As monkeypox (hMPXV) spreads in the community, so does confusion, fear and misinformation. The Los Angeles Blade and partnering agencies are organizing a Monkeypox Town Hall to help provide information on the situation, explain the science, and answer the questions many in the LGBTQ community have about the transmission of monkeypox and the experience of having it. The moderated Townhall is being conducted by the Los Angeles Blade and is sponsored and endorsed by a variety of community organizations: The Los Angeles Blade, the City of West Hollywood, California State Libraries, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, APAIT, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, TransLatin@ Coalition, BlackAIDS.org, Latino Equality Alliance and Equality California.
The panel discussion will include representatives from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to discuss the disease and available vaccines, Dr. Matthew J. Mimiaga, Vice Chair of Epidemiology at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Matt Ford and actor and writer who recently recovered from monkeypox, Dan Wohlfeiler, who leads a consortium of public health leaders and gay dating website and app owners who are working together to support HIV and STI prevention online. The panel will be moderated by KTLA’s John Fenoglio.
This is a free, in-person, indoor event. Masks are highly suggested. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking will be validated for the 5-story parking structure. This event will also be live-streamed on WeHoTV and available for on-demand viewing after the event on the City’s YouTube channel.
More Information on Monkeypox: The City of West Hollywood is continuing to get the word out that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are tracking cases of monkeypox in the region and are working to respond. Early data suggests that gay men, bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) comprise a high number of cases of monkeypox virus. Anyone, however, in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. At this time, the most up-to-date information can be provided by a primary care provider or by visiting the Public Health website at http://ph.lacounty.gov/media/monkeypox/.
