Recognizing National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – Centering Black Women in HIV Research, Treatment & Prevention
The NWGHAAD broadcast replay is now available! We encourage you to watch it here. One powerful message from the event was the reminder that I gave to everyone, “We are all HIV possible.” These words underscore that HIV can impact anyone, and that all of us have a role in ending this epidemic.
NWGHAAD is a crucial time to center Black women, including Black transgender women, in our HIV research, treatment, and prevention efforts. We know that ongoing disparities persist for Black and Brown women in the HIV epidemic. For example, Black women remain disproportionately affected – in 2022 they represented half of all new HIV diagnoses among women (despite making up only 13% of the female population) . This means Black women’s HIV diagnosis rate is nearly ten times higher than that of white women . Hispanic/Latina women also face significantly higher risk, with HIV diagnosis rates about three times higher than for white women . Transgender women, particularly women of color, face some of the most severe disparities: in one recent analysis, Black and Latina transgender women accounted for 79% of new HIV diagnoses among trans women . These sobering statistics illustrate that women of color – both cisgender and transgender – continue to carry a disproportionate burden of HIV.
Despite these challenges, women (especially women of color) are often underrepresented in HIV conversations and research. Yet their insights and leadership are essential to ending the epidemic. Centering Black women in our work means ensuring our research trials, outreach programs, and leadership tables include and empower Black women’s voices. It means prioritizing culturally responsive care and prevention strategies that meet the needs of Black women, including transgender women. By doing so, we not only address equity, but we improve outcomes for everyone in the fight against HIV . When we say “We are all HIV possible,” it reminds us that no community can be left behind – an injury to one is an injury to all, and uplifting the most impacted uplifts us all.
NWGHAAD may be one day on the calendar, but our commitment to health equity for women and girls must extend year-round. We have made progress, but there is much work ahead to end the disparities that Black and Brown women face in HIV prevention and treatment. Let’s use this moment to reaffirm our dedication to action:
Watch and Learn: If you haven’t already, watch the NWGHAAD event replay: https://nwghaad.brandlive.com/NWGHAAD/en/registration. Hear directly from women leaders and experts about the challenges and successes in addressing HIV among women. Consider discussing what you learned with your team.
Raise Awareness: Use your voice to spread awareness on social media and in your communities. A simple step is to post or share key takeaways from NWGHAAD using the hashtags #NWGHAAD, #BlackWomenInHIV, #TransWomenInHIV, and #EndTheDisparities. By doing so, you help amplify the message that these issues matter and that we stand in solidarity with women affected by HIV.
Engage in Our Mission: In your day-to-day work, seek ways to center Black women’s experiences in what we do. This could mean ensuring our programs reach Black women effectively, volunteering with or supporting organizations that serve Black women with HIV, or simply educating ourselves more on the unique barriers Black and transgender women face. Small actions, like promoting HIV testing and PrEP in communities of color or mentoring young women in the field, can make a big difference. Together, let’s foster an environment where Black women and girls feel seen, heard, and supported in accessing HIV prevention, care, and research opportunities.
Today, let’s honor National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by committing to sustained action. Every one of us can contribute to a future where HIV prevention and treatment are equitable and no group is overlooked. We are all HIV possible – and that means we all share the responsibility to create change. I challenge each of us to turn awareness into action: watch the broadcast, have conversations with your peers, engage on social media, and identify one thing you can do this month to support Black women and girls in the fight against HIV.
Thank you for your attention to this important observance and for being part of an organization that strives to end the disparities in HIV. By centering those most impacted, we move closer to an HIV-free future for everyone.