Pride at Work Statement on World AIDS Day 2016

Washington, DC - December 1, 2016 – To commemorate World AIDS Day, Pride at Work Executive Director, Jerame Davis, issued the following statement:

"As we mark the passing of another World AIDS Day, some encouraging news brings new hope in battling the pandemic. In the US, new HIV diagnoses are down 9% and the death rate for people living with HIV has declined 30% since 2010. There are still disparities in progress among certain populations, particularly gay and bisexual men of color and those living in Southern states, so the work to stop HIV must continue.

We must also continue to battle the stigma that those living with HIV must endure. HIV discrimination contributes to poverty and homelessness disparities which, in turn, can create barriers to treatment among those most in need. Additionally, HIV criminalization laws unnecessarily target those living with the virus adding fear of incarceration to the list of everyday concerns if you are positive. Most of these laws have no practical purpose, aren't based in sound science, and do nothing more than further HIV stigma.

We are also relieved that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which would have driven up the cost of HIV medications by extending patents and exclusivity periods for certain drugs, has been defeated as well. While the demise of TPP has given us a moment of relief, we must remain vigilant to ensure future trade deals don't contain similar provisions that will drive up the cost of HIV care.

Pride at Work remains committed to the work to reduce HIV infections, to ensure treatment for those living with HIV, and to end HIV stigma and criminalization. That includes holding the incoming Trump Administration accountable for any decrease in funding or focus on HIV/AIDS."


Pride At Work organizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQ Workers in our workplaces and unions and we organize in the spirit of the union movement's historic motto, "An Injury to One is An Injury to All." Learn more at www.prideatwork.org

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