The Latest

by abryant

Youth, HIV and Reducing Their Risk

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 new HIV infections occurs in youth ages 13 to 24 years and they account for 70% of the 1 million people living with HIV. PrEP is a safe and effective intervention to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. 

Georgia Equality’s Ending the Epidemic Fellow, Kheyanna Suarez, is composing a survey in an effort to gather information regarding thoughts, concerns, and barriers to youth accessing PrEP in the state of Georgia. The information will be used in the development of a toolkit that youth can access to educate themselves, understand the process of getting on PrEP, and navigate potential barriers they may face when trying to access PrEP. 

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by abryant

HIV and The South

August 20th has been established as Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (SHAAD), a day to bring direct attention to the South’s struggle with the HIV epidemic, as well as highlight the region’s unique set of cultural and systemic attributes. In 2019, SHAAD was launched as a two-day, in-person event held in Birmingham, Alabama, which continues to be its home base to this day.

SHAAD blossomed from the lively work of the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAC), SAC’s mission being: “to end the HIV and STI epidemics in the South by promoting accessible and high-quality systems of [HIV and STI] prevention, treatment, care, housing, and essential support services.” And in 2020,  just a year after its inception, the CDC recognized SHAAD as a national awareness day, its intention and purpose now being known around the country. 

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by abryant

COVID-19, HIV and the Rise of Housing Instability

Since 2016, after a decade of decline, the number of people experiencing homelessness or housing instability has increased, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating factors attributing to the rise. COVID-19 has exposed existing systemic challenges in healthcare access and health outcomes and issues with housing, food insecurity, financial instability, and criminal justice.

Homelessness and housing instability have proven to lead to poorer health outcomes, this being more particularly true for people living with HIV (PLWH). PLWH who experience housing instability are less likely to receive appropriate health care, and they experience higher rates of opportunistic transmissions, such as Hepatitis-B and other comorbidities. Death rates caused by complications with HIV are much higher for those experiencing housing instability than for the general PLWH population.

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by Wes Sanders

Evening for Equality 2021– that’s a wrap!

In addition to numerous pride events, June brought with it Georgia Equality’s annual fundraising gala, Evening for Equality! This year’s event was all virtual and the most successful in our organization’s history!

Thanks to our sponsors, Host Committee and donors, this year’s event raised $115,000.

This year’s Presenting Sponsor is South Wire, Platinum Sponsor: The Coca-Cola Company, Gold Sponsors: Georgia Power and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Silver Sponsors: Wells Fargo, Cox Enterprises, and Making Projects Work.

Check out all the fun and see our complete list of sponsors by re-watching the livestream here! Continue reading →

by abryant

MACON, GA- AIDS Turns 40: A Conversation

On Saturday June 26, 2021 from 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT,  Georgia Equality, in partnership with The Tubman Museum, Fort Valley State University P.R.I.D.E. Navigator and Compass CARES, will host an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of AIDS at the Tubman Museum at 310 Cherry St, Macon, GA 31201. 

According to the CDC, “June 2021 marks 40 years since the first official reporting…of five cases describing what later became known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and what is now HIV Stage III. On this 40th anniversary, we remember the more than 32 million people who have died from HIV worldwide since the start of the global epidemic, the 38 million people currently living with HIV, and the more than 56,000 people living with HIV in Georgia.” 

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