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Myles Helfand

@myhelfy.bsky.social

he/him | exec editor of TheBody and TheBodyPro | journalism-ing for HIV communities since aught-one | unsecret gamer | personality type: Mets fan

501 Posts277 Follower153 Folgt
talia jane@taliajane.bsky.social · last mo.

BREAKING: On the 39th anniversary of the founding of ACT UP, protestors have shut down traffic outside Grand Central demanding “Money for AIDS and healthcare, not for ICE and warfare.”

Myles Helfand@myhelfy.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I love seeing this. Can't understate how unusual these moments are: Research conferences are tightly planned; audience is academic (ie, trained to be reserved); and the experience is NOT made for media. In my 25 years in HIV, I've seen maybe a handful of these? It always signals a watershed moment.

Dr. Lucky Tran@luckytran.com · 2mo ago

Incredible! Scientists receive a rare standing ovation after announcing that a new treatment can double the survival time for pancreatic cancer, the deadliest cancer which was once considered “undruggable.” When we fund and support science, we can achieve anything! (Video: Dr. Wish Dhillon)

Gabriel Malor@gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 3mo ago

UPDATE (5/18): The 4th Cir. will rehear this case en banc. Case is scheduled for oral argument at the next available court session. Order --> www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/242...

ca4.uscourts.gov

Gabriel Malor@gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 6mo ago

4th Cir. holds that the military may deny enlistment to individuals with HIV without violating due process. Distinguishes a prior case that held it violated due process to discharge service members who contracted HIV while in service. www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/242...

In this case, the Military has articulated its need to have fit servicemembers who can fulfill its military mission without complications from medical conditions that could compromise deployment functions, contribute to conflicts with foreign nations during deployment, and add costs over those generally necessary to maintain fit servicemembers. Finding the Military’s professional judgments in this case reasonably related to its military mission, we conclude that the plaintiffs’ claims fail as a matter of law. In doing so, we distinguish our decision in Roe, as that case dealt with the manner in which the Military treated military personnel who contracted HIV while in service and who could benefit from various available waivers for assignments but were denied them and discharged arbitrarily. See Roe, 947 F.3d at 221–23. Accordingly, we reverse the district court’s judgment and remand with instructions to enter judgment for the Military.
Melissa Barber@mbarber.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Today, MSF is going public with something we've been fighting behind closed doors for months: Gilead will not sell us their new HIV drug, lenacapavir. The sticking point isn't even price, they just refuse to sell. Open letter linked + explainer 🧵1/ www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/gilea...

Gilead refuses to sell groundbreaking HIV prevention drug to MSF

Blocking humanitarian organizations from accessing a medical breakthrough puts vulnerable people across the world in danger.

doctorswithoutborders.org

Oni Blackstock, MD MHS@oniblackstock.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Florida, the same state that tried recently to cut health coverage for 1000s of people with HIV, has now charged an HIV+ woman w/ a felony for not disclosing her status to her sexual partners. Florida's HIV criminalization laws don't require actual transmission nor intent to transmit the virus.

West Palm Beach woman arrested for not disclosing HIV status to her intimate partners

Julieann Pixley is now facing felony charges for not informing her partners of her positive HIV status before sleeping with them.

wpbf.com

Alicia Ault@aliciaault.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Still needs to pass the Florida House. The amendment redirects money from a state trust fund to ADAP thru June 30, would maintain eligibility at 400% of the FPL, and direct FL to directly distribute medications to enrollees. #IDsky #AIDS #HIV #RyanWhite #publichealth #LGBTQ

Senate moves to save AIDS drug assistance program from DeSantis administration cuts • Florida Phoenix

In a dysfunctional session that has been underscored by what one senator called an “inexcusable amount of animosity,” the Senate on Tuesday offered to pump nearly $31 million into a program that provi...

floridaphoenix.com

Katelyn Burns@katelynburns.com · 5mo ago

like this isn't 2012, there are no national queer rights orgs who are flush with cash. Everyone I speak with is dramatically cutting their budgets. And red state queer orgs are always fighting uphill on a shoestring budget. My challenge to you today is to google a red state queer org and donate.

BK. Titanji@boghuma.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Lenacapavir for PrEP was the big "star" of #CROI2026 after showing almost 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV in 2 large RCTs. Unfortunately at a pricing point of 28000$ a year it remains inaccessible to most. A drug is only as great as the number of people who can access and benefit from it.

Erin Reed@erininthemorning.com · 5mo ago

1. Major news on trans youth care. The American Psychological Association has reaffirmed its full support for its 2024 guidelines supporting trans youth car.e It provided documentation showing Jesse Singal mischaracterized their position in the NYT. Subscribe to support our journalism.

American Psychological Association Reaffirms Support For Trans Youth Care, Pushes Back Against NYT

A recent article from Jesse Singal in the New York Times seemed to indicate the organization might be quietly retreating from supporting trans youth care.

erininthemorning.com

AVAC@avac.org · 5mo ago

"...The pendulum that has been swinging against us...will, if we fight for it, eventually swing back. You are a community that gives us miracles. With empathy as your driving force, you save lives, your history will pull the pendulum back." @prep4allnow.bsky.social's Peter Staley #CROI2026 #IDSky

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Myles Helfand@myhelfy.bsky.social · 6mo ago

I'm ridiculously honored that Dr. Blackstock and the amazing humans at PIBA chose to use TheBody as a platform to help announce this critical new campaign. If the HIV-related work you do at all intersects with Black folks, this is worth your time to read -- and to complete the survey!

Oni Blackstock, MD MHS@oniblackstock.bsky.social · 6mo ago

On this eve of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NBHAAD, PrEP in Black America is facing this critical moment by creating an HIV Policy Impact Tracker to track policy impacts on Black communities, and we need your help in this important effort. Read more here: www.thebody.com/piba-tracker

We’re Tracking HIV Policy Impacts on Black Communities—and We Need Your Help A new initiative from PrEP in Black America creates accountability where federal systems fail. Feb 6, 2026 By: Danielle Campbell, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Leisha McKinley-Beach, M.P.H.; John Meade, M.P.H.; Oni Blackstock, M.D., M.H.S. This article is part of a collaboration between TheBody and PrEP in Black America.