In This Issue

We've been following the issue of the criminalization of PLWHA for many, many years now. This week we run a story about two recent studies that begin to quantify the extent to which Black men and women living with HIV or AIDS are disproportionately criminalized—and how that compares to White PLWHA, who are also criminalized. April Eugene reports.

The Office of National AIDS Policy is interested in knowing how organizations outside of the Federal government are implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, with the goal of highlighting innovative work toward the Strategy's goals. They are seeking submissions about how your organization is taking action. Read on to learn more about how to submit your update.

Members of the LGBT community continue to experience discrimination in health care settings – underscoring the need for a dramatic shift in attitudes among the nation's health care professionals and workforce, as well as more behavioral-health specialists working in primary-care clinics. More than 1,100 health professionals listened in June to a panel of experts who said tighter integration of mental health is overdue. Our friends at AIDS.gov report.

Community health centers have played an essential role in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and continue to be a critical component of the nation's health system. HealthCare.gov provides us with an update on the essential role that community health centers play.

And you can now message President Obama on his Facebook account. Learn more about how the President continues to meet people where they are.

Finally, we invite you to keep your eye on our Events listing to find an AIDS 2016 update in a city near you. We will be in the Bay Area on this Friday, September 9th, followed by Charlotte on September 23rd. Go to BlackAIDS.org to register.

Yours in the struggle,

Phill