Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His

Sex positive, LGBTQ+ activist trying to have a little fun in this world

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Feelin cheeky at Jeju Sauna in Atlanta
#cub

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Was truly feeling myself in this copper clawfoot tub in Denver

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Rotate every 15 minutes to prevent burning
#cub

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Soooo I got my first #jockstrap.
What do we think? 🤭

#cub

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Still Gay 🌈
Still Out of the Closet 🙋🏼‍♂️
Still Thriving 🥳
Still Standing Up for Those Who Can’t 🗣
Still Working On Myself ✌🏻
National Coming Out Day 2025

#NationalComingOutDay

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

🍑🍆 Fresh drop from FLDOH—condoms & lube for days!
Slide into Compass, grab a handful, and let us take care of that FREE HIV test while you’re here.

We’ll keep you covered, slicked up, and ready for whatever (or whoever) comes next. 😈

#SaferSex #Condoms #Lube #SexualHealth

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

💜Today is Overdose Awareness Day
No one is immune to the risk of overdose—but everyone has the power to save a life.
👉 Learn the signs.
👉 Carry Narcan.
👉 Protect your community.
Free Narcan available at Compass thanks to #RebelRecoveryFL!
#OverdoseAwarenessDay #HarmReduction

[DrDemetre @dr_demetre]

My resignation letter from CDC.

Dear Dr. Houry,

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business.   I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested.

This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough.

While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people.  This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles.

I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality and are designed to hurt rather than to improve the public’s health.  The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people.   The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership.  This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors.  Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people.

It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC.  The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense.  Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function.  Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC.

The recent term of reference for the COVID vaccine work group created by this ACIP puts people of dubious intent and more dubious scientific rigor in charge of recommending vaccine policy to a director hamstrung and sidelined by an authoritarian leader.   Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults.  Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc.

I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again.  I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season.  Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.”  We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary.  I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us.  Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources.  At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him.  To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information.

The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer.  I believe in nutrition and exercise.  I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability.  Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.

The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning.  My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so.  I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud.   I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur.  I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed.

For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics.  I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision.

Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically.

Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution.  If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.

Sincerely,

Demetre C. Daskalakis MD MPH (he/his/him)

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Felt cute 🤭

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

🚨 Free #SaferSexKits, BABY! 🚨
We’re talking 12 #condoms in 4 different sizes, lube to get things slippery, and info about Compass—‘cause nothing’s hotter than taking care of your sexual health 😈
Slide through and grab a Safer Sex Kit.
No judgment, just juicy protection.

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Need to own more stuff like this!

#gay #harness

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

This represents all the orgs in Palm Beach Co, FL that are participating in #NHTD today!
Visit Compass for all your sexual health needs: Mon-Thurs 10am-7pm|Fri 11am-5pm|1st & 3rd Sat 2-6pm
To find a testing site near you, visit https://t.co/hLCKoipt4l
#GreaterThanHIV

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

@mamamartyr Happy Birthday!

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

🧪 May 12-18 is the inaugural Chemsex Awareness Week 🧪
Let’s talk about it—because silence fuels stigma.

You’re not alone—and your safety matters.
#CSAwarenessWeek #HarmReduction #FentanylTestStrips #NarcanSavesLives #LGBTQHealth #SafeNotSilent

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

🧪 It’s STI Awareness Week and it’s time to get real about testing.
One swab does not cover all bases. Your mouth, genitals, and rectum can all carry STIs – even without symptoms. If you use it, you should swab it!

✨ Stay safe. Stay sexy. Get tested. ✨
#STIAwarenessWeek

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

@playacathysong Absolutely!

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

@KahlibB_ 🙌🏻

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

It's #TestingTuesday! Come visit us at Compass for free, rapid HIV testing all week and get connected to Safer Sex and Harm Reduction supplies, including Condoms, Lube, Narcan, Plan B, and more!
#HIVTesting #EndingHIVTogether #SaferSex #HarnReduction #PlanB #SexualHealth #Narcan

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

Compass is proud to partner with the Fl Dept of Health and #HCSEF to host a FREE #Mpox vaccine clinic!
📅 Thurs, March 13
🕔 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Compass | 201 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460
Protect yourself and your community — spread the word!

#MpoxAwareness

[Dylan Brooks, He/Him/His @GDylanBrooks]

DYK? Men can & should get the #Gardasil vaccine to protect against Human papillomavirus! #HPV can lead to cancer and other health issues, but Gardasil helps prevent infection
✅Safe & effective
✅Rec for 9-45y/o
✅Protects against HPV
Take control of your health!
#GayPublicHealth