There’s isn’t any way to discuss HIV Long Term Survivor Awareness Day (#HLTSAD) this year (Friday, June 5) without discussing racial disparities. For that matter, we should “lead with race,” as NMAC’s slogan goes, from this moment forward. I’m going to try better in that regard.
I’ll let me video message speak for itself. Here is the text:
Hi it’s Mark, and if you are a healthy HIV long term survivor like me, then the odds are you are white. This message is for you.
Black men and women living with HIV have worse health outcomes, meaning they die, because of things like a lack of “access to care,” also known as “institutional racism.”
End white silence. Support HIV groups working for racial justice. Uplift Black HIV long term survivors, because they have survived a lot more than HIV.
Thanks for watching, and please be well.
Mark
