On Lok HIV Caregiver Training Project
The On Lok HIV Caregiver Training project addresses a critical care gap for gay, lesbian, queer, transgender, and gender-nonconforming older adults living with HIV, who face unique challenges at the intersection of aging, gender identity, and HIV management. Many caregivers lack essential training to provide respectful, gender-affirming care while managing complex HIV-related needs, leaving this vulnerable population underserved and isolated.
Led by community members with lived expertise, this initiative will develop the first comprehensive training program specifically designed for caregivers serving gay, lesbian, queer, transgender, and gender-nonconforming older adults living with HIV.
As Ms. Billie powerfully stated, “We are the experts. They can have all the degrees, but our lived experiences far outweigh all of that.”
This project honors that expertise by bridging community wisdom with professional care delivery, ensuring that gay, lesbian, queer, transgender, and gender-nonconforming older adults living with HIV receive the comprehensive, dignified care they deserve.
Ms. Billie Cooper is a Black transgender woman and longtime activist who was diagnosed with HIV in 1985, making her a living testament to resilience during the early days of the AIDS epidemic.
She has spent decades advocating for equitable treatment and services for Black people and transgender individuals living with HIV. Her years of persistent lobbying for dedicated community spaces led to the creation of TransLife at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 2010, a weekly support group that began for Black transgender people living with HIV/AIDS but has since evolved to serve the broader transgender and gender-nonconforming community.
As a pioneering voice for marginalized communities, she continues to fight for inclusive healthcare and support services, emphasizing that lived experience is invaluable expertise in creating meaningful change.
This project is supported by Gilead Sciences Inc. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the researchers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the sponsors.