UTS Purple Orchid

The Purple Orchid is a support group created by Unspoken Treasure Society that brings together LGBTQ+ women, both cisgender and non-cisgender, living with and impacted by HIV. The group works to dismantle the stigma surrounding HIV and create community-led solutions to end the HIV epidemic. This program brings women together to find common ground, build power, and work effectively as allies. The Purple Orchid program offers peer specialist training to anyone interested and introduces 10 to 20 people per cohort to participate in the Master Peer Specialist 8-week training.

Goals:

  • Students are trained in safe sex practices and HIV prevention.

  • Students learn how to manage their emotions to make decisions that lead them to success.

  • Students learn how to become advocates for themselves and others.

  • Students are taught skills such as time management, multitasking, and how to become effective communicators.

UTS provides education and opportunities for leadership building by training future peer specialists and introduces 10 to 20 people per cohort for each intensive 8-week training.

The Unspoken Support Group is a trauma-informed intervention created to reduce harm and increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ youth and their families. UTS believes the best way to empower our youth is to support their current systems of power with new, sustainable ideas and the reassurance that we will fight for the long haul. This group educates LGBTQ+ youth and their families about gender identity development and gender nonconformity to support them through social and medical transitioning. Over 300 BIPOC LGBTQ+ individuals receive services from UTS. More than 200 people access free HIV testing from the organization, over 40 individuals have completed the Purple Orchid Peer Specialist Training, 30+ youth attended our annual Hope 4 Tomorrow events, and we have 15 to 30 women participating in each Purple Orchid monthly gathering.

The needs of our community include HIV prevention and care free of stigma and discrimination, access to gender-affirming services, job training and placement, and trauma-informed support groups.