Discussing HIV/AIDS in the trans community. Featuring the voices of Mikah Thomas and Jorian Veintidos
Anjali Mahajan C’22
Source: www.Galaei.org
Transgender people across the globe experience exceedingly high rates of HIV/AIDS. Due to a combination of discriminatory medicine, lack of access to sexual healthcare, violence, and stigma, transgender communities suffer a lack of visibility and inclusion in HIV/AIDS studies. Even further, transgender communities face additional barriers to care, unfair rates of poverty and unemployment, and are not given the same access to care as their cisgender counterparts.
UNAIDS at Penn admires and celebrates efforts that have been combating these barriers, working to prioritize the trans community in HIV/AIDS care. We have especially seen the power and impact of grassroots movements within our City of Philadelphia at Galaei. Galaei is a Queer, Latinx social justice organization with over 30 years of “sex positive, HIV/AIDS, and LGBT advocacy work in the Philadelphia community.” This article features the voices of Mikah Thomas (he/him/they/them), Director of Galaei’s Trans Equity Project and Jorian Veintidos (he/him), HIV Prevention Manager at Galaei.
Galaei: Trans Equity Project
Created in 1989 by David Acosta as the Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative, Galaei is the second oldest Latinx HIV advocacy organization in the country. Its Trans-Health Information Program began in 2003, and was renamed the Trans Equity Project in 2017, highlighting Galaei’s commitment to “do more to focus on disparities affecting the most vulnerable within the trans community.” This program is centered around HIV/AIDS prevention for local transgender and gender-nonconforming communities, and it was created as the only for-trans, by-trans led program in the state of Pennsylvania.
The overall focus of the Trans Equity Project, in the words of Mikah Thomas, is to “empower the community, addressing overall-health and well-being to empower people to live equitable lives and be liberated.” In this program, resources in the HIV space go beyond testing. The Trans Equity Project affirms that liberation encompasses social justice efforts that combat racism, hetero-sexism, homelessness, police misconduct, immigration injustice, and many others that affect trans and gender-nonconforming individuals.
The Trans Equity Project affirms that liberation encompasses social justice efforts that combat racism, hetero-sexism, homelessness, police misconduct, immigration injustice, and many others that affect trans and gender-nonconforming individuals.
Galeai runs on the passion of the staff, as well as their acknowledgment of the urgency of the situation. Thomas started at Galaei working only 15 hours a week. He explained that this part-time work “wasn’t enough to get down and dirty in the community, to engage in the community so they know what I stand for.” Thomas continued, “I am a parent before I am a trans man. I am a light-skinned black person before my gender identity. I am a mother, and I know there are people who share the same intersecting identity, who go through the same things.” His strong sense of empathy for his community led to his continued commitment to “doing the work for equality” through advocacy, outreach, and compassion.
When asked to describe the approach to his work, Thomas said the Trans Equity Project is centered around, “meeting community members where they are at, and spending time in the meetings they are in.” This is reflective of Galaei’s overall role as community advocates, striving to reach and engage with everyone. With an understanding of lived experience and a prioritization of creating safe, welcoming spaces, the Trans Equity Project at Galaei unites people in community space, provides resources, and bridges gaps.
Galaei: HIV Prevention Program
Another aspect of Galaei’s service is through their HIV Prevention Program, Galaei was created to make sure that members of the Latinx community are getting tested and their voices are being heard -- the only way to take care of and end the epidemic in the Latinx community. Galaei’s HIV prevention manager, Jorian Veintidos is a leader in both the Latin community and the HIV community. Veintidos was diagnosed with HIV about 8 years ago. After being diagnosed in Florida, he was given the card and told he could go down the block to the doctor to get his care. “I was just given the biggest news of my life. Why weren’t they supporting me in this?” he said, recalling the event. Veintidos was not offered the compassion and emotional support that he expected as a patient. Thus, in regard to his personal motivations for work, he expressed that he works in this sector so no one would go through that again. “When you’re left alone to dwell,” he explained, “It’s not the greatest feeling.” With an HIV+ diagnosis, Vientidos asserts, “you’re still a human being. You’re still loved. And you still have the dignity to thrive.” No one should be made to feel otherwise.
“You’re still a human being. You’re still loved. And you still have the dignity to thrive.” No one should be made to feel otherwise.
Galaei’s work combats the stigma of HIV/AIDS still present in everyday life. Unfortunately, there is a jarring lack of education around HIV/AIDS and sexual health in general, and before we can make the crucial changes needed to move forward, we have to be educated. Veintidos says we must “keep[] the same energy to fight the fight, to educate through conversation, and to keep pushing forward” to see change in the future. Right now, highlighting the voices black and brown folks affected by HIV, finding and understanding the stories of those affected by HIV, and supporting the work happening in the community are the stepping stones to ending this epidemic.
For more information about the vital work Galaei is doing check out these resources:
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