Last month, almost 550 people living with HIV and their allies converged upon the offices of more than 200 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives as part of the 25th anniversary gathering of AIDS Watch, the largest constituent-based annual HIV advocacy event in the nation. Georgia was well represented, with over 40 individuals making the trek to the nation’s capital. Among those participating in this year’s AIDS Watch, were our Joan P. Garner Scholarship Fund Receipt, Jennifer Barnes and Thrive SS/Georgia Equality Fellow, Mahlon Randolph.
Special shout out to local Atlanta all-trans band, Exquisite Gender who raised $1,700 to support the Joan P. Garner AIDS Watch Scholarship fund that is used to send a local young person living with HIV to Washington, DC to speak directly with members of Congress and their staffs about the needs of young people living with HIV in Georgia! To make a donation to the Joan P. Garner Scholarship Fund, click here.
Just a few of Georgia’s Delegation at AIDS Watch 2018 in Washington, DC.
Jennifer is a former Youth HIV Policy Advisor at Georgia Equality. She currently serves as a Legislative Aide and LGBTQ Liaison to State Representative Park Cannon. Barnes demonstrated her policy savvy in meeting with Congressional Staff where she discussed the impact of HIV on Transwomen. Most notably, Jennifer spoke on how the inability to legally affirm gender through legal documents that match one’s gender identity can be a barrier to accessing and receiving health care services like Ryan White. Jennifer noted that highlight of the experience was getting to meet other advocates engaging in the work. “Being able to interact with all my colleagues across Georgia was a pleasure.”
Mahlon is also a former Youth HIV Policy Advisor. The senior policy major at Georgia State University considers AIDS Watch to be the highlight of his advocacy career, thus far.
“Being able to learn from others and advocating for the needs of people living with HIV nationwide provided me with a wealth of knowledge that I can now efficiently use in my community.” Mahlon is quickly emerging as a leader on the issue of meaningful involvement of people living with HIV (MIPA), leading trainings across the city.
Members of Georgia’s AIDS Watch 2018 Delegation meeting with staff in Sen. Perdue’s office.
The two-day convening, also provided the opportunity to be in thought leadership with other organization working on HIV-related issues across the South. Fresh off of the AIDS United Southern HIV Impact Grantee convening in New Orleans, AIDS Watch allowed for additional conversations around the unique challenges of HIV advocacy and policy making in the Deep South.