WASHINGTON, DC, February 7, 2017—The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund is joining LGBTQ advocates across the country in participating in the annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This year’s theme is “I Am My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper,” emphasizing our collective responsibility to stand united with our family and friends in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

“Family and friends have played an enormous role in the progress that we have made over the years—and their role is pivotal as we work towards an AIDS free world. Today as we focus on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we can—in no small part because of the activism of friends and family—celebrate some progress and intensify our efforts to tackle this epidemic. Today, treatment methods exist, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), that can reduce transmission rates to almost zero. HIV diagnoses among Black women fell by nearly 25% in the period between 2010 to 2014—and have also fallen sharply among Black people who inject drugs. HIV diagnoses have also stabilized among Black gay and bisexual men. Yet many Black people–and particularly LGBTQ and low-income Black people—continue to experience higher rates of HIV compared to other races and ethnicities. In 2015, Black people made up about 12% of the U.S. population, but accounted for 45% of new HIV diagnoses. Among all black people, gay and bisexual men accounted for the majority of new diagnoses. This can be attributed to existing structural barriers to prevention and treatment along with the societal conditions of stigma, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and classism. Now more than ever, we must encourage everyone to get educated, get tested and get treated. And we must never stop holding policymakers accountable for their actions,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

For more information about the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund’s health advocacy work, check out the “10 Key LGBTQ Health Advocacy Priorities” fact sheet: https://www.thetaskforceactionfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/10-key-lgbtq-health-advocacy-issues.pdf

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CONTACT:
Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org