Yuri Yorsky, an LGBT human rights activist from Ukraine, is a programme manager at the Eurasian Coalition for Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM). Yuriy works to promote human rights, combat stigma and discrimination, and promote HIV services for gay and trans people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Yuri Yorsky’s participation will strengthen EECA’s presence within the Global Network’s expertise and help to better highlight the region’s specificities and the needs of LGBT people living there.
“For me, this is another advocacy opportunity to speak out about the challenges faced by HIV-positive LGBT people in the EECA region,” says Yuri Yorsky, “It is important because the information agenda in the world is saturated and the voice of the community can be lost. I am glad that I will be able to present the best practices that we have collected at ECOM to colleagues from all over the world and hear the experience of other regions. For me, participation in the GNP+ board is the next step in the development of my personal HIV activism.”
Yuriy has been living with HIV for 10 years. He is convinced that HIV-positive status is one of the identities of a person and should not be silenced or hidden. Moreover, this status affects one’s life, worldview and life choices. “It is very important to speak publicly about your different identities, to set an example, to do fireplace talks. It is very important to raise the visibility of HIV-positive people and the LGBT community,” he said.
In addition, the new GNP+ board member plans to work on international platforms where the Global Network is present to more actively raise resources to address pressing issues facing communities in the region.
In addition to Yuri Yorsky, the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) has elected two new board members. Susan Cole from the UK and Miguel Angel Lopez from Colombia joined the GNP+ team.
“This year marks a new era in GNP+ leadership, and we are optimistic about the future of the global AIDS response,” said Rodrigo Olin, Chair of the GNP+ Board, “The dedication and experience of our new board members strengthens our governance structure, firmly securing our important role in shaping the health and rights of all people living with HIV.