The HIV Podcast

In this episode, Sarah and Jess turn up the heat with the radical brilliance of the Lesbian Avengers. Born out of frustration, in the early '90s, this activist group wasn’t here to fit in. From street protests to visibility campaigns, the Avengers brought unapologetic queer power to the frontlines, including bold action around HIV stigma. It’s a story of protest, pride, and pyrotechnics!SourcesLesbian Avengers - WikipediaStories - FAMAn Oral History of the Lesbian Avengers and the Dyke MarchFire Eating Lesbians and AIDS Activism in 1990s San Francisco | TORCH | The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities

In this episode, Sarah and Jess dive into the incredible, and often forgotten, story of the San Diego Blood Sisters. A grassroots group of lesbian activists who quite literally rolled up their sleeves during the height of the HIV crisis. When blood was needed and stigma was rampant, these incredible women stepped up to donate again and again, breaking barriers and challenging the system with every drop. This is a story of solidarity, sisterhood, and serious guts.SourcesSan Diego Blood Sisters - WikipediaHow new FDA rule allowing gay, bisexual men to give blood is making donation more inclusive - ABC NewsBlood donation: Rule change means more gay and bisexual men can give blood - BBC News 

Part 3: HIV & Pregnancy – Victoria’s StoryYou’ve heard the science, now hear the story. In this very special episode, Jess and Sarah are joined by the brilliant Victoria Roscow. Diagnosed with HIV at just 9 weeks pregnant, Victoria didn’t just navigate pregnancy with grace, she turned it into a platform to fight stigma and spread knowledge like wildfire.Victoria shares her personal journey, from diagnosis to delivery, what it’s like raising a happy, healthy HIV-negative toddler, and how her husband continues to be HIV-negative. An open, honest and inspiring conversation, and yes, it’s full of those “did that really happen?!” moments only The HIV Podcast can deliver.Spoiler: You’re going to love her!Victoria's Tiktok - TikTok - Make Your Day

Can you have a baby if you're living with HIV? Spoiler alert: You already know the answer!In Part 2 of our HIV & Pregnancy double bill, Sarah and Jess take you inside the delivery room. What happens during birth when you’re living with HIV? Are there special precautions? Does the birth plan go out the window? They’re breaking it all down, no filter, just real talk (and maybe a little oversharing, as usual).Stopping ART safely if your clinic is closed or runs out of meds: a practical guide | HTB | HIV i-BaseSourcesHIV and pregnancy | RCOGScreening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis - NHSISOSS HIV report 2023 - GOV.UKNewsRFK Jr. Expected To Lay Off Entire Office Of Infectious Disease And HIV/AIDS Policy

How is the Trump administration’s policy legacy still shaping the global fight against HIV? This week, Sarah and Jess continue their deep dive into the lasting impact of these decisions on HIV response worldwide. Joining them is Dr. Meg Doherty, Director of the Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs Programmes at the World Health Organization (WHO). Tune in as we unpack the challenges, the progress, and what needs to happen next to drive global HIV efforts forward.

This week, Sarah and Jess dive into the fallout from the fractured agreement between UNAIDS and the U.S. government. What happened, and what does this mean for the fight against HIV worldwide? We unpack the ripple effects that could reshape global health efforts. Sources Trump administration ends funding for UN program fighting HIV/Aids | Trump administration | The GuardianNew report flags severity of US funding cuts to global AIDS response | UN NewsComprehensive update on the impact of the U.S. funding freeze on HIV programmes in South Africa | UNAIDSUNAIDS Contributors | RESULTS AND TRANSPARENCY PORTALTo contact the podcast you can email office@tvps.org.uk

The global HIV landscape has undergone seismic shifts since the Trump administration took office, changes that will shape HIV history and its future. To understand what’s happening and what lies ahead, we turn to those at the heart of global HIV support: UNAIDS. This week, Sarah and Jess sit down with Regan Hofmann, Senior Advisor at the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and a powerful advocate openly living with HIV, for a conversation on the challenges, progress, and where we go from here.*Please note this episode was recorded on Wednesday 26th Feb 2025, so there may well have been changes since recording.Links mentioned in episodeStories and updates on the AIDS response | UNAIDS

Ever wondered what an HIV support organisation actually does and why it’s so important? Sarah and Jess have spent decades working at TVPS, supporting people living with HIV—but what does that really look like day to day? In this episode, they pull back the curtain on their work, sharing insights, stories, and the impact of HIV support services. Tune in and find out!