The 2022 National Transgender HIV Testing Day (NTHTD) will be observed April 18. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NTHTD is an opportunity “to recognize the importance of routine HIV testing, status awareness, and continued focus on HIV prevention and treatment efforts among transgender and gender non-binary people.” Community-based organizations, health jurisdictions, and HIV prevention programs are encouraged to participate in NTHTD by hosting local trans HIV testing in their community and distributing trans-specific HIV testing campaign materials and resources.

As part of the NTHTD initiative, the University of California-San Francisco’s Center of Excellence for Transgender Health developed a Trans HIV Testing Toolkit, which includes five modules designed to reflect current HIV prevention research and best practices for serving trans and gender non-binary people. These modules are: 1) Get the Facts about Trans People and HIV; 2) HIV Testing and Enhanced Communication Approaches with Trans People; 3) Building Capacity to Increase HIV Testing Efforts for Trans People; 4) Community Engagement and the National Transgender HIV Testing Day; and 5) NTHTD and Toolkit Resources. 

To support activities commemorating NTHTD, we have compiled an annotated list of online resources focusing on HIV/AIDS among transgender people. For additional information on this topic, you can visit NEAETC’s Online HIV Resource Library page focusing on Transgender People and HIV.

HIV-Specific Resources

HIV and Transgender People (CDC) – This web page includes basic information about new HIV diagnoses among transgender people, as well as links to additional pages with more detailed information on the following topics about HIV and transgender people: terminology, HIV testing, HIV prevention, HIV diagnoses, HIV prevalence, viral suppression, prevention challenges, and what CDC is doing to address HIV among transgender people. Also available in Spanish.

HIV and Transgender Communities (CDC) – This issue brief includes sections on HIV prevalence and new diagnoses, HIV risk, HIV prevention initiatives and research, and activities to raise awareness and support community engagement related to HIV and transgender people.

Diagnoses of HIV Infection in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2019 (CDC) – This surveillance report includes detailed information about new HIV diagnoses, prevalence, and deaths among transgender persons. Breakdowns are also provided by age, race/ethnicity, transmission category, and geographic region. The report includes a series of Special Focus Profiles highlighting six populations of particular interest to HIV prevention programs in state and local health departments, including transgender persons. In addition, Tables 4a, 4b, 14a, 14b, 18a, and 18b focus specifically on HIV diagnoses, prevalence, and deaths among transgender persons.

HIV Infection, Risk, Prevention, and Testing Behaviors Among Transgender Women: National HIV Behavioral Surveillance – 7 U.S. Cities, 2019-2020 (CDC) – This report examines HIV prevalence, HIV testing rates, sexual behaviors, receipt of HIV prevention, and gender-affirming medical treatment among transgender women surveyed in the following major U.S. cities: Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Francisco, California; and Seattle, Washington.  

HIV Prevention and Care for Transgender People – CDC’s Transforming Health initiative and associated website provides information and materials for healthcare providers, whole-care teams, social service providers, and transgender people, with the goal of reducing new HIV infections and improving the health of transgender people who are living with HIV.

Transgender Clients: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, 2019 (Health Resources and Services Administration) – This fact sheet summarizes selected demographic characteristics of transgender clients in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP). About 2% of the nearly 568,000 RWHAP clients in 2019 were transgender. Among transgender clients, 11% have unstable housing, nearly three-quarters (74%) lived at or below the federal poverty level, and 83% were virally suppressed. More detailed information is provided about these and other demographic characteristics.

Infographics on Transgender People and HIV from AIDSVu

• Transgender Women of Color Are Disproportionately Impacted by HIV
• Five States with the Highest Number of Transgender Women with HIV
• High Poverty Levels Among Transgender Women and Men with HIV
• Growing Numbers of Transgender Women Served by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
• One-Third of Transgender Women with HIV Are Between 25 and 34 Years Old

Sexual and Gender Minorities – This resource page compiled by the AIDS Education and Training Center Program’s National Coordinating Resource Center includes several resources that focus specifically on HIV in transgender communities and transgender health.

SAGE: Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders – SAGE’s website includes an HIV/AIDS section with several fact sheets and issue briefs that focus on HIV and aging, with particular emphasis on LGBTQ+ persons.

Transgender People and HIV: What We Know – This resource from the Human Rights Campaign discusses critical issues that impact the health and well-being of transgender persons at risk for, or living with, HIV infections.

Other Transgender Health Resources

Transgender Persons – CDC’s compilation of resources related to transgender health. Includes fact sheets, links to organizations serving transgender persons, health information specifically for transgender persons, and resources about transgender health for healthcare providers and public health professionals.

University of California-San Francisco’s Center of Excellence for Transgender Health (CoE) – CoE’s website includes many resources on transgender health in keeping with its mission of “increasing access to comprehensive, effective, and affirming health care services for transgender communities.” These resources include fact sheets in English and Spanish, reports and monographs, survey instruments, and intervention curricula.

National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center – This program of The Fenway Institute provides educational programs, resources, and consultation to health care organizations with the goal of optimizing quality, cost-effective health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and all sexual and gender minority (LGBTQIA+) people.

LGBTQIA+ – Resource with a list of articles, trainings, and online publications to help promote education and awareness of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Compiled by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center at the University of California-San Francisco.

All Children-All Families – This Human Rights Campaign project “promotes LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and affirming practices among child welfare agencies and formally recognizes those agencies that are leading the field with innovative approaches to inclusion.”