June 27th is HIV Testing Day. In honor of that, we’ve compiled a list of testing sites and resources throughout the Rio Grande Valley that people can use or inquire about.
In 2020, the Center for Disease Control released data showing that overall HIV rates in the United States had gone down by 6%, but for Latinx people, in particular, rates increased by 14%. And while in the state of Texas, rates have usually been higher in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, the Rio Grande Valley follows right after.
This special report by KRGV sources that data and elaborates on the need for broader healthcare resources in the RGV, the stigma around HIV, and how dating apps/lack of communication contribute to those high rates.
In 2018, due to rising rates in South Texas, UTRGV was awarded a $430,000 grant from the National Institute of Health to begin research and develop a new, affordable anti-HIV drug that is stronger and more effective.
As research has continued, it’s come to light that HIV disproportionately affects Latinx people, right after Black people. As the publication The Body stated:
In 2020, artists Ronnie Garza and Gabriel Sanchez, along with a vast array of RGV LGBTQIA+ members, came together to create a documentary covering the history of the Valley’s LGBTQIA+ community. As the creators stated in a Telemundo interview, “Pansy Pachanga: a project about struggle, history, diversity, and pride. This documentary gives a look at the LGBTQ+ community in the Valley with stories of more than 50 people who – while fighting for acceptance and respect – have had the courage to live without masks. October is LGBTQ+ History Month and it brings up questions like ‘What were the origins of the first gay bars in the Valley? What were the first drag shows like? What was the impact of HIV in the 1980s?’ These are some of the questions that Pansy Pachanga hopes to answer.”
Below is a portion of the documentary Ronnie Garza presented in 2020 via a ProBar webinar, showing Valley LGBTQIA+ people recall the beginnings of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 80s, back then known as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency).
Derek Duval Interviewed for Pansy Pachanga
Organizations like Greater Than AIDS and Advocates For Youth also offer many resources on their websites and promote positive and civic engagement for HIV/AIDS in an intersectional and inclusive manner.
Here is a list of testing locations across the RGV:
On Saturday, March 25, La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary and partaking in its 20th Annual Cesar Chavez March! Founded in 1989 and established in 2003 in the RGV, LUPE became a community union that uplifted low-income communities through organizing and advocating for social issues.
Before the pandemic, educator and activist Clarissa Riojas felt that teaching was her dream. It wasn’t until 2020 that her vision for public education in Texas soured. The inequities in the educational system surfaced, leaving teachers, students, and communities alike demoralized. Clarissa speaks further about the journey to advocate for the future of public schools in Texas.
Be a radical radicle and join our Roots Break Walls Campaign! Our first workshop explores identity, conservation, and healing remedies through art and poetry. Join us on March 11th from 1-4 PM at the National Butterfly Center.
