Every February 7th, we observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). This year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers. Building Health,” is more than a slogan—it is a directive. For those of us calling Dallas County home, this is not just a health observance; it is a call to address a quiet state of emergency that continues to disproportionately affect our community.
As one of the first people openly living with HIV and serve in state elected office in this country, I do not speak on this issue from a distance. I speak from the front lines of the legislature and from the lived experience of our community. While we have made significant strides, the reality remains: HIV continues to impact Black Texans at alarming rates due to systemic barriers, stigma, and a lack of equitable resources.
In Dallas County, the data tells a story we can no longer ignore. While Black people make up approximately 24% of the Dallas County population, we account for nearly 50% of all new HIV diagnoses. This disparity is even more stark when we look at the barriers to care: Black residents living with HIV in our county often experience lower rates of viral suppression compared to their white counterparts, not due to a lack of will, but due to a healthcare system that was not designed with our specific needs in mind.
This is why our response must be multifaceted. In Austin, I have fought to break these barriers by:
- Securing $2 million for HIV Vendor Drug Rebate Funding.
- Establishing a $600,000 pilot program for long-acting HIV injectables to make treatment more accessible.
- Advocating for HB 1680 to prohibit prior authorization for PrEP and HB 50 to ensure routine HIV screening.
But policy in the State Capitol is only one piece of the puzzle. To truly end this epidemic, we need the collective power of Dallas’s Black leadership…