Mental health advocate Kaitlyn Figueroa promotes a breakthrough documentary, LAVENDER, at Astoria Film Festival [AFF]. Powerful and poignant. Hidradenitis Suppurativa [HS] is a condition that causes painful bumps deep in the skin: groin, armpits, and chest. For decades, the American people have suffered from this debilitating disease. It is chronic, frequently misdiagnosed, and, in many cases, swept under the rug. Since adolescence, Kaitlyn has been fighting the disease: at a laser hair removal session, she’s badly burned. She is confronted with violent partners and teased by family members.Read more.