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Pride Month 2024 is wrapping up, and Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) took part, making an impact. Celebrating and honoring the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Month raises awareness about the concerns and agenda of this community. For people without an updated understanding, LGBTQIA+ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more. Hence, these terms describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Moreover, Pride Month centers around a greater understanding that transcends stigma and prejudice. As a provider of integrated healthcare services, TTC is at the forefront of delivering quality healthcare services to the LGBTQIA+ community. For example, TTC’s HIV/AIDS Services focus on safeguarding the individual while enhancing quality of life.

The Motto of Pride Month 2024

The motto of Pride Month 2024 is Reflect, Empower, Unite. According to NYC Pride, “The theme was selected to highlight the importance of the NYC Pride March as the intersection for Queer liberation and joy. Drawing upon the activist history that ignited the movement for LGBTQIA+ rights, the theme encourages individuals, advocates, community leaders, and allies to reflect on the challenges they have overcome together and empowers them to take action in shaping our collective future.”

The WeHo (West Hollywood) Pride Street Fair at the beginning of the month celebrates this theme. Thus, with the diverse participation of LGBTQIA+ community groups and allied organizations, the focus was raising the visibility. Fun and vibrant, the Street Fair is free annually on and along Santa Monica Boulevard. If you missed it this year, with live entertainment and performances, it is a family-friendly event open to everyone.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in WeHo

To begin Pride Month 2024 with enthusiasm and service, TTC participated in the WeHo Pride Street Fair. Savannah Gourley, HHRP Health Educator, and Victoria Tiples, SAMHSA WHIP Health Educator and Outreach Worker, led the charge for TTC at the Street Fair. As a note of clarification, HHRP is the Holistic Health Recovery Program, and WHIP is the Whole Health Integration Program under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) umbrella. Moreover, both progressive health programs are part of TTC’s ongoing dedication to being at the forefront of integrated healthcare services.

Discussing the success, Savannah Gourley says, “Tarzana Treatment Centers made a positive impact on the Weho Pride Street Fair. Focusing on raising awareness and harm reduction, we gave out Fentanyl test strips and Narcan. At the same time, we showed people how to use these medical devices and treatments safely. We also passed out fliers about substance use treatment, information on different substances, and tote bags with safer sex resources and tools.”

Continuing the Work of Pride Month 2024

Although June is almost over, exciting events still occur during Pride Month 2024 in Los Angeles County. Moreover, TTC is participating in San Fernando Valley Pride on Saturday, June 29th. In addition, TTC will have staff participating in Rainbow Resilience on June 30th. The theme of Rainbow Resilience, put on by the LA County Department of Mental Health and The Abbey at the end of the month, is Uniting for Health, Wellbeing & Pride.

As a provider of integrated healthcare services, TTC celebrates such positive messaging. Indeed, health and well-being are priorities. These free events are a great way to wind down a month of awareness-raising activities. In the San Fernando Valley on Van Nuys Boulevard and WeHO on Robertson Boulevard, these two free events are a great way to wind down a month of awareness-raising activities.

However, Pride Month 2024 is just the beginning. Given the challenging history of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States, more is needed. Indeed, until equality is no longer questioned, the fight for expression and visibility must continue.