Black Women’s Sexual Health and Wellness Event on Tuesday, Dec. 3, Will Help Commemorate World AIDS Day

Montgomery County will commemorate World AIDS Day, officially designated as Sunday, Dec. 1, with a free breakfast program and workshops focused on Black women’s sexual health and wellness from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The event, co-sponsored by the alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building.

This year’s World AIDS Day theme, “Breaking the Silence Together: Celebrating Black Women’s Strength in HIV Awareness, Sexual Health and Wellness,” highlights the importance of addressing racial disparities in sexual health outcomes. The County’s African American Health Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, will provide free on-site HIV testing during the event.

“World AIDS Day reminds us of the progress we have made in addressing the HIV epidemic, but there is still work we need to do to eliminate racial health disparities and health outcomes,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Black women have faced significant barriers in accessing resources. By bringing attention to this issue, we can empower residents with the tools and information needed to prevent and treat HIV.”

The Silver Spring Civic Building is located at 1 Veterans Place in Downtown Silver Spring.

Free tickets and more information about the event can be found here.

The day will kick off at 9 a.m. with the fourth annual World AIDS Day Solidarity for Health Equity Breakfast. Following the breakfast, residents may attend educational workshops free of charge:

• 12:30-2:30 p.m. “Embracing Pleasure: A Journey to Wellness and Empowerment.” Interactive workshop exploring pleasure as essential to sexual health and overall wellness. Register here.
• 12:30-2 p.m. “PrEP Now . . . .Not Later.” Discussing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and its benefits for Black women. Register here.
• 2:30-4 p.m. “I Am a Quintessential Woman.” Participants will explore ways to enhance their personal and communal strengths. Register here.

As a Federal priority jurisdiction for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, Montgomery County is committed to ending HIV transmission by 2030. The Black Women’s Sexual Health working group was established to address disproportionate risks faced by Black women and is developing strategies to reduce disparities in sexual health.

Residents are encouraged to get tested for HIV, seek treatment if they test positive and explore prevention options like PrEP. Free or low-cost HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, treatment and prevention services are available through Montgomery County’s Sexual Health and Wellness Services, part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information, visit the County’s Sexual Health and Wellness Services’ “Do It For You” website or call 240-777-1760.