Made by me. And the HIV funding fight in Florida is not over. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't bothered to click the links or ask for information about the new definition changes... more on that coming soon.

I didn't watch the video of George Floyd's murder. Nor have I watched the videos depicting Renée Nicole Good & Alex Jeffrey Pretti's executions. The video of Eric Garner's killing still haunts me. And being a Black man, I'm aware that the state will murder you in cold blood & blame you for existing.

This Morning, DHS Agents Beat, Shot, and Killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Meanwhile, seven Democrats just voted for a bill that will boost ICE funding by $10 billion. This is what they voted for. Now Lindsey Graham has introduced a bill to end sanctuary cities. Perhaps they will support him too.

#HIV advocacy has worked again! For FY 2026, Congress just approved: 1. $2.57 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program 2. $1.07 billion for HRSA 3. $1.38 billion for Prevention Source: Bill from the 119th Congress 2D Session for FY 2026. docs.house.gov/billsthiswee...

I spent last week in Texas working on a new project with Evany Turk and Marnina; the powerhouse co-executive directors of @pwnusa.bsky.social. I can't wait to share what we're cooking up for the #HIV community!

Nixon used the "War on Drugs" to attack and criminalize Black people. eji.org/news/nixon-w... The resultant consequence of over-policing Black people has had horrific consequences on the health and financial outcome of our community which continue even today.

I'm very proud to have been part of the movement that helped the @iasociety.bsky.social implement these changes. Thank you @drlaurajwaters.bsky.social for having been an incredible partner in demanding better. Thank you Bijan Farnoudi for having listened and opened the door.

Same: All I want for Christmas is affordable HIV meds for my people.

To everyone living with HIV and anyone who loves our community: Having reported on HIV for the past 6 years, I saw many of the challenges we are facing coming from far away and devoted myself to the one thing I could do to inform and empower our community.

*I retired from teaching last week. The occasion has sent me down memory lane: During my time as a K-5 grade school teacher, it was intimated that I should use my height and size to dominate my students. I refused. I thought speaking down to children was cruel and ineffective.

Parts of Zach Dyer's reporting here are well done. I take issue w this subsection: 1. Do your homework to learn if PrEP is right for you PrEP is right for any person who has sex. Point blank period. Even if you are in what you think is a monogamous relationship.

TAG is proud to publish a new report today that provides a first-of-its-kind analysis of the global supply chains of two key adjuvants used in several of the world’s most important vaccines. Read and download the report here: www.treatmentactiongroup.org/publication/...

The @plhivcaucus.bsky.social is pleased to announce newly elected and appointed officers: Shayla Knighton-Black, MPH, Christian Felix Castro, MA, Venita Ray, JD, and Ronald Johnson. Learn more in our latest video:

It's Human Rights Day. People living with HIV have a right to treatment, housing, & healthcare. People with HIV have a right to live free of stigma. Join the @plhivcaucus.bsky.social in creating a world where the rights of people living with HIV are guaranteed.

I like it when people ask questions that help us clarify our why. Consent is essential. Speaking on behalf of others w/o first consulting numerous community stakeholders is a violation. It's reeks of cisgender men making decisions about vaginal health, knowing they've not consulted affected folks.

Traveling while living w HIV can feel daunting. But it doesn't have to be when you're prepared in advance & know what to expect. I spend half of each year traveling around the world & spoke to @travelnoire.bsky.social about how I prepare. travelnoire.com/hiv-positive...

"We don't need permission to keep honoring World AIDS Day. We don't need permission to fight. And we don't need permission to LIVE." -Kamaria Laffrey Steering Committee; U.S. PLHIV Caucus Co-Executive Director; The Sero Project

World AIDS Day is tomorrow. Some of you aren't living with HIV but are speaking on panels that don't feature any people living with HIV. Some of you are speaking on panels that center your experience instead of the very community this day was established to celebrate.

I had an incredible time in London at Red Ribbon Living Well's World AIDS Day presentation. Thank you @susancolehaley.bsky.social for inviting me to speak on behalf of the @plhivcaucus.bsky.social. The combo of scientific & community presentations were curated in perfect conversation w each other.

"The only people who the HIV Caucus disavows are those who act with hate. If you must participate in Black Friday sales, please shop with companies that act with love. If they want our money, force them to show that they deserve it." -Juan Michael Porter II @plhivcaucus.bsky.social

Blessed Thanksgiving, I'm thankful to everyone who's fought for a world where HIV is no longer a death sentence. Let's continue to fight in their names. [email protected] PS: I'm lucky to serve as the HIV Caucus' communications officer and to create these posts.

The Trump administration is refusing to commemorate World AIDS Day this year. Doing so apes the Reagan administration ― which ignored and botched the AIDS crisis, dooming hundreds of thousands to slow, agonizing deaths. Is this a declaration of intent to return to those times?

🗓️ Monday, Dec 1, 2025 @ 9 a.m. ET 🗓️ Join us for a powerful #WorldAIDSDay webinar, "An HIV Doc and an Advocate Reflect on World AIDS Day" Register here: tinyurl.com/ycxcnc7a 🧵 1/

"HIV Is Being Swept Up in the Anti-Woke Agenda" www.thebody.com/article/hiv-... I asked the great Mathew Rodriguez to write his 2 and half years ago because every other journalist I spoke to said that I was being alarmist.

The United States government has ordered its employees not to speak at any events for World AIDS Day or promote them on social media. I guess they think that if we ignore HIV/AIDS it will just go away. It didn’t work for Reagan and it’s not going to work now.

🗓️ Monday, Dec 1, 2025 @ 9 a.m. ET 🗓️ Join us for a powerful #WorldAIDSDay webinar, "An HIV Doc and an Advocate Reflect on World AIDS Day" Register here: tinyurl.com/ycxcnc7a 🧵 1/

"When you eliminate health coverage, erase data, criminalize survival, and ban health care, you don't need a law to say trans people should not exist ― the systems themselves make our survival impossible." -Michael Elizabeth Co-Chair; US PLHIV Caucus We will never leave our trans siblings behind.

The current administration has announced that it can use diabetes, obesity, and cancer to reject visa applicants. The HIV Caucus remembers when the U.S. had the same policy towards people living with HIV and we won't stand for it. Read the full newsletter here: mailchi.mp/0886a224006d...

I'm at the Target boycott, I'm at the Starbucks boycott, I'm at the combination Target boycott and Starbucks boycott

Dear Megyn Kelly, Having sex with 15 year old children does indeed make someone a pedophile. Just ask R. Kelly. I hope this helps. www.thedailybeast.com/cnn-rips-com...

Great article by Gus Cairns. A major point here is that people are not being diagnosed: It's thought that 43%-50% of Europeans w transmissible HIV are undiagnosed. Meanwhile, Russia remains the largest driver of HIV within eastern Europe. Why? Putin downplays HIV & his attitude has infected others.

Lately, pundits have gone back to joking about Lindsey Graham's sexuality. What irks me most about these comments is that they miss the point: We should taunt man for his barbaric record against historically marginalized communities. Not because of who he might be. www.thebody.com/article/lind...

Yesterday was a busy day in the STI clinic, but one of my last patients had reported pain during sex. Turns out they had trich, but the more important discussion was what happened when they disclosed to their partner their discomfort, the partner ignored my pt. This is not ok…

We celebrate National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day by honoring our Latinx siblings in this fight to contain HIV/AIDS and refusing to leave anyone behind. Please join us in elevating the needs of our Latinx family. For more information, please visit Latino Commission on AIDS and LatinX Plus.

HIV funding is lifesaving. It’s how we stopped the AIDS Crisis. Half of Congress is trying to eliminate HIV-prevention programs. If we don’t stop them now, they’ll be targeting HIV treatment next. Tell Congress to fully fund HIV-prevention & treatment services. SaveHIVFunding.org #SaveHIVFunding

Because HIV disproportionately harms Black people, we've gone from picking cotton in fields to picking pills out of bottles as a cash crop for pharmaceutical companies, which use our blood as collateral to enrich their coffers. Things can be different: www.thebody.com/article/soli...

TOMORROW is the start of Long COVID Justice's new support group for people living with HIV and other complex conditions. It all starts at 3 PM (EST) on Zoom with Gabriel San Emeterio, LMSW, as the facilitator! Register at: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #HIVLongTermSurvivors #LongCOVID #PLHIV

Tomorrow is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. For people living w #HIV, these awareness days are an opportunity to tell folks to do their part to protect themselves from the virus -- just as we saved millions of people from HIV with our advocacy when no one else was coming to save us.

California lawmakers started the year signaling they were ready to get tough on data centers, aiming to protect the environment and electricity ratepayers. Nine months later, they have little to show for it. https://cal.news/4pGZ43s 📷 Genaro Molina, Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Making fun of the current president may feel good but it is not activism. Rather, if it's the only way that you're activating, I think you can follow up with something more effective.

People Living With HIV Need: Folks who love people living with HIV enough NOT to believe every bad thing they hear about us. We’re people first; just like you. Adapted by @juanmichaelii.bsky.social from the words of Ivory Toldson, PhD. #HIV #Liberation #NoStigma

I'm grateful to everyone who fought so that people living with HIV could survive. And though it might be easier to run away, I will continue to fight for liberation in their names. It's the only way any of us will have a chance to live, dance, & thrive. #JMPII

It's National Dance Day in the States. Celebrate as you will―even if you're in a tiny space that limits your movement. Even if your body is limited in what it can do. Just #dance, for the sake of dancing.

When I was young, I didn't understand the myth of Cassandra because to my young brain, if someone was telling you that disaster was coming, the adults would want to change it. I miss being that naive. And of course no one listened to Cassandra, she's a woman.

Let's invest our energy in liberating our communities and avoid cultivating our minds for white supremacy. AKA: If all you're doing is talking about white supremacy, you're not doing anything for the people who rely on you for safety, comfort, & love. Water the flowers instead of the weeds.

I'll be in Korea for the next two weeks. My responsiveness is slower than usual. But if you know how to send a punk, queer, trans owl ― you can definitely reach me. Meanwhile, get your legs up, put a ring on it, and smile.

I spoke to the CIHR Pan-Canadian Network for HIV and STBBI Clinical Trials Research about continuing the mission to contain #HIV, even without PEPFAR or support from the U.S. www.ctnplus.ca/news/picking...

The HIV Caucus is for EVERYONE who believes in empowering people living with HIV & containing the epidemic. Even if you're not living with HIV. People who aren't living with HIV can join as supporters by filling out this membership form: www.hivcaucus.org/form-languag...

For decades.

"I am the problem, but I am also the solution."