- The Scarlet Letter
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- Equitas, Deer, and Clipps
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Top of Mind
Healthcare That Doesn’t Suck? Meet Equitas Health.
In a world where most doctor’s visits feel like a punishment for having a body, Equitas Health is a rare thing: a healthcare provider that actually treats people like people.
Founded in 1984 in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, Equitas started as a grassroots network of care in living rooms and kitchens across Ohio. Fast forward to today, and it’s one of the largest LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS-serving health organizations in the country, with clinics, pharmacies, mental health services, and mobile outreach across Ohio, Texas, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
They're not in it for profit. Every dollar from Equitas’ five Ohio pharmacies gets reinvested into the services their patients actually need. Dental care. PrEP. Therapy. STI testing without shame. And yes, actual human decency.
At their King-Lincoln clinic in Columbus, you can walk in for low or no-cost HIV/STI testing. You can also access PrEP (as a pill or a shot), gender-affirming care, and treatment in an environment that’s judgment-free, medically competent, and welcoming, which is more than we can say for half the state legislature.
While some lawmakers are busy trying to legislate people out of existence, Equitas is busy keeping people alive.
They even bring the care to you. Their mobile outreach unit, lovingly called the MOVe, sets up at clubs, festivals, and community events across Ohio. If you’ve ever seen someone getting an HIV test in the Axis parking lot on a Saturday night, now you know who to thank.
Equitas Health also supports CATCH Court participants, housing stability programs, long-term survivor networks, and peer-to-peer mental health groups. That’s real support, not just a brochure with a 1-800 number.
And just to drive it home: there are currently more than 29,000 people trafficked each year in Ohio. Many are kids. Many are LGBTQ+. Many come out of that experience with criminal records, evictions, untreated trauma, and nowhere to go. Equitas doesn’t just treat them, they build pathways to independence.
Here’s how you can help:
Donate. Your money actually goes to good things. Not just lightbulbs and line items.
Volunteer. They need real humans, not just LinkedIn endorsements.
Share. Follow and repost. Show your friends where the good stuff is.
Call your reps. Because trans rights are human rights. And funding HIV care shouldn’t be up for debate.
The state might be trying to roll back rights, but Equitas Health is rolling forward — with mobile clinics, affirming care, and the kind of community-first model that reminds us what healthcare is supposed to look like.
Because everyone deserves to feel safe, seen, and cared for. Even in Ohio.
Scarlet Letter Trivia
Question: Indianola Junior High School was the first “Junior High” school in the United States. What year was it founded?
A) 1929
B) 1817
C) 1941
D) 1909
Dinner for Two, Price of One? There’s an App for That!
Let’s be honest: half the time you go out to eat, you’re really just looking for a reason to feel okay spending $19 on a sandwich. Good news, now there’s an app that makes that feel like a steal.
Clipp.com is the hidden gem digital platform that gives you up to 50% off at Columbus restaurants you already love. We’re talking Grandad’s Pizza, Rebol, Whit's Frozen Custard, Crème de la Crème, and dozens more. You don’t have to jump through hoops. You don’t need to subscribe to a newsletter that’ll spam you for eternity. You just pick your spot, buy a digital certificate (say $20), and instantly get $40 to spend in-store. Easy.
No printing. No awkward coupon exchanges. Just a seamless app experience that slides right into your Apple Wallet and gets you rewarded for supporting local.
Unlike coupon books from your aunt’s kitchen drawer, Clipp is modern, free, and flexible. You can even get refunds within 14 days, no questions asked. And your paid value is still honored for up to five years, because Clipp respects both your cravings and your calendar.
This isn’t just a way to save a few bucks, it’s a smarter way to support the places that make Columbus, well, Columbus. So next time you’re grabbing pizza, dessert, or date-night takeout, let Clipp quietly foot the bill (or at least half of it).
Visit Clipp.com or download the app and start dining like someone with twice the budget and none of the guilt.
The Deer and The Hairy River
Photo from Columbus Dispatch
If you’ve ever strolled the Scioto Mile, you’ve probably locked eyes with a deer. Or rather, a life-sized bronze one. Calm, contemplative, and extremely photogenic, these deer statues have become something of a local landmark, even if nobody’s quite sure why they’re there. Don’t worry, we looked into it, so you can pretend you always knew.
The trio of deer sculptures, a lounging doe, a seated buck, and one noble watcher on the Rich Street Bridge, were added during the 2014 rehab project that transformed Columbus’ riverfront from “mildly toxic runoff zone” to “actually pleasant place to exist.” They were created by artist Terry Allen, who, after learning that “Scioto” means “hairy deer” in a Native American language (yes, really), took it as inspiration to plop some steel-eyed wildlife right back along the river they once dominated. Full circle.
Photo from Art Makes Columbus
Fun fact: Allen used actual taxidermy forms to model them. Then he gave them just enough personality to feel like they’re silently judging your jogging form or thinking about gentrification. Very Columbus.
The statues are now just as much a part of the Scioto Mile as wedding photos, kayak tours, and extremely determined runners. One hangs out in Genoa Park, another reclines in the grass, and the last keeps a watchful eye from the Rich Street Bridge like he’s the neighborhood dad of the trio.
So next time you pass them, nod respectfully. They’ve been here a while. They’ve seen things. And according to city lore, they’re technically watching over us, which, considering Columbus’ track record with weather, infrastructure, and cheese truck crashes, is actually kind of comforting.
Trivia Answer:
D) 1909
Arrivederci
