as we close out #AIDSAwareness week and on this 30th annual observance of world aids day, we are reminded of the powerful and visionary words of queer & aids activist, val russo:

“Someday, the AIDS crisis will be over. Remember that. And when that day comes - when that day has come and gone, there’ll be people alive on this earth - gay people and straight people, men and women, black and white, who will hear the story that once there was a terrible disease in this country and all over the world, and that a brave group of people stood up and fought and, in some cases, gave their lives, so that other people might live and be free.”

VAL RUSSO

1946 - 1990

There are a plethora of things that made me the woman I am today. Growing up, I didn’t have the comfort & the environment that gave me the tools to express my identity as Black queer woman living with HIV in the south.

Not only do feel I defied social norms, but I put in play that I am more than just Black, queer, HIV positive, but I am an equal if not equivalent of a queen.

Lisa, She/Her/Hers

Memphis, TN

To continue its mission of championing ALL young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, Advocates for Youth is launching ECHO (Engaging Communities around HIV Organizing), a first-of-its kind council of youth activists living with HIV who are actively organizing online and in their communities.

Council members are participating in in-person and digital actions across the country this week to raise awareness and mobilize people to support youth living with HIV. Each day, the campaign will highlight a different theme and integral issue.

For tips and information on how you can help to end HIV stigma, text YouthHIV to 877877

Levi, California

he/him

Transgender Awareness Week brings visibility to the transgender community and the issues our community faces. For me, it’s important to let everyone know that we exist. I recently came out to my family in June and most of them had no idea what I was talking about. Hispanic families, like mine, sometimes appear more conservative and religious due to cultural traditions and values and that’s scary. Like mine, I am sure that most Hispanic families don’t know that Trans Awareness Week exists. On the bright side, it’s an opportunity to be seen and heard by people and that’s really what I care about. Representation for people of color, especially in media is very scarce. I feel like I haven’t seen a story about a Hispanic trans dude anywhere. People find comfort in seeing people who feel and look just like them, doing things that they didn’t think was possible for them to do. Growing up, I never had that sort of comfort which I feel discouraged me from being true to myself sooner.

Happy Trans Awareness Week, a week dedicated to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and address the issues the community faces.

YouthResource member Tyunique is featured in the @cosmopolitan “LGBTQ Youth Aren’t Getting the Sex Ed They Deserve” video. Check out the full video here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=dmWA_XoLJ8Q

Happy Halloween! There’s a lot to be scared about, but nothing spookier than #HIVStigma. 🎃💀👻 #EndStigma #happyhalloween2018🎃👻

AlecZander, Ohio

I #WontBeErased. As an 18 year old, non-binary, queer person of color, I REFUSE to be told that in order to avoid harassment, I should conform to the sex stereotypes of America today. I refuse to be told that in order for my government to acknowledge my existence, I must be a cisgender, straight, white american. I will not erase my own identity by conforming. We will not erase our identities by conforming. The transgender community is over 1.4 million people strong and we will not simply disappear just because the Trump Administration wants to define us out of existence.

The Trump Administration’s proposal for redefining ‘gender’ is blatantly transphobic. The proposed definition of gender results in the erasure of transgender and gender-nonconforming people in Title IX’s anti-discriminatory law. This definition would define sex as unchangeable. This proposition would require that the gender of a person be determined by the genitals that a person is born with. If this proposed definition is adopted, it allows the federal government to ignore all issues relating to transgender discrimination under Title IX. When questioned about cases in which transgender students faced discrimination in school, the Education Department’s office for Civil Rights stated that they will continue to investigate cases as “unwelcome conduct based on a student’s sex” or “harassing conduct based on a student’s failure to conform to sex stereotypes.” rather than simply investigating them as what they are, transgender discrimination cases. This proves to the transgender community that our government not only wants to erase our existence, but expects us to conform to stereotypes that our society has placed on us.

Mikal Woods, Philadelphia

Before I became this big ray of awesomeness

I was a child who was passed around different foster homes since I was 5, faced countless adoption rejections and endured many years of verbal abuse and physical abuse.

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I used to envy folks with family; now I don’t even know how to react to the family thing most of the time.

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This is one of 2 pics that I know that’s still around from when I was a kid. (I’m just seeing this one today).

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I spent majority of my teen years in a group home and many of those years I spent every Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, in my room wondering why can’t I go home.

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I’ve met awesome folks along the way. I’ve made major progress from the young me. I’ve seen folks come and go so much I’m used to it .

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This is me this is my truth and I’m now the hero that little Mikal always needed when he was a kid and didn’t have one.

Asking and correctly using someone’s pronouns is one of the most basic ways to show your respect for their gender identity.