Welcome to National Youth HIV & AIDS Week of Action! This week, we're coordinating a series of events & activities in the lead-up to National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (#NYHAAD) on Saturday.

Later this week, we'll be launching a Day of Action focused on legislation to decriminalize living with HIV. Keep an eye on this email for a social media toolkit so you can participate. In the meantime, if you or your organization or student group want to join our activities this week and Saturday, check out our general NYHAAD Toolkit here.

Below is a list of online events this week. You can join as many or as few events as you’d like, but be sure to follow our Instagram here for updates.

Check out this week's schedule!

MONDAY - Campaign Launch

Stay tuned to our Instagram account @advocatesforyouth to learn more about the NYHAAD campaign, our values, and our demands. In addition, throughout the week we’ll be highlighting several members of the NYHAAD Collective—a bold group of young people leading HIV prevention, treatment, and care campaigns in their communities.

TUESDAY at 7:00pm EST - Hidden Figures: The Stories That Almost Went Untold Q&A with Trans Model & Youth Activist Jessica Zyrie

Check out our Instagram account @advocatesforyouth where we’ll post an IGTV from Jessica Zyrie (she/her, @thejessicazyrie). Zyrie is a visible black trans social activist, model and works as a case manager at the 3rd largest LGBTQ+ nonprofit in the nation. Zyrie has used her platform to advocate for equality across the intersectionality of race and gender identity. She became public with her transition in October 2016, and has used her publicity to increase visibility and education for the community. She will conduct a presentation on transgender history, discuss “Hidden Figures,” and intersectionality. This IGTV will lead up to an Instagram live question & answer at 7:00pm EST.

THURSDAY - Day of Action: REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act

Join us for a day of action urging Congress to pass the Repeal HIV Discrimination Act. You can send a letter to your members of Congress here, and share the action online. Then join us for an Instagram Live conversation featuring NYHAAD Collective member and Engaging Communities Around HIV Organizing (ECHO) youth activist Eunice Mejiadeu (she/her). Eunice will interview Advocates for Youth's Domestic Policy Coordinator, Kamilah Tisdale, about the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act, sponsored every year by Representative Barbara Lee. Rep. Lee will be delivering a message to our followers about the bill earlier that day. Urge your legislator to co-sponsor the REPEAL Discrimination Act here.

FRIDAY at 12pm EST - Provider-centered HIV Toolkit w/ Bros in Convo

Join us to celebrate The Bros in Convo Initiative as they launch a youth-centered, culturally-competent HIV social media toolkit for health providers. Stay tuned to The Bros in Convo Initiative on Instagram (@brosinconvo) for the launch around 12:00pm EST. The Bros in Convo Initiative is a community-based and led organization fiscally sponsored by Miracle of Love, Inc., dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of Central Florida’s Black and Brown young bisexual, gay, and same gender loving community. The organization also plans to conduct an Instagram live on Friday.

FRIDAY at 9pm EST - Film Screening & Youth Panel w/ BLACK, GAY, stuck at home.

Join us for a film screening and youth panel in partnership with BLACK, GAY, stuck (bgsah). bgsah is a project created by Michael Ward (he/him, @michaelxward) and Joshua Henry Jenkins (he/him, @joshjenks). As the world was asked to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, they recognized that a need for affinity and community remains. Their effort to both gather folks together but to also center Black queer film. Head over to http://www.bgsah.com/ for key updates about the feature film and panel featuring two NYHAAD Collective members

SATURDAY - Join us online using #NYHAAD

April 10th is National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day! Join us and thousands of accounts across the country in posting online using #NYHAAD. We encourage you to (1) use the NYHAAD toolkit here for inspiration, (2) share the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Action link here, and/or (3) encourage folks to sign up for our Medical Mentorship Toolkit by sharing this link on social media. Remember to use #NYHAAD in your posts, no matter what social media network you choose.

In solidarity,

Armonte Butler
Senior Program Manager, LGBTQ Health & Rights
Advocates for Youth

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