October 22, 2020

Dear Community,

2020 has been a tough year. A new pandemic. Police brutality. Fires and hurricanes. A racial justice uprising and a corresponding violent response by the state and white supremacist groups. So much loss and grief. And now, the election of our lifetimes, where democracy faces a fundamental and existential threat.

As networks led by and for people living with HIV, and as groups grounded in communities most impacted by HIV, we see you. We are with you. We are here for you.

We are mere days from polls closing, and millions have already voted in this election cycle. If you are eligible to vote, we hope you are voting safely and, if you can, voting early. We recognize there is a lot of uncertainty in these moments leading up to November 3rd — and uncertainty about what will happen after election day.

We are thinking about our communities — Black, brown, and Indigenous people of color, low income folks living with HIV, people who are chronically ill or disabled, LGBTQI+ people and folks of trans experience, people that use drugs, and sex workers — during this time.

PWN is working on organizing a “phone tree” to connect our members within their local areas for safety and wellness checks. We also have a Slack channel for communicating quickly and easily and are adding members who would like to participate. We want to be sure we stay connected and that we can check in with each other no matter what happens.

Please take just a couple of minutes to update your contact information and answer a few quick questions here.

Update your contact info here.

We want you to know that no matter what happens, we will be here for you.

Just like we prepare for hurricanes or wildfires, we — as a community — need to prepare for this election and the days that follow. We’ve included some tips and links below.

→ Get yourself and your loved ones prepared with our PLHIV emergency preparedness list.

Got something to add? Email [email protected]

→ Mark your calendars! HIV community leaders will convene a post-election HIV community check in on Thursday, November 5th at 4pm PT/7pm ET as a Zoom Meeting:

By computer, tablet or smartphone: https://zoom.us/j/93519499202?pwd=Rkk0Q1NySjFyQ1ZaV3lpWmR0OEd6dz09
Meeting ID: 935 1949 9202 Passcode: loveourppl

Our communities have always been fierce, forward-thinking, resilient, and deeply caring. We can care for each other and prepare together by staying connected with each other, getting ourselves and our communities ready, and reaching out to and supporting one another.

Even though much has changed this year, it’s how we’ve always shown up and this time will be no different.

In love and solidarity,

Counter Narrative Project
The Cranky Queer
HIV Racial Justice Now
THRIVE SS
Positive Women’s Network-USA
Positively Trans
Sero Project
The Reunion Project
Transgender Law Center (TLC)
Treatment Action Group
United States People Living with HIV Caucus
Translatin@ Coalition

Check out the following pages for more tips and resources!

Tip #1. Build your safety pod: Checking up on one another and holding space for our people is powerful, effective and a form of resistance.

Tip #2. Communicate as a community: We are planning how to keep in contact to support one another and share important information.

Tip #3. Prepare: Use the information below to prepare yourself and your community to be as resourced as possible.

#1. BUILD YOUR SAFETY POD

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: identify a group of at least 3-5 people you can trust, who you will check on and who will check on you regularly in case of emergency. This should include people in your local area, who could get to your home if needed.

  • Verify and update contact information with them. For each person, get at least 2 ways of reaching them: cell phone number, landline number, WhatsApp, etc. Program their numbers on speed dial and keep separate copies of this contact info (including a paper copy) in case your cell phone battery dies or you can’t use it.

  • Create a plan to check on each other in case of emergency or uncertainty — or just to see how everyone is doing. For example: a daily text, a group chat.)

  • Consider using Signal for your safe web communications. It is a free calling and messaging app with group chat features that is secure, encrypted and private. You can download the Signal app on iPhones, Androids, and iPads (though you need to use a cell phone number to sign up.)

#2. CONNECT

  1. We are creating a Slack channel space for HIV community rapid response. To join, please write to [email protected]. If you are new to Slack, here is one of the many guides on how to get started.

  2. Mark your calendars! HIV community leaders will convene a post-election HIV community check in on Thursday November 5th at 4pm PT/7pm ET. RSVP at [link to be added]

#3. PREPARE

There are ways to prepare yourself and your community to be as resourced as possible. Have a conversation with your pod, people you live with, and your safe web of people — and pool resources to support each other.

  • Make a plan to vote safely – and encourage others to make a plan and be prepared.

    • Make a plan: HealthyVoting.org

    • Hacer un plan: VotaSeguro.org

    • Report any voter suppression or intimidation to 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en español).

  • Protest safely.


  • Find and share emotional and mental health resources: