began yesterday, for students and faculty at Portland State. The fair takes place from noon to 5 p.m. in 236 Smith Memorial Student Union.

Cody LaRue, education and outreach coordinator for the QRC, said that the health fair aims to educate people about the specific health challenges that the queer community face. 

These challenges include under- or misrepresentation of queer people by health institutions, especially for those who do not necessarily identify with one gender or another, LaRue said.

A second focus of the health fair is raising awareness about safe sexual health practices. LaRue said that while sexual health is important for all people, it is a particularly big factor for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer (LGBTQ) community. According to LaRue, the HIV/AIDS crisis is one of the most pressing issues. 

Today, the health fair will feature on-site rapid AIDS testing services provided by the Cascade AIDS Project. These confidential AIDS tests only require a swab of the cheek and yield results in as little as 20 minutes.

There will also be a workshop about transitioning from college to the workplace, for which there will be two sessions. The first one will take place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the second from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Other fair events include a workshop given by a social worker from the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC) about managing stress and anxiety. Both the QRC and SHAC will have tables available at the fair where people can learn more about the services and support they offer. 

The health fair is open to everyone, including people from the greater Portland area. LaRue said that there has been off-campus advertising for the event, so people beyond the PSU community may be in attendance.

The theme—just in time for the Valentine’s holiday—is “Love Yourself,” an idea that LaRue believes promotes responsibility and self-worth. 

“Healthy students have an easier time getting good grades and completing their education,” he said.  

SHAC Health Educator Gwyn Ashcome said that the Queer Health Fair is a joint venture with SHAC’s  “Take Heart” program, which also focuses on educating students about healthy sexual relationships.

According to Ashcom, SHAC is using the “Take Heart” program to reach mainly first-year students who live on campus. The program seeks to inform students about methods for fostering healthy relationships with or without sex. Safe sex kits are being distributed around PSU’s residence halls with information about SHAC’s services and the QRC, as well as brochures about healthy relationship practices. ?