Latest news with #RyanWhite
Chicago Tribune
23-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Groups that support LGBTQ+ individuals brace for funding cuts that could affect HIV care, prevention
Chicago-area groups that support LGBTQ+ individuals are navigating an uncertain landscape while bracing for federal funding cuts that could affect HIV care and prevention. Cuts outlined in President Donald Trump's proposed 2026 budget mean some groups stand to lose federal funds that support medical services like testing and HIV treatment, as well as nonmedical patient supports such as housing and food subsidies. Research money that goes toward drug development is also on the chopping block. Advocates say that because the virus disproportionately affects transgender, Black and Latino individuals — and prevention efforts have been focused on those communities — HIV funding has taken a hit as diversity, equity and inclusion programs are rolled back. 'When we allocate funds to prioritize the needs of this community, it's a community that has been impacted by health disparities since before we've been counted by the census,' said Terra Campbell, associate director of community relations at LGBTQ+ health care provider Howard Brown Health. 'It's not special treatment. It's investment in the needs of your neighbor and the community.' The Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center's funding will be cut completely in the current budget proposal for fiscal year 2026. It provides training and support for health care professionals working in HIV prevention, care and treatment. Shanett Jones, Illinois program director, estimates the center trains more than 4,000 providers every year. The center receives funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, the largest federal program for HIV in America. The 2026 budget proposal eliminates the part of the Ryan White program that establishes and funds all AIDS education and training centers across the United States. 'If we do lose this funding, we risk having a less prepared workforce, which leads to delayed diagnosis of people living with HIV,' Jones said. 'This is an infrastructure that, once it's dismantled, it does not come back easily — you can't win the race by slashing the engine.' AIDS Foundation Chicago gets more than 80% of its funding from federal sources. Alongside advocacy work, the foundation provides support services for people living with HIV, including testing and prevention resources, education, housing and health insurance. In 2024, the foundation served more than 8,000 people in the Chicago area. Timothy Jackson, senior director of policy, said the foundation is currently planning for a projected loss of 40% of those funds in the president's 2026 budget request. AIDS Foundation Chicago is partially funded by both Ryan White and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to KFF, a nonprofit health policy research organization, the proposed budget cuts all of the CDC's HIV prevention funds. The foundation also receives funding through the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, which will also be eliminated in the proposed 2026 budget. These nonmedical services are essential for reducing HIV in Chicago, Jackson said. 'We have to look at all of the other things that make HIV possible, or make the transmission of HIV possible. So that's when we talk about housing, that's when we talk about harm reduction. That's why we talk about transportation and food access and all of these other different things,' he said. AIDS Foundation Chicago filed a lawsuit in February along with two other nonprofits challenging executive orders that sought to end 'diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility' programs and equity-related grants and contracts. 'Our mission is rooted in ending HIV and homelessness in the communities that are most impacted. And it is very difficult to do that when you are not leading with equity,' Jackson said. These organizations' work has already been affected by the National Institutes of Health funding pause earlier this year, and will continue to be affected by cuts to research funding in the planned budget. Jackson said the recent success of the twice-annual HIV prevention shot, lenacapavir, would not have been possible without NIH and CDC funding. 'This administration does not value science. We see that play out over the huge cuts at the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, which all impact HIV and the work around new HIV treatment and prevention modalities,' Jackson said. Even groups that are not largely reliant on federal funding are experiencing the strain of an uncertain economic future. Chris Balthazar, executive director of TaskForce Prevention and Community Services, a health and wellness group serving LGBTQ+ youth in Chicago, says many of his organization's partners are only signing contracts for quarterly periods, instead of their usual 12-month periods, in case funding disappears. These partners are how TaskForce provides many of its services, which include legal and housing aid, HIV and other STD testing, and connecting patients to medical care. 'Imagine what the impact of that is on the ground. How do you sustain a job on a grant that you don't even have a full 12-month contract for?' he said. Additionally, Balthazar explained that while state funding is not being cut as explicitly as federal funding, it is still expected to decline. The federal government partially funds the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Public Health, which then give grants to groups like TaskForce. Since the health departments don't know what sort of funding to expect in the next year, they aren't able to commit to the same grants they have in years previous. 'So much of the state budget comes from the federal budget. And I think that it's scary that, unfortunately, if this continues and nothing is undone, we're going to see major cuts, and we're going to see more and more people who are on the margins of the margins be even more drastically devastated by this,' he said. Both Jackson and Jones said that the most important thing anyone can do for HIV care and prevention in Chicago right now is to call their representatives and express support for continued HIV funding. 'It's reassuring that we have people who are still engaged, who are still advocating, who are still hoping. And when I go and I talk to community groups, I tell them, we can't go back to the '80s,' Jackson said. 'We're going to do what we have always done in 40-plus years of the epidemic: rely on community to get us through.'
Chicago Tribune
21-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Public health officials: Ending the HIV epidemic is in sight. We can't stop now.
Thanks to decades of sustained federal investment, Chicago, Cook County and Illinois are on the cusp of ending the HIV epidemic in our city, county and state. This remarkable progress is a testament to programs such as the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, established in 1990 to provide crucial health care to those living with HIV and AIDS. This critical legislation, named in honor of young AIDS activist Ryan White, marked a turning point in our fight against HIV. It wasn't just a humanitarian response; it was sound public health policy. Within that decade, the spread of HIV, the progression of HIV to AIDS and the mortality rates due to AIDS all peaked and have been declining ever since. Funding channeled through state and city agencies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Cook County Department of Pubic Health (CCDPH) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), alongside direct support to community organizations, made medical treatment and support services accessible, especially for low-income individuals. Coupled with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant programs for monitoring, testing and prevention with lifesaving tools such as the prophylaxis medicines PrEP and Doxy PEP, we've built a robust system that works. It is thanks to this funding and the work of hundreds of epidemiology teams at local health agencies including IDPH, CCDPH and CDPH that we have data that shows how many people have received an HIV diagnosis and how many people are receiving HIV care. Thirty-five years later, Chicago, Cook County and Illinois, along with the rest of the country, have seen a dramatic decrease in new diagnoses thanks to these prevention, testing and treatment programs. We also see higher percentages of those living with HIV getting vital care and treatment and living long, full lives. But this progress is fragile. To pull back now would be a catastrophic mistake, especially for our most vulnerable communities. Despite hitting a significant low in new HIV cases, the burden of HIV/AIDS still falls disproportionately on communities of color. And while medical advancements allow those living with HIV to survive and thrive, their care demands continuous, costly services. More work is needed to see basic investment and improvements to HIV monitoring and infrastructure while also making use of more advanced technology. Consider the immediate impact: In 2024 alone, nearly 14,000 Chicagoans and thousands more Illinoisans relied on Ryan White funding for their HIV care. A staggering 70% of those served by CDPH-funded programs are Black, Latino, or Hispanic — the very communities most affected by HIV/AIDS. The lifeline for these programs? Federal funding. In fact, more than 90% of CDPH's annual budget for managing infectious diseases, including HIV, comes directly from federal sources. Yet, despite this clear success and urgent need, Washington, D.C., is debating draconian cuts to these vital programs in next year's budget, even threatening to rescind funds already allocated for 2025. The consequences of these cuts would be devastating. AmfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, projects that a 50% reduction in HIV prevention funding from the CDC could lead to 75,000 new HIV infections across the U.S. by 2030 — and that number would nearly double if all funding is eliminated. Here in Illinois, we could face over 5,500 additional new HIV cases, leading to sicker populations and a tragic rise in deaths due to lack of treatment. Without these federal dollars, our neighbors would lose access to critical prevention tools such as PrEP, essential testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and lifesaving treatments. We stand at a crossroads. We have the knowledge, tools and proven programs to end the HIV epidemic. We are so close. To retreat now, when the finish line is in sight, would be an act of profound negligence. We urge our elected officials in Washington, D.C., to reject these dangerous cuts and continue investing in the programs that protect the health and well-being of all Illinoisans. We cannot afford to backtrack and lose the tremendous progress that has been made in fighting HIV. The health of our communities depends on it.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and identity, dies at 49
Andrea Gibson, a celebrated poet and performance artist who through their verse explored gender identity, politics and their 4-year battle with terminal ovarian cancer, died Monday at age 49. Gibson's death was announced on social media by their wife, Megan Falley. Gibson and Falley are the main subjects of the documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' winner of the Festival Favorite Award this year at the Sundance Film Festival and scheduled to air this fall on Apple TV+. 'Andrea Gibson died in their home (in Boulder, Colorado) surrounded by their wife, Meg, four ex-girlfriends, their mother and father, dozens of friends, and their three beloved dogs,' Monday's announcement reads in part. The film — exploring the couple's enduring love as Gibson battles cancer — is directed by Ryan White and includes an original song written by Gibson, Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile. During a screening at Sundance in January that left much of the audience in tears, Gibson said they didn't expect to live long enough to see the documentary. Tributes poured in Monday from friends, fans and fellow poets who said Gibson's words had changed their lives — and, in some cases, saved them. Many LGBTQ+ fans said Gibson's poetry helped them learn to love themselves. People with cancer and other terminal illnesses said Gibson made them less afraid of death by reminding them that we never really leave the ones we love. In a poem Gibson wrote shortly before they died, titled 'Love Letter from the Afterlife,' they wrote: 'Dying is the opposite of leaving. When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before.' Linda Williams Stay was 'awestruck' when her son, Aiden, took her to hear Gibson perform at a bar in San Francisco a decade ago. Their poetry was electrifying, lighting up the room with laughter, tears and love. Gibson's poetry became a shared interest for the mother and son, and eventually helped Stay better understand her son when he came out as transgender. 'My son this morning, when he called, we just sobbed together,' Stay said. 'He says, 'Mom, Andrea saved my life.'' 'I know,' she responded. Gibson's poetry later helped Stay cope with a cancer diagnosis of her own, which brought her son back home to St. George, Utah, to help take care of her. They were delighted when Gibson accepted their invitation to perform at an event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in southern Utah. 'It was truly life-changing for our community down there, and even for our allies,' Stay said. 'I hope that they got a glimpse of the magnitude of their impact for queer kids in small communities that they gave so much hope to.' Gibson was born in Maine and moved to Colorado in the late 1990s, where they had served the past two years as the state's poet laureate. Their books included 'You Better Be Lightning,' 'Take Me With You' and 'Lord of the Butterflies.' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Monday that Gibson was 'truly one of a kind' and had 'a unique ability to connect with the vast and diverse poetry lovers of Colorado.' In a 2017 essay published in Out magazine, Gibson remembered coming out at age 20 while studying creative writing at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, a Catholic school. Identifying as genderqueer, Gibson wrote that they didn't feel like a boy or a girl and cited a line of their poetry: 'I am happiest on the road/ When I'm not here or there — but in-between.' Comedian Tig Notaro, an executive producer on the documentary and Gibson's friend of 25 years, shared on Instagram how the two came up together as performers in Colorado. Hearing Gibson perform for the first time was like witnessing the 'pure essence of an old-school genuine rock star,' and their words have guided Notaro through life ever since, she said. 'The final past few days of Andrea's life were so painful to witness, but simultaneously one of the most beautiful experiences of all of our lives,' Notaro said. 'Surrounded by real human connection unfolding in the most unlikely ways during one of the most devastating losses has given me a gift that I will never be able to put into meaningful words.' Gibson's illness inspired many poems about mortality, depression, life and what happens next. In the 2021 poem 'How the Worst Day of My Life Became My Best,' Gibson declared 'When I realized the storm/was inevitable, I made it/my medicine.' Two years later, they wondered: 'Will the afterlife be harder if I remember/the people I love, or forget them?' 'Either way, please let me remember.'
Indianapolis Star
30-06-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana's Ryan White opened hearts to AIDS fight. Don't abandon his legacy now.
Ryan White was a spirited, bright kid who loved basketball, Nintendo and dreaming big. In 1984, 13-year-old Ryan contracted HIV through a contaminated blood transfusion used to treat his hemophilia. With widespread misconceptions about HIV/AIDS dominating the headlines, and fear overruling facts, Ryan was barred from attending his school and driven from his hometown of Kokomo. His harrowing story suddenly thrust Ryan onto the national stage, where he transformed the attention into a powerful force for changing perceptions about those living with HIV/AIDS. He had no idea how far his message would reach. Yet he was determined to use it for the greater good. His courage inspired the creation of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which continues to help people across America, and around the world, stay safe and well. At the time of his diagnosis, doctors gave Ryan only six months to live. On April 8, 1990, six precious years later, we sat together at Ryan's bedside and held his hands as he lost his young, heroic life to AIDS. First lady Barbara Bush attended his funeral, and businessman Donald Trump came to the family home to pay his respects. When Americans needed to take compassionate action, Ryan opened the door and urged everyone to take heart and to help. Four months later, in his name, Congress nearly unanimously enacted the Ryan White CARE Act – providing essential HIV care and treatment to Americans living with the virus. After years of fearmongering and paralysis, the U.S. government had finally committed to join the fight against our common enemy: AIDS. Ryan would be grateful for the progress being made. Today, more than 500,000 Americans living with HIV get lifesaving treatment through the Ryan White CARE Act. In 2019, President Trump proudly launched the End the HIV Epidemic initiative in his State of the Union address − a focused prevention effort to end the HIV epidemic in America by 2030. This evidence-based strategic initiative has achieved remarkable results, reducing new HIV infections by 21% in targeted communities and connecting people newly diagnosed with HIV to vital care and support services. This push to end AIDS is in full swing across America, but the work is not done yet – with young people, particularly in the South, now most severely impacted. We are grateful that the draft budget before Congress continues critically important funding for the Ryan White CARE Act and the End the HIV Epidemic efforts. That is an affirmation of these programs' effectiveness and bipartisan support. However, the proposal also would end federal funding to states for HIV surveillance, testing and education; for community-based organizations that reach those most at risk; and for substance abuse treatment and mental health programs that are crucial for driving down HIV infections. Attempts to cut Medicaid are also alarming, as more than 40% of people living with HIV have their care and treatment covered by Medicaid. Without this essential insurance, scores of people living with HIV won't get the care and medicines they need to keep them healthy. The president has said don't mess with Medicaid. We agree. Programs that provide treatment, fuel prevention and fight stigma should be expanded, not eliminated, as we work toward eradicating the disease that ended Ryan's life. The game-changing opportunity of the moment is to scale up prevention medication that keeps people HIV-free. The recent American-led development of PrEP − a pill or shot that prevents the virus from taking hold − is just the tool we need to end AIDS, but only if we make it accessible to those who need it. The economics are compelling: 14,000 people can receive generic PrEP ($30 annually) for the lifetime cost of treating one person with HIV ($420,285) − keeping Americans healthy, HIV-free and productive. The moment of truth is here. As the administration and Congress consider their investment priorities for next year, we urge them to continue joining forces in the fight against AIDS in the United States and worldwide. Together, their investments over time have created this once-in-a-generation opportunity to end AIDS in America by 2030, as called for by President Trump. Together they can seize that opportunity by banking on prevention. Ryan would expect nothing less.
Indianapolis Star
30-06-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana's Ryan White opened hearts to AIDS fight. Don't abandon his legacy now.
Ryan White was a spirited, bright kid who loved basketball, Nintendo and dreaming big. In 1984, 13-year-old Ryan contracted HIV through a contaminated blood transfusion used to treat his hemophilia. With widespread misconceptions about HIV/AIDS dominating the headlines, and fear overruling facts, Ryan was barred from attending his school and driven from his hometown of Kokomo. His harrowing story suddenly thrust Ryan onto the national stage, where he transformed the attention into a powerful force for changing perceptions about those living with HIV/AIDS. He had no idea how far his message would reach. Yet he was determined to use it for the greater good. His courage inspired the creation of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which continues to help people across America, and around the world, stay safe and well. At the time of his diagnosis, doctors gave Ryan only six months to live. On April 8, 1990, six precious years later, we sat together at Ryan's bedside and held his hands as he lost his young, heroic life to AIDS. First lady Barbara Bush attended his funeral, and businessman Donald Trump came to the family home to pay his respects. When Americans needed to take compassionate action, Ryan opened the door and urged everyone to take heart and to help. Four months later, in his name, Congress nearly unanimously enacted the Ryan White CARE Act – providing essential HIV care and treatment to Americans living with the virus. After years of fearmongering and paralysis, the U.S. government had finally committed to join the fight against our common enemy: AIDS. Ryan would be grateful for the progress being made. Today, more than 500,000 Americans living with HIV get lifesaving treatment through the Ryan White CARE Act. In 2019, President Trump proudly launched the End the HIV Epidemic initiative in his State of the Union address − a focused prevention effort to end the HIV epidemic in America by 2030. This evidence-based strategic initiative has achieved remarkable results, reducing new HIV infections by 21% in targeted communities and connecting people newly diagnosed with HIV to vital care and support services. This push to end AIDS is in full swing across America, but the work is not done yet – with young people, particularly in the South, now most severely impacted. We are grateful that the draft budget before Congress continues critically important funding for the Ryan White CARE Act and the End the HIV Epidemic efforts. That is an affirmation of these programs' effectiveness and bipartisan support. However, the proposal also would end federal funding to states for HIV surveillance, testing and education; for community-based organizations that reach those most at risk; and for substance abuse treatment and mental health programs that are crucial for driving down HIV infections. Attempts to cut Medicaid are also alarming, as more than 40% of people living with HIV have their care and treatment covered by Medicaid. Without this essential insurance, scores of people living with HIV won't get the care and medicines they need to keep them healthy. The president has said don't mess with Medicaid. We agree. Programs that provide treatment, fuel prevention and fight stigma should be expanded, not eliminated, as we work toward eradicating the disease that ended Ryan's life. The game-changing opportunity of the moment is to scale up prevention medication that keeps people HIV-free. The recent American-led development of PrEP − a pill or shot that prevents the virus from taking hold − is just the tool we need to end AIDS, but only if we make it accessible to those who need it. The economics are compelling: 14,000 people can receive generic PrEP ($30 annually) for the lifetime cost of treating one person with HIV ($420,285) − keeping Americans healthy, HIV-free and productive. The moment of truth is here. As the administration and Congress consider their investment priorities for next year, we urge them to continue joining forces in the fight against AIDS in the United States and worldwide. Together, their investments over time have created this once-in-a-generation opportunity to end AIDS in America by 2030, as called for by President Trump. Together they can seize that opportunity by banking on prevention. Ryan would expect nothing less.
