Celebrating YOU on National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD)

On this National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, LULAC commends all those community members who have continued to fight and bring awareness to the HIV epidemic. On this October 15th, 2020, we continue to promote HIV testing, awareness and treatment for those who have been diagnosed. By addressing these taboo topics within the Latinx community, we take a stand to cease stigma in our homes, communities, and hearts.

By comparison to other communities in the United States, “HIV continues to be a serious threat to the health of Latinx communities. In 2017, adult and adolescent Hispanics/Latinos made up 26% of the new HIV diagnoses in the United States (US) and dependent areas”. With the continuous efforts of Latinx community serving organizations and medical health professionals, the HIV epidemic has reached a stable point without a significant increase or decrease for the Latinx community, but this has only been achieved by the preventive measures implemented.

NLAAD has continued to create a space that focuses on the promotion of educational conversations addressing the transmission of HIV, how to get into care, and how to talk about HIV with your family and friends. NLAAD has continually allowed for the promotion of safety and health for the Latinx community while advocating for change in our community that comes by getting tested and knowing your HIV Status.

On this National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, LULAC shares Raul’s personal story on his journey with HIV. It was a new beginning for me when I got diagnosed and decided to get treatment and support. “I will not lie, it was a difficult process to accept my new reality. I quickly learned that I had to find a reason to continue fighting and move past these results. In my case, my motivation was my wife and my 8-year-old son. I had to reframe my thinking into something positive that guided me to better decisions. It was a challenge to get into treatment and stick with it but I wanted to keep fighting; I needed to”. You CAN find a reason to continue fighting for your life, which was my last step in accepting my HIV diagnosis. To read more about Raul’s story, click HERE.

To find a local testing site near you or to learn more about HIV, please visit LULAC.org/salud

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.