AIDS United President & CEO Jesse Milan, Jr.

September 6, 2017

Demonstration Project Amplifies Transgender Leadership in Fight Against HIV

READ TIME: 2 MIN.

Through the generous support of Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, eight organizations in six states, DC and Puerto Rico were awarded AIDS United's first-ever demonstration grants to increase transgender leadership within organizations, in community planning bodies and in local networks to aid the response to HIV.

"The transgender community faces unique challenges in HIV prevention, treatment and care that are compounded by insensitivity and a shocking lack of culturally competent providers, as well as racial and ethnic health disparities, discrimination and stigma," said AIDS United President & CEO Jesse Milan, Jr.

Transgender women, especially transgender women of color, are more heavily affected by HIV than any other group in the United States, relative to their population size. Community leaders and policy makers must be made aware of the many barriers to good health faced by the transgender community, including violence and discrimination in areas such as housing, education and when accessing health care.

From a mentorship project for people living with HIV in Florida to providing job-readiness and advocacy training to individuals who have been recently released from prison or jail in San Francisco -- the eight grantee organizations are working to amplify the power of transgender people to address the HIV epidemic and make a difference in their communities.

The Transgender Leadership Initiative is grounded in learnings from a community-created consensus statement released by AIDS United in June 2017. The landmark statement outlines concrete and measurable steps organizations can take to improve their approach to HIV work in transgender communities. The resource is freely available at aidsunited.org/resources.

"We are proud of this trailblazing initiative. Meaningful involvement of transgender leaders is paramount to turning the tide of the HIV epidemic and raising the profile of transgender leaders in our field. More efforts must be undertaken to recognize the realities of transgender lives and enable transgender individuals to take up leadership roles to address their safety, health and wellness," said Milan.

Transgender Leadership Initiative grantees include:

  • Centro Ararat, Inc. - Ponce, PR
  • Positive Impact Health Centers - Duluth, GA
  • Project Weber/RENEW - Providence, RI
  • Transgender, Gender Variant, Intersex Justice Project - San Francisco, CA
  • Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico - Albuquerque, NM
  • The Translatin@ Coalition - Washington, DC
  • Translatina Network - New York, NY
  • Translatina T Service, Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL

    "Janssen Infectious Diseases is extremely grateful for all that AIDS United is doing to improve HIV care in the transgender community," said Catherine Owen, president, Janssen Infectious Diseases. "We are honored to support the noble and critical work they are enabling through the Transgender Leadership Initiative."

    For more information, visit www.aidsunited.org

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