Ending the HIV Epidemic by connecting People and Resources
OUR MISSION
To decrease the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus among Black women identifying and AFAB-experienced persons, ages 13 and up, through tailored harm reduction services that improve their health literacy and efficacy by meeting HIV/AIDS at the intersections of sex work, sexual violence, and substance & alcohol abuse, while also providing solutions for social determinant barriers such stigma, homelessness, nutrition, and transportation.
OUR VISION
We envision ourselves as the epitome of HIV/AIDS advocacy leaders who fostered a world where people across all gender identities living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have equitable access to resources, are embraced, celebrated, and loved with open arms, and can live without stigma and shame.
OUR CULTURE
At STIGMAAside, we take RESPONSIBILITY for the EMPOWERMENT of the HIV/AIDS COMMUNITY, by treating everyone with RESPECT. Our INTEGRITY, paired with our DEDICATION to creating a TRUSTWORTHY and HONEST haven, will continue to nurture an INSPIRATIONAL movement toward ACCEPTANCE, GROWTH, and CHANGE.
OUR PURPOSE
To instill DIGNITY in people living with HIV/AIDS, so they can find the CONFIDENCE to EDUCATE those at risk, and ADVOCATE for their right to live proudly and BOUNDLESSLY.
Purpose Formula = ABC's of STIGMAAside
Advocate
Speak loudly about your experience with HIV/AIDS, and demand respect and acceptance.
Boundless
There are no limits to what you can accomplish. You will have all of your heart's desires, in ALL aspects of life.
Confidence
You are STRONG! You are ABLE! You are COURAGEOUS! You can and will achieve all endeavors.
Dignify
You are worthy to be happy, to be loved, to be successful, and to live without the fear of shame.
Education
Teach others what it means to live with HIV/AIDS today, and the impact stigma has on the ability to promote awareness of treatment and prevention.
Our Story
STIGMAAside is the only non-profit in the Carolinas that was built by Black women, for Black women that emphasizes their health efficacy and outcomes
by working to decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS through harm reduction and educational efforts that improve their health literacy and meets the virus at the intersections of sex work, sexual violence, and substance and alcohol abuse. In addition, we provide solutions to social determinants of health barriers to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention by providing equitable access to housing, nutrition, and transportation. Furthermore, we work to bring awareness to the intersectionalities between folks of Cisgender, Transgender, and Non-Binary/AFAB (assigned female at birth), Transmen, and Transmasculine experiences to highlight the need for expansion of HIV/AIDS data research that is inclusive and affirming of all AFAB identities and addresses the lower body and reproductive health needs exacerbated by HIV/AIDS for them all.
Why?
Although Black women only comprise 13% of the US population, research shows that in 2021, the number of Black women living with HIV was 17 times that of white women – accounting for 54% of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the country, with Transgender Black women representing 62%. In addition to these alarming statistics, Black women also accounted for 57% of HIV/AIDS mortality among women.
Also as alarming, according to the CDC and the NIH, Transgender persons are most often omitted in studies relating to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention strategies. More so than others, the TG community is rejected by the norms of society, and as a result, has been presented with barriers within the medical community that result from a lack of knowledge and access to specialized care resources for Trans identifying folks. Per the CDC’s 2020 surveillance reports, transgender diagnosis accounted for about 2% of all new HIV-positive results, of which 89% was due to sexual contact and 1% was as a result of IDU. Also highlighted within these findings were Transgender Black men, who also fall under the AFAB (assigned female at birth) category and represented 28% of reported HIV incidences.
http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-2020-updated-vol-33.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4815714/
Our Promise
Although our emphasis is on Black women, we vow to deliver these services with integrity by implementing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) measures to ensure services and resources are available to all in need.