In late March, AIDSWatch gathered over 650 HIV-positive people and their allies on Capitol Hill for some face time with members of Congress. The goal was, as it is every year, to educate representatives about the issues people living with HIV face, drum up support for changes in HIV policy and laws, including criminalization, and demand increases in funding for HIV/AIDS research and education.

Although the GOP’s recent failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act means that Obamacare is still the law of the land, House Speaker Paul Ryan has pledged to act on the health legislation in the future, which means affordable insurance for all remains imperiled and advocacy is still a priority. Nonetheless, AIDSWatchers were hopeful and united in their mission to hold those we elect accountable, as the evidence shared on social media attests.