Activists Rally Against Trump Administration's Cuts to HIV Funding

On a recent afternoon in Virginia, a poignant event unfolded as pallbearers carried black coffins through a hotel ballroom, symbolizing the lives at risk due to proposed cuts to HIV funding by the Trump administration. This gathering, organized by the Save HIV Funding Campaign, served as a living funeral for individuals living with HIV, highlighting the potential consequences of reduced federal support for critical programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Vincent Crisostomo, director of aging services for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The cuts to HIV funding are not just numbers. They represent lives at stake and potential to undo decades of progress.”

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The event featured a series of speakers who shared personal reflections and warnings about the implications of funding cuts. Kamaria Laffrey, a Florida resident diagnosed with HIV in 2003, opened the ceremony by affirming her resilience, stating, “She’s still taking her medication. She’s on a mission, doing it despite the evil and inhumane treatment of people living with HIV.” The speakers represented diverse communities affected by HIV, including LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants, framing their narratives within a religious context led by Rev. Elder Carmarion D. Anderson. Anderson remarked, “When HIV funding is cut, lives are being lost.”

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PEPFAR, which has provided lifesaving treatment to approximately 20.6 million people globally since its inception in 2003, and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which serves nearly 602,000 individuals in the U.S., are both at risk due to these funding cuts. Jeremiah Johnson, executive director of PrEP For All, posed a critical question to attendees: “Do we invest in life, or do we invest in death?”

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The discussions at the event extended beyond healthcare funding, touching on how immigration policies could exacerbate public health crises. Aubrianna Escalera Naranjo, President and COO of Poder Unides in Georgia, shared the story of a young girl born with HIV who fears deportation, illustrating the intersection of health and immigration issues. “She says, I'm living in a world where I am scared every day,” Naranjo recounted.

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Malcolm Reid, Co-Chair of the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus, highlighted the rising costs of medications that are critical for survival, stating, “He died because the medicine became harder to reach.” Barb Cardell, program director for the Positive Women’s Network-USA, reinforced the ongoing struggle for support, declaring, “We do not mistake longevity for liberation.”

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• “The cuts to HIV funding are not just numbers. They represent lives at stake and potential to undo decades of progress,” — Vincent Crisostomo, Director of Aging Services, San Francisco AIDS Foundation

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• “The woman described in this obituary is still alive before you today,” — Kamaria Laffrey, HIV Advocate

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• “When HIV funding is cut, lives are being lost.” — Rev. Elder Carmarion D. Anderson, United Church of Christ

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• “) “Do we invest in life, or do we invest in death?” — Jeremiah Johnson, Executive Director, PrEP For All

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• “She says, I'm living in a world where I am scared every day, scared to go to school because my family might get deported,” — Aubrianna Escalera Naranjo, President, Poder Unides

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• “We do not mistake longevity for liberation,” — Barb Cardell, Program Director, Positive Women’s Network-USA

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The event underscored the urgent need for advocacy and awareness as communities rally against the potential dismantling of essential HIV services under the current administration.

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