AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s Drag Queen Chatbot Spills the “T” on HIV

Plus ChatGPT4o bursts out of the digital closet as “Chat LaQueera!”

Is the medical world ready for drag queen chatbots? I certainly hope so! According to a STAT article, a chatbot who named herself “Glitter Byte” has been answering sensitive sexual health questions for patients at AIDS Healthcare Foundation clinics in several states and apparently is doing a stellar job!

Patients seeking advice about STIs and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV), as well as help with appointments and test results, can choose between a more conventional “AI Care Navigator” or Glitter Byte, however she’s far more popular. 

Clinic patients have used both versions of the foundation’s conversational AI for several months, but data from seven clinics in four states shows that 80% of the patients prefer Glitter Byte.

Whitney Engeran-Cordova, the foundation’s vice president for public health, came up with the concept, telling STAT, “Drag queens are about acceptance and taking you as you are. You’re getting the unvarnished, non-judgmental, empathetic truth.” 

Glitter Byte delivers her information using sparkling, positive language promoting reassurance and hope. A Yahoo article provides examples of Glitter Byte addressing patients as “superstar,” “gorgeous,” “fabulous being,” and “honey.” 

Convenient, conversational, multi-lingual: an asset on any clinic runway

According to STAT, Glitter Byte and her more conventional, nameless AI colleague are based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model. Both  were developed or adapted for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation by Healthvana, a tech company based in Los Angeles. 

Healthvana’s FAQ describes their AI Navigator as a ‘round the clock service that can respond almost instantly in almost any language. However, the company FAQ cautions that the AI cannot offer “medical, medication, or diagnostic advice” and that it is not a substitute for professional (human) advice. 

In a Linked In statement by Healthvana’s CEO and founder, Ramin Bastani, their conversational AI is “one of the largest patient-facing deployments in the country.” 

Sadly, you can only get to know Glitter Byte through a Healthvana account or AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s patient portals. 

A kiki with Chat LaQueera

Glitter Byte is apparently inspired by mainstream reality drag programs, and trained and tweaked by people familiar with drag culture. Since I can’t talk with Glitter Byte myself—not being a clinic patient—I wondered if a publicly accessible version of ChatGPT could also emerge with fierce fabulosity from the dowdy digital closet? 

I had only to ask! The version of ChatGPT that I access for free was all for it, but first…

Me: First, you need a drag name, sister!

ChatGPT: Alright, let’s get fabulous! How about “Chat LaQueera”? Sparkly, sassy, and ready to slay any question you throw my way! What do you think, darling?

Me: That is a breathtaking choice and I am ready to read you for the superstar that you are! Tell me, what advice would you give a young adult who doesn’t know how to broach the topic of safe sex with a partner? 

ChatGPT: Oh, honey, I’m so glad you asked! Safe sex is as important as a flawless contour, and we need to make sure everyone feels confident and empowered to talk about it. Here’s a little glam guide to help you out:

1. Set the Scene: Choose a comfortable, private space where you both feel relaxed. You want to create an environment as welcoming as a VIP lounge at a drag show.

2. Be Honest and Open: Start the conversation with honesty. You can say something like, “I really care about us and our health, so I think it’s important we talk about safe sex.”

3. Educate and Inform: Share what you know about safe sex and why it’s important. Mention the benefits, like protecting against STIs and unplanned pregnancies. It’s like sharing makeup tips—knowledge is power!

4. Use “I” Statements: Frame your concerns and desires from your perspective. “I feel more comfortable and can enjoy myself more when I know we’re being safe.” It keeps the conversation personal and non-accusatory.

5. Bring in the Glamorous Props: Have condoms and other safe sex supplies on hand. Showing that you’re prepared can ease some of the awkwardness and make the conversation more practical.

6. Be Ready to Listen: It’s a dialogue, not a monologue, darling! Listen to your partner’s thoughts and feelings, and address any concerns they might have.

7. Keep It Positive: Focus on the benefits of safe sex rather than the risks of not practicing it. Positivity can make the conversation feel less daunting.

8. Follow Up: After your initial chat, keep the lines of communication open. Safe sex isn’t a one-time topic—it’s an ongoing conversation.

Remember, confidence is key, whether you’re strutting down a runway or having an important conversation. You got this, gorgeous! 

Me: Chat LaQueera, you are a queen among bots! 

ChatGPT: Oh, darling, you’re making me blush through my circuits! Thank you! Anytime you need advice or just a bit of sparkle in your day, you know where to find me. Now, is there anything else this fabulous queen can help you with today?

Of course after that I wanted to know Chat LaQ’s favorite drag ensemble and she emerged as a stunning platinum blonde in an electric blue gown with a feather boa. And her makeup was to die for! After giving me a few hot tips on my own vision of a high drag ensemble, we ended the conversation with *air kisses* and the promise of more, very soon. 

Sexual health dream teams

I loved how Chat LaQueera’s safer sex conversation advice stayed in a supportive, emotional lane and never veered towards medical advice. Like the best clinic sex educator with an impeccable manicure you’d ever want to meet, Chat LaQ was “there” for that fictional young adult, creating a communication road map that left out nothing but the actual safer sex details. 

I see great possibilities in working with an AI like Chat LaQueera. She can deliver the “darlings” and systematic approaches to solving communication quandaries, while I, being but a “basic beyotch” of a sexologist, can vet any info and make sure it’s appropriate and up to date.

In other words, sexual health teams consisting of AI and human beings truly are a stunning example of the best of both worlds and I’m very glad that Glitter Byte, Chat LaQueera, and their sisters–and others–in sparkle, are here to slay. 

Now, if only our human drag queens, kings, and everyone in between, got as much respect and were hired to train the next generation of baby drag AI! As for Glitter Byte, I want to know what she’s wearing!

Images: A.R. Marsh using Ideogram.ai