NMAC Condemns SCOTUS Latest Attack on LGBTQ+ Community

June 30, 2023 – NMAC policy expert Toni Newman released the following statement condemning the Supreme Court’s latest ruling against the LGBTQ+ community in the 303 Creative, Inc. v. Elenis case:

“Unsurprisingly, yet infuriatingly, the United States Supreme Court decided today to undo years of civil rights protections by allowing businesses to return to a darker time in which they were allowed to discriminate against customers based on who they are and who they love. This case was brought forward by a business owner who cited she was ‘fearful’ of a hypothetical situation that had never even presented itself in her professional services. Yet, her purported fears pale by comparison to the life-and-death ones being felt by members of the LGBTQ community as their fundamental rights are systematically being stripped away.

“Today’s ruling is another blow to our community, but we must understand that it’s actually part of a much larger national strategy to advance a coordinated and broader anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. To date, more than 525 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 46 state legislatures, with more than 220 of those targeting the transgender community specifically with egregious provisions like bans on gender-affirming care and drag shows. More than 75 of those bills have been signed into law, and Republicans have made clear that there are more to come.

“The ruling comes weeks after the Human Rights Campaign declared a first-ever ‘State of Emergency’ for the LGBTQ+ community in the United States following a record-breaking increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislative assaults. It is disheartening to see the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority set this dangerous precedent and legitimize bigoted behavior that purports to be justified by religion.

“It is becoming increasingly apparent that those targeting the LGBTQ+ community have no intention of stopping their crusade anytime soon–which means that groups like NMAC will continue to stand with our allies to fight those attempts to threaten our dignity, freedom, and safety.”

NMAC Condemns SCOTUS Decision to Overturn Affirmative Action in Higher Education

June 29, 2023 – NMAC policy expert Toni Newman released the following statement condemning the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning affirmative action in higher education in the Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina cases:

“The United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn decades of precedent supporting affirmative action is going to cause irreparable harm to Black and brown communities, and the damage will not be limited to college admissions offices.

“The Minority AIDS Initiative, or MAI, was created in 1998 to provide critical and life-saving funding to minority-led HIV organizations. Unfortunately, the George W. Bush administration gutted it in 2004, citing a Supreme Court ruling that sharply limited how affirmative action could be used in federally-funded programs. The Bush administration’s move shuttered many of those minority-led HIV organizations around the country, and today people of color account for a vast majority of HIV transmissions in America.

“The lesson is clear: MAI was gutted with affirmative action in place, and today’s SCOTUS ruling clears the way for it to be potentially eliminated altogether. This conservative majority on the Supreme Court has shown, once again, that it’s willing to target the health, safety and dignity of our country’s most vulnerable populations without consideration for the damage those rulings will do or for the people who will suffer as a result.”

NMAC Statement on Biden Administration’s Appeal in Texas PrEP Court Case

N.M.A.C. Leads with Race

April 3, 2023 – The following is a statement from NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata on the announcement that the Biden administration has appealed a federal district court ruling that would allow some private insurance companies to avoid covering preventive medical care, including HIV-prevention medication, to employees.

“NMAC applauds the Biden administration for appealing U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor’s dangerous ruling last week that put access to life-saving HIV-prevention medication – as well as other preventive measures, like cancer and heart screenings – in jeopardy for millions of Americans. If allowed to stand, the ruling would have a catastrophic impact on vulnerable communities most impacted by the ongoing HIV epidemic, especially Black and Latinx communities in southern states, which the CDC has described as the epicenter of the nation’s HIV epidemic.

“It’s unfathomable that millions of Americans could have their access to preventive care stripped away by one radical judge, with no medical background, on the basis of alleged violations of the plaintiffs’ religious liberty. The Constitution cannot be weaponized to justify the suffering of Americans – especially on the basis of religion. The Biden administration recognizes that, and we commend their swift move to appeal this decision. We hope that a federal appeals court will overturn this cruel and ill-conceived ruling.”

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NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. Since 1987, NMAC has advanced our mission through a variety of programs and services, including: a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program, numerous electronic and print materials, and a website: www.nmac.org. NMAC also serves as an association of AIDS service organizations, providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the HIV epidemic.

NMAC Statement on Federal Ruling Limiting Access to Preventive Medical Care

N.M.A.C. Leads with Race

March 30, 2023 – The following is a statement from NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata on a federal district court ruling that would allow insurance companies to avoid providing preventive medical care, including PrEP medication, to their employees.

“Today’s cruel and reckless ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor senselessly strips away access to preventive care like cancer screenings and life-saving HIV prevention medication for millions of Americans. The ruling deals a particularly cruel blow to the communities most impacted by the nation’s ongoing health disparities and the HIV epidemic – especially Black and Latinx communities that comprised 47% and 24% of new HIV infections in 2020, respectively. It cannot be allowed to stand, and we are calling on the Biden administration to appeal it immediately.

“Access to preventive care shouldn’t depend on a single radical judge who is far outside the judicial mainstream. This is a literal life-and-death issue, and allowing the decision to remain in place will increase the number of Americans who suffer — and potentially die — from preventable illnesses because of other people’s religious beliefs and anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry. That notion couldn’t be more deeply un-American.

“NMAC has worked for decades to advance treatment, prevention, and advocacy on behalf of communities of color impacted by HIV and other diseases, and we will continue to fight for the lives of those at the highest risk of infection and illness. We hope the Biden administration will appeal the decision and stand up to out-of-touch judges in order to protect the most vulnerable among us.”

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NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. Since 1987, NMAC has advanced our mission through a variety of programs and services, including: a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program, numerous electronic and print materials, and a website: www.nmac.org. NMAC also serves as an association of AIDS service organizations, providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the HIV epidemic.

NMAC Statement on FDA Changes to Blood Donation Restrictions for Men Who Have Sex With Men

Jan. 27, 2023 – Following is a statement from NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata on the FDA’s announced changes to blood donation restrictions for men who have sex with men:

“This change by the FDA is a welcome step towards eliminating the outdated and discriminatory ban on men who have sex with men donating blood. It moves away from broad bans on large groups to a science-based approach based on the circumstances of each individual potential donor. But it’s just a step. There is much more that needs to change, including focusing on a potential donor’s new sexual partners, not total number. And the ban on those who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV acquisition is also troublesome and could lead to potential donors ending or suspending their use of PrEP. We hope that the FDA will revisit these issues and, ultimately, completely eliminate the ban on all men who have sex with men from donating blood.”

NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. Since 1987, NMAC has advanced our mission through a variety of programs and services, including: a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program, numerous electronic and print materials, and a website: www.nmac.org. NMAC also serves as an association of AIDS service organizations, providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the HIV epidemic.

NMAC Applauds Congressional Efforts on Minority AIDS Initiative

NMAC Applauds Congressional Efforts on
Minority AIDS Initiative

With the passage of the FY2023 Omnibus bill, NMAC (formerly the National Minority AIDS Council), the Latino Commission on AIDS, and the San Francisco Community Health Center applaud Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Congresswoman Barbara Lee for calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bring the federal Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) back to its original intent: to provide critical funds for HIV care, treatment, and prevention to minority led organizations.

NMAC is also very pleased with the increases in MAI funding in the bill. While not what was originally requested, the multi-million dollar increase to the MAI takes us one step closer to addressing inequities around HIV care in minority communities and furthers the federal plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

“We could not be happier that this language restoring the MAI to its original purpose has been included in this bill,” said Paul Kawata, Executive Director of NMAC. “When the MAI was created in the late 1990s, it was meant to fund minority led organizations to ensure that people of color – who have faced some of the worst of the HIV epidemic – could receive care and prevention services from within their communities. This change back will help to ensure that federal HIV funds will reach those who need them the most in the most effective way.”

“The Latino Commission on AIDS stands firm to advocate on behalf of communities of color to ensure the Minority AIDS Initiative invests in communities most affected by HIV and AIDS in our nation,” said Guillermo Chacon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS and founder of the Hispanic Health Network. “We are profoundly grateful for the steadfast commitment of Congresswoman Maxine Waters to protect, enhance, and ensure the original intent of MAI, that funds contribute to the end of HIV in the U.S. and Territories by investing in community-based organizations and providers who deliver services free of stigma and discrimination.”

“If we are to ever see the end of the HIV epidemic, organizations led by people of color are essential to the solution,” said Lance Toma, Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Community Health Center. “It is critical that the MAI honors its founding intentions, to build the capacity of our organizations so that we are able to effectively and meaningfully engage our communities in the work to end HIV. People of color, queer and trans communities must be front and center. Thank you to Congresswoman Waters for her unwavering commitment to the MAI, from its inception to now.”

“I am pleased that my continuing efforts have increased funding for the Minority AIDS initiative, and I am especially pleased that, working with other Members of Congress and NMAC, we have been successful in restoring this critical initiative to its original intent, which is to prioritize grants to minority-led organizations that have the cultural competence to effectively serve minority communities,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

NMAC, the Latino AIDS Commission, and the San Francisco Community Health Center will continue to work with Congresswoman Waters, Congresswoman Lee, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to ensure that MAI funds are dedicated to minority led organizations.

NMAC Reacts to Texas Court Decision

Following is a statement from NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata on the federal court decision in Texas allowing private employers to opt out of providing insurance that provides access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication, a vital tool to prevent the spread of HIV:

“While not a surprise, this decision is deeply disappointing and could cripple HIV prevention efforts, particularly among communities of color and communities of poverty. For many people at higher risk of HIV, employer-provided insurance is often their only way to access these vital medications. This decision has the potential to cut off millions of Americans from the life-protecting medications they need.

“This decision could also completely undermine the bipartisan effort to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 begun under former President Trump and continued under President Biden. Cutting off such a vital source of HIV-prevention medications will make it exceedingly difficult to end the epidemic by the end of the decade.

“Today’s decision is one more example of extremist judges denying science and endangering the health and lives of minority communities for political purposes. Leaders at the state and federal levels must take all necessary steps to protect access to these vital medications. NMAC will support all efforts to appeal this decision as soon as practicable”

Joint Statement from NMAC, Partner Organizations on Meeting with White House Officials on Monkeypox Response

JOINT STATEMENT FROM NMAC, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ON MEETING WITH WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS ON MONKEYPOX RESPONSE

Aug. 23, 2022 – Today, representatives from NMAC joined leaders from community organizations and individuals from throughout the country to meet with top officials from the White House National Monkeypox Response team. NMAC led the critical conversation to discuss the impact the fast-spreading monkeypox virus (MPV) is having on the LGBTQ+ community and communities of color.

Following today’s meeting with White House officials Robert Fenton, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, and Harold Phillips, as well as Dr. Nick DeLuca from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coalition of organizations and individuals released the following joint statement:

“As the monkeypox virus (MPV) continues to spread throughout the United States, particularly in many underserved and underrepresented communities, we are appreciative of Robert Fenton and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis for meeting with us today to talk through ways the Biden Administration is addressing this national public emergency. It is crucial that the Monkeypox Response team fully understands the impact the virus is having in our communities to ensure a proactive and equitable response.

At the forefront of our concerns are three primary issues: is the government producing enough MPV vaccines to help mitigate the spread of the virus; does the Administration’s plan address vaccine equity to expedite deployment to communities who are disproportionately impacted by MPV; and what steps is the White House Response team taking to address vaccine hesitancy. We are troubled with the reporting that shows that the vast majority of new MPV cases are among people of color and within the LGBTQ+ community, and many have faced hardships seeking preventative care. We were pleased to hear that the White House understands the need and is listening to the stories like the ones we presented to them today as they continue to address and monitor the ongoing MPV situation.

We have learned many hard lessons from other national epidemics – particularly with HIV and recently with COVID-19 – on how communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community have been shut out of access to life-saving treatment, were left out of the public health response planning and deployment by previous administrations, and were stigmatized in the public with false, hateful messages and propaganda. We reiterated with Mr. Fenton and Dr. Daskalakis to remember that people who have had or are currently dealing with MPV are human beings first, and those communities that are being the most affected by the MPV should take priority in their response efforts.

We look forward to continuing our conversations with White House officials, government experts, and public health professionals to ensure that the constituencies we represent are not forgotten or left behind, and are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

Joining the meeting on behalf of NMAC were Daniel Driffin and Damián Cabrera; David Garcia, Executive Director of Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center in Michigan; Antonius Minniefield, global health advocate from Georgia; and Julio Frausto, health educator at Bienestar Human Services in Los Angeles.

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NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. Since 1987, NMAC has advanced our mission through a variety of programs and services, including: a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program, numerous electronic and print materials, and a website: www.nmac.org. NMAC also serves as an association of AIDS service organizations, providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the HIV epidemic.

NMAC Announces Covid Safety Protocols for 2022 Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit

NMAC has announced Covid safety protocols for the 2022 Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit in Chicago April 20 and 21:

All conference attendees must be fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated for the Summit means that registrants have received both shots and a booster if the second shot was received more than six months prior to the conference.  Registrants must upload their vaccine card no later than Friday, April 8 to https://hosted-pages.id.me/health/2022-biomedical-hiv-prevention-summit. If we do not receive vaccine credentials by this date registrants will not be allowed entry to the conference.

Masks are encouraged but not required in the Summit conference space (plenary ballroom, foyers, workshop rooms, exhibit space). For updated information on the City of Chicago’s mask requirements, visit their website – https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home.html.

“We want to make sure that the 2022 Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit is as safe as possible for attendees,” said Paul Kawata, Executive Director of NMAC. “While there is no absolute guarantee, we want to take every reasonable precaution to prevent Covid transmission during the Summit, particularly for our attendees who are living with HIV. These protocols are based on guidelines recommended by the CDC and by requirements posted by the city of Chicago.”

NMAC to Work With Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings to Build Support for Minority AIDS Initiative

NMAC has joined with Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings to build Congressional support for needed changes to the Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Dr. Cummings will work with NMAC’s Strategic Partnerships and Policy division to advocate for improvements that are critical to the success of the federal plan to End the HIV Epidemic.

The MAI was created in 1998 in response to growing concern about the impact of HIV/AIDS on racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. It provides new funding designed to strengthen organizational capacity and expand HIV-related services in minority communities.

Dr. Cummings leads Global Policy Solutions, a policy firm that makes policy work for people and their environments. Her areas of expertise include health, social insurance, income security, education, women’s issues and youth civic participation.

A former adjunct professor in the Women in Politics Institute at American University, she has also served as the vice president of research and programs at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), senior resident scholar at the National Urban League, chief of staff to former Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), professional staff on the House Ways and Means Committee, and as a CBCF legislative fellow in the office of former Congressman Melvin Watt (D-NC) among other positions.

“I’m delighted to work with NMAC to help them elevate the historic importance of the Minority AIDS initiative,” said Dr. Cummings. “We are now in the fourth decade of the HIV/AIDS crisis and black and brown people are a majority of all new HIV diagnoses. Because progress in prevention and treatment has been shamefully uneven by race and ethnicity, the racial equity strategy embedded in the original MAI remains a priority for the nation.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Dr. Cummings,” said NMAC Executive Director Paul Kawata. “‘Her expertise, experience, and familiarity on Capitol Hill will be a tremendous asset to NMAC as we work to make critical changes in the Minority AIDS Initiative. For the federal Ending the Epidemic plan to succeed, it must prioritize communities of color, as they still bear the biggest impact of HIV. Through increased funding of MAI and a return to its original mission to support HIV service organizations led by people of color, federal leaders can take a big step toward ensuring the plan’s success. That will be a big and potentially controversial step, so Dr. Cummings’s assistance will be a critical part of our efforts to make it happen.”

NMAC leads with race to urgently fight for health equity and racial justice to end the HIV epidemic in America. Since 1987, NMAC has advanced our mission through a variety of programs and services, including: a public policy education program, national and regional training conferences, a treatment and research program, numerous electronic and print materials, and a website: www.nmac.org. NMAC also serves as an association of AIDS service organizations, providing valuable information to community-based organizations, hospitals, clinics, and other groups assisting individuals and families affected by the HIV epidemic.