National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD) aims to increase awareness of the disproportionate impact of the HIV epidemic on gay and bisexual men in the United States and encourage HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services in this population. Multiple challenges—such as racism, discrimination, homophobia, and stigma—contribute to the disproportionate impact. First recognized in 2008 by the National Association of People with AIDS, the observance also offers an opportunity to address HIV-related stigma.
Gay and bisexual men accounted for 67 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within this population, disparities persist among Black and African American and Hispanic or Latino gay and bisexual men, who received more new HIV diagnoses in 2022 than gay and bisexual men in other groups. In addition, young men aged 13–24 with HIV are more likely to be unaware of their HIV status than men of different age groups.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) HIV research program supports research to better understand and reduce HIV-related health disparities based on sexual orientation – as well as other factors such as race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and age. NIH-supported research also aims to increase access to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services and encourage treatment adherence.
Social Media
Use the hashtag #NGMHAAD to follow the conversation about this awareness day on social media. Download graphics and find sample social media posts on HIV.gov National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day webpage or on the CDC HIV Awareness Days webpage.
Additional Resources
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of AIDS Research (OAR)
- FY 2021–2025 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research provides a roadmap for NIH to guide HIV and HIV-related research and direct HIV research funding to the highest-priority areas to help end HIV. The plan includes efforts to develop HIV prevention and treatment strategies that are tailored for different populations, such as gay and bisexual men, and efforts to mitigate HIV-associated stigma and discrimination among diverse populations.
- Pharmacy-Centered HIV Research: Current Landscape and Future Frontiers: This virtual event, held in June 2023 and organized by the NIH HIV and Pharmacy Planning Group, explored ways to integrate pharmacists and pharmacies into HIV prevention, treatment, and care strategies. Several sessions included presentations on how to make pharmacy-based HIV care more accessible to different populations, including gay and bisexual men. A summary and videos of the event are available on the event webpage.
- This OAR webpage describes HIV prevention strategies, including several tailored for gay and bisexual men.
- HIVinfo.NIH.gov, maintained by OAR, provides HIV-related infographics, fact sheets, and links to additional resources, including:
- HIV and Gay and Bisexual Men (Fact sheet)
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ+) (HIV Source)
- The Basics of HIV Prevention (Fact sheet)
- Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) (Fact sheet)
- PrEP vs. PEP (Infographic)
NIH Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office
The NIH Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO) coordinates sexual and gender minority (SGM)-related research and activities across NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices. Read SGMRO’s strategic plan to learn more about its support of SGM and HIV/AIDS research.