Equality News

by abryant

Youth HIV Advisor Program Applications Now Available!

Georgia Equality is proud to launch applications for the 6th Cohort of our Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program (YHPA) for young adults under the age of 30 living with HIV from across the state.

The YPHA Program was created because all laws and policies related to HIV should be informed by the experiences of people living with HIV. The Youth HIV Policy Advisors program trains young advocates living with HIV from across the state of Georgia on policy and advocacy, equipping them with resources to educate state, city, and county-level policymakers around the creation of meaningful HIV- related policy and strategy.

Youth must be 30-years-old or younger at the time of submission, be living with HIV and willing to discuss their status publicly with officials and the media and reside in Georgia to qualify for this program.

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by abryant

New Year, New Session, New Opportunities for Equality

While many of us were celebrating the results of the January 5 runoff election and inauguration of President Biden, the Georgia General Assembly began the start of their two-year legislative session.  The month of January was spent primarily on organizing committees, finalizing leadership positions and hearing testimony on the state budget.  Here at Georgia Equality we held the first of a series of advocacy trainings and began to firm up our plans regarding the legislation we would support and meet with coalition partners to discuss how to fight against bills we oppose.

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by Wes Sanders

ACTION ALERT: Urge support for increased funding for ADAP NOW!!

Members of the State Senate are beginning conversations TODAY on the potential for increased funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, and they need to hear from us RIGHT NOW! Click here to send your message.

A $15.4 million increase for the Georgia AIDS Drug Assistance Program has been proposed by House Public Health Subcommittee of Appropriations Chair Butch Parrish– this is our chance to make sure that the more than 12,000 Georgians living with HIV who cannot otherwise afford it, will not go without access to life saving medication.

In addition to saving the lives of the individuals enrolled in ADAP, access to treatment for HIV works to prevent the spread of the virus as well– treatment is prevention. Georgia is poised to make dramatic inroads to contain the spread of HIV in our communities and reverse a mortality rate from AIDS that remains one of the worst in the country, but only if the Department of Public Health and county health departments throughout Georgia have the funding they need to provide these services. Send your message now!

by abryant

Nomination of Rachel Levine for HHS Secretary a Game Changer in Georgia

Atlanta (Jan 27, 2021)– Last week, President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Rachel Levine, MD, to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health in the US Department of Health and Human Services. Pending Senate confirmation, Dr. Levine will become the first openly transgender official confirmed by the US Senate.

“Dr. Levine’s nomination is important for many reasons, but what rises to the top for me is the importance of having a trans person testifying in front of the US Senate not about her gender. This is the kind of progress that works to end so many myths about trans people,” said Georgia Equality’s Gender Policy Manager, Chanel Haley. Continue reading →

by abryant

We Thank You!

 

Like many of you, I’ve spent the last few days fairly speechless. If you’ve ever volunteered with Georgia Equality, you know that is saying something. I’m rarely at a loss for words. I was raised in a civically engaged home. I’ve eagerly followed elections since I was a child and we often said in our home that politics were our favorite sport. I’ve always had a passion for history and governance. But nothing in my short 35 years on this earth could prepare me for this week. 

The events on Wednesday were horrific and deeply painful for those that fight so hard for equality and justice. Important discussions about white supremacy, authoritarianism, and sedition are continuing. This country’s moment of reckoning is far from over. 

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