Staff Reflections: 2016 International AIDS Conference

Discussion in the Transgender Network Zone: International AIDS Conference

By Nikki “Tita Aida” Calma

It’s officially the first day of the International AIDS Conference held in Durban, South Africa! As I make my trip out to the city of Durban to the International Conference Centre or as everyone describes, “ICC,” I can already sense the excitement, anxiousness and energy of the 18,000 attendees ready to share, learn, and fight for what they believe their communities are representing and deserve around this epidemic.

This year’s theme is “Access Equity Rights Now.” I situated myself in the Global Village where organizations from around the world have set up to display the excellent work they have been doing. I decided to hang out at the Transgender Network Zone, which was hosted by various trans led and serving organizations. In the booth, I participated in a couple of group discussions.

One of them was to evaluate and consult around the usage of a newly formed group called Initial Trans Fund. I was among trans folks who came from India, South Africa, Kenya, and New Zealand. The facilitator asked questions on what criteria should be considered when awarding the funds, how issues or causes are rated and prioritized, and all of those nifty things around grants. I was struck to find a common theme of inquiry. They were all inquiring about whose issues are prioritized and how much the fund was going to be. There was a certain “desperation” on these questions when asked. I then asked what the typical grant was for a contract. Most of them responded, five to ten thousand per program for two years. My jaw dropped. That amount was what my program would spend for a big event for our clients in the US! I couldn’t get over the fact that they would stretch that amount for two years of programming, which includes salaries, program supplies, and agency over costs.

I then reflected on how lucky our programs are in the US. Not to spoil the mood, I participated in the discussion and shared the best practices that I learned from my twenty years of working at API Wellness Center. It did inspire some ideas in me on how I can support these trans organizations and programs on a global scale.  

I ended the day feeling proud. So proud! For the first time, IAC has provided a space to discuss the trans men community in the face of MSM context. It was a discussion among trans men about their issues, concerns, and topics that would be relevant to them. Niko was asked to be part of this amazing panel. He shined through with all the amazing work he has done with the agency around HIV prevention programming for trans men who have sex with men. Along with other participants, Niko informed, educated, and empowered many with knowledge about his community and the issues they faced around HIV. Aside from those merits, it made me proud because he and I have a great work relationship. As his supervisor, it felt good to see how he has evolved and grown in the mastery of his job as the supervisor of the Trans Thrive Program at API Wellness Center. He is addressing and paving the way for his community and their needs around HIV prevention and care. 

Discussion in the Trans men workshop

By Niko Kowell

Today I showed up for one of the only sessions about Trans men and the only workshop about TMSM (Trans men who have sex with other men). What I thought to be a discussion/info session, turned out to be me and 5 other Trans masculine folks sharing to a group of Cis folks who listened in. Led by a Trans masculine person, he opened up the discussion asking us what our community needed. It was clear throughout the entire discussion that we needed providers to be aware that we exist, and to educate themselves accordingly.

Throughout the discussion, I was able to share the incredible work we’ve been doing with tm4m (tm4m.org) and Trans:Thrive. This included being able to tell folks (in response to “there is no research about Trans people and PrEP”) that we are starting a demonstration project with SFDPH to evaluate PrEP in Trans communities.

To be honest, it also made me feel very vulnerable to sit in a small circle of 5 trans folks with 30 people around us, some listening intently, and others with clear confusion on their faces. I shared both as a provider and as a TMSM. I was grateful for the chance to share, but it was clear that Trans men are well below the radar. Sadly, this is not new information to me.

While there is not a lot of research on Trans men, let alone research on HIV rates in Trans masculine communities, we know that there is a lot of risk taking place. I know this, being a provider for this community for over 10 years and as a TMSM for my whole sexually active life. My hope is that we can be ahead of the HIV epidemic this once, instead of waiting until it’s already infiltrated our community at the rates of our Trans sisters and MSM brothers. We can do better, we can do more, and we can make this happen. So long as folks listen to key populations instead of being driven by uninformed and outdated information. It’s time to trust communities to tell providers what WE need, not what THEY think we need.

Trans pre-conference

By Niko Kowell

Today’s conference sessions left me feeling conflicted. It was exciting to be part of history at the first Trans pre-conference at the International Aids Conference, but I was left wanting more. More Trans people at the conference, more sessions on Trans folks, more from folks who call themselves allies. It’s time for cis folks to step to the side and realize the importance of Trans led and developed services.

It also seems wild to me that it took the IAC until 2016 to include more programming for Trans folks and this change was spurred by Trans folks, not the IAC. The sessions being offered are not enough. Especially since we know how disproportionally Trans women of color are affected by HIV. Still it is clearly far from the forefront of the minds of the folks at the IAC. This morning I heard the ED of the IAC say he wanted this to change, but change takes action, not just lip service, which ironically was the name of the Trans pre-conference session. I remain cautiously optimistic.

So I head off to bed unsure of how to feel about today. It does make me thankful for the progress we’ve made in San Francisco, but it’s clear we have so much more to do in SF and all over the world.

International AIDS Conference 2016 in Durban, South Africa

We are proud to have 2 of our staff, Nikki Calma and Niko Kowell attending the International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa! They recently touched down and are reporting their daily experiences. Read about their first day in South Africa…

Nikki “Tita Aida” Calma – Associate Director
Behavioral Health and Community Programs

The moment I received news that I was selected to attend the International AIDS Conference 2016 in Durban, South Africa, it was a mixed bag of emotions. The conference is the largest for HIV/AIDS research in the world and is held in different countries. It is part of their mission to reach cities and countries that are highly impacted by the epidemic. I have been blessed to attend the last two events held in Washington DC and Melbourne. Aside from learning the latest about research and meeting interesting people in this crusade, it was the ultimate goal for someone like me.

Our journey wasn’t off to a good start. The flight was delayed in London, forcing us to spend a night there. When we got to Johannesburg there weren’t any 10pm flights, so we had to spend another night there. So much for luck. However, when I got on the plane to Johannesburg, I was surprised to be sitting next to an amazing trans woman who many celebrate, Maria Sun din. Maria is a “jill of all trades,” the essence of a true activist. There were 10 hours to burn on that flight. The power of storytelling is so precious. Maria is Swedish and admits to being a “big lesbian.” Aside from hearing her amazing stories of activism, something that I really enjoyed was knowing that other people on the plane were listening to our conversation. When we chatted about funny moments in our stories, a few people around us laughed. They were getting a dose of TG history! It made me so proud not only to be there, but to see another trans woman who is 70. I was proud to hear her stories of activism; how it worked, how it didn’t, and all the experiences that made her who she is today. 

Maria is currently working with a handful of international foundations. She plays a big role in the decision making of how to fund countries that provide HIV prevention to the highest risk populations. I learned so much from her while chatting and the time went by so fast! After that, I reminded myself that I wasn’t going to let a couple of flight delays bring my spirits down. Make the best out of situations. I then knew that things were going to be great. Here is a photo of me and Maria. More to come…

Niko Kowell – Program Supervisor
Behavioral Health and Community Programs

My travel to the International AIDS Conference is full of firsts. It’s the furthest away from home I’ve ever been, my first time south of the equator, my first time in Africa, and my first time seeing the Indian Ocean. It was a long trip with layovers in Washington DC and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I experienced jet lag like I never have before, and took the day to recover to make sure I’d be in top shape for the Trans pre-conference, another first for the International AIDS Conference.

My day led me to the beach in Umhlanga. Beaches always help me reconnect to myself and the world. I dipped my toes into the cold, rough Indian Ocean and took in the view. It was beautiful. The sky was full of huge fluffy clouds with hundreds of shades of blues, reds, and oranges, and the moon peeked out from behind.

I still can’t quite believe I’m in Africa!!!! The city of Durban welcomed me with open arms, sea breezes and some of the most delicious and cheapest curry I’ve ever had. Stay tuned for more as I regale you all with my adventures here in Durban and at the International AIDS Conference.