Mozaic

Happy Halloween from the Mozaic team! 🎃

There are plenty of spooky things happening this time of year, but do you know what's even spookier than goblins, ghouls, and ghosts? 🤔

😱 Congress trying to defund America's HIV safety net. 😱

Join Equitas Health -- alongside our national partners at AIDS United and the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership -- in protecting our community.

Join the fight today:

☎️ Call your members of Congress at 202-224-3121;
🗣️ Tell them to fully fund HIV prevention, treatment, and resource programs in the FY27 federal budget; and
🔗 Check out our Linktree for more ways to get involved.

Earlier this week Mozaic tabled at OSU’s Trans Resource Night hosted by the Justice and Equity Committee of Ohio State USG !
 
We offered resources, and spoke with students about affirming healthcare services at Equitas Health . 👩🏽‍⚕️
Overall, it was a wonderful opportunity to be in community with other trans resource organizations and OSU students. 🩵🤍🩷

🌟 Happy International Pronouns Day! 🌟

Pronouns are a vital part of our identity, and we all use them! Today is about making sure we live in a world where sharing and respecting personal pronouns is the norm. Celebrate by,

🗣️sharing your own pronouns,
📱adding your pronouns to your email signature or social media, and
🫂 encouraging others to share their pronouns!

Your gender journey is yours to define. It is personal and valid regardless of how it begins, changes, or looks to others. In this series, learn about reducing pain when injecting hormones, including:

💉injecting medicine at room temperature, and
🧘🏿keeping the muscles warmed and relaxed.

Remember, if you are in need of HRT needles, check out Safe Point for free supplies!

**This post is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. For more information on this topic, refer to Equitas Health’s Gender Affirming Care Guide (link in bio) or make an appointment at Equitas Health

Huge thank you to Black, Out and Proud Inc. for inviting us to speak at this year’s Melanated Health Forum!

Each speaker gave important insights into how the systems we live under impact the health outcomes of Black LGBTQ+ folks. They also gave their thoughts on how to combat these systems and disrupt the harm they cause.

J Harley, Program Manager of Mozaic, said in his talk, “We must advocate for ourselves and each other. For better policies and for more expansive social safety nets. For institutional change that benefits Black q***r and trans people. From the White House to the Statehouse to city council to the school board to the neighborhood watch. From the health department to the doctor’s office.”

Spaces and conversations like this are vital for our community’s survival and well-being. Thank you Black, Out and Proud Inc. for doing the work of creating safer spaces for us to gather and talk about the real issues we face. ❤️🫂

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Happy National Coming Out Day! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

To everyone who has come out, is thinking about coming out, or isn’t ready yet — we see you, and we support you! 
 
Coming out is a deeply personal journey that looks different for everyone. Whether you’re out loud and proud or quietly living your truth in your own way, your identity is valid and your story matters. It is literally impossible to do coming out wrong as long as you are doing what is right for you in any given moment. 
 
Let today be a reminder: being your authentic self is something to be celebrated!

Mozaic’s monthly drop-in hours are back next Thursday, October 15 from 3-7pm in the Equitas Health King-Lincoln community space!

Stop by to access resources, make a medical appointment, shop for clothes, or just to hang with your friendly Mozaic staff members! 😊

Come on by and bring a friend! 🫂

On Friday, the Mozaic team joined ARCH Reentry for “First Step Friday” — a monthly event aimed at helping returning citizens re-establish themselves after incarceration. 
 
As a regular participant of this open to the public and free resource fair, Equitas Health — including Mozaic and Ohio HIV/STI Hotline — helped over 30 attendees this month. 🙌 
 
Thank you to ARCH for inviting us to participate, to OMJ Columbus-Franklin County for providing space for the event, and to Franklin County Office of Justice Policy & Programs for lending their support to attendees.

Last Saturday, Mozaic was in community at the All of Us Block Party, hosted Rep. Dontavius Jarrells and the The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation!

Thank you to the event organizers and volunteers for an amazing event, filled with food, games, live music, and resources for the King-Lincoln Bronzeville neighborhood!

We engaged with dozens of people at the event, offering: 

👩🏽‍⚕️Linkage to care at Equitas Health;
🫂Information about programs like Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 and the Ohio HIV/STI Hotline, and
✊🏽Voter registration resources, and more!

🌈🤎🩷🤍🩵Happy LGBTQ+ History Month from Mozaic! 🩵🤍🩷🤎🌈

This October, we are uplifting Black q***r icons whose contributions to LGBTQ+ history and liberation have shaped our past, present, and future!

This LGBTQ+ History Month, we encourage folks to:

📖 Learn about the contributions of Black q***r and trans activists to LGBTQ+ culture, history, and movements,

🫂 Spend time in community with Black q***r and trans people and honor their lived experiences, and of course

🎉 Celebrate Black LGBTQ+ voices!


Do you recognize the Black q***r icons in our post?

From left to right: Angela Y. Davis, James Baldwin, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Bayard Rustin, and Marsha P. Johnson.