By: Jerry P. Abraham, MD MPH CMQ
Photo by: Rawpixelimages | Dreamstime.com
For many in our community, Pride isn’t just a party, it’s a reclaiming of space, culture, and visibility. It’s resistance, joy, and survival wrapped in one massive month-long celebration. But as we prepare to rejoice, we also have to prepare to take care of ourselves and each other, because nothing says community like looking out for your chosen family.
Surviving the Heat… and the Drinks
June heat isn’t forgiving, and with climate change upping the ante, those festival grounds can turn into ovens. Add alcohol into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for dehydration, dizziness, and, in some cases, dangerous heatstroke. Here’s the rule: for every alcoholic drink, follow it with a glass or two of water. Not soda. Not another cocktail. Actual water. Your body will thank you when you’re not slumped against a food truck halfway through the parade.
If you’re drinking, pace yourself. Pride is an all day marathon, not a sprint. Additionally, don’t mix alcohol with stimulants or other drugs, it messes with your body’s ability to regulate temperature and stay hydrated. Know your limits, and remind your friends to know theirs. Remember that while some experts point to data suggesting there is no healthy amount of alcohol to consume, we know that more than two alcoholic beverages and binge drinking increases our risk for cancer, heart attack, stroke, among other complications from alcohol use.
Drug Safety: Testing and Tools
This conversation isn’t about shame, it’s about safety. Substances, from party drugs to just a hit of weed, are increasingly laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be fatal (and extremely addictive) even in microdoses. If you or your friends plan to use anything, carry fentanyl test strips. They’re inexpensive, legal in many places, and could save a life.
Even more important? Bring naloxone, which is often known by the brand name Narcan. This overdose medication is a literal lifesaver, and many community health organizations offer it for free. Keep a couple of doses on you, learn how to use them, and make sure at least one person in your crew knows how too.
Protecting Your Skin, Because Brown Doesn’t Mean Invincible
There’s a myth that darker skin doesn’t burn. Wrong. Melanin may offer some natural UV protection, but it’s not a shield. Sunburn can still happen, and so can long-term damage like premature aging and skin cancer. Slather on broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 75, and reapply every two hours, more often if you’re sweating or dancing.
Don’t forget the lips, ears, and back of your neck, the often-missed spots that burn fast and hard. And bring a hat, if your look allows.
Electrolytes, Your New Best Friend
Dehydration isn’t just about thirst. When you sweat, and let’s be real, you will be sweating, your body loses salt and minerals it needs to function. If you’re partying all day and dancing, pack electrolyte packets or grab a sugar-free sports drink or coconut water between beers or beverages.
Stay Close, Stay Safe
It’s easy to get lost in the music, the crowd, the moment. But safety is collective. Make plans with your crew: where to meet if someone gets separated, what to do if a phone dies, who’s carrying the essentials like ID, cash, meds, condoms, chargers, test strips and Narcan. Stick together, especially if someone is feeling off, overwhelmed, or intoxicated. Be the kind of friend you want watching your back.
If someone needs help, don’t wait. Don’t assume someone else will step in. Find event staff or medics immediately. Pride events are usually staffed with harm-reduction-minded volunteers, use them.
Being Seen, Being Safe, Being Ourselves
At a time when anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policy are rising across the country, pride is more than a celebration. It’s a declaration. It’s a way of telling the world, and ourselves, that we’re not going anywhere. That we’re still here and still thriving. The latin queer community brings something unique and beautiful to pride: resilience, history, culture, and rhythm.
We all deserve to show up in full color, and in full health. Pride is ours, but it’s better when we all make it to the end together. So take care of yourselves and each other. Take care of your people. Pack the sunscreen, the water, the Narcan. Protect your joy like it’s sacred, because it is.
Now go out there and be seen. Be Loud. Be Proud. And Be Safe. Because the world needs you alive, well, and dancing.
Remember, you can visit Dr. Jerry P. Abraham and the whole JWCH-Wesley HIV Street Medicine Team at Tempo Nightclub every Sunday night. Come get HIV-tested, PrEP’d, and your LGBTQ+ health questions answered. HAPPY PRIDE!