SPFPP Episode 118: Self-Health Care
The Inner Hoe Uprising Podcast is a smart and funny podcast about sex, love and dating from 4 black feminist 20 somethings living in NYC. I first heard of this podcast when someone shared a podcast episode they did interviewing someone living with herpes.
At STD Engage, a conference of public health professionals hosted by the National Coalition of STD Directors, two of the hosts, Samantha and Rebecca shared the stage with an NCSD member sharing their experiences with health care providers in relation to sexual health. Rob, another host, shared their sexual healthcare horror story via video because they were unable to attend in person. Collectively, hearing these three experiences was enough for me to KNOW these had to be shared more for the sake of creating change in the healthcare space.
After catching Sam and Rebecca about to head out, I was able to stop them and give my quick pitch about what SPFPP was and that I wanted to create space for their stories as part of the #WeNeedAButton campaign for Dating.com Group. I think I was star struck so I was likely super effing awkward, but fortunately, they were super kind and patient…. As they were during the recording where I was NOT myself, separate conversation though lol.
Hearing the stories of Akua, Rebecca, Sam and Rob during the recording was powerful. Collectively, the pattern I noticed was that their experiences mirrored a lot of what I hear from other #WNAB stories from discomfort from the providers around sex, lack of bedside manner, bias from the provider, a couple of isms from the providers, providers not being up to date on STI testing protocol and the need for a way to identify sex positive, empathetic and queer friendly health care providers. One thing that stood out that I hadn’t heard much beforehand, is how much work they, as patients had to do on their end from discussing birth control options, getting throat swabs for chlamydia, accessibility and the lack of accountability for providers essentially knowing their shit.
I’m really excited to share this podcast episode as a reference point for providers to maybe observe potential blindspots. I seriously thank the hosts of the Inner Hoe Uprising Podcast for making the time, recording on their end, sharing their stories, and being so patient throughout this entire process from prep to recording to editing to approving to posting to promoting!