March 10 marked National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, spotlighting a reality often overlooked in the U.S. LGBTQ conversation: The fact that HIV deeply impacts women worldwide. While HIV is often associated with gay and bisexual men in the U.S., global data tells a broader story. Women living with HIV have played a significant role in the resistance efforts against Florida ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) funding restrictions.
Yet, cisgender white men are the ones whose leadership is lifted up, and issues most relevant to women across the gender spectrum have largely been ignored. According to UNAIDS, of nearly 41 million people living with HIV, 53 percent are women and girls. In 2024 alone, women and girls accounted for 45 percent of new diagnoses. Rates among transgender women remain especially alarming, at 66 times higher than the general adult population.
Experts point to overlapping challenges, including violence, poverty, racism, and limited access to prevention and care, driving these disparities. First launched in 2005, the awareness day aligns with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
This year, The Well Project and Positive Women’s Network – USA are leading efforts under the theme “Sisterhood, Hope, and Equity.” You can contribute to their efforts by spreading awareness and acceptance.
