The impact of HIV among Latinx communities is alarming. At the end of 2018, an estimated 227,100 Hispanic/Latinx men were living with HIV in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories. The percentage of Hispanic/Latinx men living with diagnosed HIV increased among those aged 13-24 years between 2014 and 2018.
To address the overrepresentation in new HIV incidence, and underrepresentation in leadership roles, Conexiones Positivas/Positive Connections supports community-designed and led approaches to leadership development of gay and bisexual men, other men who have sex with men and transgender Hispanic/Latinx men who are living with HIV.
Through this initiative, AIDS United invested $100,000 into communities of Hispanic/Latinx gay and bisexual men and men of transgender experience, with a priority focus on building upon the work and networks in Puerto Rico. These grants strengthened networks and leadership to educate and lessen stigma regarding HIV.
Conxeiones Positiva/Positive Connections embodies AIDS United commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. In addition to the decades of community grant-making and projects focused on leadership development rooted in meaningful involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS.
This program is a three-year initiative funded by ViiV Healthcare and managed by AIDS United.
