GEC hosts HIV-focused policy symposium for legislators
At WorldPride Amsterdam 2026, the Global Equality Caucus brought together legislators, HIV experts, and civil society representatives for an important conversation on the intersection of LGBT+ equality and the global HIV response.
On Thursday, 6 August, the Symposium for Legislators and HIV Experts: “Ensuring Public Health Responses to HIV Are LGBT-Inclusive” provided a space to discuss how governments and policymakers can address the inequalities that continue to affect LGBT+ people in HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
The symposium formed part of GEC’s wider Political Leadership Programme at the WorldPride Human Rights Conference, which brought together over 40 legislators from around the world to explore how political action can advance LGBT+ equality.
Putting LGBT+ inclusion at the centre of the HIV response
While significant progress has been made in the global HIV response, LGBT+ communities continue to face barriers that can affect access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care.
The symposium focused on a key question: How can legislators and governments make LGBT+ inclusion an integral part of the HIV response?
The discussion emphasised the importance of developing public health policies that are inclusive by design and that ensure LGBT+ people are not left behind in national and global HIV strategies. The session was moderated by Ernie Klassen, Member of Parliament from Canada, who opened the discussion by highlighting the importance of creating space for legislators and civil society experts to exchange experiences and identify practical opportunities for action.
Steve Letsike, Deputy Minister in the Presidency of South Africa, delivered a keynote address on the role of political leadership in advancing inclusive HIV responses. Her contribution brought a perspective from a country and region where the HIV response has demonstrated the importance of political commitment, community leadership, and human rights-based approaches.
The programme also featured a presentation of key data from Julia Lukomnik of Aidsfonds, bringing the perspective of civil society organisations working to improve HIV outcomes through grassroots programming and resilience-building.
Connecting the HIV response with LGBT+ equality
The symposium was an important part of GEC's broader work at WorldPride Amsterdam, where more than 40 legislators from around the world came together to discuss political leadership and LGBT+ equality.
For the Global Equality Caucus, LGBT+ rights and public health are deeply connected. Achieving health equity requires addressing the social, legal, and political barriers that prevent people from accessing care, and ensuring that LGBT+ communities have a voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives.
By bringing legislators, civil society, and HIV experts together, the symposium created an opportunity to share knowledge, challenge existing approaches, and identify pathways toward stronger and more equitable public health policies.
As the global HIV response continues to evolve, political leadership will remain essential to ensuring that no community is left behind.
GEC is grateful to have been sponsored by Gilead Sciences to deliver this session.