Im

eighteen; Im living in my car Felipe stammered. His voice was shaky

and fragile, and broke in midsentence. I have HIV and I dont know what to do. I
think Im going to die. Even from the other side of the phone, his terror and
helplessness was palpable. My papa kicked me out when I told him I was gay,
Felipe continued, Im sick and I dont have anyone to help me.
I was only a month into my position as an intake specialist at AIDS Services of
Austin when Felipe called. Our case management services were waitlisted. He would
have to wait weeks for a caseworker of his own. This meant Felipe would have no
help accessing proper health care, counseling, medication, or housing assistance.
There would be no resources available until a spot opened up
Time was not a luxury Felipe could afford. The symptoms he described
matched a serious opportunistic infection, and his feelings of grief, abandonment,
and desperation marked him at high risk for substance abuse and self-harm. His
physical and psychological health were deteriorating at an alarming rate.
I immediately requested that Felipes case be expedited. In addition, I asked
him to meet with me on an ongoing basis while he waited for a caseworker, to which
Felipe agreed. As an intake specialist, I had no caseload of my own. My job was to
screen clients, not to counsel them. However, I did have the latitude to meet with
potential clients to determine their needs and make referrals to outside programs.
In this case, I was ready to exercise that flexibility to the fullest.
When we first met, Felipe talked about his papa. His father was a Mexican
emigrant and devout Catholic with strong opinions about traditional gender norms.

Felipes father saw his sons sexuality as an affront to Mexican machismo; an insult
to his family and his culture. He disowned Felipe, stripping him of his home, his
family, and even his health insurance.
Felipe and I moved quickly to request the support and services he urgently
needed. We submitted stacks of applications and sat through hours of eligibility
screeningsworking in both English and Spanish. By the end of the week, Felipe
was in transitional housing supported by a federal grant. Soon after, he was enrolled
in the national Pre-existing Condition Insurance Program. His monthly premium and
medication deductible were covered by the Ryan White Fund. He also began seeing
a psychologist specializing in HIV-positive youth. Felipe attended his first doctors
visit before even meeting his caseworker. Shortly afterward, he received the
medication that would help rebuild his immune system.
It was two years ago that Felipe and I worked together. Today, I run Austins
first full-time, HIV-specific health insurance and medication access program. This
program provides hundreds of thousands of dollars annually towards health
insurance premiums, medication co-pays, and deductibles. Additionally, I continue
to work with my clients and other community partners to formulate innovative
solutions for difficult problems. Over the past year, we have established
crowdsourcing campaigns to provide clients with the medications that government
programs refuse to fund. We have also paved the way for the first smart phone
application capable of guiding people through the process of obtaining HIV
medication.

Unfortunately, public health programs are rarely able to challenge the

prejudice and discrimination that HIV positive individuals experienceboth in their
daily lives and while attempting to access treatment. I have seen tenants evicted and
employees fired upon disclosing their HIV status. These vulnerable individuals
rarely have the means to fight back. Texas is one of twenty-nine states where it is
legal to evict tenants and terminate employment on the basis of ones sexuality or
gender. As many HIV positive individuals are members of the LGBT community, this
lack of legal protection provides a convenient smoke-screen for offended landlords
and businesses. Pharmaceutical companies and health insurance providers are also
able to take advantage of those living with HIV. Drug companies routinely charge
thousands of dollars before HIV medications can be dispensed, while health
insurance providers shirk coverage responsibilities by requiring oppressive cost-
sharing or co-insurance.
As a student at ____ Law, I will share my experiences as a public health
advocate for those suffering with HIV. Through legal reform and interdisciplinary
discourse, I believe we can build a stronger and more informed health care system.
To do so, however, we must bridge the gap in access to quality health care, reinforce
the social safety net for our most vulnerable populations, and abolish discrimination
on the basis of race, gender, and sexuality,