AIDS United launched new campaign for Black women, the Melanated Movement, to address HIV disparities

Contact: Sonya Magettsmagett@aidsunited.org (646) 824-0364 Allen Harvey aharvey@aidsunited.org (202) 768-8645‬ WASHINGTON — AIDS United launched the Melanated Movement campaign Feb. 1 for Black History Month,  The campaign initiative?  To inspire stigma-free perspectives on Black women’s health, optimize access to care and provoke progressive HIV education through necessary conversations revolving around it today.  In February and March, the campaign featured several online activations: 

• Two virtual roundtable discussions in February recognized Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and HIV Is Not a Crime Awareness Day with HIV experts. 
• A video testimonial by Justine Davenport was shared for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10. 
• During Transgender Day of Visibility, Tori Cooper, the first Black transgender woman to serve on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, was featured. 

All content can be viewed on AIDS United’s Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.  "The Melanated Movement is an important step forward in addressing the disparities in HIV care for Black women," said Athena Cross, AIDS United vice president and chief program officer. "Through these activations and discussions, we can educate and empower marginalized communities, reduce stigma and ultimately work towards ending the HIV epidemic." How You Can Help  The #MelanatedMovement has launched a search for influencers and ambassadors to help raise awareness about Black women's health. HIV education and testing guidance, reducing stigma related to HIV, and providing red carpet care for those living with HIV are a few of the ways the movement is increasing knowledge about services and resources available to them. It seeks to increase awareness of HIV transmission, symptoms, home tests, nearby testing opportunities and treatment options through shared-value partnerships with HBCUs and PBIs and Black sororities and fraternities. A social media toolkit is available on the Melanated Movement landing page on AIDS United's website. By doing so, supporters can share and make a difference.  Check out the hashtag #MelanatedMovement and website for more details on upcoming events and resources.  ### Monetized accreditation and strong gratitude are sent to ViiV Healthcare's Risk to Reasons initiative, which rendered the grant to AIDS United to pursue this fundamental cause. With the grant, AIDS United has successfully translated the Melanated Movement blueprints into a tangible reality that will help eliminate stigma and increase HIV awareness and action around HIV prevention/care for Black women. This will be carried out through the development of engaging content, community actions, and harvesting connections with movement advocates across the country that will set the pace for advanced Black community impacts via preventative care, resources, awareness, and education.  AIDS United is a national organization dedicated to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States through strategic grantmaking, capacity building, and policy and advocacy work. Since its founding in 1988, AIDS United has invested over $120 million in community-led responses to the HIV epidemic and supported over 3,600 grantee organizations across the country.