Playing it Safe: Safer Sex & Healthier Relationships

You may not have received an LGBTQ-inclusive sex education before college. You may have questions about pleasure, infections, protection, consent or a thousand other things. Below is a small sample of resources for you to begin (or continue!) your journey toward self-determination, safety, and health. This is far from an exhaustive list. 

Queering Sex Ed

Trans* Sexual Health video series by Community Health at the University of Colorado, Boulder
"I've never had any gay sex-ed. What are some lesbian safer sex basics?" by Planned Parenthood 
Great Sex Safe Sex by Love Your Condom

Local Testing Resources

Kent County Health Department: Free or reduced cost, confidential testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Grand Rapids Red Project: Free and confidential HIV Testing
GVSU's Campus Health Center: Insurance-based or out-of-pocket payment for STI or HIV testing. Email questions to [email protected].

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

PrEP 101 by the Center for Disease Control 
PrEP Facts by San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco Department of Public Health, Project Inform, Be The Generation, Gilead Sciences and other local health agencies, community-based providers, and PrEP advocates, like Jake Sobo.
Op-ed: Why I Take PrEP by David Garcia in the Advocate
Factually Deficient Screed on PrEP Harms Efforts to Prevent New Infections by Todd Heywood in HIV Plus Magazine
New Ways to Prevent HIV by the New York City Department of Health and Hygiene
HIV Prevention Pill Truvada Is for Women, Too by Healthline

Ending Violence

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Power and Control Wheel by the Texas Council on Family Violence
Analysis of Violence by Community United Against Violence (CUAV)



Page last modified July 1, 2022