This is a post written by the National Minority AIDS Council’s Executive Director, Paul Kawata. HIV was the first disease to fight for it’s civil rights. Prior to that time, the prevailing thought was that diseases do not discriminate and that care was based on a medical model. HIV changed everything. Doctors were no longer […]
Remembering Coretta Scott King

#AllLivesMatter
ENDING THE EPIDEMIC Why does the color of my skin, who I choose to love, my HIV status, my age, my gender or the expression of my gender somehow make me worth less than you? Some religious leaders and government officials say I’m a “worthless gay infected trans drug using woman of color”. Their dogma […]
Obama immigration action essential, more needed for health
Reforms to immigration policy essential, but further action for health & justice needed. HIV advocates remain deeply concerned about barriers to healthcare and detention of women and children. The following is a statement from National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) Director of Outreach and Public Affairs Kyle Murphy: Washington, DC – “The National Minority […]
Sex & Politics in the Capital City: Youth Advocacy Day On The Hill
Youth Advocacy Day On The Hill This summer, as they do each year, interns descended upon D.C., to observe first hand how the federal government operates and learn about public policy issues for which they feel passionately. In an effort to build knowledge about reproductive rights, sexual health and HIV/AIDS, as well as foster future […]
Congress Set to Restore Partial HIV/AIDS Funding in FY2014 Spending Bill
Sequestration still impacting critical HIV/AIDS programming Washington, DC – For the first time since 2011, both chambers of Congress are poised to pass an omnibus spending bill that will fund the federal government until October of this year and put at least a temporary end to the ceaseless brinksmanship that has plagued Washington. “Following last […]
NMAC Applauds Additional Funding to Combat HIV/AIDS Domestically and Abroad
The following is a statement from National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) Director of Treatment, Education and Mobilization (TEAM) Moises Agosto in response to President Obama’s World AIDS Day remarks, in which he committed an additional $100 million in research funding for HIV as well as $5 billion to combat HIV around the globe. Washington, DC […]
NMAC Applauds Passage of HOPE Act
Thanks Congress for Giving Hope to HIV-Positive Americans in Need of Organ Transplants Washington, DC – On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act, which would update outdated regulations banning HIV-positive organ donation and allow individuals living with HIV to receive organs from other HIV-positive donors. Passed by the Senate […]
NMAC Applauds Efforts To Address Immigration Reform, Urges Action on Health Care Access
The following is a statement from National Minority AIDS Council Director of Legislative and Public Affairs Kali Lindsey: Washington, DC – “Today, bipartisan legislation was introduced in the Senate to address our nation’s broken immigration system and provide a path to citizenship for most of the 11.5 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. While […]
NMAC Releases 2013 Legislative and Regulatory Priorities
The November 2012 election yielded a decisive victory for Senate Democrats. House Democrats, while entering the 113th Congress with a handful more seats than the previous term, will not shore up control of the chamber from Republicans. The continued control of the House and the Senate by opposing parties presents considerable challenge. The potential for […]
NMAC Issue Briefs
We at the National Minority AIDS Council have developed several issue briefs covering key areas in HIV/AIDS policy and science. These documents can be used to better understand the state of the following topics, where there is work to be done and how we can move the meter. Budget Appropriations Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative Syringe Exchange […]