National Black Justice Coalition Commemorates World AIDS Day, Calls on Congress to Immediately Reauthorize PEPFAR Funding
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
WASHINGTON –In commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day, Dr. David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a leading Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, issued the following statement:
“On this solemn occasion of World AIDS Day, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) pauses to honor the lives lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic while reaffirming our commitment to addressing the disease’s persistent and disproportionate impact on the Black community.
“World AIDS Day serves as a poignant reminder of the intersectional challenges faced by the Black community. Stigma, discrimination, and systemic barriers compound the vulnerability Black people experience, impeding our access to crucial education, prevention, and care resources. As we reflect on the advancements made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, it is vital to acknowledge that the battle is far from over.
“According to the CDC, Black Americans represent only 13% of the U.S. population but over 40% of people with HIV. Black women account for a staggering 57% of all new HIV diagnoses among women in the United States. Black same-gender loving and bisexual men account for 26% of new HIV infections among American men. Transgender people comprise 2% of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., and most of those new HIV diagnoses were among Black transgender women. To truly make strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, we must address these disparities comprehensively and ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or identity, has equitable access to life-saving resources.
“Despite these glaring statistics illustrating the work that still must be done, a small group of Conservative extremists in Congress have discontinued critical HIV/AIDS funding, failing to reauthorize the much-heralded President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) begun by President George W. Bush, a conservative, and holding it hostage to make an unfounded political statement laced with misinformation about abortion. With a 20-year history of playing a pivotal role in global health, PEPFAR is recognized as one of the United States’ most successful foreign assistance initiatives. It has been instrumental in saving over 25 million lives worldwide and providing essential care for millions of children orphaned by the disease. Yet, it is being used as a political pawn to gin up the GOP base ahead of next year’s elections.
“This objectionable tactic by extremists is further evidence of their anti-LGBTQ+, anti-Black, and anti-democratic agenda and must be stopped before it costs innocent lives. NBJC urgently calls on other members of Congress to stand up to this blatant obstruction and urgently reauthorize PEPFAR, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to global health equity in the ongoing fight to stop HIV/AIDS.”
The National Black Justice Coalition is calling on its supporters to use their Digital Advocacy and Action Hub to reach out to their members of Congress and demand they reauthorize PEPFAR before heading home for the holidays.
