Trump continually ignores us | Photo: Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Today is National HIV Testing Day in the United States. Donald Trump released a statement on the White House website — and completely ignored LGBTI people.
‘On National HIV Testing Day, we recognize the great progress we have made in the fight against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), including our Nation’s efforts to spread awareness about the importance of getting tested,’ the statement begins.
It continues by giving statistics about HIV in the US.
Despite progress, ‘in 2016, nearly 40,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States’. It acknowledges that people between 20 and 29 received a third of the diagnoses. However, it also fails to mention LGBTI people at all.
This is despite the fact that the risk for HIV disproportionately affects LGBTI people and people of color.
According to the CDC, more gay and bisexual men live with HIV in the United States than any other group. Race makes this statistic more disproportionate.
The statement concludes: ‘National HIV Testing Day is an important reminder that those who are unaware they are carrying the disease are the most at risk for inadvertently infecting others and missing out on potentially life-saving treatments.
‘As we observe National HIV Testing Day, we celebrate the advancements we have made in medical science, and I encourage all Americans to invest in their health and be aware of their HIV status. ‘
Not surprising, not disappointing, but frustrating now
The lack of acknowledgement for the LGBTI community is not surprising.
Trump and his administration have continually proven their lack of dedication or respect for the community.
Once again, the Trump administration is trying to erase the lives of LGBT people by ignoring the reality of HIV. https://t.co/chPHigdOuN
— ACLU (@ACLU) June 27, 2018
For World AIDS Day in 2017, Trump also never mentioned LGBTI people.
Trump has also witnessed Pride Month twice now in his presidency. In both 2017 and this year, Trump didn’t acknowledge Pride Month at all.
He did, however, declare June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, National Ocean Month, National Homeownership Month, and African-American Music Appreciation Month.
