National Transgender HIV Testing Day – April 18: Things You Can Do

Learn how HIV affects transgender people. Transgender women are at high risk for HIV, and transgender women of color are especially affected. According to one study, around half of transgender women diagnosed with HIV are black/African American, while nearly one-third are Hispanic/Latina. Transgender men who have sex with men may also be at high risk for HIV.

The most effective way to prevent HIV is to abstain from sexual activity and injection drug use. But if you are sexually active or use injection drugs, today there are more tools than ever to prevent HIV. In addition to safer health practices—limiting the number of sexual partners, never sharing needles, using condoms the right way every time you have sex—you may be able to take advantage of medicines that prevent and treat HIV, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and antiretroviral therapy (ART).

About 1 in 8 people in the United States who have HIV don’t know it. CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. People with certain risk factors should get tested more often. A reasonable approach for transgender people may be getting tested at least once a year.^*Knowing your status is important because it helps you make healthier decisions to prevent getting or transmitting HIV. Find a testing location in your area.

• Use the Doing It  testing locator
• Text your ZIP code to “KNOW IT” (566948)
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO
• Talk to a doctor or health care provider who provides gender-affirming care
• Take a home HIV test

^*It is not known how gender reassignment surgery that includes vaginoplasty may increase or decrease HIV transmission risk.

Share videos from Act Against AIDS’s Doing It campaign featuring transgender women talking about the importance of HIV testing in the transgender community:

• Chandi Moore
• Michelle & Shawn
• Marilyn Soleil
• Marilyn Soleil (Spanish)
• Prada Garnett

• Check out the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health’s Transgender HIV Testing Toolkit and other available resources
• Follow Act Against AIDS on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
• Download the social media cover photos.
• Help get #TransHIV trending on social media by sharing and retweeting National Transgender HIV Testing Day messages, or creating your own. Below are a few sample posts you can use leading up to and on NTHTD:

Twitter

Today is National #TransHIV Testing Day. Are you #DoingIt? Find #HIV testing centers near you: http://bit.ly/2ngP153  #NTHTD

Take charge of your life and protect our community this #NTHTD! Find a #HIV testing center near you: http://bit.ly/2ngP153  #DoingIt

“Make #HIV testing a part of your routine.” – @TransDivaChandi on #DoingIt. Get tested for #NTHTD: http://bit.ly/2ngP153

It’s Nat’l #TransHIV Testing Day! Show your support! Use the @Snapchat #NTHTD geofilter & tweet your pics! #DoingIt

4/18 is Nat’l #TransHIV Testing Day. Show your support! Add the #NTHTD frame to your Facebook profile pic: http://bit.ly/2nj9xCV

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Facebook

Are you #DoingIt – getting tested for #HIV? In the United States, it is estimated that almost 1 million adults identify as transgender. In honor of National #TransHIV Testing Day, find a free testing center near you from @Act Against AIDS at http://bit.ly/2ngP153 #NTHTD

Take charge of your life and protect our community. Start #DoingIt this National #TransHIV Testing Day! Find a #HIV testing center near you: http://bit.ly/2ngP153 #NTHTD

“Make #HIV testing a part of your routine.” – @Trans Diva Chandi on #DoingIt. Get tested today in honor of National #TransHIV Testing Day: http://bit.ly/2ngP153 #NTHTD

It’s National #TransHIV Testing Day! Show your support for #DoingIt – #HIV testing – by adding the #NTHTD Facebook frame to your profile picture. You can find it here: http://bit.ly/2nj9xCV

Today is National #TransHIV Testing Day! Show your support for #DoingIt – #HIV testing! Use the #NTHTD Snapchat geofilter and share on Facebook.

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Instagram

Today is National #TransHIV Testing Day. Are you #DoingIt – getting tested for #HIV? Find a nearby testing center at cdc.gov/DoingIt #NTHTD

Did you know that almost 1 million adults in the US identify as transgender? Join us for National #TransHIV Testing Day, by getting informed and showing others you plan on #DoingIt – getting tested for #HIV! cdc.gov/DoingIt #NTHTD

Take charge of your life and protect our community. Find an #HIV testing center near you and start #DoingIt: cdc.gov/DoingIt

“Make HIV testing a part of your routine.” – @transdivachandi on #DoingIt. Get tested for #HIV for National #TransHIV Testing Day: cdc.gov/DoingIt #NTHTD

April 18 is National #TransHIV Testing Day! Use the #NTHTD Facebook frame to show your support of #DoingIt – #HIV testing – and share on Instagram. Find it here: https://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes

It’s Nat’l #TransHIV Testing Day! Show your support! Use the @Snapchat #NTHTD geofilter & add your pics to Instagram! #DoingIt