Free condom and lube “fun packs” available for pick up!

For decades gay bars have served as cultural institutions.  I can remember as a young queer person in the 90’s, it was the only place to actually BE who I was.  It was the place to join others and celebrate, socialize, commune, and connect.  With the pandemic closings, many of us (myself included) feel a lot less connected and resourced in our queer communities.   It’s also not lost on us that we can no longer grab a handful of condoms on the way out the door after a night of dancing.  

We feel that access to free condoms is a necessary part of public health and safety and has been a mainstay of metropolitan queer culture for decades.  One of our first tasks when opening The Rooted Refuge was registering with the city to have free condoms and lube available for our patients.   It occurred to us recently that it wasn’t quite the same as free condoms at a local bar because we require a COVID screening questionnaire, temperature reading, and pulse oximeter reading to come inside our clinic.  While this extra screening is a necessary part of practicing Chinese medicine in a pandemic, it doesn’t allow for folx to walk in and grab a handful of condoms.   

To remedy this, we’ve created “fun packs” of assorted condoms and lube in compostable bags that we have in a basket by our front door.  We invite anyone who needs condoms and lube to stop by to pick up a fun pack.  While we can’t allow people without appointments inside the clinic for safety reasons, we will happily hand them off to you at the front door.   

Best to email or text first to make sure we are at the clinic. 

Text:  347-651-1754

Email:  therootedrefuge@gmail.com

Spread the word, and see you soon!

In Good Health,

Dr. Christopher Peacock