Clare Housing has a more than 30-year history of advocating for the nearly 9,000 people living with HIV in Minnesota. We do this by sharing the stories of how HIV impacts all of our lives. Together, our work with legislators and other public officials has served to …
- Ensure that Minnesota continues to provide affordable housing and related supportive services to low-income and homeless people living with HIV.
- Demonstrate through data collection and HIV health outcomes how housing is a critical component of HIV healthcare and prevention.
- Build strong partnerships across party lines and government agencies to achieve a common goal of ending new infections in our state.
2024 Legislative Update
This past March, a diverse coalition of citizens met at the Minnesota state capitol for HIV Day on the Hill to lobby for our community. The day was spent advocating for a range of goals with our legislators, and by the time the end of the session arrived a few months later, there was plenty to celebrate!
One of the biggest successes this year was the passage of improved PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) access. Starting in 2026, pharmacists will be able to dispense these medications without a prescription. PrEP and PEP are highly effective at preventing HIV infection, and allowing for simple, straightforward access will help more people access these vital medications.
Another big step towards improving the sexual health of Minnesotans was the passage of language in the Education budget that will require an update and standardization of standards for sexual health education. While developing the new standards, the state commissioner will be required to consider advice from parents, teachers, school boards, representatives of Tribal Nations, current students (with input from the Minnesota Youth Council), and members of the public. The new standards will include age-appropriate information on sexually transmitted infections and diseases, among other vital topics.
In a move to protect the safety of all Minnesotans, the Judiciary and Public Safety Bill included a provision that eliminates the so-called “gay panic defense,” a legal strategy used to excuse violent crimes on the basis that the victim’s gender identity and/or sexual orientation were to blame for the defendant’s violence. Sen. Bonnie Westlin authored the bill and stated upon its passage, “I am proud to see our state continue to protect LGBTQ+ Minnesotans, especially when they are victims of violent crime.”
We are delighted by the progress our state continues to make in improving life for people living with HIV and the LGBTQ+ community. But there is still so much to fight for! In 2025 we will be pushing the state to increase funding for HIV support services following the decreases will be seeing in federal funding. Mark your calendar to join us on Feb. 6, 2025 for a day of meeting with our representatives at HIV Day on the Hill.