Vasilios Papapitsios developed a rash on their groin that looked just like ringworm in February, but he knew it was something more. The artist, filmmaker, and HIV advocate, who uses they/he pronouns, stays up to date on emerging sexually transmitted infections and had read about a cluster of fungal cases in Minnesota reported in July 2025 that initially presented as ringworm, but were actually a newly discovered STI: trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII, colloquially known as TMVII.
The fungal infection, discovered as an STI in 2010 and first reported in the U.S. in 2024, can seem like other forms of ringworm such as jock itch or athlete’s foot at first. But it later transforms into a scaly rash and lesions on the groin, buttocks, and face. When Papapitsios suspected he had contracted it, he felt responsible to tell the people he had recently had sex with; he also needed to sound the alarm because, at the time, there was virtually no public health information available about how to minimize the spread of TMVII.
“It made me angry,” he says. “If I don't have information about something, then I want to find the information, and I want to let everybody know.”
Eventually, he was able to contact epidemiologists and sound the alarm to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about TMVII, but there is still much left to be desired about the response.
“If we had our institutions taking it more seriously, people would take it more seriously,” Papapitsios says.
As cases of new strains of treatment-resistant STIs like Shigella and novel illnesses like TMVII are increasingly reported, and disproportionately impact queer people, LGBTQ+ communities are scrambling to raise awareness about how to prevent spread, get tested, and find treatment. While there is a broader awareness about contact tracing in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, STIs are still largely stigmatized and underreported. Adding to the challenge is the Trump administration’s active effort to dismantle public health institutions that previously mitigated these outbreaks, like the CDC.
The question of how we keep ourselves and each other “safe” in this anti-science environment is complicated. While the first instinct for many might be to lock down, an abstinence-based approach isn’t just unrealistic for many people; it doesn’t get to the root of the problem. Stigma, lack of access to adequate testing, and medical queerphobia all make it more complicated to get answers and care.
Dr. Kaiyti Duffy, chief medical officer at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, says that stigmatizing these illnesses leads to people ignoring symptoms, which in turn causes underreporting as well as higher rates of treatment-resistant STIs.
“Social stigma related to sexual health and sexually transmitted infections prevents engagement,” Duffy says. “Delayed engagement for testing and treatment results in poorer outcomes and facilitates spread of infection. Furthermore, it promotes the development of resistant organisms. Just as TMVII tends to resist common topical antifungal medications, other infections like gonorrhea are starting to demonstrate further antibiotic resistance and concerning public health experts around the globe.”
To better understand how to have safe fun in your community this summer, here’s what to know about emerging STIs.
TMVII
TMVII is a fungal infection that can impact the skin, groin, buttocks, and face, presenting as other common rashes like ringworm or jock itch, but later evolving into painful, scaly areas on the skin. Unlike other forms of fungal infections, it can spread through close physical contact, including sex, and has been disproportionately reported among queer men. Sharing towels, clothing, bedding, or sex gear with someone who has TMVII can all be pathways for it to spread.
The long testing process for TMVII, as well as its treatment-resistant nature, are what make it important to stay vigilant for its symptoms, even if you think it might just be ringworm. Ask your doctor if you are concerned, especially if you have recently had sex with someone who has a similar rash.
“Avoid close skin contact until it’s evaluated and treated,” says Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis, chief medical officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. “Keep skin clean and dry, don’t share towels or clothing, wash linens in hot water, and complete the full course of treatment if prescribed.”
Shigella
Shigella is a bacterial infection that affects the gut and can cause diarrhea, fever, and cramps. While it used to be disproportionately reported among schoolchildren and people without access to clean water, a treatment-resistant strain has recently cropped up in the U.S. among men who have sex with men. Experts say this is in part due to sex that involves the mouth and the anus, as this can be a pathway for the infection to spread.
“Prevention is really about layering protections,” Daskalakis says. “Handwashing with soap and water — especially after using the bathroom or before eating — matters a lot. Avoiding sex when someone has diarrhea, and washing hands, bodies, and sex toys before and after sex can significantly reduce risk.”
How do we keep each other safe?
Regardless of the STI, prevention isn’t about spreading fear or stigma. It boils down to taking care of each other through transparency, speaking up, and demanding that institutions take these illnesses seriously.
“The most important factor in sexual health is communication,” Duffy says. “Discussing recent testing, history, and type of protection usage, and any ongoing or recent symptoms can help protect not only you but those with whom you engage.”
Ultimately, experts say we need to put pressure on public health officials to keep us informed about how STIs impact our communities and provide resources to prevent their spread, rather than perpetuate shame.
“We need flexible, well‑funded systems that can respond quickly, and we need to meet people where they are with practical, nonjudgmental information,” Daskalakis says. “Safety isn’t about fear — it’s about access, knowledge, and care.”
This article is part of OUT’s July-Aug 2026 print issue, on newsstands July 7. Support queer media and subscribe — or download the issue through Apple News+, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting June 18.
Hunter Doohan on the cover of\u00a0Out's July/August 2026 print issue www.out.com
