April 30, 2019

In this issue:

• This May Day, and Every Day, Stand with Immigrants and Workers
  
• Spotlight on Texas: PWN-Texas Organizes to Shape Legislation
• PWN Shero of the Month: Kamaria Laffrey
• Meet our 2019-2020 PWN-USA Policy Fellows
• Webinars You Won’t Want to Miss

This May Day, and Every Day, Stand with Immigrants and Workers

Today is May Day, an international day to celebrate and demonstrate the strength and power of the working class. In the U.S., it is also a day to honor immigrant rights. Labor, the working class, and dignity for Black and brown people are inextricably linked.  

In an increasingly hostile environment, it has never been more important that we stand up for safety, sanctuary and human rights for all immigrants. We are disgusted that today — on this very day that celebrates immigrant-worker solidarity — the White House has asked Congress for an additional $4.5 billion in “emergency border spending”. There is no emergency at the border. The only “crisis” is the Trump administration’s gross violations of the human rights of immigrants on the U.S. and Mexico side of the border.

Positive Women’s Network-USA calls on our members, allies, partners and leaders to take to the streets, to state legislatures, to the polls to demand sanctuary for immigrants, an end to the administration’s crackdown on immigrants, and an end to any forms of collaboration between ICE and law enforcement. Read the HIV community call for Expanded Sanctuary (May Day 2017) here to learn more.

No Ban. No Wall. Sanctuary for All.

Spotlight on Texas: PWN-Texas Organizes to Shape Legislation

PWN Texas has been busy this legislative session! They have been leading the Texas Strike Force, a group of concerned community members ready to take action, and a rapid response team tracking both helpful and harmful legislation, educating people living with and concerned about HIV on those bills, and offering ways for advocates to take action on them. We interviewed PWN Texas Greater Houston Area co-chair Jessi Mona and member Angela about what they have been up to.

Q. PWN TX formed a Rapid Response Team as well as a “Community Strike Force” to respond in real time during a contentious legislative session. Who is a part of the Rapid Response Team, and exactly what are they responding to? What was the process to become a member of the Response Team and Strike Force?

A. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) consists of members from PWN Texas Chapter which includes members from the Greater Houston Area (GHA) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). The RRT serves as the smaller arm of the Texas Strike Force. The strike force is a cross movement coalition of individuals and organizations. They are the broader community unified under the title of Texas Strike Force.

The RRT is currently monitoring 32 bills. Each RRT member has 8-11 bills to monitor and follow that relate to LGBTQ rights, citizenship, health care, reproductive justice rights, voting rights, and sex education. The RRT is also responsible for breaking the bills down in simple terms for distribution to the strike force.

PWN-USA Shero of the Month: Kamaria Laffrey

Our April 2019 Shero of the Month is Kamaria Laffrey of Winter Haven, Florida. Kelly Flannery, PWN If/When/How Legal Fellow who nominated Kamaria said, “Kamaria is an inspiration. She has claimed her seat at the policy table — a model for all future PWN-USA policy fellows. She is a powerful advocate, doing groundbreaking work in Florida to push to modernize their HIV criminalization laws. I also know I can always rely on Kamaria. She has been fiercely supportive of the PWN-USA Policy Fellowship and always makes herself available to help grow and support the next generation of PWN-USA policy leaders.”

When asked why she chose to become an advocate for people living with HIV, Kamaria said, “Active and intentional advocacy came about because I was tired of hearing about stigma after my diagnosis, especially in the Black community, but it seemed no one wanted to step up in my local community to empower and engage in spaces that were meaningful.” Before Kamaria knew what Meaningful Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MIPA) was, she was sitting at tables, challenging systems and elevating concerns of gaps in services because she wanted to understand why the status quo was to just blame stigma instead of trying to eliminate it.

Meet our 2019-2020 PWN-USA Policy Fellows

We are proud to announce the 2019-2020 class (year 3) of PWN-USA Policy Fellows! This program, now in its third year, will build the policy leadership bench for women, including women of trans experience, directly impacted by the epidemic and historically underrepresented in the federal health policy advocacy arena. The program kicked off on April 5, 2019 with an orientation webinar preluding a 9-month long curriculum where the Fellows will develop skills in policy analysis, research, coalition and relationship building as emerging leaders in the field.

Webinars You Won’t Want to Miss

PWNCares: Motherhood with HIV

Mon., May 13, 2019 at 3pm EDT/12pm PDT

Join panelists Davina Conner, Kamaria Laffrey, Octavia Lewis, MPA and Maggie Shapiro for the launch of our 8th video in the PWNCares series by and for women living with HIV and a virtual coffee table discussion on the nuances of motherhood while living with HIV.

Click on the image above or here to watch the teaser of the video!

Ending Violence Against Women and People of Trans Experience Living with HIV

Thurs., May 23, 2019 at 3pm EDT/12pm PDT

This webinar will explore how institutional racism and structural inequity create heightened vulnerability to violence, both from other people and from the state, for women and people of trans experience living with HIV. We will discuss steps that you can take to push for restorative justice over punitive practices and healing over trauma.