I am honored to be one of the authors of this international manifesto: No Data No More: Manifesto to Align HIV Prevention Research with Trans and Gender Diverse Realities, written and informed by trans and gender-diverse (TGD) global activists, with support and solidarity from AVAC. Here's my statement from the Preamble:

Around the world, we need HIV research that is accurate, comprehensive and free of the very stigma and biases that are at the heart of the decades-long HIV pandemic. Yet the majority of research protocols, articles and conference presentations still speak of “men” and “women”, as if these binary designations include all people at risk of, or living with, HIV.

This language and conduct are not only inaccurate—they risk the very integrity of HIV research itself and perpetuate the marginalization of trans and gender diverse people.

This will not be corrected by simply adding the word “cisgender” or extending research based on the assumption that trans people are in the “wrong bodies” or all seeking to emulate binary lives. It’s far past time to put trans and gender diverse researchers and community members in positions of power in trial design, prioritization, funding and analysis.

We don’t need to waste any more time getting this wrong, as lives depend on it.