Every August 20, the southern part of the U.S. unites as a collective to honor Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (SHAAD). And, this year, let it be a reminder to all of us regardless of region to come together in steadfast support of this community.
SHAAD was founded in 2019 by the Southern AIDS Coalition (SAD) to “rewrite the narrative” related to the regional experience of the virus. Since then, it’s proven to be an instrumental day in the HIV education space — and an invitation to reinvigorate the national dialogue about the virus as well as the undue stigma and discrimination that too often come with it.
This year’s theme is “Power to the People!” — a fitting one given the election this fall. The goal here, according to SAD, is to “remind everyone of the immense power in their voice, their history, their joy, their dollar, and their [vote].” Enter Sexual + Being and its wonderful readers!
We want to do our part in this critical discussion and empower our people (that’s you!) to understand what they can do to support SHAAD, raise awareness, and dismantle the systemic roadblocks in our way. I mean, we are technically part of the South in D.C. being below the Mason-Dixon Line, and will take any opportunity we can to center HIV/AIDS advocacy.
So, yeah, let’s get into it.
Historically, HIV rates and the experiences of those living with HIV in the South disproportionately outnumber those in other parts of the country. This is no new trend.
For the last few decades, the South has experienced the greatest burden of HIV and deaths of any U.S. region, and lags in providing quality HIV prevention services and care, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Resources are not as plentiful — in this area and others — as they are in more central urban cities like Los Angeles and New York City, which leaves many in southern states unsupported, untested, and untreated.
The South has 52 percent of the undiagnosed HIV infections in the U.S. The next closest region in terms of undiagnosed infections? That’s the West, which comes in over 30 percentage points lower. Nationally, roughly 13 percent of people living with HIV in the U.S. do not know they have contracted it.
We also see higher-than-normal concentrations of HIV infection in rural areas of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. All but one of those priority states of focus identified exist in the South. And, today, 44 percent of all people living with HIV were diagnosed in the South, per SHAAD’s founding coalition.
Across regions, however, many of the highly impacted individuals are Black and Brown, poorer, and likely to identify as a part of the LGBTQ community. These groups tend to face a disproportionate lack of access to necessary testing and prevention plans, proven treatments, affordable and adequate healthcare, and more.
These populations, especially in the South, need more significant (and consistent!) support from those in power. And, of course, from our neighbors, loved ones, and friends — particularly in the crucial work to end the virus’ painful stigma. That’s where we come in.
We know it can feel easy to seem powerless about such large-scale national (and, yes, global) issues like this. But we have much more power as “the people” (see what we did there with the SHAAD theme? 😉) than we know.
There are several ways we can dive into this crucial advocacy with our support. That starts with what is in our control, namely our sexual health practices. Here are a few ways to take more immediate action:
- Get tested regularly for HIV (and other STIs!)
- Maintain a non-judgmental yet positive mindset as it relates to sex
- Explore prevention methods like PrEP and PeP
- Practice safer sex as often as possible with your partners
- Find a medical professional you trust and have open dialogues about your health
- Review additional resources and support offered by DC Health.
After we look at what we can do ourselves, we must look outward toward our community and take greater action:
- Vote, vote, vote! Cast your ballot for those who are in line with your view on combating HIV and its painful stigma
- Attend HIV prevention and testing events near you
- After you vote, keep up the advocacy on the state, local, and federal levels with calls for continued government action.
- Volunteer at local health or LGBTQ-focused non-profits in the DMV area.
- Call out negative rhetoric about HIV and those living with it every time you encounter it.
- Share this article on social media to ensure everyone can take action.
As we close this article out, we hope you took away something important … and that’s how much power we have as a community. Each of us holds immense power in our own lives to help break the long-held stigma against HIV, even if we are not directly experiencing it and/or call the South our home.
This Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, use your voice for good. For more information related to HIV and more, visit sexualbeing.org. Happy humping!
Ryan Carey-Mahoney
Ryan Carey-Mahoney is a writer and LGBTQ advocate based in Washington, D.C. A journalist at heart, he's worked in digital strategy for over five years and has yet to turn down an opportunity to proofread. Talk to him on social media (@thegoodcarmah) about bi+ visibility, politics, and Beyoncé.
