Published June, 2014

Trans Populations and HIV: Time to End the Neglect, American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) (April 2014)

This amfAR Issue Brief discusses the intersection of HIV and trans populations. Trans populations appear to be disproportionately affected by HIV due to several factors, including sharing needles to inject hormones and/or drugs and being subjected to violence for being trans individuals. This problem is exacerbated by the lack of an effective HIV response for trans people. Specifically, there is a lack of attention paid to the trans population’s HIV-related needs, inadequate access to quality health care, inadequate research focusing on trans people, and stigma and discrimination towards trans individuals that deter them from seeking medical care. The Issue Brief offers suggestions for combating these problems, including elevating trans issues on the HIV agenda; increasing funding to support HIV prevention and treatment for and by trans people; creating a trans-specific research agenda; creating focused training programs for health care providers; breaking down stigma, discrimination, and structure barriers through legal means; and investing in trans community infrastructure.