It has been said that the first Pride was a riot, sparked by the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. The meaning of Pride Month has expanded and evolved since Stonewall and the subsequent first Pride Parade in 1970. Though Pride was established before the rise of HIV and AIDS, HIV awareness and advocacy have stood at the center of Pride since the early days of the illness.Though HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was, there are still approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States and over 30,000 new infections every year. The continued prevalence of HIV means that HIV education and advocacy still play an important role in Pride Month. Related FDA approves twice-a-year HIV prevention drug that could help end the virus worldwide It reduces transmissions by up to 96%, but now world governments and big-dollar funders will need to step in. Pride Month presents an opportunity to spotlight advancements made in HIV prevention and treatment. It also gives advocates a chance to take the world stage and be heard, letting people know that HIV is still a factor in the lives of many, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community. Pride is a time to remember the fight for equality, to celebrate living authentically, and to deepen bonds within the community. It can also be a time for promoting testing, educating the public, and keeping the fight to end HIV alive. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Deepening the meaning of PrideSince its inception, Pride has grown year by year into a worldwide celebration. During the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, Pride celebrations were intermingled with protests and rallies advocating for more attention to prevention and care for those living with HIV and AIDS. Activists pushed for government intervention at a time when many government officials refused to say the word AIDS and the spectre of the disease and the neglect of people living with it overshadowed much of the Pride movement for well over a decade.Today, while Pride Month remains focused on justice and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, HIV advocacy should still take a front seat. This is particularly true in the South, which carries a disproportionate burden of HIV infections.Regional statistics mixed with a persistent stigma and higher rates of HIV infections among groups such as Latino and Black gay and bisexual men compound the need for more attention on HIV during Pride Month. Working to combat the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS and promoting information about prevention and care can deepen the meaning behind Pride, making the entire month even more impactful. Promoting community-led carePride Month opens doors for inclusive, community-led advocacy and care in 2025, especially for those in areas of the country with higher rates of HIV infections and a greater need for access to prevention methods. HIV advocacy and care in 2025 looks like cultural understanding, expanded accessibility, and leadership in individual communities and the broader LGBTQ+ community. Partnerships between advocacy groups, community leaders, and health organizations are crucial for achieving the goals we must set each Pride Month. These goals should include reducing stigma and expanding educational resources, especially in areas heavily impacted by the disease, such as the Southern United States.New care models highlighted during Pride Month must be inclusive of the communities most impacted by HIV today and tailored to diverse experiences across those communities. One mission of Pride Month is the building of trust between community leaders, advocacy groups, and health organizations and those who need the most attention, such as those living with HIV or AIDS.Pride must not only be a month for education and advocacy, but also for recognizing those who have participated in making HIV an increasingly manageable condition. So many in the LGBTQ+ community are living long, healthy lives with HIV. That in and of itself is worthy of celebration. Honoring the roots of Pride MonthPride indeed began as a riot a collective uprising against discrimination, hate, and inequity. As the HIV/AIDS epidemic took hold, the continued need for collective work toward a better future was evident.Today, Pride is still an uprising. Keeping HIV awareness and prevention at the heart of Pride Month deepens its mission and continues the promise that no one in the LGBTQ+ community will be left behind or forgotten, in June or any other time.As we celebrate flying the rainbow flag, marching in parades, and participating in all that makes Pride wonderful, its crucial to remember that Pride Month can also be a time of deeper significance. The reality of HIV persists, and Pride Month can be a time to shine a greater spotlight on what still needs to be done to protect the LGBTQ+ community and take greater strides toward eliminating HIV once and for all.By weaving stigma-fighting prevention campaigns and collaborative efforts between community leaders and health organizations into the celebratory mission of Pride Month, more progress can be made in prevention and care.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.