Don’t believe Florence and the Machine: the dog days have just begun — well, the dog days of summer anyway.

But while many people are California dreamin’, your devoted Gaywheels staffers are still pinned to our laptops, passing on items of interest to LGBT folks, auto enthusiasts, and the friends of same.

Today, we offer two quick stories about issues that disproportionately affect our community — and things that you can do to resolve them. Read on…

• We’ve all read the headlines, and we know far too well that teen suicide is surging, particularly among LGBT youth. To combat this terrible trend, the Trevor Project — arguably America’s foremost crisis prevention resource for young people — has launched a new project called NTL, or Need to Talk Live.

Its goal is exactly what you think: to put troubled teens in voice-to-voice contact with people who can listen, advise, and offer support. And to help fund NTL, Allstate’s Esurance division will donate $5 to the Trevor Project for every person who uploads a personal photo to the Need to Talk Live Facebook page before August 1.

The process is pretty simple, but in case you need more info, check out this video clip:

• Also, it’s National HIV Testing Day. Just enter your ZIP code here to find a testing center nearby – whether it be for STD testing in San Diego or in Miami – and take 20 minutes out of your day to get tested.

Sure, taking an HIV test can be scary, but remember that HIV is a very different disease than it was just a few years ago. Thanks to medical advances, it’s possible to live a completely normal lifespan — or longer — while being HIV-positive. But for that to happen, you have to know your status.

Get tested today. It’s quick, it’s painless, and it’s for your own good — and for the good of those you love.