Every year since 1988, December 1 has been known as World AIDS Day. This year marks 40 years since the very first cases of AIDS were officially reported. World AIDS Day is acknowledged worldwide, giving a voice to the over 38 million people currently living with HIV as well as the over 36 million who have lost a loved one to the disease.
According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, the theme for World AIDS Day this year was “Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.” This theme expands on the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to end the HIV epidemic by ensuring that we continue to advance research, testing, policies and programs meant to combat the spread of HIV. The messaging is meant to encourage not just those affected, but everyone, to get out there and work together for this common effort.
Despite its noble goal and theme, the administration doesn’t seem to be doing anything differently than former administrations to address the issue other than asking for more money in the budget. And despite asking for money, there seems to be no simple breakdown of how the estimated additional $267 million will be put to work to accomplish this goal. While it will certainly help many, it’s unclear how exactly this administration will use it to increase equitable access to necessary care.
As skeptical as it may leave some though, a great amount of progress has been made over the last couple decades and over 20 million lives have been saved due to the efforts of both the government and the people. So although there doesn’t seem to be anything groundbreaking attached to this new campaign, other than a catchy slogan, there are still efforts being made to put an end to this epidemic once and for all. For example, if you wish to go beyond the hashtag and digital activism, there are several ways in which you can take action.
The first way you can take action against HIV is by getting tested and better yet, encouraging those around you to do so also. Thanks to so many great organizations, like Planned Parenthood and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), there are options for free HIV testing in nearly every city across the country. If you are a college student, your campus health center likely has free testing as well. Another way you can take action is by donating your time and volunteering at one of these institutions or organizations.
This December, consider “Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice” as a call to action. Whether you wish to tell your story, volunteer in your community or donate financially, your actions are making a difference, big or small. The fight may not be over yet, but together we can end AIDS!
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Lonnetta Wilson 35 (she/her) Connector
Lonnetta’s world changed in 2007 when her 30-year-old brother died of complications from AIDS. Before his death she wasn’t even aware that he had been living with HIV. Facing multiple barriers as a deaf, biracial, gay, and transgender man, he simply gave up. Learning all this left Lonnetta angry and unsure what to do next. After taking some time to process everything that had happened, she decided to turn her anger into advocacy. Today Lonnetta devotes her life to making sure that nobody stops their fight with HIV because someone wasn’t there. She currently serves as the Ending the Epidemic Coordinator for the Tarrant County Public Health Department. Her role is to coordinate the community to find strategies to work towards ending HIV. Lonnetta feels grateful for science and innovation in medicine. She only wishes her brother would have known that there was support out there and had held on to benefit from one pill once a day treatment options. She is also grateful for the availability of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which works much like birth control in that one pill a day can prevent the acquisition of HIV.
When thinking of World AIDS Day Lonnetta says it about “highlighting and honoring the folks who’ve been living with the virus and dealing with the stigma and recognizing that their lives and their voices are important”
Lonnetta sees herself as a connector. Be it connecting people to resources, services, and medicine, or providing love and support, she serves as a connection for the community. Her brother would be so proud.
Brentton Lowery 31 (He/Him) Stigma Breaker
Brentton Lowery is a board-certified Physician’s Assistant and spends his time providing treatment and prevention services to those living with and vulnerable to acquiring HIV. His passion for the work started at 17 when his brother died of AIDS complications at just 21 years old. It was then that Brentton committed his life to helping as many people as he could. His career started working at a clinic in South Los Angeles. It was there were he had his first experience serving the Black community. Brentton recognizes that being a Black medical provider makes it easier to establish a relationship with his patients. Brentton understands how important patient and medical provider trust is, especially in a community where we already fear medical practices and things that have been done in the past. Despite the fears he wants the community to know how important getting tested is. If you test positive, he can treat you. If you test negative, he can come up with a prevention plan for you. Either way there is an option for you. In fact, it’s the advancements in medicine that Brentton highlights on World AIDS Day. Looking back on where we started and where we are now, he can’t help but smile. His oldest patient is 88 years old and has been living with HIV for 30 years.
Brentton doesn’t take his position lightly and hopes to use it to be a stigma breaker. He says, “My goal and mission are to take away all the stigma that surrounds HIV and sexual health in general. We’re all sexual beings and we should not have so many negative thoughts around sexual health and our sexual journeys.”
Naomi Green 38 (she/her) Changemaker
Naomi Green is an advocate and activist for the transgender community and is working for change every day. While attending college Naomi met a trans person for the first time and eventually would start transitioning herself in 2007. However, it wasn’t until a 2017 shooting that left Naomi relatively unharmed and her friend dead, that she decided to pursue advocacy work. She believes surviving meant there was a greater purpose to her life that she was not fully realizing. That brought her to Dallas where she currently serves as a program manager for Abounding Prosperity Inc. The only organization in Dallas that exists specifically to serve the Black LGBTQ community. The services they provide are critical as it is estimated that 46% of Black transgender women are living with HIV. Naomi says this is largely because of the stigma and shame that is placed on trans people, especially Black trans people. Discrimination and transphobia are very serious issues and are the reason that the life expectancy for transgender women of color is only 35 years old. That is why Naomi is working to be a changemaker.
She says, “I want to change the narrative of what it means to be Black and trans. I want to change the narrative of what it means to be an advocate, and I want to be able to change people’s minds in an effort to change their hearts to change the impact that this disease is having on my community and the Black community in general.”
On World AIDS Day Naomi focuses on the word world. She reminds us that HIV is something that people across the world are dealing with regardless to their sexuality or gender identity. It is a condition that impacts humans, and more Black people are dying than any other group of people across the world. That should be enough for a call to action to show up for each other, no matter the circumstance.
Sattie Nyachwaya 32 (she/her) Authentic
Sattie Nyachwaya believes in the power of storytelling. It truly can change hearts and minds. It was hearing the stories of people living with HIV that sparked her passion to end HIV and helped her discover her own identity as a queer woman. Sattie has always been interested in community work but it was about 4 years ago while assisting someone who was doing HIV work that she found her calling. Sattie had the opportunity to just sit and listen to people’s stories. It was those stories that kept her coming back and what continues to fuel her passion today. Sattie currently serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Prism Health North Texas. The largest HIV/AIDS Service Organization in North Texas. In that role she engages with different groups of people in several ways. As a self-identified queer Black woman Sattie sits on the intersection of many controversial issues impacting society today. She says when you start trying to take away her voice and the options she has, we start to have a problem. Coming off the heels of the anti-abortion law that was passed in Texas, Sattie recently organized a women’s march. She believes in reproductive justice and women having agency over their bodies. This includes queer women and women living with HIV, who are often left out of the conversation. Ultimately for Sattie it’s about being authentic. Being a part of this community has helped her to be her true authentic self. She feels like when you’re at the right place at the right time, your authentic self is going to come out. Its going to keep you going. And she encourages the Black community to have those authentic and open conversations, especially around sexual health. Listening to people and hearing their stories and experiences creates empathy and builds bridges to progress.
When thinking about World AIDS Day Sattie brings it back to advocacy and storytelling. “Advocating for people and their stories because the people that came before us lost their lives and fought so hard. It’s because of their stories that people like me and others are here.”
Jalenzski Brown (he/him) Divine
Jalenzski Brown is a spiritual being. He believes our lives are divine and should be treated as such. With that he wants to help people find peace, love, and happiness in their own human experience. This includes helping young Black gay, bi-sexual, and same gender loving men navigate the many facets of their identity to be healthy and whole. Jalenzski currently serves as the Director of Empowerment Programs at Resource Center. One of the largest LGBTQ organizations in the country. He creates spaces that allow Black men to be honest with themselves about their sexual health. By helping them recognize what their vulnerabilities are for contracting HIV and other STIs they then have the tools to mitigate those vulnerabilities. Jalenzski says it about using his inner light to assist other people in finding their own inner light that illuminates their path forward. This is even more critical when it comes to serving youth. As Jalenzski points out there are so many underlying factors that contribute to HIV acquisition for them, especially in the Black community. Systemic oppression aside, many lack affirmation and stability at home so they must seek it elsewhere. Often LGBTQ youth experience homelessness and are forced into sex work as a means of survival.
He says “The inability for people to stand in their reality has created so many challenges within the Black community in terms of having to hide parts of yourself. And if that part of yourself also needs medical or healing attention you’re not receiving the care that you need.”
When it comes to World AIDS Day Jalenzski wants the Black community to know that if we are going to truly end HIV we must live in reality and make space and time to understand each other’s struggles. What’s right and wrong for you may not look the same for the next person. Again, Jalenzski believes his work is divinely led, and we all must get in tune with our spirit and truth. And we all get to speak our truth, but your truth doesn’t trump somebody else’s.
Venton Jones (he/him) Persistent
When Venton Jones returned to Dallas after college, he knew he was interested in public health, specifically minority health. One area that continued to raise a silent alarm for him was HIV. As a young Black gay man, he was learning that his community was being hit the hardest, and not just by the virus, but the stigma as well. This prompted Venton to get involved through volunteer work. Cut to years later and he is the CEO of the Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network. Venton is working and advocating every day for policy and community-based solutions that will end the HIV epidemic. Venton himself has been living with HIV since 2007 and says that is just a piece of his story. “I use that to hopefully work with the community to show that, yes, you can be HIV positive, yes, you can be out, yes, you can be all these things, and still be able to do work that inspires you and that is successful and that can accomplish things.” That visibility is so important as the community needs to know that people living with HIV are thriving in this world.
As Venton thinks about World AIDS Day he sees this as an opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate how far we have come as a nation and global community. He also sees it as a call to action for Black communities. He says we’re still amid COVID, yet people need to be reminded of a pandemic that has been going on for much longer. And HIV is rooted in some of the same stigmas. Black people are disproportionately impacted and as we look ahead it’s going to require everybody to come to the table when we talk about solutions for Back communities. HIV is a social justice issue and there have been continuous inequities in the response. That’s why sitting at the intersection of race, sexuality, and HIV, Venton has remained persistent. Imagine if we waited for justice to come instead of pursuing it. Imagine if we waited for equity to come instead of demanding it. Persistence is the only way.
Helen E. Turner (she/her) 75
Helen Turner is a local treasure. She has been a local community advocate for people living with HIV for almost 30 years. She sits on several planning groups and committees including the Ryan White Planning Council and the Dallas HIV Taskforce. Diagnosed in 1984 Helen is living proof of how far we have come in this epidemic. When she was diagnosed Helen was Vice President of a bank in San Francisco and had many gay employees. At the time she didn’t fit her then perception of someone who would contract HIV. As a Black heterosexual woman, she was in denial and initially upon diagnosis did nothing. She just went back to her life. It wasn’t until 3 years later when she passed out at work that she knew she had to get treatment. Helen says she experienced a cycle of grief, shame, and anger that she allowed to consume her. Once Helen got in care and worked to pull herself out of that cycle, she was able to be an advocate for others. She says she doesn’t want anyone else to go through what she went through. “Because of their fixed ideas, because of their vulnerabilities, because of their fears, they are going down the same road I went down. That’s how I got into this work. One at a time trying to help people.
Today Helen remains steadfast in her advocacy for all people impacted by HIV. For her World AIDS Day represents awareness and education. People need to understand that HIV is still here, and we all have a part to play in having a healthy community. Above all things Helen is committed. She continues to do the work while pulling people forward and being a mentor to youth. She is developing the next crop of advocates. She says as long as she has breath in her body, she will be here. Committed to the cause, committed to the community, committed to the work. That is truly advocacy in motion.
Robyn “Pocahontas” Crowe 36 (she/hers/Queen) Sacrifice
Robyn Crowe, known by many as Pocahontas, or just Pocha, is a transgender advocate who has experienced firsthand the challenges and barriers facing the community. Pocahontas started transitioning at age 17 and during that time experienced sex work, drug use, and people around her contracting HIV. It was also during that time that she started to find her community support. She was lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn about HIV and how it was impacting the Black community. As several of her friends became HIV positive, Pocahontas was prompted to begin volunteering. From there she continued to do the work that her community needed. Providing education and resources for people living with HIV and caring for the most underserved communities. Those that identify as transgender or nonbinary.
Today Pocha is the Executive Director of House of Rebirth. An organization that exists to provide a safe haven for Black transwomen. Her organization serves as a bridge between the community and any services that they may need. In our society transgender and non-binary people face discrimination, stigma, and fatal violence just for existing. There is a lack of support and understanding, which leads to rejection, and limits opportunities for people to truly thrive. As a result, many face mental health challenges and instability. In addition, many may turn to sex work for survival, which leaves them more vulnerable to contracting HIV.
On World AIDS Day Pocahontas wants the Black community to know that HIV is not just affecting the LGBTQ community. It could affect anyone and that’s why on this day and every day we must come together and celebrate the life of all people living with HIV.
When Pocha looks at her life thus far she acknowledges that she has made a lot of sacrifice. She says, “I sacrifice my life to save so many other people. With me being on the front lines of marches being the main person that works. I’m sacrificing me for my community.” And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Marsha Jones 60 (she/her) Scrappy
Marsha Jones loves Black people and that is evident in everything she does. She is scrappy. She works and will continue to work until the end. Marsha is the co- founder and current Executive Director of the Afiya Center. An organization focused on Black women and girls and centered on reproductive justice and the connection between reproductive oppression and the increased risk of HIV transmission. It’s interesting because where she is today is not where she started. Marsha got involved with HIV work after watching so many gay Black men in her life die. These were her friends and family, including her nephew who she still holds close to her heart. It wasn’t until working with the Black AIDS Institute that she started to really dive into how HIV was impacting women. Marsha saw herself in these women and felt it vital to tell their stories. She says we must talk about how HIV has created stigma and robbed Black women of their reproductive destiny and choices. Women were not encouraged to have babies even though we’ve known for a long time that babies can be born healthy and HIV negative. She reminds us that currently in Texas you can face legal consequences for HIV exposure and abortion. This makes Black women particularly vulnerable.
Marsha says this is a reminder that we have come a long way, but HIV is still here, and Black people are carrying the burden of this virus. And when we talk about all the rights people are supposed to have, that must include people living with HIV.
HIV is a medical condition and we must talk about it the way we talk about other chronic conditions. Marsha thinks that if we had done more of that in the past some of her friends and family may still be alive. On World AIDS Day Marsha uses it as an opportunity to speak her nephews name and remind us it didn’t have to be like this. She says, “this epidemic is one of the biggest travesty’s that has ever happened that didn’t have to happen.” And she will remain scrappy, doing what needs to be done to ensure that Black folk are not left behind.
Brentton Lowery 31 (He/Him) Stigma Breaker
Brentton Lowery is a certified Physician’s Assistant at the Help Center for LGBT Health and Wellness in Fort Worth. He spends his time providing treatment and prevention services to those living with and vulnerable to acquiring HIV. His passion for the work started at 17 when his brother died of AIDS complications at just 21 years old. It was then that Brentton committed his life to helping as many people as he could. His career started working at a clinic in South Los Angeles. It was there were he had his first experience serving the Black community. Brentton recognizes that being a Black medical provider makes it easier to establish a relationship with his patients. Brentton understands how important patient and medical provider trust is, especially in a community where we already fear medical practices and things that have been done in the past. Despite the fears he wants the community to know how important getting tested is. If you test positive, he can treat you. If you test negative, he can come up with a prevention plan for you. Either way there is an option for you. In fact, it’s the advancements in medicine that Brentton highlights on World AIDS Day. Looking back on where we started and where we are now, he can’t help but smile. His oldest patient is 88 years old and has been living with HIV for 30 years.
Brentton doesn’t take his position lightly and hopes to use it to be a stigma breaker. He says, “My goal and mission are to take away all the stigma that surrounds HIV and sexual health in general. We’re all sexual beings and we should not have so many negative thoughts around sexual health and our sexual journeys.”