HIV/AIDS Health Equity

HIV and AIDS in Georgia: A Public Health Crisis

Georgia’s HIV epidemic disproportionately affects many groups within the LGBTQ+ community, especially gay and bisexual men and transgender women.

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, our goal is to equip our elected officials and community members 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.

Mapping Progress Across Georgia

For over 30 years, our organization has achieved great success for LGBTQ+ rights across the state. But the work continues. See the legislative wins, bills in progress and local campaigns that have contributed to progress across Georgia.

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HIV Resources

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Issue Areas

Georgia Equality represents a large and diverse group of individuals across a wide array of issues. Some of the core issues that we have focused on include safe schools for LGBT students, workplace fairness and employment protections, public safety, parental and adoption rights, marriage equality, and HIV/AIDS and other health related issues.

Transgender Advocacy

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LGBTQ Hate Crime Protections

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