In This Issue
Today marks the 10th year that we've commemorated National Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day, a day when we draw attention to the impact that HIV and AIDS have had upon women and girls.
Following Black and Latino men, Black women have the third highest rate of new HIV infections, the highest rate among women. Although Black women have experienced a slight drop in new HIV infections, HIV continues to be the 7th leading cause of death for Black women between the ages of 25 and 44, most of whom continue to be infected through heterosexual sex.
We hope that if you do not know your HIV status, you take the time today to get tested and to take someone with you to get tested. If you already know your status, and are HIV-negative continue to protect yourself, so you can stay negative. If you are HIV-positive, make sure you obtain the appropriate care and treatment.
It's also important that all of us take steps to reduce the stigma that causes many Black Americans to acquire HIV and not get the care and treatment that they need both to save their own life and prevent spreading the virus, now that we know that treatment is also prevention.
In this issue our friends at AIDSVu announce the launch of their website HIVContinuum.org, the first website to depict HIV care outcomes on a map.
Last week we marked the 30th anniversary of the HIV test. Dr. Jonathan Mermin at CDC reminds us of the history of the HIV test and describes CDC's plans to make it easier for more people to get tested than ever.
The Urban Institute has just released a new report on LGBT youth in New York City who trade sex for survival. Its findings debunk some of the commonly held stereotypes about who engages in sex work.
AIDS advocates in Illinois are complaining that Coventry Health Care and Human health insurance plans are charging much more than other plans for several common ARVs, perhaps to discourage high-cost patients from choosing their plans.
Finally, the directors of a new documentary about transgender activist Miss Major, the executive director of the Gender Variant Intersex Project, have issued a call for video selfies.
Yours in the struggle,
Phill