White House Honors World AIDS Day 2024

In recognition of the 37th World AIDS Day, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted an eventExit Disclaimer commemorating World AIDS Day with survivors, their families, and advocates. The event honored those who have died due to AIDS-related illnesses, as well as the more than 39 million people around the world living with HIV, including more than 1 million people in the United States. It marked the first time that sections of the AIDS Memorial Quilt were displayed on the White House South Lawn, a powerful tribute to those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS. As in years past, a red ribbon adorned the South Portico. During the event, President Biden announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will update its HIV bulletin (PDF, 261KB) by the end of his term in office and called for Congress to reauthorize the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) bill for 5 years.

During the event, HIV.gov conducted an interview with Francisco Ruiz, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), about World AIDS Day and the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

The White House also released a fact sheet highlighting the Biden–Harris administration’s accomplishments and activities to accelerate domestic HIV efforts, respond to HIV/AIDS globally, address HIV stigma and discrimination, ensure equity, and advance new research.

On December 5, ONAP is convening Enhancing the Lives of People with HIV—A Quality of Life Symposium to address core aspects of quality of life for people living with HIV. The symposium aims to improve communication and collaboration between lifetime and long-term survivors, researchers, leaders from community organizations, and federal officials. To ensure broad participation, ONAP is offering a virtual optionExit Disclaimer for key portions of the summit on Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.

Learn more about World AIDS Day on the HIV.gov event page.