Georgia Equality HIV and AIDS

HIV Advocacy

HIV and AIDS in Georgia: A Public Health Crisis

Over 56,000 Georgians are currently living with HIV, and 2,504 Georgians were newly diagnosed in 2019. The state ranks 4th in the U.S. for total number of people with HIV, and 1st among states for rate of new HIV diagnoses, despite being only the 9th most populated state in the U.S. 

Georgia’s HIV epidemic disproportionately affects many groups within the LGBTQ+ community, especially gay and bisexual men and transgender women. Black gay and bisexual men and transgender women experience the highest rates of HIV in our LGBTQ+ community. By the time they are 30, 1 out of 2 black gay and/or bisexual men acquire HIV. This racial disparity has been found to be due NOT to difference in behavior, but rather structural inequalities like unequal housing and healthcare access.

People living with HIV and communities with a greater likelihood of acquiring HIV need access to prevention and care resources. Georgia Equality is committed to advocacy with and on behalf of these communities at the federal, state, and local level. Through the Georgia HIV Advocacy Network, the Youth HIV Policy Advisors’ Program, and numerous other activities, our goal is to equip our elected officials and community leaders with the tools to end HIV in our lifetime.

 

Affordable Care Resources for LGBTQ+ People and People Living With HIV or AIDS

Georgia Equality and Georgians for a Healthy Future have been partnering over the past couple of years to raise awareness and to increase advocacy around implementation of the Affordable Care Act among Georgia’s LGBTQ+ community. See the following links for information on accessing healthcare for our populations.

 

Health Insurance Options for Georgia’s LGBT Community

Closing Georgia’s Coverage Gap

Healthcare for People Living with HIV/AIDS

Transgender Healthcare

The Georgia HIV Advocacy Network

Georgia Equality created the Georgia HIV Advocacy Network in 2009. This statewide network of service providers and citizens advocates for HIV policy initiatives on both a state and county level through policy analysis, advocacy training, and coordinated community activities. 

Click here join the Georgia HIV Advocacy Network email list. You will receive regular communication and up-to-date information about emerging policy issues that affect the lives of people living with and at risk for HIV in Georgia.

Georgia Equality’s  Youth HIV Policy Advisors’ Program

In response to high and increasing HIV rates among youth across Georgia, Georgia Equality launched the Youth HIV Policy Advisors Program in April of 2015. The program matches selected elected officials with youth advocates who will serve as their Special Advisors on Youth HIV. Youth will work one-on-one with policymakers to address policy barriers to HIV prevention. The program offers an extensive training series to youth advocates through July to December. It concludes on World AIDS Day, December 1st, with an annual Policy & Action Luncheon where the youth will announce their 2022/2023 Youth HIV Prevention & Care Policy Agenda.

Click here to learn more about the groundbreaking YHPA Program!

 

Program Eligibility

 

Youth HIV Policy Advisors must meet the following criteria to be considered for acceptance into this program:

  • Must be 30 years of age or younger
  • Must have been diagnosed with HIV
  • Must be willing to discuss HIV positive status with elected officials and the media
  • Must reside in Georgia as of Jul 1, 2022
  • Must be able to fulfill all program requirements

HIV and AIDS Resources

  • AIDS United: www.aidsunited.org
  • CAEAR Coalition (Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief):  www.caear.org
    • Information on how to advocate for increased federal funding for Ryan White Programs
  • NASTAD (National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors): www.nastad.org
    • Information on policy related to HIV programs for state public health staff
  • HIV Prevention Justice: www.preventionjustice.org
    • Information on the national and international movement to bridge HIV prevention and social justice
  • Stop Everything & Breathe (Click here to view): A resource for youth living with HIV and those who care about the.
  • The Social Security and Disability Resource Center: www.ssdrc.com
    • Informational website that provides answers to questions about how to apply for disability, how to appeal a claim in the event of a denial, how to navigate the federal system, and how to avoid certain mistakes that are commonly made by applicants. The site’s author is a former disability examiner for the social security administration. This page has information specific to HIV/AIDS: www.ssdrc.com/hiv.html