days left to the 2024 election! Your ballot is your power, and when we show up, equality wins. Click here to visit our 2024 Voting Center!
by Jared Todd •
40 leading LGBTQ+, public health, medical and HIV/AIDS organizations, including Human Rights Campaign, National Coalition of STD Directors and National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) signed on to the letter urging Congress to provide funding for health clinics and community organizations to fully combat mpox
WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, in partnership with 39 other leading public health, HIV/AIDS, medical and LGBTQ+ organizations, signed on to a letter sent to the Committee on Appropriations calling for $900 million in mpox response funding.
President of the Human Rights Campaign, Kelley Robinson, released the following statement:
A breakdown of the requested funding in the letter is as follows:
1. $400 million to restore the smallpox vaccine stockpile;
2. $250 million to state and local public health departments for testing capacity, vaccine administration, surveillance, and epidemiology studies for mpox; and
3. $250 million for community health centers, Ryan White and STI clinics and providers on the front lines of mpox to replenish supplies, alleviate staffing shortages, and restore capacity.
As of December 2, the CDC have reported 29,630 confirmed cases of mpox and 19 deaths in the United States. The outbreak has primarily affected gay and bisexual men and transgender individuals who have sex with men. Although cases continue to fall, the virus is having a substantial impact on BIPOC communities and individuals living with HIV – a direct effect of ongoing systemic health care inequities.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.
Image: