ACT UP Philadelphia

08/12/2025

Polysubstanuse use occurs when two or more drugs are taken together, either intentionally (eg. having a beer and smoking some w**d) or unintentionally (eg. injecting some h3r0in that's mixed with b4rbitu4tes)

Maryland has a high rate of intentional AND unintentional poly substance use

Only 15% of samples collected by the Rapid Anaylasis of Drugs program in Q4 of 2024 fully matched what the person intended to buy with 58% of samples containing atleast one intended substance while containing unintended substances as well.

so remember ALWAYS RESPOND TO SUSPECTED OVERDOSE WITH NALOXONE AND RESCUE BREATHING even if you think it's unlikely that an opioid is present.

we might not always know what's in our drugs, but WE DO KNOW naloxone works on opioids, regardless of the other drugs present, and adding rescue breathing can help a person come to,

read more on RADs' (Rapid Analysis of Drugs, a program in MD that collects samples of drugs from around the state and tests them to give us a snap shot of what is happening in the city) newsletter!
bmorehrc.com/radcy24

(new quarterly report for 2025 also available visit health.maryland.gov/pha/NALOXONE/pages/RAD)

08/12/2025

Lori Cannon helped lead Chicago’s response to the HIV crisis. She was active in ACT UP, food pantries, the AIDS Memorial Quilt and more.

08/12/2025

This on-demand from the program provides guidance on essential conversations for Black women, including those living with and other illnesses.

Access the webinar here: healthhiv.org/empower.

08/12/2025

Advocacy works! In 1988, amfAR Program Officer Terry Beirn met with President George Bush in the Oval Office to champion the passage of the Ryan White CARE Act. Enacted into law two years later with strong bipartisan support, the program continues to this day to help provide Americans living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured with treatment, care, and essential services.

In 1986, at the suggestion of amfAR Founding Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim, the amfAR staff member was hired part-time by Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s office to help design major AIDS-related legislation and secure its passage. Aside from the Ryan White CARE Act, Beirn was a primary architect of the first comprehensive AIDS legislation—the Hope Act, and was instrumental in securing the passage of legislation vital to helping people living with HIV, such as the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990. At amfAR, Beirn worked tirelessly to support AIDS research trials, bringing together in a groundbreaking partnership the NIH university-based research system, community-based primary care physicians, and people living with HIV.

In 1991, at age 39, Beirn died of AIDS-related causes before the advent of lifesaving treatments he helped usher in. Beirn was memorialized by Senator Kennedy in the final product of their extraordinary partnership, the Terry Beirn Community-Based AIDS Research Initiative Act.

08/12/2025

🚨 URGENT: The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F is under threat!

Reports indicate plans to withhold crucial FY25 funding to Ryan White Part F grantees. This would devastate HIV care nationwide and undermine efforts to end the epidemic. We must act now to protect these essential programs that train providers, drive innovation, and ensure equitable care.

Continue reading the full partnership statement at aidsunited.org/news or head to the link in our bio!

08/05/2025

Join ACT UP Philly in person for our general meeting on Monday, August 11, 6 to 8 PM, at William Way LGBT Community Center.

Masking strongly encouraged and masks provided. Some food provided.

Register at actupphilly.org

ACT UP. FIGHT BACK. END AIDS!

07/08/2025

Join ACT UP Philly in person for our general meeting on Monday, July 14, 6 to 8 PM, at William Way LGBT Community Center.

Our monthly in person meeting will address the care gap left from the cuts to Medicaid and other HIV/AIDS programs when the big bullsh*t betrayal Bill takes effect. Medicaid cuts begin at the end of 2027.

We strongly encourage other Philly community, healthcare, and LGBTQ+ organizations to join us to strategize about what mutual aid and other actions will look like in support of people with HIV, immigrants, and others.

Masking strongly encouraged and masks provided. Food provided.

Register at actupphilly.org. Link in bio.

ACT UP. FIGHT BACK. END AIDS!

07/07/2025

Register for the next set of ACT UP Philly general meetings, July through December, 2025. Meetings take place every Monday at 6 PM via Zoom.

We meet in person (only) the 2nd Monday of every month. Register for all meetings at actupphilly.org.

ACT UP. FIGHT BACK. END AIDS! 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

https://www.actupphilly.org/meetings

Virtually via Zoom every Monday night at 6pm (register here) and the 2nd Monday of every month in person in the 2nd floor Community Room at William Way LGBT Community Center.

07/07/2025

“CONGRESS IS KILLING US.” ACT UP PHILADELPHIA REACTS TO THE PASSAGE OF H.R. 1

The AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) Philadelphia is outraged that the US Congress has, once again, betrayed poor and working class communities, Black and Brown communities, and people living with HIV by passing their so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1). We know this is actually a Big Bu****it Betrayal.

ACT UP stands firmly opposed to this bill. Congress is stealing from poor and working class communities most impacted by HIV in order to give billionaires and corporations tax cuts. If you stand with us, register at our website for our in-person meeting on July 14.

This bill represents the largest Medicaid and SNAP cuts in US history, gutting programs that have provided us lifesaving care and stability for decades, in order to finance tax cuts to billionaires and big corporations. It includes vicious anti-abortion provisions and will hand the fascist Trump regime billions to fund their anti-immigrant detention, deportation and disappearance machine. President Trump will create a spectacle by signing the bill today, so-called “Independence Day”.

H.R. 1 is another targeted attack on people living with HIV. Medicaid is a crucial program that serves more than 40% of people living with HIV and is the primary payer for lifesaving HIV care and treatment in the US. After decades of fighting for effective HIV treatment, HIV is finally a manageable, chronic illness. People no longer have to endure catastrophic opportunistic infections. In addition to not transmitting HIV, people living with HIV can live a normal life span, with a high quality of life, as long as HIV medications and wrap-around services are fully funded and accessible.

READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE OUR WEBSITE.

03/26/2024

If the mayor and the Kensington Caucus make it harder or impossible for people in Kensington to access clean syringes, they will have thousands of new HIV infections on their consciences.

02/07/2024

Please support the Michael Hinson Living Legacy Institute

To promote health, empowerment and safety for communities affected by drug use and poverty.

02/07/2024

Live from the Michael Hinson Living Legacy Institute launch!