Top Official In Charge of Trump’s So-called “Commitment” to Ending HIV Has Troubling Anti-LGBTQ History
New research by Equity Forward details CDC Director Robert Redfield’s links to group that blames the LGBTQ community for HIV
02.06.19 – During last night’s State of the Union, President Trump announced his goal to end HIV transmissions by 2030. But the man tasked with the job, Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director Robert Redfield, has a troubling past of blaming and shaming communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Specifically, he has a history of favoring abstinence over effective lifesaving measures such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and suggesting condoms only as a "last resort." He even went as far as to champion legislation that would effectively quarantine people who test HIV positive.
Equity Forward issued research on his disturbing background, which can be found here, as well as the following statement:
“The Trump administration can claim it wants to end HIV transmissions, but when the official tasked with the job has a disturbing history of discriminating against communities impacted by the disease, it’s impossible to laud this initiative. Not to mention the fact that Trump’s health department has been actively working to undermine efforts to cure HIV/AIDS, threatening lifesaving research at the behest of the anti-abortion lobby and attacking health care providers such as Planned Parenthood who serve people living with HIV. The battle against HIV/AIDS should be guided by science, evidence and compassion, not shame and stigma.”
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