SAN FRANCISCO, February 5, 2019—During tonight’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump announced his Administration’s 10-year strategy to reduce HIV transmission by 2030. While San Francisco AIDS Foundation applauds this vision, the Administration’s record casts doubt on the seriousness of the president’s pledges.
“President Trump’s wish to end new HIV infections is inconsistent with the policies and practices of his Administration,” said Joe Hollendoner, San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO. “The repeated attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, attacks on human rights, promotion of abstinence-based education, and opposition to safe injection services has impeded our country’s progress to end HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.”
In two years, the Trump Administration has dismantled various protections for LGBTQ communities including rolling back policies that protect LGBTQ workers and patients from discrimination, attempting to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and barring trans people from military service. Raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at public health centers continue to stoke fear of harassment for immigrants and legal permanent residents alike. These actions erode trust in public health institutions and undermine efforts to provide preventive health care to our communities.
