MINUTES
Members Present: Emma Kaywin (Co-Chair), Rasheed Ford (Co-Chair), Raffi Babakhanian, Reginald Brown, Arthur Fitting, Ralph Henderson, Steve Hemraj, Susan Mellender, Freddy Molano, John Schoepp, Marcy Sedlacek, Maria Rodriguez
DOHMH, PHS, NYS, CHAIN, Guest, and Present: Doienne Saab, David Klotz, Abraham Omeyoma, Daniel Bickram, Sara Kramer, Cristina Rodriguez-Hart, Taylor Edelmann, Timothy Tobias, Lily Ha
Agenda Item #1:
Welcome/Moment of Silence/Minutes/Announcements:
Emma K. and Rasheed F. opened the meeting. A moment of silence was held. The January meeting minutes were approved with no changes.
Agenda Item #2:
Topic Presentations
Presentation # 1 – Chemsex 101 (National Harm Reduction Coalition)
He reviewed commonly used substances in chemsex, including GHB/GBL, Ketamine, MDMA, and Crystal Meth, detailing:
- Routes of administration
- Physical and emotional effects
- Risks and interactions
- Safer use strategies (e.g., hydration, dose tracking, using clean supplies)
Throughout the session, Taylor E. emphasized harm reduction as a guiding framework—centering compassion, autonomy, and safety over abstinence-based approaches. He stressed the importance of meeting people where they are and equipping service providers with tools to foster trust and reduce stigma.
Key harm reduction and engagement strategies discussed included:
- Taking trauma-informed, sex-positive sexual health histories
- Collaboratively developing safety plans with participants
- Using consent frameworks like FRIMS (Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Mutually understandable, Specific)
- Safer administration routes and offering access to safer use supplies (e.g., pipes, slip syringes, individual straws booty bumping kits) and HIV/STI prevention tools (e.g., PrEP, PEP, Doxy-PEP)
- Drug checking tools and programs
Additional takeaways for providers included implementing:
1. Harm-Reduction Strategies: Encourage safer use and gradual reduction in smaller amounts.
2. Support Services: To link clients ready to quit to appropriate resources.
3. Promote Sexual Health: Ensure access to PrEP and regular STI testing.
4. Address Underlying Issues: Tackle trauma, stigma, and socio-economic factors contributing to meth use.
The presentation highlighted the need for supportive, affirming spaces where individuals can access information and resources without judgment.
Presentation # 2 – Ballroom We Care and Crystal Meth Harm Reduction (Ballroom We Care)
Timothy Tobias (Ballroom We Care) delivered a presentation centered on crystal methamphetamine (meth) use within the Ballroom community, highlighting the advocacy and engagement efforts of Ballroom We Care—a grassroots initiative dedicated to addressing substance use through cultural relevance, trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and community support.
Timothy described crystal meth as a potent and highly addictive stimulant, commonly referred to as Tina, Ice, or Glass. He explained that meth use increases dopamine in the brain, creating intense feelings of euphoria and energy, but also comes with serious risks such as addiction, psychosis, and a difficult withdrawal period known as “the crash.”
He spoke about the significance of the Ballroom community as a safe and affirming space—particularly for Black and Brown LGBTQ+ individuals—where meth use has emerged as a pressing issue. Timothy T. shared that the Ballroom community is a vibrant and historically significant subculture founded by Black and Brown LGBTQ+ individuals, especially Black and Latinx trans women, gay men, and gender non-conforming people. It emerged in Harlem, New York City in the 1960s as a response to racism, homophobia, and transphobia within both mainstream society and white-dominated LGBTQ+ spaces. It is a chosen family network made up of “houses”—kinship-like collectives led by House “Mothers” and “Fathers”—and “balls,” which are competitive events that center performance, fashion, dance (like voguing), and personal expression. Ballroom is not only a celebration of performance and artistry—it’s a form of resistance and healing in the face of systemic oppression. It has long served as a refuge where queer and trans people of color could affirm their identities, find joy, and build power.
Ballroom community has had a profound influence on activism, and health advocacy—particularly in addressing issues like HIV, homelessness, substance use, and violence affecting LGBTQ+ communities of color.
Findings from a needs assessment conducted by Ballroom We Care revealed:
- 94% of participants felt crystal meth services are urgently needed in Ballroom spaces.
- 86% expressed interest in more community events that address meth use.
- 50% reported knowing someone whose death may have been related to meth.
Timothy also shared how trauma and systemic inequities influence meth use, noting the strong connections to unhealed trauma, stigma, and social marginalization. He discussed how PnP (Party and Play) culture and sexual risk-taking often serve as coping strategies for emotional distress and the pursuit of acceptance.
To promote safer meth use, he recommended:
- Staying hydrated, nourished, and rested.
- Using clean supplies and rotating injection sites.
- Testing substances with fentanyl test strips and carrying naloxone.
- Avoiding using alone or mixing substances.
He encouraged service providers and community members to approach meth use with empathy—centering active listening, cultural understanding, and harm reduction instead of judgment or coercion.
In conclusion, NAC members and presenters emphasized the need for nuanced approaches to harm reduction, considering both scientific data and lived experiences.
Adjournment
