OAKLAND PARK, Fla. — FabScout Entertainment has partnered with nonprofit Midland Cares to offer HIV/STI screening and treatment, PrEP education and related sexual health and wellness services for free to adult industry performers and sex workers.
FabScout is a longtime talent agency booking for the gay and bi industry; Midland Cares is an initiative of Midland Medical Center in Broward County, Florida.
“It made natural sense to pair with a pioneer in the (gay) adult entertainment industry in our first public health partnership,” said Gregory Beltran, director of programs and innovation.
Midland Cares provides complementary PrEP and HIV navigation services, including STI screening and treatment, and tailored PrEP and HIV medication services “to assist those who may have lost or forgotten their medications when traveling,” he notes.
The nonprofit’s focus is on “holistic approaches to treatment,” Beltran said, including “care management, referrals and assistance with mental health, substance abuse counseling, housing, health insurance and even social support.”
Talent manager and FabScout principal Howard Andrew expressed pride in the new partnership.
“This is a beautiful thing,” he told XBIZ. “We worked it out with Midland so anyone can contact them. They will work it all out confidentially — everything. Straight, gay, trans, male or female, it’s all for sex workers. We arranged this so testing and treatment is free to them.”
Midland Cares does not report to the PASS system for industry-compliant testing. Performers are still required to follow testing protocols to shoot.
“This will not replace talent testing, but the models can pre-test or handle their own business with Midland,” said Andrew.
The initiative also covers counseling for drugs and alcohol as well as transportation and housing if needed for treatment. “It is all-encompassing,” Howard explained. “I am very proud to partner with Greg and the team at Midland for this. FabScout is not being compensated in any way. Just knowing my gang is finally being taken care of is enough. Possibly infection rates and other problems can be reduced and people can be helped. That’s reward enough for me.”
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Visit Midland Cares online and direct inquiries to gbeltran@midcares.org.