Giuliano D’Orazio

Happy Pride! As summer begins, I know I’m feeling ready to have some fun after a year of being mostly shut in, and very restricted. Folks in the restaurant, nightlife and entertainment industries have been hit pretty hard over the past year plus and community members who enjoy being out and about, have been patiently (some more than others) awaiting a return to normalcy… whatever that means. There’s a lot to be excited about regarding vaccinations, and plummeting COVID numbers, especially here in Massachusetts, where we were one of the top three states to hit the 70 percent vaccination mark amongst adults. That being said, there are some precautions to keep in mind before we throw caution to the wind for an all-out summer of fun in the sun.

Firstly, if you haven’t, and your doctor deems it safe for you to do so, GET THE VACCINE… As members of the LGBTQ+ community, our health and wellness is vital to our ability to thrive and continue to make strides towards equality. It is well-known that queer folks already face barriers to healthcare access for a variety of systemic reasons, so if you are able to get vaccinated, it’s one of the easiest ways to protect the people you share space with. 

Another important topic to keep in mind as we aim to live life to the fullest in the roaring twenties is substance use. After a year being cooped up, many of our habits have changed. The pace of life and socialization is not what it once was, and for those of us who enjoy the nightlife, the Wednesday through Sunday nights out might not feel the same as they did in 2019. Additionally, we want to avoid going out with the intention of having a great time with friends, only to get sloppy and make poor decisions like amateur college bingers. Yes, it’s been a minute since we’ve gotten to let loose, but let’s try to encourage ourselves and our friends to do it in ways that don’t leave us with regrets.

Speaking of regrets, let’s not overlook our sexual health. While many folks have taken very responsible albeit difficult decisions to drastically scale back or even completely pause dating/hooking up during the pandemic, the medical community has actually seen a rise in STI’s, including Syphilis. Doctors suspect that for some, the rendezvous never stopped, but the willingness to get tested did, because of the stigma of admitting to sexual activity outside of one’s household bubble. While PrEP has become widely available and we now have a vaccine for COVID, there’s still a lot of things we need to be careful about, with consequences ranging from bothersome to life-threatening if left unchecked. So get tested. Here in town, AIDS Project Worcester offers free walk-in testing. The services are available to you, and there’s no shame in prioritizing your health, and the health of your partner(s).

Before I wrap up, I want to encourage everyone to support local business at this time. While we are seeing a lot of growth in Worcester, it’s changing fast, and some of that change doesn’t necessarily benefit the homegrown community. Let me just shout out a few of my favorites who I think have done a stellar job surviving the pandemic and deserve our support this summer: The Woo on Shrewsbury Street (at Imperial Street). It’s a gay-owned establishment with a great bar, really good food, and the friendliest staff. Redemption Rock Brewing Co, also in the Shrewsbury Street neighborhood, offers an amazing deck space, a beautiful taproom with plenty of seating and A/C for those steamy days, and of course, great beer. The MB Lounge also has also re-opened after over a year of being COVID-shuttered… see you at karaoke?!

Here’s wishing everyone a fun, safe and joyous summer. And remember, it’s totally fine to say no to that drink we’ve all been “meaning to grab”. Self care and protecting our personal energy might be a great takeaway from a year in isolation. Cheers, and Happy Pride, everyone!