LGBT group holds conference to fight STDs increase

Sexually transmitted diseases are reportedly increasing nationwide. A local organization wants to do something about it.

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center (LGBT) is holding a free conference at Central Union High School on Saturday. It’s to help the community know more about sexually transmitted diseases and what they can do about them. In a series of workshops, they’ll talk about prevention and treatment. They said with so much information out there about STD’s, the diseases shouldn’t be epidemic, but they are. The conference will be in English and Spanish. It starts at 8:30 a.m. for registration and will go on till noon. A free lunch is included.

LGBT Center Director Rosa Diaz said the increase in reported cases is alarming.

“Center for Disease Control put out a report last year stating that Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis has gone up by 10 percent. And the Imperial County Public Health Department put out a report earlier this year that there has been an increase in Imperial County,” Diaz said.

CUHS is located at 1001 W. Brighton Avenue in El Centro.