The 2023 US Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) opened in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Sept. 6 with thousands of participants from all segments of the HIV community. HIV.gov’s conference coverage began with a conversation about the upcoming programming and this year’s theme: “A Love Letter to Black Women.”

Before the opening plenary, Jyl Martin, MPH, CHES®, NHDP-BC, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service and Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP), spoke with Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair, Acting Director, Division of HIV Prevention, NCHHSTP, CDC, about the theme. Dr. Neblett Fanfair said it is important to honor Black women who are part of the HIV movement in the community and workforce. She added that many CDC programs, research, and initiatives supporting Black women would be shared at USCHA. View their conversation below:

Also on opening day, the plenary session featured an inspiring speech by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, young people born with HIV and advocating for inclusion, and a performance by Sweet Honey in the Rock.

This blog post was originally published September 7, 2023, on HIV.gov.