Atlanta’s Saving Ourselves Symposium Unites Black LGBTQ+ HIV Advocates for Collective Action

ATLANTA, GA — This week, Atlanta became the epicenter of a powerful national conversation about HIV, health equity, and the future of the Black LGBTQ+ community. The Saving Ourselves Symposium (SOS), presented by the Southern AIDS Coalition, brought together advocates, researchers, healthcare providers, and community members for four transformative days of strategy, solidarity, and action.

Running from August 20 through August 23 at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest Gala, the 2026 symposium gathered under the theme Collective Action for Collective Impact — a call that reflects the urgency of the moment and the understanding that sustainable progress requires coordinated movement across sectors.

Why Atlanta, Why Now

Atlanta is no stranger to the HIV epidemic’s devastating impact on the Black community. Georgia consistently ranks among the states with the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses, and Black residents — particularly Black gay and bisexual men — bear a disproportionate burden of the epidemic. The city’s positioning as a hub for Southern Black LGBTQ+ life makes it a natural host for one of the most critical public health gatherings of the year.

Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed on August 20, served as a powerful anchor for the symposium’s opening days. A reception at Atlanta City Hall recognized the work of Southern advocates and marked the occasion with community, reflection, and renewed commitment to the fight ahead.

What Happened at the Symposium

The 2026 SOS featured an ambitious itinerary designed to move participants beyond conversation and into action. Plenaries addressed the latest HIV research, prevention strategies, and treatment access. Skills-building workshops equipped advocates with tools for community organizing, policy advocacy, and narrative change. Strategic planning sessions brought organizations together to align priorities and coordinate efforts across the South.

The symposium also made space for joy and celebration — hallmarks of Black LGBTQ+ community-building. A red carpet gala and a Queer Soul Brunch provided attendees with opportunities to celebrate community, honor advocates, and build the kinds of relationships that sustain movement work for the long haul.

Among the participating organizations was the Normal Anomaly Initiative, which creates barrier-reducing, narrative-changing resources for marginalized communities. Their presence at the symposium highlighted the growing role of community-led organizations in shaping HIV advocacy in the South.

The Stakes for Black LGBTQ+ Atlanteans

For Black LGBTQ+ Atlanteans, the Saving Ourselves Symposium is not just an event — it is a lifeline. At a time when federal funding for HIV prevention programs is uncertain, when healthcare access is shrinking, and when LGBTQ+ communities face intensifying political attacks, spaces of collective strategy and community care are more essential than ever.

Atlanta’s Black LGBTQ+ organizations have long demonstrated resilience, creativity, and power in the face of systemic challenges. The connections forged and strategies developed at this year’s SOS will ripple outward into neighborhoods, clinics, churches, and city halls across the region.

Resources for Black LGBTQ+ Atlanteans

If you missed this year’s symposium or want to get more involved in HIV advocacy in Atlanta, connect with the Southern AIDS Coalition, the Normal Anomaly Initiative, and local organizations like AID Atlanta and the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center. HIV testing, PrEP access, and mental health support resources are available throughout metro Atlanta.

Remember: knowing your status is power. Getting tested regularly, staying on treatment if you’re living with HIV, and accessing PrEP if you’re at risk are the most powerful individual actions you can take — and your community has your back every step of the way.

“We are divine, we are spiritual, we matter — and for us to get it clear that we don’t have to ask anybody for permission to exist.” — Dr. Daniel Black, Clark Atlanta University

Black Atlanteans celebrates the Saving Ourselves Symposium and everyone who showed up to fight for our community’s health, dignity, and future.