December 1, 2020: This World AIDS Day, we honor Black women in the HIV movement.

Black women have been at the forefront of the HIV response since the earliest days of the domestic epidemic. Black women have marched, led, care-taken, stood in solidarity with gay and bisexual men, and demanded that the CDC recognize women-specific AIDS-defining conditions. Black cis and trans women living with HIV and allies have founded and led organizations, fought for resources to be equitably distributed, created conferences and gatherings to support people living with HIV, and consistently demanded a racial and gender equity lens on the HIV epidemic.  

We are grateful for the leadership of more Black women in the HIV movement than we can name – some we have lost and some who are still with us.

It is not easy to lead as a Black woman in the HIV community. Despite the progress that’s been made on addressing the domestic HIV epidemic, Black women living with HIV still face worse health outcomes once diagnosed. Black women leaders, advocates, and organizers contend with the joint forces of anti-Black racism and patriarchy, even within our own movement spaces. Black women in HIV organizations are often overlooked for promotions and leadership development. And 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the racial uprising, anti-trans violence, and a brutal election cycle crystallized the many ways in which Black women, cis and trans, bear the brunt of every form of violence, taking an enormous toll on our well-being.

Yet Black women persevere.

When Black women are safe and free, we will all be safe and free. When Black women thrive, we will all thrive.

Today PWN honors every Black woman who has committed any part of herself to our collective fight against HIV and its impacts.

We invite organizations to celebrate and honor Black women in the HIV movement with us.

PWN will be hosting the first annual Celebrate and Honor Black Women in the HIV Movement Day on March 12, 2021. We ask you to join us in the following:

  • Reflect on the role and power of Black women within your own organizations, including professional development and career advancement opportunities for Black women, and how Black women are reflected throughout your decision-making structure.
  • Honor the expertise of Black women working for and volunteering with your organization, including through equitable pay, creating safe spaces within the organization for Black women, and by committing to ask what they need to show up as their full selves each day.
  • Support and fund Black women-led organizations
  • Demand a domestic HIV response that centers the needs and leadership of Black transgender and cisgender women, including but not limited to a federal policy agenda that elevates the priorities of Black women living with HIV, appointments by Black women to senior roles in the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) and appointments by Black women living with HIV the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS (PACHA).
  • Commit to an internal audit of anti-Blackness and creating a plan to address it. 
  • Pledge to celebrate Black women on March 12, 2021. 

We will be inviting you to participate in a range of activities and take actions between now and March 12 to reflect your organizational commitment to celebrating and honor Black women in the HIV movement.

Today, on World AIDS Day 2020, please take the first step. Sign up to commit to participating in Celebrate and Honor Black Women in the HIV Movement Day on the form below.

#ProtectBlackWomen

#HonorBlackWomen

#Listen2BlackWomen

#RespectBlackWomen

#PayBlackWomen

 

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