3. Where are we today:
National
Minnesota
New Tools to End HIV
Marriage Equality and Ending HIV
A Call to Action

4.  An estimated 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the
United States.
 50,000 people are infected with HIV each year.
 Recent data indicates that 1 in 4 (26%) of new HIV
infections occur in youth. In 2010, about 12,000 youth,
or about 1,000 per month, were infected with HIV.
 MSM, particularly young, black MSM, are most severely
affected by HIV.
 By race, blacks/African Americans face the most severe
burden of HIV.

5.  As of December 31, 2011, 7,136* persons are living in
Minnesota with HIV/AIDS
3,775 living with HIV infection (non-AIDS)
3,361 living with AIDS

6.  HIV is heavily concentrated in the Metro
area.
 2011:
35% in Minneapolis
15% in St Paul
37% in Twin Cities Suburbs
14% in Greater Minnesota

7. HIV by Race:
49% White
22% Black
15% African Born
8% Hispanic
1% American Indian
3% Asian/Pacific Islander
HIV by Gender:
75% Male
25% Female

8.  Gay and Bisexual men continue to be disproportionately
impacted by HIV.
 Of the 48 adolescent young males newly infected in
2011, nearly all of them reported a male to male sexual
encounter or a male to male sexual encounter along
with injecting drug use as risk factors.
 Of concern is the number of early syphilis cases among
males which increased from 106 in 2009 to 246 in 2011
88% were identified as gay and bisexual men
57% were co-infected with HIV

9.  HIV Disproportionally Impacts...
African Americans
22% of new infections in 2011 (only 4% of state’s
population)
African Born men
31% increase in HIV from 2010-2011
Women
African Born Women comprise 36% and African
American Women comprised 28% of new
infections

10.  Test-Treat
 Unfettered Access to Care
 Treatment as Prevention
 Emphasis on reducing barriers to promote adherence
 Fighting Stigma and Discrimination
 Fully Implement the Affordable Care Act
 Continue to align all prevention programs with the goals of
the National HIV/AIDS Strategy

11.  Marriage Equality equals Health Care
 In combination with existing tools
Marriage Equality could make a real
difference in Ending HIV!

12.  Studies consistently indicate that:
 marriage reduces heavy drinking and overall alcohol consumption.
 marriage increases the likelihood of having insurance and reduces the
likelihood of becoming uninsured after a job loss or other major life
event.
 Marriage is associated with shorter average hospital stays, fewer
doctor visits, and reduced risk of nursing home admission.

13.  The legalization of same-sex marriage provides a strong social
structure for the stabilization of relationships that gays and lesbians
have not enjoyed.
 Over time as same-sex marriage becomes normative in U.S. culture
we will actually see if marriage has long term effects on the decrease
of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

14. I want to challenge all of us to keep our foot on
the accelerator for what we believe is possible in our
life time…
 Reaching a goal of an AIDS-Free Generation
 Achieving marriage equality
We must work together…
 Challenge ourselves to do more
 End the stigma, fear and discrimination that puts us all
at risk