Table 3.

Representative focus group quotes

Theme	Quotes
Trusted sources of information	“I’ve also heard about PrEP in young gay community youth centers. They’re always advertising it and just telling the youth to get on it.”
	“I only knew of what my friend [at the CBO] had told me about which I commented earlier. So, he is there and helps me with things. I ask him about this or that and he tells me that he could help me out or tells me what I can apply to. So, he gives me that trustworthy feeling that they can help me there and solve my issues. That’s why I began to take PrEP.”
	“It was also the recommendation of my doctor… that was my source of motivation.”
	“Something that helps us a lot is looking for people from our own community…. I went to [a community organization]…It’s a lot of trans girls. I didn’t have anything to do with that but that was my community. These people hear your stories. Those fears start to go away. Surrounding yourself with people of your community empowers you.”
Traditional health settings disempower LGBTQ persons,	“And [LMSM are] just scared, just because they just feel like they don’t want to just be there [in medical settings] overall. They feel like they’re not going to get help, whatsoever. They’re not going to be understood.”
	“I wasn’t comfortable sharing my status with anything of my sexual well-being with my doctors when I first had a primary doctor. It wasn’t until I found an LGBTQ doctor that I started to share about my sexual experiences.”
	“I went to this physician, and I just went for a regular STD test. And the moment I said that I was gay, and I also do anal sex—the look of disgust on her face was just, it was a cue to me that I’m not welcome here.”
	“It doesn’t matter if he is Latino or not, but someone of color who knows how someone like us can feel uncomfortable than with someone who is white. We don’t know how they are going to treat us. People of color, Indians, Latinos, Philippines, understand us. It’s more comfortable to speak to them.”
LMSM have differing preferences for low-barrier PrEP-related care	“I think it’s just better to have the doctor there, ask those questions that I don’t really want to feel comfortable in the telemedicine, because maybe when I’m doing a telemedicine appointment with them, there’s other people around that probably will hear me.”
	“I think that it is best on the phone, you know. When I go to the doctor, the time will be more or less but if you do it over the phone, you can go whenever. The doctor will call you when he is ready. Like that. It’s private too.”
	“I honestly prefer a private lab, because to me, you just get your work done and go. So, it’s way faster for me to do it at a private lab.”
	“I would prefer to come [to the CBO to get lab tests]…because I know the organization. I feel identified with the organization. If I were to go someplace else, well… Either way, there are always people who stare at you…”
	“There are curious people who like to ask, “Why are you here? What are you getting tested on? I see that you are healthy!” I don’t really have much patience for these questions so I would prefer a private lab.”