In this episode, Sarah and Jess turn up the heat with the radical brilliance of the Lesbian Avengers. Born out of frustration, in the early '90s, this activist group wasn’t here to fit in. From street protests to visibility campaigns, the Avengers brought unapologetic queer power to the frontlines, including bold action around HIV stigma. It’s a story of protest, pride, and pyrotechnics!

Sources

Lesbian Avengers - Wikipedia

Stories - FAM

An Oral History of the Lesbian Avengers and the Dyke March

Fire Eating Lesbians and AIDS Activism in 1990s San Francisco | TORCH | The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities

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In this episode, Sarah and Jess dive into the incredible, and often forgotten, story of the San Diego Blood Sisters. A grassroots group of lesbian activists who quite literally rolled up their sleeves during the height of the HIV crisis. When blood was needed and stigma was rampant, these incredible women stepped up to donate again and again, breaking barriers and challenging the system with every drop. This is a story of solidarity, sisterhood, and serious guts.

Sources

San Diego Blood Sisters - Wikipedia

How new FDA rule allowing gay, bisexual men to give blood is making donation more inclusive - ABC News

Blood donation: Rule change means more gay and bisexual men can give blood - BBC News

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Part 3: HIV & Pregnancy – Victoria’s Story

You’ve heard the science, now hear the story. In this very special episode, Jess and Sarah are joined by the brilliant Victoria Roscow. Diagnosed with HIV at just 9 weeks pregnant, Victoria didn’t just navigate pregnancy with grace, she turned it into a platform to fight stigma and spread knowledge like wildfire.

Victoria shares her personal journey, from diagnosis to delivery, what it’s like raising a happy, healthy HIV-negative toddler, and how her husband continues to be HIV-negative. An open, honest and inspiring conversation, and yes, it’s full of those “did that really happen?!” moments only The HIV Podcast can deliver.

Spoiler: You’re going to love her!

Victoria's Tiktok - TikTok - Make Your Day

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Can you have a baby if you're living with HIV? Spoiler alert: You already know the answer!

In Part 2 of our HIV & Pregnancy double bill, Sarah and Jess take you inside the delivery room. What happens during birth when you’re living with HIV? Are there special precautions? Does the birth plan go out the window? They’re breaking it all down, no filter, just real talk (and maybe a little oversharing, as usual).

Stopping ART safely if your clinic is closed or runs out of meds: a practical guide | HTB | HIV i-Base

Sources

HIV and pregnancy | RCOG

Screening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis - NHS

ISOSS HIV report 2023 - GOV.UK

News

RFK Jr. Expected To Lay Off Entire Office Of Infectious Disease And HIV/AIDS Policy

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Can you have a baby if you're living with HIV? Spoiler alert: Absolutely!

In this first part of our HIV & Pregnancy double bill, Sarah and Jess dive headfirst into what actually happens when you're pregnant and living with HIV. Do you get more tests? Is everything super medical? They're myth-busting, truth-telling, and probably oversharing as usual! 

Sources

HIV and pregnancy | RCOG

Screening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis - NHS

ISOSS HIV report 2023 - GOV.UK

Aid cuts predicted to cause 2.9 million more HIV-related deaths by 2030 – study | Global development | The Guardian

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How is the Trump administration’s policy legacy still shaping the global fight against HIV? This week, Sarah and Jess continue their deep dive into the lasting impact of these decisions on HIV response worldwide. Joining them is Dr. Meg Doherty, Director of the Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs Programmes at the World Health Organization (WHO). Tune in as we unpack the challenges, the progress, and what needs to happen next to drive global HIV efforts forward.

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This week, Sarah and Jess dive into the fallout from the fractured agreement between UNAIDS and the U.S. government. What happened, and what does this mean for the fight against HIV worldwide? We unpack the ripple effects that could reshape global health efforts. 

Sources

Trump administration ends funding for UN program fighting HIV/Aids | Trump administration | The Guardian

New report flags severity of US funding cuts to global AIDS response | UN News

Comprehensive update on the impact of the U.S. funding freeze on HIV programmes in South Africa | UNAIDS

UNAIDS Contributors | RESULTS AND TRANSPARENCY PORTAL

To contact the podcast you can email [email protected]

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The global HIV landscape has undergone seismic shifts since the Trump administration took office, changes that will shape HIV history and its future. To understand what’s happening and what lies ahead, we turn to those at the heart of global HIV support: UNAIDS. This week, Sarah and Jess sit down with Regan Hofmann, Senior Advisor at the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and a powerful advocate openly living with HIV, for a conversation on the challenges, progress, and where we go from here.

*Please note this episode was recorded on Wednesday 26th Feb 2025, so there may well have been changes since recording.

Links mentioned in episode

Stories and updates on the AIDS response | UNAIDS

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.