News

News: Advocacy

Rep. Robin Kelly recognizes National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

September 26, 2016

by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) Today, on National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we ponder the significance of HIV and AIDS as an American and international reality. 35 years have passed since our country initially confronted the biological challenges of this epidemic. We still grapple — oftentimes clumsily — with stigma and our social response, while contending...
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AFC and national partners file complaint against Humana and other discriminatory insurers

September 6, 2016

AFC partners with Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School launching groundbreaking campaign to enforce health care rights for people living with HIV in Illinois Click here to read the full Complaint. In the face of highly restrictive and discriminatory health insurance plans within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, the AIDS Foundation of...
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Five things providers said about PrEP at a family planning conference

August 25, 2016

by Sara Semelka and Pamela Tassin During the last week of July, Sara Semelka and Pamela Tassin from the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Midwest HIV Prevention and Pregnancy Planning Initiative (MHPPPI) and #PrEP4Love projects participated in the 2016 National Reproductive Health Conference , hosted by the National Clinical Training Center for Family Planning. They spent three days...
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AFC and Howard Brown Health laud Illinois Medicaid for expanding access to HIV treatments

August 1, 2016

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) and Howard Brown Health commend the recent decision by Felicia Norwood, Director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), on conducting a comprehensive review of HIV medications covered on the fee-for-service formulary, and adding new HIV treatments to the preferred drug list (PDL). Specially, HFS added an antiretroviral class to...
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What four days in DC and Chicago taught me about the LGBTQ community

July 28, 2016

by Jacina Sims What a weekend! Over the course of four days, I graduated with my Master of Public Health degree, traveled to DC among young leaders in the Black LGBTQ movement, and mourned as I heard about the horrible massacre in Orlando. As a Master of Public Health practicum intern at AFC, I have witnessed and been a part of many powerful moments. I enjoyed my time working...
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DNC includes landmark statement on HIV/AIDS in 2016 platform

July 26, 2016

By Ramon Gardenhire, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy As the co-chair of AIDS United’s non-partisan Public Policy, Elections Sub-Committee, and working in partnership with a coalition of nearly 70 organizations, I traveled across the country to meet with the presidential candidates to influence inclusion of HIV/AIDS policy language within each party’s platform and campaign...
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Stopgap budget passed in Illinois - but is it enough?

June 30, 2016

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago is relieved  that the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Bruce  Rauner agreed  to  and passed a partial budget for FY 16 and a half-year, partial budget for FY 17 , which  begins  today ( Friday, July 1 ) .  The  agreed - upon budget includes an estimated 65% of funding for the 18-month period covering...
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Chicago City Council overturns discriminatory bathroom provision

June 22, 2016

Today, the Chicago City Council approved an amendment to remove a provision in the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) that requires patrons to show a government-issued ID upon request to access public accommodations that are private in nature, including bathrooms.  “We applaud the City Council’s action today. Removing the discriminatory language towards transgender...
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We are saddened. We are angry. We demand change.

June 16, 2016

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) offers our condolences, thoughts and prayers to the victims and families of last week’s hate crime and terrorist attack in Orlando. This was an attack that has resonated deeply within the LGBTQ community, and we join others who condemn this act of hatred. While we are saddened by this violence, we are also angry. We are angry about the...
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Kasey White: A leader and advocate for youth experiencing homelessness

June 7, 2016

by Malary Gregory Kasey White is a student and advocate for homeless youth in Chicago, specifically those who identify with the LGBTQ community. She has been featured in the documentary Homestretch, which followed three homeless youth living in Chicago as they navigated completing high school and building their futures. In 2014, she was awarded with the Windy City Times’ 30 Under...
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