LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) joins with the LGBTQ+ community in observing National Coming Out Day on Wednesday, October 11. The annual observance calls attention to stigmas that affect the LGBTQ+ community, including those associated with HIV.
In conjunction with National Coming Out Day, SNHD is offering free HIV tests on October 11 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Fremont Public Health Center, located at 2830 E. Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89104. Free condoms, in addition to information about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and medications to prevent HIV, will also be available.
SNHD regularly offers Express HIV testing at no cost Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at its Sexual Health Clinic, located at 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107. Express testing is also available from 8 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m. on October 11 at its All Saints Sexual Health Clinic, located at 4201 W. Washington Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89107. Appointments are not required, but clients must be asymptomatic. Additional testing can be done for syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. Visit the Sexual Health Clinicpage on SNHD’s website for more information.
Free HIV testing is available in the Arlene Cooper Clinic at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 1 – 6 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are accepted.
Additionally, SNHD’s Collect2Protect program provides free at-home HIV tests. The kits are available on the Collect2Protect page and provide a convenient and private testing option.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV. About 13 percent of them don’t know it and need testing.SNHD urges everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 to get tested for HIV at least once as part of their routine health care. Getting tested and learning their HIV status can help keep individuals healthy by either engaging in HIV prevention services or HIV treatment to gain an undetectable status. When a person is considered undetectable, the virus cannot be sexually transmitted to their partners. Those who are HIV negative can take further control of their sexual health decisions by exploring additional prevention options like PrEP to help maintain their HIV negative status.