LGBTQ Breaking News Service

SAN DIEGO — When Marcia Villavicencio was in eighth grade, her cross country coach volunteered her to run a race which, unbeknownst to her, was essentially a half-marathon.

“I didn’t know how far I was supposed to run,” she said. “I just concentrated on running as fast as I could as far as I could. I knew if I just did that, something good would happen.”

Villavicencio kept moving forward with a steady determination, eventually finishing in second place.

Today, Ensign Villavicencio is still moving forward, setting and achieving goals with a tenacious spirit that has propelled her on a journey from E-1 to O-1, undesignated seaman to Navy role model, and from fitness fanatic to small business owner — and she’s just getting started.

“I want to help open some doors for young Latina and gay women out there that might be thinking ‘I could never get to that point,’” said Villavicencio. “I’d like to be able to bring more diversity into the Navy, and I think I’m able to do that just by being myself.”

Joining the active duty Navy as an undesignated seaman, Villavicencio immediately set her sights on becoming a gunner’s mate.

Villavicencio soon found herself the only female GM aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97). She credits her male counterparts for not only helping her add weight training to her workout regimen, making her a stronger Sailor, but for also unflinchingly accepting her for who she is.

“Those guys were like my big brothers,” she said. “They taught me the ropes and they made me better.”

After completion of her active duty enlistment, Villavicencio transferred to the Reserve component. Unfortunately, the GM rating was closed on the Reserve side, so she cross-rated to yeoman (YN). By that time, however, Villavicencio had two other goals in mind: earning a journalism degree and working towards a commission as an officer.

As Villavicencio achieved each new career and life goal, she faced the pressures of increased responsibility waiting for her on the other side — something she credits her wife with helping her manage through use of a unique set of motivational techniques.

“She tells me ‘you got commissioned, you have a role and a responsibility and this is who you are,’” recalled Villavicencio. “She gives me that strength. Whenever I have a setback, she tells me ‘It’s okay, you can whine about it for a day, but tomorrow is a new day.’”

Villavicencio took the positive reinforcement she’d received in her life — from both the Navy and her spouse — and weaved them into a career as a certified fitness specialist and life coach.

“People say to me ‘you don’t take a break,’” she said. “But I just try to show people how to put fitness and a positive mindset together.”

Last year, she took her positive pro-fitness message to the fleet, starring in a MyNavyHR fitness video inspiring Sailors to get moving on their own during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Villavicencio says a constant source of stability in a life filled with challenges and commitments has been the integration of her family life with her Navy career, something that wasn’t always an option for military members in the LGBT community.

“It’s such a huge privilege to be able to bring my wife to events with me and just be like ‘this is my wife,’ and everyone is cool with it,” she said. “I can’t imagine having a wife and having a life that you have to keep separate from the Navy, having to keep that hushed.”

Villavicencio said whether meeting career milestones or achieving educational and professional goals, she hopes to continue to move forward by encouraging others through action and authenticity.

“The more you’re out there, the more you’re yourself, the better it is,” she said. “I’ve gotten lots of messages from several women who’ve told me ‘you’re such an inspiration, I can see that you did it, so I know I can do it, too.’”

According to Villavicencio, at the end of the day, it all boils down to one simple truth.

“It’s awesome to be able to be accepted for who you are,” she said.

(30)

If you just got an IUD for the first time, you might be wondering if the device can be felt at all during sex. To answer that question, we spoke to Alyssa Dweck, MS, MD, FACOG, a board-certified ob-gyn who is a sexual- and reproductive-health expert for Intimina — a company that makes intimate health products.

First, let’s dive into the anatomy of an IUD. The IUD (intrauterine device) is a small T-shaped device that’s actually placed inside the uterus.

As Dr. Dweck explained, the IUD is attached to a long set of strings, which are smooth, mobile, and very thin. When the IUD is inserted into the uterus, those strings are cut shorter but in a way that they come out of the cervix and into the vagina slightly.

The length of those strings after they are cut can vary based on the individual and the medical provider performing the procedure, Dr. Dweck explained. Depending on how the strings are cut, Dr. Dweck said they can hang out of the cervix, curve around the outside of it, or curl up inside the cervix canal.

“They [the strings] are simply a retrieval mechanism for when the IUD is removed, and they provide an easy way for one to check and confirm the IUD is in position month to month,” Dr. Dweck said. So the only parts of the IUD that should ever be able to be “felt” are the strings.

In regard to penis-to-vagina intercourse, Dr. Dweck said most partners with male sex organs don’t feel or notice the IUD strings unless they are “pointing” out of the cervix canal at a specific angle. “While there is no medical danger to a male partner feeling IUD strings during sex, it may be slightly uncomfortable,” she explained. “The string is a soft plastic monofilament but at times can give a ‘poking sensation’ to a male partner. This is easily remedied by trimming the strings.”

However, she said sexual partners feeling IUD strings is “an almost nonissue” with her patients. Your doctor can help you make the call on if your IUD strings need to be trimmed. And, for the record, your IUD strings should only ever be trimmed by a trained and certified medical professional.

It’s also possible your IUD strings may be felt during finger-in-vaginal-canal intercourse, but Dr. Dweck said the partner would really need to try in order to do so.

According to the Mayo Clinic, an IUD that has moved can also potentially cause pain during sex, so it’s crucial to be mindful of your symptoms and visit your doctor if you’re experiencing discomfort during sex and you have an IUD.

Again, Dr. Dweck said it’s recommended for patients to check for their IUD strings every month to make sure it’s still in the correct location. In order to do this, Planned Parenthood suggests putting your fingers into your vagina and reaching up toward the cervix — where your IUD strings should be. However, you should not tug on the string.

If your strings feel longer than usual, Dr. Dweck said this could indicate that your IUD has shifted position. If you cannot feel the strings, there is a chance the IUD has fallen out or penetrated the uterine wall. However, Dr. Dweck said this occurrence is very rare.

In either circumstance, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor for a checkup.

Come Alive 215 and Meet Philadelphia have joined together to offer a workout followed by a drag show and picnic during Pride Month.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 12 from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will raise money for the Attic Youth Center and William Way LGBT Community Center.

RELATED: Manayunk Arts Festival returns with new layout for 2021 | Cocktails in different colors of the rainbow available during Pride Month | 14 studios to offer discounts on classes during Philly Fitness Week

Come Alive 215’s Kim Harari and Shannon Brennan will lead a 45-minute workout for all fitness levels on the lawn at Park Towne Place, located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

After the class, there will be a drag show with Vinchelle, Iris Spectre and Poochie, plus music by DJ Kat Bancer.

Brunch bites from Michael Solomonov of Zahav, Federal Donuts and Goldie will be provided, along with other food and drink from NY Bagel Butler, Red Bull, Crystal Head Vodka, Super Coffee, the Wellness Refinery, Bean2Bean Coffee Co. and a selection of food trucks.

Swag bags from Athleta will be handed out, with some additional giveaways provided by local Philly businesses.

Tickets to the Pride Month event are $65. A portion of proceed will go to supporting the two local charities.

Pride by Come Alive 215 x Meet Philadelphia

Saturday, June 12
9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | $65 per person
Lawn at Park Towne Place
2200 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130