U.S. will no longer commemorate World AIDS Day for first time since 1988 - LGBTQ Nation

"An email to State Department workers notified employees and grant recipients not to publicly promote the day "through any communication channels, including social media, media engagements, speeches or other public-facing messaging" nor to use U.S. government funds towards any World AIDS Day observances, The New York Times reported. The email said employees and grantees could still mention various anti-HIV programs and attend World AIDS Day events."

"The current administration has drastically cut federal funding for HIV prevention worldwide. An estimated 127,073 adult and 13,527 infant deaths have been caused by the effects of HIV/AIDS due to the current president's cuts in funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program that has saved an estimated 25 to 26 million lives since its inception in 2003."

The U.S. government will no longer commemorate December 1 as World AIDS Day; the State Department instructed employees to avoid public promotion via communication channels, social media, speeches, or other public messaging. Employees and grant recipients were told not to use U.S. government funds for World AIDS Day observances but may mention anti-HIV programs and attend events. The policy reportedly refrains from messaging on commemorative days, while the president has signed proclamations for other awareness observances. World AIDS Day began in 1988 to raise awareness, remember those who died, and celebrate prevention, treatment, and care. The administration has cut federal HIV prevention funding, and estimates link PEPFAR funding reductions to substantial adult and infant deaths despite PEPFAR having saved roughly 25–26 million lives since 2003.

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