Saturday, April 10, marks National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) 2021. Traditionally, it’s a “day to educate the public about the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people,” according to the nonprofit Advocates for Youth, which spearheads NYHAAD. The group adds, “The day also highlights the HIV prevention, treatment and care campaigns of young people in the U.S.”

This year, the HIV awareness day also includes a call to action. Youth advocates want you to help them convince Congress to pass the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act. “REPEAL” stands for: “Repeal Existing Policies that Encourage and Allow Legal” HIV Discrimination.

The REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act aims to modernize HIV crime laws, such as those that set harsh sentences for people with HIV who allegedly don’t disclose their status before sex—even if they’re undetectable and HIV was not transmitted. (To read a collection of POZ articles about such laws and efforts to change them, click #Criminalization.)

You can support Advocates for Youth’s call to action by filling out an online form that will generate a letter to send to members of Congress.

Throughout the week leading up to NYHAAD, the advocacy group held several virtual events ranging from a discussion with transgender youth activist and model Jessica Zyrie to film screenings and talk-backs.

The NYHAAD website also includes media kits, downloadable social media images and a medical mentorship tool kit that helps young people living with HIV transition from pediatric care into adult care, which usually happens around age 25, when folks are vulnerable to dropping out of care.

For the latest statistics pertaining to HIV and youth, visit AIDSVu.org, which not only breaks down HIV data according to geography and various communities but also creates easy-to-understand graphics you can share, such as the ones embedded in this article. Regarding NYHAAD, AIDSVu writes:

In 2019, youth (ages 13 to 24) accounted for over 20% (7,483) of all new HIV diagnoses.

 

Many youth who are at risk for HIV receive insufficient sex education and experience health-related inequities that are linked to low testing rates, high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and low condom use. These factors contribute to the fact that 45% of youth with HIV were undiagnosed and only 60% of youth with HIV were virally suppressed in 2018—the highest and lowest rates of any age group for those indicators. In 2019, despite a 4% decrease, youth still accounted for more than 20% of all new HIV diagnoses nationwide.

Out of those new diagnoses among youth, male-to-male sexual contact and heterosexual contact made up 92% and 86% of all new HIV diagnoses among young men and women respectively, underscoring an important need to raise awareness on HIV prevention.

Among youth, communities of color are disproportionately affected by HIV more than other groups. Compared to their White and Hispanic/Latinx counterparts, young Black men and women experience greater rates of HIV.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers HIV data on youth, African Americans, Latinos, the LGBTQ population and other groups, along with sample social media posts and graphics relevant to NYHAAD.

POZ April May 2021 cover

The April/May 2021 cover of POZ

In related news, the current cover story of POZ magazine highlights youth advocates seeking inclusive sex education for their peers. For more, read “Raising HIV Awareness Among Young People.”

HIV awareness days take place throughout the year. For a list and details, see “2021 HIV/AIDS Awareness Days,” which includes a printable PDF.