National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

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. 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% 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. Multiple challenges—such as racism, discrimination, and stigma—contribute to these disproportionate impacts.