May 22, 2025, 02:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join us for another timely discussion that examines the intersection of HIV advocacy with broader civil rights struggles, highlighting the importance of racial justice and the Meaningful Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (MIPA). Featuring the following modern-day civil rights leaders:

Bryanna Jenkins, Policy Director, Lavender Rights Project

S. Mandisa Moore-O’Neal, Executive Director, CHLP

Dr. Natalie Crawford, Associate Professor, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University

Ronnie Taylor, Advocacy, Policy, & Partnerships Director, FreeState Justice

Moderated by Robert Suttle, HIV Advocacy Training Consultant, Equality Federation

May 21, 2025, 07:30 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

In this enlightening webinar, three remarkable panelists who have turned challenges into opportunities will share their personal stories and practical strategies for navigating life on the registry, focusing on these key areas: Travel, Education, Family/Relationships, Parenting, and Community Involvement.

Topics We'll Explore Include:

Humanizing Registry-Impacted Individuals: We aim to shed light on the experiences of those affected by the registry, moving beyond statistics to highlight real lives.

Celebrating Triumph and Joy: Our panelists will illustrate how joy can coexist with adversity, providing hope to those facing similar challenges.

Providing Achievable Examples and Tips: Participants will leave with practical advice and real-life examples that can inspire action and foster resilience.

Acknowledging Challenges: We will engage in honest discussions about the injustices faced by registry-affected individuals and families, ensuring that while we confront these realities, we do not succumb to despair.

Showing Community Solidarity: This webinar will showcase the ways we can and do support each other, highlighting our collective strength as a community.

The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the conversation.

Who Should Attend:

This webinar is for those impacted by the criminal legal system, survivors, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone interested in insights into life on the registry and inspiration for navigating the challenges of the registry.

Join us to find inspiration, connection, and practical tools for navigating life on the registry.

April 25, 2025

In this powerful episode of The Advocate. Podcast, UK-based Christian Mercer-Hall sits down with Robert Suttle, a long-time HIV advocate, to explore the impact of HIV criminalisation laws and the intersectionality of race, sexuality, and health. Living with HIV for over 21 years, Robert shares his personal journey as a Black gay man navigating stigma, systemic injustice, and the urgent need for legal reform.

Their discussion uncovers the deep challenges marginalised communities face, the role of misinformation, and the crucial importance of advocacy, education, and community resilience. Together, they shed light on the evolving narrative around HIV criminalisation and what the future holds for public health and policy.

Key Takeaways:

Why HIV criminalisation laws disproportionately affect marginalised communities.

How advocacy and awareness are shifting the narrative around HIV.

The importance of collective action and staying informed in the fight for justice.

Check out The Advocate. Podcast for more conversations that challenge perceptions and push for progress in HIV awareness and care!

April 17, 2025

If you missed it, don’t worry. The conversation isn’t over.

We just wrapped From Prevention to Progress: Understanding the Current HIV Landscape, a timely and urgent webinar that unpacked the state of HIV in the U.S. today. From breakthroughs in prevention and treatment to the alarming efforts by the White House to roll back HIV progress, this session offered both clarity and a call to action.

Together, we explored the facts behind the epidemic — the data, the disparities, and the power of community-led solutions. Participants walked away with a sharper understanding of how HIV prevention is being politicized, and what it will take to ensure access, equity, and justice for all people living with and communities vulnerable to HIV.

Watch the full recording. Please share it widely because understanding the landscape is the first step toward shaping the future.

April 11, 2025 

In this powerful 12th episode titled Unstoppable Conversations, FreeState Justice revisits standout moments from the first 11 episodes, spotlighting leading HIV advocates working to end criminalization, challenge stigma, and advance health equity.

Get caught up on missed episodes featuring advocates who are reshaping the narrative around HIV justice.  

Featured in Episode 2: HIV, Criminalization, and Race— I dive into the realities of living with HIV in a criminalized system and the fight for racial and social justice.

If you're passionate about policy change and lived experience, this episode is a must-listen.  

March 13, 2025

In 2025, CHLP is celebrating 20 years of Making Positive Justice Possible through legal advocacy, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to HIV justice. To commemorate this historic anniversary, CHLP sat down with several advocates and partners from throughout its history and asked them to share their thoughts about CHLP, the impact the organization has had on the HIV justice movement, and how the organization's work continues to change laws and change lives.

As we celebrate CHLP's 20th anniversary year, they have launched a fundraising campaign to raise $25,000 in 2025. This campaign will increase CHLPs capacity to do its work and fortify the organization for years to come. 

March 3, 2025

I had the incredible honor of being a guest bartender with Bravo Andy Cohen, alongside the amazing Gabrielle Union and Jay Ellis! But I wasn’t just there for the cocktails—I was mic’d up and there to spread the word that HIV IS NOT A CRIME.

February 28th was #HIVisNotaCrime Awareness Day, and yet, in many states, people can still be prosecuted simply for living with HIV under outdated laws enacted out of misguided fear, not science. 

If you missed it, catch the replay on the Bravo Watch What Happens Live YouTube channel, and let’s keep this conversation going.

Photo Credits:
Charlie Sykes