Ways You Can Help End the AIDS Epidemic

Today is World AIDS Day, a day to stand in solidarity with all people living with or affected by HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. Here are some actions you can take to help end the epidemic and uplift people living with HIV and AIDS.

1. Learn the basics. A good place to start for HIV 101 is HIVcare.org or HIV.gov
2. Know your status. Get tested and understand your risk factors.
3. Practice HIV prevention. Use condoms and learn if you're a candidate for PrEP, a medication that prevents HIV, or PEP, a medication that helps stop HIV transmission after an exposure.
4. Stop the stigma. Talk about HIV testing, HIV prevention and being HIV positive without shame. Be able to have open, honest conversations about HIV.
5. Understand that U=U: Undetectable Equals Untransmittable. Staying on HIV medications and getting an undetectable HIV viral load means the virus cannot be transmitted to others through sex.
6. Honor activists that have paved the way, particularly Black trans sex workers, who are disproportionally impacted by HIV.
7. Provide financial support directly to individuals as well as organizations that center LGBTQ people and BIPOC such as:

• Marsha P. Johnson Institute
• The Colours Organization
• Anti-Violence Project
• Black Aids Institute
• Housing Works
• BU Wellness Network
• National Black Justice Coalition
• Gay Men's Health Crisis