There are over 1.6 million trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive youth (age 13+) and adults across the United States.
Every day we see the rights, dignity, and autonomy of trans people being attacked. It is critical now more than ever to celebrate trans joy, advocate for trans rights, and uplift trans visibility.
“Despite the high impact of HIV on Black women and trans women, we still aren’t consistently practicing effective ways to dismantle anti-Blackness, misogynoir and anti-trans language and behaviors in our spaces. The threats against women’s reproductive rights and gender-affirming care threaten our HIV work, and these issues disproportionately affect Black women and women of color living with HIV.”
- Keiva Lei Cadena, co-executive director, Positive Women’s Network USA.
All trans, Two-Spirit, gender expansive, and gender diverse people living with HIV deserve to live free of discrimination, criminalization, violence, and stigma.
We call on HIV organizations to go beyond tokenization of trans folks, and instead make concrete and material commitments to trans liberation.
“As a transgender, brown, HIV positive woman, being visible is very important. Others have had it rougher in the past and resisted so we could have the rights we have today. But there is still a lot to do. We should fight until all of us can walk knowing that we have the same rights as every other citizen and we are not criminalized for being ourselves. Until that day comes, remember that we are not alone because we have each other.”
- Andy Tapia, Latin American and Caribbean coordinator, SERO Project.
Let's start by uplifting the amazing advocacy work being led by people of trans experience in the HIV movement, like PWN members Tiommi Luckett who just received the Positive Leadership Award at the Congressional Reception at AIDS Watch, and Shekinah Rose who is a leader in the crucial fight for HIV decriminalization in Pennsylvania. Support trans-led organizations like Positively Trans of the Transgender Law Center, The Trans Latin@ Coalition, and the Solutions not Punishment Collaborative (SnapCo.)
