Association of Nurses in AIDS Care just released a statement celebrating Pride Month and denouncing stigma and discrimination. MidAtlantic AETC Principal Investigator, Dr. Linda Rose Frank, is on the committee that developed the statement. Here is the statement:
LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to coincide with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the LGBTQ+ rights movement in the United States. Support for full LGBTQ+ rights in all jurisdictions locally and globally has been part of our organizational policy agenda for decades and has been a core value since ANAC’s inception.
We denounce efforts that promote discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. ANAC was founded in 1987 by a group of dedicated nurses, including many gay individuals, to address an epidemic that was taking a terrible toll on many communities, especially gay communities throughout the country.
Despite five decades of progress in equality and increased visibility of LGBTQ+ people in all
aspects of society, there remain discrimination and bigotry based on perceived sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. It is particularly troubling in 2022, as states and elected officials pass legislation or issue hateful rhetoric that is harmful to LGBTQ+ individuals and families, pushing back against years of progressive change.
While happening at local and state levels across the country, it is anti-gay activities in Florida that are garnering much attention. As we prepare to hold our 37th annual conference in Florida this year, we are committed to showing up and being present, to joining local and state advocates to amplify support for LGBTQ+ and human rights, and to celebrating the amazing work being done in HIV-impacted communities in Florida and around the world.
We stand in solidarity with others who share our core values and mission. Our mission can be
distilled to two components: professional education and nurse-led advocacy for the welfare of
people living with HIV. Thirty-five years later, this remains relevant. Nurses are the most trusted
profession, and we must leverage this trust by delivering and amplifying education and advocacy centered in human rights, compassion and evidence. LGBTQ+ equality remains in the forefront of our mission and work.
ANAC joins you in celebrating Pride month. While June is Pride month (pride being the opposite of shame and stigma), we shine a light on the accomplishments and contributions of LGBTQ+ nurses in healthcare, health policy and the fight against HIV all year long.