Aids Rally at Stonewall Inn Marks 45 Years, Calls for Action

On a warm June evening, a large crowd with candles made their way to the Stonewall Inn in New York City, a pivotal site in the history of LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. When they arrived, they lay down on the pavement, participating in a die-in to honor the Aids crisis, which has claimed the lives of over 700,000 Americans and around 40 million individuals globally since it was first identified in 1981.

However, the atmosphere was not just one of remembrance. Participants were there to protest recent federal actions that threaten current health coverage and funding for Aids-related initiatives. This included proposed cuts to Medicaid, reduced international funding, and a decrease in the research budget of the National Institutes of Health. Activists from both the original Aids movement and new groups gathered to urge the government to protect nearly four decades of progress.

“The HIV community has historically pushed the government and the scientific community to act responsibly,” noted Oni Blackstock, an HIV physician. “Advocacy groups are constantly on the move—there have always been policies that seek to undermine the value of lives affected by HIV, and that’s not changing.”

Struggling to Maintain Medicaid Access

The newly introduced Medicaid rules by the Trump administration demand that millions of low-income Americans demonstrate they are working, studying, or active for at least 80 hours each month to maintain their health coverage. This could lead to a loss of health coverage for millions of people by 2028. For the nearly 40% of Americans living with HIV who rely on Medicaid services, these changes could have fatal consequences.

“For individuals with HIV, even a temporary interruption in treatment can jeopardize their health,” explained Virginia Shubert, a senior policy advisor for Housing Works. “It’s really a matter of life or death.”

In New York, where there has been an uptick in HIV infection rates, the Medicaid changes could result in a new wave of infections. Approximately half of all HIV-positive New Yorkers, around 55,000 people, depend on Medicaid for their healthcare.

In addition to Medicaid cuts, the House has also considered slashing $225 million from the Ryan White HIV/Aids program, which provides affordable care to many individuals with HIV in the U.S. Furthermore, states’ Aids drug assistance programs are facing funding shortages, leading to long waiting lists for treatment in states like Florida.

Blackstock expressed concern, saying, “People who struggle with HIV are often also contending with poverty, which makes them more likely to qualify for Medicaid. Cuts to health services will only deepen the crisis.”

Activists, as they have done for decades, continue to press lawmakers to halt these reductions. Housing Works and supportive organizations are actively participating in the federal comment process regarding the proposed Medicaid work requirements, while lobbying Congress to protect both the Ryan White program and CDC funding directed toward prevention initiatives. Shubert suggested that legal actions might be on the horizon.

At the state level, groups like Act Up, which had previously led significant rallies demanding affordable HIV medication, are advocating for a single-payer healthcare system in New York that could negate the need for such rigorous eligibility documentation for Medicaid. Meanwhile, in Florida, persistent advocacy led to the restoration of funding for the state’s Aids drug assistance program.

“It’s disheartening to witness how easily critical issues get overlooked and the subsequent difficulty in rebuilding progress, especially with some government leaders resistant to scientific input,” lamented Ivy Kwan Arce, an Act Up organizer since 1990.

Challenging Congress for USAID Funding

Asia Russell recalled a time when access to HIV medication was significantly uneven, based on location. She established the advocacy group Health Gap in 1999 to combat this disparity, which she termed “medical apartheid.” Their advocacy led to the creation of the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) in 2003, which is now credited with saving millions of lives.

Recently, however, Russell noted that these hard-won efforts seem to be unraveling. A halt on most U.S. foreign assistance was implemented in January 2025, prompting activists from Health Gap and Housing Works to stage protests, including delivering fake coffins to the State Department.

In early 2025, Trump disbanded the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which had implemented much of Pepfar, leaving its operations to the State Department.

“You’ve disbanded a crucial agency responsible for ensuring expertise in the field, which the State Department traditionally doesn’t handle,” commented Vincent Wong, a former USAID and WHO employee. “We’re now entering uncharted territory.”

Though Congress has continued to fund Pepfar due to pressure from activists, Russell indicated that disbursement delays remain an issue.

A recent study highlighted significant drops in HIV-related testing and prevention services across numerous countries. “The state department is creating conditions for failure, both for nations and for global health,” Russell criticized.

Activists assert that confrontation has proven vital for achieving results. They’ve examined leaked documents to reveal the extent of proposed cuts and have directly informed Congress of their findings. Several recent disruptions during congressional testimonies reflect this ongoing commitment to advocacy.

“Anyone involved in HIV response inherently becomes an activist,” Wong, who has moved to Berlin to continue public health work, asserted.

Pressuring Officials for Research Funding

In the early ’90s, as Aids deaths in the U.S. were nearing 100,000 annually, a subset of Act Up activists chose to focus on hastening HIV research. Mark Harrington, who helped found Treatment Action Group (TAG), has been at the forefront since then, advocating for treatment advancements and infrastructure that would also support responses to other health crises.

Last year, TAG lobbied vigorously when potential cuts to the National Institutes of Health budget were floated, successfully maintaining about $3.3 billion for dedicated HIV research funding. Still, Harrington pointed out that specific funding aspects have faced reductions, particularly those related to racial disparities and marginalized communities.

Maintaining HIV-focused research funding is an ongoing battle, as the HIV Vaccine Trials Network’s future funding is in jeopardy. Harrington highlighted the growing influence of organizations like the Heritage Foundation, which aim to label HIV advocacy groups negatively.

TAG’s strategy combines traditional and modern advocacy tactics. Recently, they organized an educational briefing for senators on HIV-related research, marking their continuous presence in Congress. Harrington believes this consistent strategy has helped curb further budget cuts.

This approach ties back to Tag’s origins when members sought expertise in scientific subjects to engage more effectively with federal regulators rather than merely petitioning. However, Harrington noted that when communication fails, they revert to demonstrations to gain attention.

Across all these efforts—preserving HIV funding, access to healthcare, and supporting ongoing research—activists emphasize that the fight is far from over. They insist the crisis surrounding HIV should not be brushed aside as a historical issue.

“So often, people want to discuss Act Up as a thing of the past, but the HIV epidemic persists and intensifies under current leadership,” remarked Lana Leonard, a new Act Up member.

Leonard stressed the importance of newer activists learning from established members to carry on the mission. “Many older members have passed on or left due to trauma, but to be effective, continuity is essential. We must keep progressing forward.”