As we’ve done for the past 40 years, AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) continues our lifesaving work to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois and ensure everyone has a home in Chicago and beyond.
With the Trump administration’s executive orders this week, we are witnessing the first set of attacks to the dignity and safety of a wide swath of our community members, our family, and our friends. Along with our federal, state and local partners, we are untangling the implications of these executive orders and better understanding what is actually possible under the U.S. Constitution and our country’s existing laws. We stand ready and energized to fight back against any and all attacks on people living with or vulnerable to HIV, unhoused people, LGBTQ people, cis and transgender women, Black, Latino/a/e/x, Indigenous and other People of Color, and the immigrant community.
But make no mistake, these attacks, including limiting recognition of gender to male and female as federal policy, ending birthright citizenship, removing any mention of built-in racial inequities in our country’s policies and systems due to white supremacist ideology, and more, are all designed to distract our collective attention from the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress’ main upcoming agenda: massive tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations, and draconian cuts to health coverage, including Medicaid, food assistance, and income assistance for millions of people.
In the coming days and weeks, generating strong and swift pushback against the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans’ reckless budget and appropriations proposals will be critical to our ultimate collective triumph. Stand with us today by sharing accurate and up-to-date information and lifting up your voice with us in advocacy. Join AFC’s Mobile Action Network to get updates and action alerts to reach out to your elected officials.
