Early on Sunday, May 24, the Illinois General Assembly concluded its 2020 Spring Legislative Session — a session unlike any other.
Beginning January 28, legislators in both chambers convened for 14 days before being indefinitely paused on March 16 due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) Shelter-In-Place Executive Order (EO). The state legislature convened a special...
Read more...
Like so many of you, I am reeling after the last week and this weekend. WE ARE NOT OK. Our country, our city and many of us are not OK. In fact, chances are great that Black colleagues and friends are traumatized and exhausted.
Due to instigation, provocation, and militarized law enforcement responses, many of this weekend's peaceful protests meant to honor George Floyd's...
Read more...
AIDS Foundation Chicago (AFC) commends Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s decision this morning to protect the privacy of people who have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus (COVID-19). President Preckwinkle vetoed the SAFE with First Responders resolution, which if enacted, would have permitted the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) to share the addresses of...
Read more...
Photo by Tobias Rehbein
By Aisha N. Davis, Esq.
On Wednesday, April 15, Illinois State Representative John M. Cabello (Machesney Park) released the names of formerly incarcerated people whose sentences were commuted in the past month by Governor JB Pritzker. Rep. Cabello defended publicizing the names of these individuals by...
Read more...
By Aisha N. Davis, Esq.
In the past month, the COVID-19 pandemic has led us into a new reality that we have never experienced, both here in Chicago and across the United States. However, one emerging trend is not novel – Black people and communities across the nation are being disproportionately impacted by pandemic hot spots and COVID-19 related deaths.
Systemic racism has...
Read more...
It’s almost Census time, and while it might seem scary, the Census is important, safe, and easier to complete than you may think.
by Anthony Ruth
In 2010, Dan Savage started “It Gets Better,” Lady Gaga wore the meat dress, Oprah still had her daytime talk show, and everyone with a smartphone—which wasn’t yet everyone—was playing Angry Birds....
Read more...
On this year’s National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Feb. 7, the Black AIDS Institute (BAI) released We the People — a sweeping, national, Black-led plan to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) enthusiastically endorses the Black AIDS Institute’s plan and commits to supporting BAI in implementing the plan through AFC’s statewide efforts...
Read more...
The Trump Administration is trying once again to take away our health care — this time with another attempt to block grant the Medicaid program.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance encouraging states to apply for waivers to block grant Medicaid funding at the state level. This guidance aims to dramatically restructure Medicaid, which provides...
Read more...
Do you have Medicaid coverage? Do you have a loved one that has Medicaid coverage? Do you serve Medicaid patients? Then we need your help...
Protect Our Care Illinois is a statewide coalition of health care advocates, providers, consumers, and workers, joining together to improve the Illinois health care system, especially Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
We...
Read more...
By Coleman Goode
The term “HIV criminalization” refers to criminal prosecution of people living with HIV/AIDS including for non-disclosure of their HIV status, potential or perceived HIV exposure or HIV transmission.
These laws were put into effect during the early years of the HIV epidemic when there was little to no understanding about how HIV was transmitted...
Read more...
