October 15 is National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), first observed in 2003 by the Hispanic Federation and the Latino Commission on AIDS. This day serves to highlight the disproportionate impact of HIV on Hispanic/Latinx communities, promote HIV testing, and combat stigma surrounding the virus.
This year’s theme is “Start Treatment. Stick to It. Get Better.” The campaign targets the entire community while focusing on individuals living with HIV, encouraging them to select from various treatment options to maintain their health, achieve an undetectable viral load, and help stop the transmission of HIV through treatment as prevention. The Latino Commission on AIDS will host a series of webinars open to all and will include Spanish interpretation. Check out the list of webinars below and register now to engage in these crucial discussions. For more details and resources, visit www.nlaad.org.
For National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, five activists recently sat down with GLAAD’s Shiko Njoroge and Isa Fernández to talk about their work and the messages they want to convey.
Authors’ note:
The interviews below were edited and condensed for clarity.
We use both Latine and Latinx in this article as gender neutral terms for people from or descended from Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Carribean living in the United States. Sometimes the terms are used broadly to describe diasporic communities beyond the United States. The language used to describe the Latinx community – particularly in the U.S. where there is shared history, language and culture – has always been in flux. We choose to use these terms to reflect the diversity of genders within our community.
Latine and Latinx are not meant to replace how you prefer to describe yourself – they are merely options on a spectrum. And as recommended in our media guide, individuals should always be referred to with the language they use to describe themselves – whether that’s Latina, Latino, Latinx, Latine, or any other descriptor that has or will exist. As a result, a variety of terms are used in this article.
Milani Varela 
Milani, an Afro-Mexican, gender-non-conforming drag queen, has been an HIV prevention advocate since 2008. After their HIV and AIDS diagnoses in 2018 and 2019, respectively, they deepened their commitment to the cause. As Lead Navigator for Essential Support Services at CALOR, an AIDS Healthcare Foundation affiliate, Milani provides HIV testing, connects individuals to PrEP and PEP, and trains new testers. A beauty pageant queen and former mother of the Legendary House of Ninja, Milani uses their platform to raise awareness. They’ve presented at the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS and serve as a CDC Community Ambassador for HIV education.Through their multifaceted efforts, they are committed to creating a world where understanding and empowerment thrive in the fight against HIV.
To support Milani’s activism and the vital work being done at CALOR, visit their website and stay connected with Milani’s journey by following them on Instagram @millusi0n.
Shiko Njoroge: As the lead navigator for Essential Support Services at CALOR, what are some of the biggest challenges you face in reaching the Latinx community with information about sexual health/safety?
Milani Varela: As the lead navigator for Essential Support Services, I face several challenges, including stigma, language barriers, and cultural differences. Stigma in the Latinx community often hinders discussions about sexual health and HIV prevention methods like PrEP and PEP. Many older generations feel uncomfortable discussing these topics, leading to avoidance during outreach, where individuals may shy away from our table or feel embarrassed at the sight of condoms.
Language barriers also play a significant role, as there is a lack of readily available materials in Spanish. While CALOR creates some resources in Spanish, many community-based organizations and health departments do not have access to bilingual outreach materials.
Additionally, not all Latinx communities are the same; some are more accepting of discussions about sexual health than others, which influences how we address HIV prevention methods. The diverse backgrounds of Latinx individuals in Chicago require us to navigate different dialects and slang to communicate effectively.
Shiko Njoroge: What are some specific barriers you’ve observed that disproportionately affect access to HIV prevention resources within the Afro-Latine community, and how do you believe these challenges can be addressed to improve health outcomes?
Milani Varela: Barriers that disproportionately affect access to HIV prevention resources in the Afro-Latine community include racism, lack of health insurance, and limited services in Black and brown neighborhoods. Racism within public health systems impacts access to care, especially for new arrivals and monolingual Spanish speakers.
Everyone deserves affordable healthcare, regardless of immigration status. Many individuals are uninsured or underinsured, making it difficult for them to get screened for HIV or access PrEP and PEP. Awareness of low-cost services is crucial, which is why organizations like CALOR are vital.
Many Black and brown communities, especially on Chicago’s South and West sides, lack sufficient access to health services, as resources are often concentrated in predominantly white neighborhoods. Grassroots organizations like CALOR strive to reach these communities through health fairs and collaborations with local organizations. We can’t end the HIV epidemic by 2030 without addressing the needs of undocumented communities, which is why our work is essential.
Shiko Njoroge: How has your experience as a drag performer influenced your activism, and in what ways do you use your platform to promote awareness about HIV and other health issues in the Latine and, more specifically, Afro-Latine community?
Milani Varela: My journey as a drag performer has profoundly influenced my activism, allowing me to be a visible voice for change. My drag persona enhances my work with CALOR, where I educate and provide services to my community. Whenever I can merge my passion for drag with HIV prevention, I dive in wholeheartedly!
As Diosa Latina Illinois and Diosa Latina USA Plus 2023, I launched “Queen Talk with Milani,” an Instagram talk show. Here, I engage with inspiring guests to raise awareness about HIV, Substance Use Disorder, mental health, and community initiatives. One memorable episode highlighted National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, where I discussed shared experiences and the racism affecting our health outcomes.
Being part of the Vogue Ballroom scene has connected me with a vibrant Afro-Latine community, leading to collaborations with Community Boards and research studies. Many [of my] peers are engaged in health departments and non-profit organizations, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and change through collaboration.
Shiko Njoroge: What messages do you hope to convey to the community on Latinx AIDS Awareness Day?
Milani Varela: I hope to convey messages of self-care, spreading love, and celebrating life regardless of HIV status. It’s crucial to take care of ourselves and those around us by addressing issues like Substance Use Disorder, mental health, and health insurance navigation.
Spreading love and awareness involves sharing resources and community events to reach a wider audience. By being HIV-neutral, we can reduce stigma and uplift each other, celebrating those who are HIV-positive and thriving, as well as those who are HIV-negative and taking preventive measures.
Individuals can support HIV prevention efforts by engaging with local grassroots organizations—those small but mighty ones. Donate, attend events, volunteer, or apply for positions when available. Lastly, to my Afro-Latine community: Let’s be more visible, celebrate our roots, and embrace our Afro-Latinidad!
Elia Chinó
After losing many close friends to HIV/AIDS, Elia Chinó decided to take action. She founded and is now the executive director of the Latin American Foundation for Social Action, inc. (FLAS). Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Chinó has called the city of Houston home for over 40 years, where she has forged her reputation as a determined advocate, educating people about preventable diseases, physical health, behavioral health issues and/or concerns about HIV. FLAS provides essential health services to the Latinx community in Houston, as well as housing assistance, legal support, a food pantry, and testing. The organization also provided testing to over 30,000 people and distributed at least 8 million condoms so far. Chinó’s dreams and hopes are that together, we will decrease health disparities and end the HIV Epidemic in Houston and its surrounding areas.
To support FLAS and learn more about the organization’s impactful work, go to https://flasinc.org/
Isa Fernández: What inspired you to create FLAS. Inc. in 1994? FLAS is a hugely impactful organization in Houston, what was the process of getting there like?
Elia Chinó: The reason I founded FLAS was because there was a huge need for it in the Latino community. When I started in this movement, at the peak of the HIV crisis – it was very hard. That’s the reason I said: I need to take action. Especially when I discovered that my best friends died from AIDS. After I found out, I went to AIDS Foundation Houston and I said, I want to be a volunteer. And I chose to go to the hospital. Because I wanted to, in memory of them, I just wanted to do that work. So many people died in my arms.
In those days, the information about HIV and AIDS was only in English. There were no services at all for this [Spanish-speaking] population. I remember that I used to go to parks and pass out flyers, knock on doors, go to the bars, go to the cantinas, go to the discotheques. In the middle of the night, 2, 3 AM in the morning to hand out our literature and condoms. I was really giving up all my energy. I was giving all my own resources to establish FLAS. But everything was from the bottom of my heart, to go and save lives, you know. I worked for about eight years, almost nine years, with zero funding.
Then I went to Texas Southern University, because at that time they had the HIV prevention center there, and I went to ask for their help and they said, you know what, we are going to write a grant and you are going to work for the center. And I said, you know, let’s do it. Because I was trying to get experience, you know, acknowledging how to do that [run a foundation]. And it wasn’t easy.
And I could talk about this for hours, but I won’t. It wasn’t easy. It’s been very tough, you know, to continue providing these services all these years.
Isa Fernández: Can you discuss the barriers that people living with HIV still face in accessing healthcare and treatment, and the solutions you advocate for?
Elia Chinó: The problem that we are facing is stigma. In the city of Houston, we have well over 30,000 cases of HIV. And let me tell you, I can count on these fingers the people that are publicly talking about their positive status, talking about the existence of a treatment and that you can live with the virus for the rest of your life. But where are the other people? Where are the faces of HIV with HIV? And also in the media, I’m talking about radio, TV. They don’t talk about AIDS anymore, about HIV.
I think more people need to talk about the stigma. More people need to share the stories about living with HIV for all these years. That there is a treatment, there’s a medication, and that being positive is not a death sentence. There are a lot of options. We need to talk more openly about HIV. Because there’s still a lot of fear and stigma. Everybody can talk about other chronic diseases. About diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, whatever, so why can’t we talk about HIV? It needs to be brought into more conversations for people to accept that that is a disease that can happen to anyone, but there are also a lot of options to prevent it.
But also, people don’t want to waste one day to come and get tested for HIV, and especially, right now, people, especially the immigrant community, they need to focus on working, because they have to pay their bills. They have to pay the rent, food, and everything. But the foundations who are giving grants, they don’t want you to spend money on [monetary] incentives for the community to encourage people to get tested. But I think they have to allocate funds to provide incentives for the community for testing and maybe another incentive to encourage them to participate in linkage to care. Otherwise, we are not going to end the epidemic by 2030.
Isa Fernández: Do you have anything you would like to say to your community on Latinx AIDS Awareness Day?
Yes, Latinx AIDS Awareness Day was established to unite the community and to provide education and information. But the most important thing is to get tested. Get tested. Know your HIV status.
Don’t wait to get tested tomorrow. Test today, because today, you will save your life. If you get tested today, and if you are positive, you have the opportunity to receive treatment immediately and remember all these treatments are confidential.
So, again, get tested, get tested! It is always confidential. Don’t wait for tomorrow, because tomorrow is today.
Edric Figueroa
Edric Figueroa is a queer, first-generation Peruvian American living in the southern city of Atlanta, GA. He has been working in HIV prevention and LGBTQ advocacy for over a decade. This field, he says, “has bestowed connections, opportunities, skills, friends, and an extended community committed to improving health conditions for those historically denied access to care.” He is currently the Zero Campaign Director at the Latino Commission on AIDS. In his free time, Figureoa volunteers with, Latino LinQ, which focuses on LGBTQ and HIV equity for Latinos in Atlanta. You can also find him on a dance floor in the city supporting his family’s queer-Latinx parties, La Choloteca. He feels “very lucky to have a close support network that reflects [his] values.”
La Choloteca is organizing a “Baile Contra Estigma” or “Dance Against Stigma” party on Friday October 18th, in Atlanta, GA, in commemoration of National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day.
Isa Fernández: Given your experience at the Latino Commission on AIDS, what are some of the unique challenges that Latinx communities in the South face in accessing healthcare and sexual health resources?
Edric Figueroa: In the state of Georgia, a lack of political will to improve conditions for historically marginalized communities creates a direct path to poor health outcomes for Latine communities. For example, the state has refused additional Medicaid funds that would benefit uninsured individuals who currently don’t qualify for government-assisted healthcare. Additionally, so many essential services provided by health departments and hospitals are only provided in English, which means monolingual Spanish-speaking individuals are less likely to seek out or even know about services such as free or low-cost HIV and STI testing.
For LGBTQ Latines, homophobia and transphobia further exasperate finding competent care. The local urgent care or community-based clinics with bilingual staff are less likely to be educated in LGBTQ terminology and the health needs of our communities. This means queer Latines are making tradeoffs between receiving care in their preferred language and getting misgendered or treated as less-than, or going to a clinic where they will be forced to communicate in a language they are not fully comfortable in.
Additionally, the South is home to the most anti-immigrant legislation. Georgia recently passed HB 1105, a bill that essentially allows local law enforcement to act as ICE agents and streamline deportation processes for undocumented individuals. This is extremely concerning as racial profiling is all too common in the rural communities across Atlanta and even within the city itself. Southern states like GA are already less likely to allow folks without citizenship access to driver’s licenses. This reality paired with bills like HB 1105 deepens a sense of anxiety and stress in our communities.
Isa Fernández: In your experience, what are the most effective strategies for reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV?
Edric Figueroa: The most effective strategy is normalizing conversations about HIV among friends, families, colleagues, and communities. The stigma of sex present across the South, which is home to most of the abstinence-only high school sex education programs, has made talking about HIV a bit of a taboo. However, this doesn’t have to be the reality… Southerners know that when governments don’t fully tell the truth or actualize resources, it’s on our communities to do so. Therefore, speaking the truth in our close or larger communities about how HIV is transmitted, what living with HIV is really like, and what treatment and prevention options are available is the most effective strategy to reduce stigma. Ending discrimination against people living with HIV can start here as well, as like many states, GA still has HIV-criminalization laws. Which many people are not aware of. I hope that the more we talk about HIV, the more advocates we will have to end these archaic laws that are not based on science and are meant to target marginalized communities.
Isa Fernández: You have experience as a community organizer, a support group facilitator, and an artist – How do these experiences inform each other? How do they inform your activism?
Edric Figueroa: I try to bring a holistic approach to most of what I do. My passion has led me to an eclectic skillset that falls back on my commitment to empowering those marginalized by outdated systems that hold power in our society. Whether it’s on a canvas, in a workshop, or a heart-to-heart conversation, I hope my work helps individuals connect their experiences to a larger picture of oppression and liberation. Oppression because so often queer and trans people of color are experiencing harm from institutions before we even have the vocabulary to name these things, and liberation because the conditions can and must improve for our health and well-being.
Isa Fernández: Do you have any messages you would like to share with our community on Latinx AIDS Awareness Day?
Edric Figueroa: Let us keep resisting the harmful narratives about people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ communities, and migrant communities. Let us find solidarity across our communities… Ending HIV, LGBTQ+ discrimination, and xenophobia/racism will not happen in a silo… May this solidarity lead us to more education and more love across myriad differences. May this diversity and love lead us to actualize our own personal and collective power so that we can change the institutions that have neglected or ignored us for far too long.
Joseph Solís
Joseph Solís is an Ecuadorian artist, poet, activist, and the founder of Tejido Diverso, an LGBTQ activism and art collective that operated in Ecuador for six years. Now Chicago-based, Solís obtained his MA in Digital Studies of Language, Culture, and History at the University of Chicago and his research explores the effects of toxic messaging in media on culture. As a digital humanities scholar he is interested, he says, in “exploring the queer experience, to try to learn what it has to tell us.” He is also currently creating an LGBTQ+ archive and digital humanities center in Quito. Solís also goes by the artist name, Morla Solís, under which he published a poetry collection titled El Espacio Que Te Doy, which charts his life after HIV diagnosis and how it resulted in creative and spiritual inspiration.
You can see more of his creative work at https://www.morlasolis.com/
Isa Fernández: You co-founded an LGBTQI+ activist group “Tejido Diverso” in Ecuador, tell me about your work there!
Joseph Solís: So, this was a beautiful and humbling experience for me. After I finished college in New Orleans, I returned to Ecuador. And at that time, there was a big movement toward marriage equality. But there was also a lot of discomfort within the activist community. So, when I arrived, I was trying to learn as much as I could about the LGBTQI context. Then I stumbled upon a group of 20-somethings who also wanted to change a little bit of what the activist landscape looked like and do something different. Most of my colleagues were in government or had been in government. And we were like, we need something else. We need something that focuses on culture. Yes, the policy side and the law side are important. But we need something that’s working on the streets to change the way people treat us. Because otherwise, it will take years for us to actually see change in our lives. And that’s what we did. We started this collective called Tejido Diverso.
And our focus was to change culture, to change negativity, to change the way we are treated. And we did that through several artistic and educational interventions. We trained other activists across the country so that all the political activity wasn’t just focused on the big cities. We did a lot of art exhibits, a lot of campaigns. One of them was: “Su lucha es mi lucha,” [“Your fight is my fight”] which was meant to bring allies into the conversation. And another one was “También es familia,” which translates into “This is also family.” And that was a photography exhibition with various types of families, two moms, two dads, one mom, no
Alfredo Flores
Alfredo Flores, a Queer Mexican-American from Chicago’s Little Village, has over a decade of experience in community organizing and HIV prevention, with a focus on supporting LGBTQ+ Latine communities. Currently, as Program Manager of Prevention and Education Services at CALOR, he leads sexual health outreach at festivals and community events. Alfredo also coordinates leadership development and advocacy programs, like the Association for Latino/a/xs Motivating Action (ALMA). Beyond HIV outreach, he has played a key role in initiatives like Chicago’s Queer Prom and vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 and Mpox outbreaks.
To learn more about CALOR, visit their website and to learn more about ALMA, visit their website.
Shiko Njoroge: CALOR has a long legacy of adapting to the evolving needs of the community, from offering mental health services to substance abuse programs and now vocational training. What current trends or challenges in HIV prevention are you addressing through CALOR’s programs, and how do you envision these initiatives evolving in the future?
Alfredo Flores: In the last five years, CALOR has responded to several health crises. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed how disproportionately Latine neighborhoods were affected, as many immigrants continued working without access to benefits like unemployment or stimulus checks. CALOR partnered with the Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) to provide both COVID testing and sexual health services, including HIV testing, even before vaccines were available. In 2022, we faced another challenge when Mpox cases surged, mostly impacting LGBT communities. We worked with the City Department of Public Health to ensure that monolingual Spanish speakers and Latine individuals were prioritized for vaccines.
CALOR has consistently been able to pivot and offer crucial services during public health emergencies, especially where funding is often limited to specific health needs. As we look forward, I envision expanding our services to provide behavioral health support, transgender healthcare, and a more comprehensive approach to immigrant health. We are working toward making CALOR a welcoming hub for the LGBTQ+ immigrant community, offering a range of on-site services.
Shiko Njoroge: Many immigrants, especially those who are undocumented, often face significant barriers when accessing healthcare due to fear of deportation, language challenges, or distrust of systems. How does your work at CALOR cater specifically to the immigrant population, and why is it crucial to center their experiences in the fight against HIV/AIDS?
Alfredo Flores: CALOR was originally founded to serve immigrant and migrant communities, particularly monolingual Spanish speakers and those who are undocumented. We’ve always provided support in Spanish, whether through case management, housing assistance, or health services. In recent years, we’ve expanded to meet the unique needs of these populations even more directly.
Centering the experiences of immigrants is critical in the fight against HIV because Latine communities have seen an alarming 19% increase in new HIV cases, according to the CDC. The barriers they face—such as language, fear of deportation, and lack of healthcare access—mean we must provide culturally competent and accessible care. By prioritizing immigrant voices and needs, we can better reduce the transmission of HIV and support the overall health of our communities.
Shiko Njoroge: As someone who is deeply embedded in both the prevention and education sides of HIV work, what role do you believe community partnerships play in tackling the spread of HIV in communities of color? How does CALOR work with other organizations to extend its reach and impact?
Alfredo Flores: Community partnerships are essential in tackling HIV, especially in communities of color. No single organization can address all the needs of a community. At CALOR, we actively partner with local organizations, health departments, and community groups to extend our outreach. For instance, during Mpox, we collaborated with hospitals like RUSH and city health departments to reach vulnerable populations with vaccines and health information.
Our partnerships allow us to go beyond just providing services—they create a network of support that makes it easier for people to access care, regardless of where they live or their legal status. Together with our partners, we’ve been able to reach more people and offer a more comprehensive array of services. By working collaboratively, we are much stronger in our fight against HIV.
Shiko Njoroge: What message do you hope to convey to the community on Latinx AIDS Awareness Day?
Alfredo Flores: My hope is to send a message of empowerment and hope. HIV is not a death sentence, and we have the tools to protect ourselves and our communities—whether it’s through testing, PrEP, or simply talking about sexual health without fear or stigma. We need to take care of each other and ensure that everyone, especially immigrants and underserved communities, has access to the resources they need to stay healthy. On Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, let’s focus on reducing stigma, spreading awareness, and ensuring that love and care are at the forefront of our efforts.