We, the undersigned, represent organizations leading the fight to prevent HIV and provide care and treatment for people living with HIV, especially Black LGBTQ people across the Southern United States.
We heard your inaccurate and harmful comments at Rolling Loud and have read your Instagram apology. However, at a time when HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans and queer and transgender people of color, a dialogue is critical. We must address the miseducation about HIV, expressed in your comments, and the impact it has on various communities.
2021 marks the 40th year of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the greatest obstacles in our work to end HIV are the compounded stigmas attached to anti-Blackness, living with HIV, misogyny, and anti-LGBTQ attitudes and stereotypes, all of which are fueled by misinformation. It’s fear and stigma that keep people, particularly Black Americans, from accessing HIV prevention or care that White Americans have historically and continue to access more easily. We believe that you now have an opportunity to not just move past this unfortunate incident, but to use your platform and celebrity to heal not harm.
We believe that anyone can be an HIV advocate by amplifying: how there is medication (PrEP) that can prevent people from getting HIV with one pill a day, how routine treatment stops the virus from being passed on by people living with the HIV, how people receiving HIV care can survive and thrive while living with it, and how open and empathetic conversations eliminate stigma. You can be a powerful and influential voice, especially across your home base in the South, where the Black community’s needs are notoriously under-represented across every public spectrum. We encourage you to share this information with your fans and followers, and become an agent of truth and change.
Music artists have historically led the way to lift up understanding of HIV and accelerated LGBTQ acceptance. Several artists and platforms have spoken up against you. While we appreciate their stand, we also invite them to take action and to do their part to end HIV by supporting organizations like ours serving people who are Black, LGBTQ and/or living with HIV.
As mentioned in your latest apology, education is important. We agree. GLAAD and Gilead Science’s 2020 State of HIV Stigma Study found that 90% of Americans believe “there is stigma around HIV,” that “people are quick to judge those with HIV,” and “people make assumptions when someone is tested for HIV.” There were a significant number of people (40%) who did not know that HIV can be treated. Nearly 60% wrongfully believe it is “important to be careful around people living with HIV to avoid catching it.”
Here are the facts:
- People living with HIV today, when on effective treatment, lead long and healthy lives and cannot sexually transmit HIV. Treatment can suppress the virus to a point where it is no longer detected in a person’s body. When it is undetected, it is untransmittable, the key message of the U=U campaign.
- Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV. 13% of them don’t know it, reinforcing the need for HIV testing and to end stigma around HIV testing.
- People most vulnerable to HIV are those who have limited access to transportation, housing, healthcare, and social support. We should focus on advocating for resources in our community rather than stigmatizing women and LGBTQ people.
- Black Americans account for more HIV diagnoses (43%), people living with HIV (42%), and the most deaths among people with HIV (44%) than any other racial and ethnic group in the U.S.
- The CDC states that the U.S. South experiences the greatest rates of HIV and lags behind in providing quality HIV prevention services and care. According to AIDSVu, a program from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and the Center for AIDS Research at Emory University, 31,864 people are living with HIV in North Carolina, where you were raised.
- Medications like PrEP protect people who do not have HIV from contracting it. The CDC states that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.
As leaders of organizations directly serving Black, LGBTQ, and HIV+ communities, we invite you to a private, off-the-record, virtual discussion with us. You stated you now understand how and why your comments were damaging. An open conversation holds the potential for you to now create meaningful impact by transforming from an adversary to an advocate.
Sincerely,
Dr. Samira Ali, Director, SUSTAIN Center at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
Dr. Davin D. Clemons, CoFounder and Chief Financial Officer, Relationship Unleashed
Gwendolyn D. Clemons, CoFounder and Executive Director, Relationship Unleashed
Kia Colbert, Program Director, EnCORE, Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance
Raniyah Copeland, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute
Ian L. Haddock, Founder and Executive Director, The Normal Anomaly Initiative
Rev. Dr. Shonda Jones, Wake Forest Faith Coordinating Center
Arianna Lint, CEO & President, Arianna’s Center
Dr. Allison Mathews, Wake Forest University Faith Coordinating Center
Warren A. O’Meara-Dates, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, The 6:52 Project Foundation, Inc.
Deondre B. Moore, U.S. Partnerships & Community Engagement Manager, Prevention Access Campaign
Neena Smith, Center Director, EnCORE, Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance
Bec Sokha Keo (they/them), Public Impact Scholar, SUSTAIN Center at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
Marcus Stanley, Project officer and Director of Programs, SUSTAIN Center at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
DaShawn Usher, Associate Director, Communities of Color, GLAAD
Dafina Ward, Executive Director, Southern AIDS Coalition
Supporting Organizations:
Emily Abrams, Account Manager, The Artemis Agency
Jay Adams, HIV Care/ADAP Coordinator, AIDS Task Force of the Upper Ohio Valley
Zina Age, Founder/CEO , Aniz, Inc.
Bishop O.C. Allen III, Executive Director, Vision Community Foundation Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
Andre Antenor, President and CEO, Positive Assistance, Inc.
Guy Anthony, President and CEO, Black, Gifted & Whole Foundation
Bill Arnold, President & CEO, Community Access National Network (CANN)
Michael Banner, Executive Director, Here’s to Life Inc
Lisa Barr, CEO and Executive Director, Hope and Help Center of Central Florida, Inc.
Derek Baugh, Executive Director, Ubuntu Incorporated
Linelle Blaise, Executive Director, Emory Centers for Training and Technical Assistance
Catherine Brown, Executive Director, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation
Derrick Brown, Chief Development Officer, AIDS Foundation Houston
Jordan Budd, Executive Director, COLAGE
Elizabeth del Campo, Communications Coordinator, TruEvolution
Guillermo Chacon, President, Latino Commission on AIDS
Elia Chino, Founder & Executive Director, Fundacion Latinoamericana De Accion Social, Inc. (FLAS)
Jason Cianciotto, Senior Managing Director, Institutional Development & Strategy, GMHC
Alton Cobb, Program Manager, Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services
Yanza Collins, Executive Director, Positively Augusta
Michelle Colón, Program Director, SHERo Mississippi
Imani Cooper, Assistant, Positively U
Pedro Coronado, VP of Access and Continuity of Care, Valley AIDS Council
Hosea Crowell, Life Coach, Whole-istic Life Coaching
Tarik Daniels, Executive Director, WhatsintheMirror
Janet Davis, CEO, Public Helath Resource Centers Associates, Inc.
Danielle DeSantis, Graduate Research Assistant, EnCORE, Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance
Penny DeNoble, Co-Executive Director, Frontline Legal Services
Dazon Dixon Diallo DHL MPH, Founder/President, SisterLove
Elias Diaz, Executive Director, Eagle Pass SAFE
Daniel Downer, Executive Director, The Bros in Convo Initiative
Kelly Doyle, CEO, CARES of Southwest Michigan
Brandon Dykes, Founder, Nu Phi Zeta Fraternity Inc.
Elder Rev. Antionettea Etienne, Clergy, Love Alive International Sanctuary of Praise
Morgan Farrington, Founder & Managing Director, GoodWorks: North Alabama Harm Reduction
Racien Ford, Vice President and CFO, Bright1’s Path Inc.
Gerald Garth, Director of Programs & Operations, AMAAD (Arming Minorities Against Addiction & Disease)
Dumiso Gatsha, Director, Success Capital Organisation
Antoine Ghoston, Director, Arkansas Black Gay Men Forum
Maryum Gibson, President & CEO, Jerusalem House
Gerald Gibson, Mobile Clinical Manager, My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.
June Gipson, CEO, My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.
Terl Gleason, Executive Director, Advocacy House Services, Inc
Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC)
Orlando Gonzales, Executive Director, SAVE Foundation
Christopher Gousse, Outreach Specialist, Positively U, Inc.
Melissa Grove, Executive Director, Legacy Counseling Center
Chelsea Gulden, President and CEO, RAIN, Inc.
Cynthia Gutierrez, Program Manager, HIVE
Melissa Haithcox-Dennis, Executive Director, Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina
Priscilla Hale, Executive Director, allgo
Nora C Hanna, Executive Director, Until There’s A Cure Foundation
Dave Harper, Executive Director, New York City AIDS Memorial
Tami Haught, Managing Director, Sero Project
Cody Henry, Graduate Research Assistant, Emory University
John Huckaby, CEO, AIDS Foundation Houston
Yasmyne Hunter, Director, The Lewis Project
LaRonia Hurd-Sawyer, Executive Director, Partnership To End AIDS Status Inc. (PEAS Inc)
Richard Hutchinson Jr., Executive Director/ Co-Founder, He Is Valuable, Inc.
Iris House. Inc
Mika Jain, Senior Project Manager, Artemis Agency
Courtney Johnson, Co-Founder, The Brown Boys
Shakita Jones, Founder & Executive Director, Central Alabama Alliance, Resource & Advocacy Center
Evonne Kaho, Founder & CEO, Love Me Unlimited 4 Life
Channte’ Keith, Deputy Director, The Center for Black Health & Equity
Tammy Kinney, Founder, Rural Woman In Action Inc.
Stephen Lee, Executive Director, NASTAD
Mackenzie Leonard, Public Health Program Associate, Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance
Lamont Lewis, President and CEO, Elohim Urban Mission
Patrick Lindsay, HIV Case Manager, Positively U, Inc.
Tiye Link, CEO/Founder, Faith Connections LLC
Mariah Lopez, Executive Director, STARR, Strategic Trans Alliance for Radical Reform
Cornelius Mabin, CEO, Arkansas RAPPS, Inc.
Brandon Macstata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy Association
Krista MarteI, Executive Director, The Well Project
Shadawn McCants, Chief Executive Officer, 2 Know is 2 Live
Donte McCutchen, Executive Director, Heart for the City
Vernis McFarland, Founder/Executive Director, The Mahogany Project Inc.
Keisha McToy, Vice President of Operations, Alder Health Services
Dr. Sandra C. Melvin, CEO/Founder, Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health
Lauren Miller, Health Equity Corrdinator, NMAC
Alphonso Mills, Community Health Worker, Soul Model LLC
Michael Morris, Virtual Expansion Manager, THRIVE SS
Brandon Nick, Co-Founder, The Each-Other Project
Heather O’Connor, International Community of Women Living with HIV- North America
Humberto Orozco, Board Chair, Latino LinQ
PALSS, Inc. Columbia, SC
Positive Women’s Network – USA
Thomas Pietrogallo, CEO, The Poverello Center Inc.
Perfect Imperfections Toolkit and Training (PITT) Solutions
J. Donte’ Prayer, Founder, R.O.L.E Models
Pride Action Tank
PWN-NYC
James Raper, Director and Nurse Practitioner, UAB 1917 Clinic
Renewed Life
Nicole Roebuck, Executive Director, AID Atlanta
Brenda Ruffin, Housing Director, ACRA
Michael Ruppal, Executive Director, The AIDS Institute
Timothy Santamour, Executive Director, Florida Harm Reduction Collective, Inc
Mark Sellers, Director, Men’s Reentry Initiative MRI
Luis Scaccabarrozzi, Vice President, Latino Commission on AIDS & Hispanic Health Network
Karl Schmid, Founder, PlusLife
Cherisse Scott, CEO & Founder, SisterReach
Reginald Smith, Director, The Reginald & Dionne Smith Foundation
Brett Spigelman, Managing Director, LIFEbeat
Marcus Stanley, Founder, President and CEO, Black Power, Liberation & Healing Now
Charles Stephens, Executive Director, The Counter Narrative Project (CNP)
Lee Storrow, Executive Director, North Carolina AIDS Action Network
Marvell Terry III, Principal Consultant, Netherwood Consulting Group
Alecia Tramel-McIntyre, Founder/CEO, Positive People Network Inc.
Masonia Traylor, Lady BurgAndy Inc.
Carole Treston, Executive Director, Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Raymond Velazquez, Harm Reduction Coordinator, Western North Carolina AIDS Project
Vangela Wade, President and CEO, Mississippi Center for Justice
Edward Wagner, Chief Officer of External Relations, AIDS Foundation Chicago
Julian J. Walker, Deputy Director, Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI)
Mike Webb, Policy Engagement Strategist, The Equality Federation
Tatiana Williams, Executive Director, TransInclusive Group
Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases (WORLD)
Donald Wood, SC HIV Planning Council (CPG)
Please email press@glaad.org to add your organization as a supporting organization.