Every 4 days, a Black and Latinx person is diagnosed with HIV in WA State
SEATTLE — Lifelong continues to fight for equitable health in Washington State as HIV impacts communities of color at disproportionate rates.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, Black people make up only 4% of the population in Washington, yet account for 19% of new HIV cases. Similarly, Hispanic and Latinx people make up 13% of the population in Washington, but account for 21% of new HIV cases. New HIV cases for Hispanic and Latinx people have increased by 33% in the past 5 years.
“HIV medical advances have been life-changing, but too many people of color aren’t getting the care and support services they need,” said Beau Butler, Lifelong’s Prevention Program Manager.
Lifelong, which was formed in the ‘80s during the AIDS epidemic, has decades of expertise supporting the HIV community with basic needs to support their health, like food, housing, insurance access, and sexual education programs. While they’ve expanded their programs and services in recent years to support all people living with severe or chronic health conditions, they continue to fight to eliminate HIV in Washington State.
For 34 years, Lifelong has played host to the Seattle AIDS Walk, kicking off this year on World AIDS Day Dec. 1 and continuing through Dec. 8. The walk raises vital funds to help support their HIV services as well as for partner organizations including PEER Washington.
This year’s virtual walk has been expanded beyond Seattle so anyone in Washington can participate regardless of where they are in a fun, safe, socially distant way. The event’s expanded time frame gives participants flexibility to walk their own routes on their own time, such as taking a stroll with their dog around their neighborhood, getting together from a safe distance with a friend and walking in their favorite local park, or run their own 5K route.
Butler says every person’s reason for joining the walk is personal, but for him it’s for those who have lost their lives to HIV.
“I’m walking for those who no longer can,” said Butler. “2020 continues to put a spotlight on the racial disparities of our healthcare systems, and we are reminded our work is not done.”
Participants can join the Virtual Seattle AIDS Walk at lifelong.org/seattle-aids-walk-2020.
Lifelong encourages everyone to stay educated on their risks for HIV and talk about PrEP with Lifelong staff or a healthcare provider if you are at an increased risk, getting tested, using condoms, accessing a clean syringe exchange, and talking to partners about sexual health.