Healthcare is Loving Care

Healthcare is Loving Care

By Anthony H. Crisci

As we prepare to celebrate Pride in 2026, we cannot do so without acknowledging the many challenges to hard-won rights, freedoms, and cultural acceptance of LGBTQ people in our country. It goes without saying that these feel like hard times, especially as we understand the amount of work ahead of us. Some of the best advice I have heard, regardless of what the future may hold, is to take the best possible care of ourselves and our loved ones. Particularly regarding physical and mental health. 

Health is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our community during this time. To be in the best possible condition to navigate whatever challenges the future may hold. Going to a primary care provider to have an annual physical done may not feel like the most urgent priority, but I would encourage everyone to make it a priority if you don’t already have an appointment scheduled for the year. Most health insurance plans cover a free annual physical exam or an “annual wellness visit” for patients on Medicare. Annual exams can lead to early detection of life-threatening or chronic diseases, which often have higher success and less negative effects when they are treated early. 

Aside from annual exams, prevention services are a great way to care for yourself and achieve the healthiest version of you. Whether that includes HIV prevention treatment, cervical cancer screenings, STI testing, or birth control, these are all treatments that may have benefits, particularly to sexually active members of our community. Cancer screening in general, as well as cardio fitness tests, are great ways to identify potentially fatal diseases at an early stage. If you have a family history of either, you should make a point to see a primary care provider and ask about referrals for screening and/or tests that are appropriate for your individual risk factors. Even with no family history, many cancer screenings are recommended for everyone of a certain age. It’s great to be in the know about what tests or screenings are recommended for you and to take advantage of these preventative health tools whenever you can. 

Don’t have health insurance? Many nonprofit providers throughout the state offer sliding-scale or free services for people without insurance. You can Google your closest “federally qualified health center” or check out nonprofit health centers like Anchor Health or Circle Care Center that specialize in serving members of the LGBTQ community. Aside from receiving medical services, there are many ways we can improve our health simply by changing daily habits in both small and large ways. Maybe it’s incorporating more walks or physical activity into our day or looking for a way to reduce a harmful habit, such as scaling back or giving up smoking. You do not have to make a huge change to have a positive impact on your health. Being more active than you currently are and reducing harmful habits are methods you can use to set your own individual goals for what a healthier version of you may look like in 2026. It’s not about achieving the same level of fitness as someone else; it’s just about making progress for yourself. 

While some of this advice may sound tedious and dull, especially given a world that feels in some ways like it is on fire, preventative healthcare is an expression of love. A loving act you can bestow upon yourself. And as RuPaul’s old adage goes, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you going to love somebody else?” 

Anthony H. Crisci is the CEO of Circle Care Center. Founded in 2011 as a center of excellence for the treatment and prevention of HIV, Circle Care Center is Connecticut’s first public health center specializing in stigma-free primary care and sexual health. Since its inception, Circle Care Center has evolved into a leading provider of comprehensive healthcare services. They have locations in Norwalk and Glastronbury Contact them at circlecarecenter.org