As HIV Funding Faces Cuts, Activists Ramp Up the Fight for Survival

GREENVILLE, Miss. — Cedric Sturdevant began his Sunday with a feeling of melancholy yet still attended church. Soon, he plans to travel from Mississippi to Washington, D.C., to unite with HIV advocates at a rally against recent governmental cutbacks. The Trump administration has retracted over $11 billion from federal health grants and soon eliminated millions intended for HIV initiatives. This funding decline has significantly hindered HIV testing and outreach, especially in the South, where half of all new diagnoses occur. Dangerous budget proposals threaten Medicaid, essential for 40% of adults with HIV, while cuts to prevention programs could lead to 14,600 additional deaths over five years. Sturdevant, a gay Black man living with HIV, passionately participates in grassroots efforts to combat health disparities. Within his Mississippi Delta community, he aims to inspire collective resilience and solidarity amid these troubling times, reflecting a profound commitment to community health and continued advocacy for those in need.