WHO reaffirms zero U=U HIV transmission risk

by Liz Highleyman

In a move long encouraged by advocates, the World Health Organization has reaffirmed that people with HIV who consistently take antiretroviral treatment and maintain an undetectable viral load do not transmit the virus during sex, a concept known as Undetectable Equals Untransmittable, or U=U. The WHO policy brief was released July 22 at the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Brisbane, Australia.

“The brief is a game-changer for equitable scale-up of viral load testing and clear messaging about transmission risk,” Bruce Richman, executive director of the Prevention Access Campaign, told the Bay Area Reporter. “This is the first time a global health institution has recommended that health care providers use and reinforce ‘zero risk’ to communicate U=U. There’s no room for ambiguity with ‘zero!’

“When the WHO’s new brief is translated from policy to implementation, millions more people living with HIV will have the assurance that their treatment is working to protect their health and their partners,” he added.

The WHO brief states that people with an undetectable viral load who continue to take their medication as prescribed “have zero risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner(s)” and “minimal risk of

From page 1

Mitulski, who once served as the senior pastor at Metropolitan Community Church-San Francisco when it was located in the LGBTQ Castro district, has served as a pastor at various UCC churches over the years. He returned to

From page 1

In casting his first votes for a city budget, Engardio told the Bay Area Reporter he viewed the funding designated for both HIV services and LGBTQ needs as benefiting all San Franciscans, and thus, worth supporting as the board and Mayor London Breed worked to deliver a balanced budget plan.

“One could argue serving the LGBTQ community, and certainly those affected by HIV and AIDS, cuts across all groups,” said Engardio. “Something I believe is by ensuring that we fund

From page 4 decided. “He indicated he wants to talk to them again.”

Also, Abdullah was out sick July 19, according to Deputy Public Defender

From page 1

“So there is a Twitter troll who has a habit of going around posting their distaste for Tom Wolf and Senator Scott Wiener,” Ortega wrote, referring to a formerly homeless recovering heroin addict who is director of West Coast initiatives for the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions and the gay state legislator from San Francisco. “Previously, the same troll decided to bring up trans issues in a conversation about fentanyl. To which I replied to them: ‘This is the Fentanyl lane, not the trans lane.’ To the post, I post a picture of me and mayor breed at pride parade, to which this troll posted a picture of transmitting HIV vertically to their children.” What’s more, people with a suppressed but detectable viral load “have almost zero or negligible risk” of sexual transmission. Data on the link between viral load and transmission via shared drug injection equipment are inadequate. The WHO considers a viral load of 1,000 HIV RNA copies or less to be viral suppression, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the threshold at 200 or less. A level below 50 is considered undetectable according to standard viral load tests, though more sensitive tests can measure lower levels. the Bay Area and the Belmont church earlier this year.

“The vandalism at the Congregational Church of Belmont is disappointing but not surprising,” stated Mitulski. “As a gay pastor in the United Church of Christ, I’ve noticed a marked increase in hostility toward the LGBTQ community of late. At CCB, we remain deeply committed to LGBTQ inclusion and programs for the LGBTQ community, we are helping people across the spectrum of humanity. I looked at it that way and felt it needs to be a priority because you are helping so many people who are LGBTQ in every walk of life.”

One new area of funding that Breed had included in her budget proposal is $350,000 for LGBTQ nonprofits to improve the safety measures at their offices due to an increase in threats some have received of late. The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development is expected to issue a request for proposals from agencies wishing to receive some of the funds.

The mayor also directed $110,000

Tehanita Taylor, who is representing him, and thus did not appear at the hearing. Conroy said the defendant is “ordered to appear” August 9, again in Department 22. Section 1001.36 of the penal code allows people to receive treatment

Senator Wiener and Tom Wolf. And I replied: ‘this is the pride lane the trans lane is over there.’”

A search of Ortega’s Twitter feed shows that @eyesontransphobesSF did post a comment June 23 and included a tweet from Wolf, who wrote about meeting with Wiener to discuss the fentanyl epidemic.

Wiener declined to comment.

Wolf could not be reached for comment.

Sandoval said he was glad Ortega stepped down.

“I’m happy to hear JConr B. Ortega has taken the correct action of stepping down as diversity and membership committee chair of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District,” Sandoval wrote in a Twitter direct message to the B.A.R. “However,

While it has long been recognized that people with an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV, the brief clarifies that people with suppressed but detectable virus – between 200 and 1,000 copies – also have an extremely low risk of transmission.

Advocates are urging public health officials and care providers to explicitly state that people with an undetectable or suppressed viral load have zero or near-zero risk. A group of activists took the stage at a conference session on July 24, chanting, “Sex is good, sex is fun, sex is zero risk.”

The new guidance is supported by equality in church and society.

“Rather than engaging in violence, I invite whoever did this to engage in a sincere conversation with us about why our church proudly welcomes LGBTQ people,” he added. “Our church stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ community as part of our faith.”

In a brief phone interview, Mitulski said that since moving back from Duluth, Min- toward instruction and support group facilitation for the Lift Up SF Program, administered by San Francisco HIV Health Services, according to Mandelman’s office. There is $200,000 for wellness services for formerly incarcerated transgender individuals, plus $150,000 to pay for asylum immigration legal services for TGNC immigrants.

A set aside of $75,000 will go toward transgender and gender-nonbinary Asian and Pacific Islander leadership development, while a violence prevention program for monolingual, immigrant transgender Latinas will see $67,000 in city funding.

The supervisors allocated $400,000 instead of being prosecuted when charged with a crime. At the successful completion of treatment, the charges are dismissed, and the arrest record sealed.

To qualify, a defendant must have been diagnosed with a mental health

I’m disheartened that his statement shows he just doesn’t get it. Being called out for statements made is not being bullied, it is called being held accountable for one’s actions. No threats were ever made, just questions raised as to how one could be anti-affirmative action, make an anti-trans statement and be in a leadership position in both a cultural district and Democratic club.”

As for the leather district, Executive Director Bob Goldfarb, a gay man, confirmed that the district received Ortega’s letter.

“We received JConr Ortega’s letter of resignation, which the board has discussed and accepted,” Goldfarb wrote in an email.

The cultural district’s July 15 newsletter includes a statement on a systematic review of evidence published in The Lancet.

In eight studies that included more than 7,700 mostly heterosexual couples, WHO’s Lara Vojnov, Ph.D., and colleagues found no cases of sexual transmission when viral load was less than 600 copies. There were two cases of transmission when the HIV-positive partner may have had a viral load below 1,000, but these were difficult to interpret due to the timing of viral load tests.

“There is almost zero risk of sexual transmission of HIV with viral loads of less than 1,000 copies per ml,” the study authors concluded. “These data provide a powerful opportunity to destigmatize HIV and promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy through dissemination of this positive public health message.”

Prompt treatment and good adherence also prevent HIV disease progression and improve overall health. A recent study in The Lancet HIV showed that HIV-positive people who start treatment early and have a high CD4 T-cell count can expect to live nearly as long as their HIV-negative peers. Consistent treatment can keep CD4 cells from falling into the danger zone for opportunistic illnesses and other health problems.

According to a UNAIDS report released ahead of the conference, 29.8 million of the estimated 39 million people living with HIV worldwide are on antiretroviral treatment, nesota, where he’d been a pastor, things in the Bay Area “seem more conservative.”

“It felt important to report it and note it,” he said of the incident.

The rainbow banner, along with another with the words “Black Lives Matter” printed in white on a black background, were installed in March 2022 between pillars of the porch of the historic church building, originally the toward enhancing information and referral services offered by LGBTQ agencies, in addition to community building and cultural programs. Another $200,000 will go toward the operations and sustainability of the LGBTQ museum operated in the Castro neighborhood by the GLBT Historical Society.

In other cultural funding, the budget includes $100,000 for year-round arts programs, events, arts education, artist commissions, and artist services focused on the transgender and gender-nonconforming community, plus $75,000 for the city’s trans film festival. The San Francisco Unified School District is set to receive $100,000 for disorder that played a significant role in the charges. A defendant has to agree to treatment and a qualified mental health expert has to agree that treatment would be effective. The defendant waives their right to a speedy trial when they agree to diversion. its communication policy.

“Only statements made through official District communication channels represent our organization,” the statement reads. “Individual board members using their personal social media are not speaking on behalf of the District.

“We are fully inclusive and supportive of the BIPOC, trans, nonbinary, and queer communities,” the statement continues, referring to Black, Indigenous people of color. “We have been and will remain steadfast in that support as well as creating events that are a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

Goldfarb said that the policy has been adhered to by the district.

“While it has always been our internal policy, we felt stating our up from 7.7 million in 2010. But this still leaves about 9 million people untreated and therefore at ongoing risk for disease progression and viral transmission. Children with HIV are not faring as well, with just 57% on treatment.

To increase the number of people who know their HIV status and have access to treatment, WHO calls on countries to expand the use of self-testing and to promote testing through sexual and social networks.

“For more than 20 years, countries all over the world have relied on WHO’s evidence-based guidelines to prevent, test for and treat HIV infection,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., said in a statement. “The new guidelines we are publishing today will help countries to use powerful tools that have the potential to transform the lives of millions of people living with or at risk of HIV.”

San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D., also weighed in.

“U=U has been an empowering message for people living with HIV, and goes a long way in helping to end stigma associated with HIV and AIDS,” TerMeer, who is HIV-positive, stated. “For the WHO to now recognize that people who are undetectable present zero risk of transmission to partners is a message of hope for many.” t

Belle Monte Country Club built in 1925.

The Black Lives Matter banner was not vandalized, the release stated. Lotti said that anyone with information or tips about the incident can call the Belmont Police Department at (650) 595-7400. People can remain anonymous, he added. t theater and health education for students in grades K-8.

Additionally, Mandelman secured $250,000 to fund community events in the Castro, which he represents at City Hall, and $30,000 for the annual Queer Transgender Asian Pacific Islander (QTAPI) Week held in late May and early June.

“I feel like we did pretty well given the circumstances,” said Mandelman. “There were very worthwhile programs that didn’t get funding or funds for only one year, so we will have to fight for them next year. Given the budget deficit we were facing, this could have been a lot worse.” t

The diversion program is only in cases where the risk of endangering the public is small.

There is a pre-trial hearing for lawyers only on August 1. t communication policy would help clarify for the public that only statements coming from the District’s own channels are representing official District positions,” he wrote.

In his statement, Ortega said he would continue to stand by his personal beliefs.

“Even though this decision did not come lightly, I will continue to serve the leather community itself and now have a clear avenue to publicly state my positions without fear of retaliation from my fellow Leather & LGBTQ board leadership,” he wrote. “Knowing the activists who made the complaint, I have no ill will toward those who seek to undermine me, but as stated above, I will not apologize for the positions I have taken.” t