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A day without lesbians is like a day without sunshine.

Wishing a very happy International Lesbian Day to lesbians around the world!

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redesign for lesbian visibility week 🩷🧸🫶

click for quality (my shop) (instagram) (tip me) (shirts)

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Hey, happy Earth Day! Who wants to talk about climate change?

Yeah, okay, fair, I kinda figured the answer to that would be "ugh do we have to?" What if I told you I have good news though? Good news with caveats, but still good news.

What if I told you that since the Paris Agreement in 2015, we've avoided a whole degree celsius of global warming by 2100, or maybe more?

Current projections are 2.7C, which is way better than the 3-5C (with a median of 3.7C) we were expecting in 2015. It's not where we want to be - 1.5C - but it is big, noticeable progress!

And it's not like we either hit 1.5C and avoid all the big scary consequences or fail to hit 1.5C and get all of them - every tenth of a degree of warming we avoid is going to prevent more severe problems like extreme weather, sea level rise, etc.

This means that climate change mitigation efforts are having a noticeable impact! This means a dramatically better, safer future - and if we keep pushing, we could lower the amount of global warming we end up with even further. This is huge progress, and we need to celebrate it, even though the fight isn't over.

It's working. Keep going.

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HAPPY NONBINARY PARENTS DAY

#lgbt #lgbtq #lgbtqia #queer #trans #transgender #nonbinary #ftx #mtx #enby

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When was the last time YOU got tested?

Today is National Transgender HIV Testing Day (NTHTD) - it's an annual observance through the CDC and other HIV-focused health organizations to spark conversations about the need for HIV testing and prevention. Like many marginalized populations, HIV disproportionally affects transgender individuals compared to the general population and has done so since the original 1980s AIDS epidemic.

It's 2024. HIV is completely treatable and preventable - as long as you have the knowledge and the tools.

Every single person should get tested for HIV at least once in their lives, even if they're not sexually active. In Illinois, once you turn 12 years old, you can get tested for HIV and prevention tools like PrEP and PEP entirely on your own without parental permission/consent.

Sexually active individuals should be tested for HIV at least once per year, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. HIV can and does affect everyone, so make it a part of your annual wellness routine and doctor's visit. There's a variety of ways to get tested for HIV - whether it's through an at-home test, at the doctor's office, or with an organization like us at Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center!

High-risk people, like individuals who frequently have unprotected sex or share injectable drugs/equipment, should get tested for HIV more often. The CDC recommends high-risk populations get tested every 3 to 6 months, depending on need. On the other hand, the CDC does not recommend anyone get tested more than 4 times a year unless...

You should get tested each and every time there's an emergency like you had unprotected sex, the condom broke, or you had to share drug equipment.

If you test negative, you have a couple of options to prevent getting HIV in the future. If you're someone who comes into contact with HIV somewhat regularly, like if you have engage in unprotected sex, have a partner living with HIV, or normally share injection drug equipment, you should consider PrEP - a daily pill that prevents HIV long-term. Alternatively, if you're someone who doesn't into contact with HIV very often and there's an emergency like a condom breaking, there's PEP, which prevents HIV transmission after exposure if taken quickly enough.

If you test positive, you'll be prescribed the necessary medications to ensure you will live a long, healthy life just like any of your other peers. It might seem scary since there still isn't a permanent cure for HIV, but living with HIV really means just taking your daily meds, doing some routine bloodwork with your doctor, and making sure to tell your future/current partners.

#lgbt #lgbtq #queer #gay #trans #transgender #nonbinary #ftm #mtf #transmasculine #transfeminine #hiv #aids #hiv aids #hiv testing #hiv prevention #cdc #lgbtqia #carbondale #southern illinois #illinois

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[Art by Carlisle Robinson which reads “Happy National Deaf LGBTQ Awareness Week”. Underneath the text, a series of diverse LGBTQ deaf people sign out the words.]

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Did you know today is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day? Young people, especially LGBTQIA+ youth and youth of color, are disproportionally affected by HIV. According to the CDC, nearly half of those ages 13 to 24 who are living with HIV are unaware of their status.

Knowing one's status and having access to comprehensive sex education is critical to Getting to Zero!

Graphic from Lambda Legal.

#youth #gay #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #trans #hiv #aids #sex ed #health

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ACAB

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Night of Noise is this Friday! If you or someone you know is 25 or under and lives in the Southern Illinois area, come by for some amazing performances and even cooler company!

#lgbt #lgbtq #gay #queer #trans #glsen #night of noise #day of silence #activism #youth #rainbowcafe #carbondale #illinois

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In honor of Asexuality Day today I'm going to continue to not want sex SO HARD!!!!

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AUTSIM DAY

HAPPY AUTISM DAY TO MEEEEEEEEENAND MY FELLOW AUTSTICS!

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RC News is OUT for March!

Our free magazine is OUT! Visit rainbowcafe.org/magazine to read the latest LGBTQIA+ news, events, and issues in Southern Illinois!

#lgbt #lgbtq #queer #gay #southern illinois #southern il #illinois #rainbow cafe #carbondale #news

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🎨 by @sweetcowboyblues

“Stop Killing Trans Kids - doesn’t seem like it should be a radical or even a necessary statement to make in 2024, but here we are”

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16 Trans Agendas for the Modern Queer

Live to old age.

Enjoy a nice snack.

Cuddle up with my cat.

Demand good healthcare.

Create a chosen family.

Soak in queer community.

Reject any need for cis approval.

Respect pronouns.

Breathe deep breaths.

Admire surgical scars.

Be kind.

Tell my friends that I love them.

Be endlessly creative.

T4T.

Watch the sunrise.

Persist.

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HAPPY PRIDE!!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

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