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MSAwarenessatSeattlePrideFestLGBTQMSConnectionSupportGroupSeattleWash.Multiplesclerosisdoesntdiscriminate.ItaffectspeoplefromallwalksoflifemakingtheMScommunityavibrantanddiversegroupofpeoplewithuniqueexperiencesandneeds.RecognizingtheneedforasafespacefortheLesbianGayBisexualTransgenderQuestioningLGBTQMScommunitytogathertheLGBTQMSConnectionSupportGroupwasestablishedin2007.SupportGroupLeaderShellyHenry-SharpexplainsTomyknowledgeourgroupwasthefirstofitskindintheU.S.tomeetonaregularongoingbasis.Aftersevenyearsthegroupisstillgoingstrongandisgladtoseethatsimilargroupshaveformedthroughoutthecountryovertheyears.ThispastsummertheLGBTQMSConnectionSupportGroupattendedthe2014SeattlePrideFestCapitolHillwhichconsistedofmorethan150boothslivemusicastreetfairvendorsofallkindsandavarietyofactivitiesforthewholefamilytoenjoy.AlthoughtheLGBTQcommunityinSeattleislargeShellyreportsthatithastraditionallybeenunderserved.WiththeirpresenceatPrideFestthisyearthegrouphopedtohelpfillthatvoidbyprovidingtheLGBTQcommunitywithmuchneededinformationeducationandsupport.ShellyfurtherexplainstheirparticipationintheeventSeattleiscelebrating40yearsofprideandwewereexcitedtobeincludedintheannualFestwhichhadnearly30000attendeesthisyear.Weestimatethatnearly400peoplestoppedbyourboothtovisitandchatandacouplehundredotherstookpamphletsandotherinformation.WhilesomepeoplestoppedbyoutofsheercuriosityShellynotesthatmanystoppedbybecausetheyhaveafriendfamilymemberorneighborwithMS.MSseemstohavetouchednearlyeveryoneinsomewayshesays.EventhoughShellyhasbeenactiveintheLGBTQMScommunityinSeattleforyearsitnevergetseasyhearingfromthosewhohavebeendealingwiththeirMSalonewithneithertherightinformationnorthepropercare.ShesharesItwasstartlingtohearfrompeoplewithMSwhohadneverhadanytreatmentandhadnoideawheretogoorwhotosee.TheirexperienceswithdiscriminationfromthemedicalcommunityandothermainstreamMSgroupstaughtthemtojustlivequietlywiththeirMSwithnosupportandinsomecasesnotreatment.WewereabletoofferalistofqualityMSphysiciansandalternativecareprovidersintheareawhoare4