On World AIDS
Day, I am optimistic about the future. I am optimistic because we have an
administration led by a president and vice-president who are longtime allies
and understand the impact of the HIV epidemic in our country and the world. I am full
of hope because there are advocates who are doing amazing and life-changing
work from Argentina to Atlanta, from South Africa to South Central, from
Lesotho to Louisiana, and from Jakarta to Jacksonville. I am inspired because I
believe the science.
People living
with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load have been proving U=U for years before the medical community caught up.
For the record, people who maintain an undetectable viral load for six
consecutive months cannot pass HIV to their partners. That means that no child
has to be born with HIV when there is access to ARTs. That also means ensuring equitable access to HIV meds
and supportive services, safe and affordable housing and culturally competent
healthcare should be a part of every person’s HIV regimen. If every person
living with HIV gets to, and maintains an undetectable viral load, then no one
can get HIV. That is the beginning of the end of the epidemic. Moreover, it
means that people live longer and healthier lives.
I usually
begin my presentations with this disclaimer: I am an expert, but not the only
expert. That is a way to remind the audience that I know what I am talking
about. And in the spirit of cultural humility, I am also willing to learn more.
I also remind people that there is power in “OK.” You may not agree with
everything that I say, and that is OK.
As a Black
woman and HIV advocate, who happens to be transgender, I harness the power of
OK while navigating spaces that are often treacherous for people like me. There
are no corporate boardrooms that were created for HIV advocates. There are no
college campuses created for Black trans women. There are no members of Congress
who identify as transgender or non-binary.
These are
constant reminders of the power of allies and that we are stronger when we
fight together. With that in mind, let’s talk about some ways that all of us
can recognize World AIDS Day by harnessing our power.
Each of us
represents many different communities. Those communities make up our
intersectional identities. For some of us, those identities hold lots of
privilege in society, and for some of us, it sets us up for more challenges.
Those of us with more privilege must leverage that into action.
We can no
longer think of HIV as a disease that “those people” get. We cannot rely on the
government to dictate that quality of life for people living with HIV. We can
no longer allow systemic racism, historical trauma, patriarchy and generational
traditions to stop progress.
According to USA Today, “Though men remain the largest group of
people diagnosed with HIV, Black women make up the majority of new HIV cases
among women.” You don’t have to be a Black woman to fight for Black
women. And, as a transgender woman, I say that you don’t have to be trans to
fight for our community. AIDSMap cites, “Trans women had a staggering 66
times higher odds of being infected with HIV”, and goes on to note, “For trans
men, this was 6.8 times higher.” Each of us has a part to play in eradicating
HIV.
Not everyone
was meant to march in protests – some are better at making protest signs than
carrying them. Some people are better at writing checks than flipping tables.
Whatever you do, do it with intention and do it often. Use whatever privilege
you have in society to speak for those whose voices are not as loud as yours.
Learn more about HIV and its impact in your own community, in the US and the
world. Then do something.
Fight
misinformation and disinformation every time. (I define misinformation as a
mistake. I define disinformation as willful deceit.) On this World AIDS Day,
and every other, remind yourself that people living with HIV deserve to be
loved and treated with dignity and respect. Equality and equity are not the
same thing. Trans people are real and our lives are valuable. Black women
deserve equitable access to PrEP and high quality, cultural appropriate HIV
care. LatinX women often face cultural barriers that must be addressed to get
the care they need.
Most
importantly, remember that you are a part of the solution to
end the HIV epidemic. I love you!
Tori Cooper (she, her, hers) is a Health & Equity Consultant, CDC subject
matter expert, educator, published author and leader in the transgender and HIV
communities with over 30 years of experience. She proudly serves as the Human
Rights Campaign’s Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice
Initiative. Ms. Cooper was recently sworn to the Presidential Advisory Council
on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) which provides advice, information, and recommendations to
the Secretary of Health & Human Services.
Views
expressed in The Advocate’s opinion articles are
those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of The
Advocate or our parent company, Equal Pride.
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
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