Category: News

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

March 20th is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is an opportunity to reflect on the factors that contribute to disparities in HIV outcomes for American Indian/Alaska Native persons and to promote HIV testing through programs like TakeMeHome.org

Recap: White House’s Harold Phillips Participates in HIV Is Not a Crime Awareness Day Activities

Harold J. Phillips, MRP, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), continued his efforts to advance the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s (NHAS)Exit Disclaimer call to repeal and reform outdated state HIV criminalization laws. These efforts are to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination and included several activities on the second annual HIV Is Not a Crime Awareness DayExit Disclaimer on February 28.

FDA’s Blood Ban Reversal for Gay Men, Explained

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on May 11, 2023, that it has officially dropped restrictions that prohibit gay and bisexual men from donating blood under many circumstances on May 11, 2023. The ban was initially put in place in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, but for years medical professionals and gay rights advocates have argued that the ban was no longer medically justifiable and that it unnecessarily discriminated against men who have sex with men.

California pharmacists face barriers to offer HIV medications

California Senate Bill 159 authorized pharmacists to prescribe HIV pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure (PEP) medications without an outside provider’s prescription in order to increase access to HIV preventative medications. However, a new study led by UC Berkeley School of Public Health Epidemiology Professor Sandra McCoy found that just 11% of California pharmacists surveyed had prescribed the medications since the bill’s introduction nearly three years ago.

Examining the Science Behind Decriminalizing Sex Work

Governments have cited protection of public health as a rationale for outlawing sex work, yet evidence shows that decriminalizing the trade increases health and safety and reduces the risk of disease, according to a new policy brief from researchers at UCLA.