PWN-USA Members Unleashed Their Power During AIDSWatch 2026
Each year, HIV activists from around the U.S. travel to D.C. for AIDSWatch: the nation’s largest community-driven HIV federal advocacy event. During this time, advocates like Bee Velasquez (OR) speak with legislators about issues that affect HIV funding, treatment, and care.
Though Bee is active in her state, she says that she attended AIDSWatch because, “We don’t always have connections with our local officials, so having this opportunity is critical. This is our space and our time for our voices to be heard.”
This year, PWN-USA sponsored 14 members for AIDSWatch.In total,we had 42 members attending and 9 coordinated and led their state’s delegation. During the conference, 12 members and PWN staff presented in plenaries and lead workshops, and 4 members (Janet Kitchen, Tori Cooper, Wanda Brendle-Moss, and Venita Ray) received awards!
On the day of Capitol Hill visits (March 18), our members kept the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV (MIPA) at the forefront of their agenda. For Myra Franks (AL), that meant telling our legislators, “exactly what issues matter to us so they can create policies that meet our needs.” Foremost on her mind were supporting equitable access to healthcare, affordable housing, and protecting HIV funding and programs.
19 members worked with PWN-USA during a pre-AIDSWatch leadership retreat before they met with their representatives to ensure they knew how to frame the issues that matter to them and how to turn their personal stories into clear policy demands. Grace Rutha (PA) told us that in the past, lived experiences were not always valued. But now she says, “We have reclaimed our power by transforming
our lived experience into expertise and shifting the narrative to push for systemic change.”
Talking with legislators can feel intimidating. But LaDawn Tate (MI) said that, “Sharing my story made me feel powerful because I was able to be a voice for other people living with HIV, especially Black women. I knew this is where I’m supposed to be and this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
In addition to supporting members during their legislative visits, PWN-USA supported the Celebration of Life protest against HIV funding cuts. The protest was covered by The Advocate and featured community members reading their pre-obituaries—personal testimonies about the devastating consequences of abandoning people living with HIV.
You can read four obituaries from PWN-USA members here:
As we celebrate our accomplishments and collective power, it is important to remember that the fight doesn’t stop here. The current administration is actively working to dismantle our systems of care, targeting programs that support our community’s livelihood and quality of life, such as Medicaid and SNAP.
Let’s continue connecting with our elected officials back at home and holding them accountable. As Valerie Pinkston (MS) explained, “They work for us. They have to back their constituents, or we will find someone who will. We have to use our voice with confidence.”
As we say at PWN-USA: No one is coming to save us, we have to save ourselves.
