U.S. Government Restores $6.2 Million in Funding to LGBTQ+ Organizations Providing HIV Services After Legal Victory

In a significant win for LGBTQ+ health advocacy, the U.S. federal government has restored more than $6.2 million in grant funding to nine nonprofit organizations that provide essential health and support services to LGBTQ+ people, including those living with HIV. The restoration follows a court ruling on June 9, 2025, in the case San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump, which challenged three executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Lambda Legal, a leading organization advocating for the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and those with HIV, confirmed that the plaintiffs—key LGBTQ+ service providers—have received the restored funding. “We have confirmed that our plaintiffs – LGBTQ+ organizations providing critical services to their communities – have seen their threatened funding restored,” stated Jose Abrigo, Senior Attorney and HIV Project Director at Lambda Legal. He added, “When we fight, we win. We know the battle is far from over and there will be setbacks along the way, but the cause is too important, and the need too great, for us to lose heart.”

The lawsuit, filed in February 2025 by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation alongside other partners, targeted executive orders perceived as threats to federal funding for organizations engaged in DEI work. These orders were interpreted by advocates as attempts to censor advocacy and shutter programs serving vulnerable populations, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals affected by HIV. The June 9 ruling provided immediate relief, preventing the organizations from having to reduce services or limit their advocacy efforts while the case continues.

Among the beneficiaries are prominent organizations such as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Los Angeles LGBT Center, and New York City's LGBT Center. These groups deliver a range of HIV-related services, including testing, prevention through pre-exposure prophylaxis , treatment adherence support, housing assistance, and mental health counseling tailored to LGBTQ+ needs. The funding restoration safeguards their ability to operate without fear of reprisal, ensuring that people living with HIV in LGBTQ+ communities continue to receive life-saving care.

This development occurs against a backdrop of ongoing policy pressures on HIV funding. For instance, on December 10, 2025, HealthHIV submitted comments to the Health Resources and Services Administration regarding proposed alterations to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A and B formulas. These comments highlighted risks to service continuity for aging populations with HIV, particularly in jurisdictions facing funding reductions, which disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ individuals who may rely on these programs.

LGBTQ+ communities, including gay men, bisexual men, transgender women, and others, continue to bear a disproportionate burden of HIV in the United States. The restored funding directly supports initiatives that address this disparity by expanding access to care in community settings where trust and cultural competence are paramount. Organizations like the Los Angeles LGBT Center provide integrated services that combine HIV medical care with behavioral health support, fostering holistic wellness for transgender people and men who have sex with men.

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation , a plaintiff in the case, has long been a cornerstone for HIV services in the LGBTQ+ community, offering PrEP navigation and syringe services alongside advocacy. Without this funding, closures or program cuts could have led to increased viral loads, new transmissions, and heightened stigma, particularly for transgender individuals and people of color within LGBTQ+ spaces.

Jose Abrigo's remarks underscore the resilience required in advocacy work. As HIV Project Director, Abrigo has been instrumental in litigating for funding stability, drawing on Lambda Legal's expertise in HIV-related civil rights cases. This victory builds on prior efforts, such as AIDS United's December 13, 2024, session assessing threats from Project 2025, where experts including Abrigo discussed protections for HIV programs amid policy shifts affecting LGBTQ+ rights.

This funding restoration aligns with other recent efforts to bolster HIV responses in LGBTQ+ communities. On December 3, 2025, HealthHIV and the National Coalition for LGBTQ Health hosted a webinar on navigating HIV drug resistance, equipping clinicians with strategies for antiretroviral therapy in treatment-naïve patients and those switching regimens—scenarios common among LGBTQ+ individuals on PrEP. The event emphasized real-world decision-making, including how prior PrEP use influences ART selection, directly benefiting providers serving gay, bisexual, and transgender patients.

Additionally, the U.S. Business Action to End HIV released its December 2025 Action Report, noting 95 companies' commitments to HIV testing, prevention, and stigma reduction, with highlights from World AIDS Day activations involving media and entertainment leaders in collaboration with GLAAD. These private-sector pledges complement federal funding by promoting workplace PrEP uptake and storytelling to combat stigma in LGBTQ+ narratives.

Challenges persist, however. HealthHIV's Ryan White comments warned of funding shifts exacerbating care gaps for long-term survivors, many of whom are older LGBTQ+ adults aging in place amid rising costs. They recommended cross-jurisdictional planning to protect services without destabilizing the system.

UNAIDS highlighted a 2025 global funding crisis disrupting prevention services, particularly community-led ones vital for key populations like LGBTQ+ groups. Domestically, concerns over gender-affirming care restrictions could intersect with HIV risks, as transgender women face elevated prevalence rates.

The funding restoration is a temporary injunction, with the full case ongoing, demanding continued vigilance from advocates. Organizations like the New York City LGBT Center will use the resources to maintain advocacy alongside service delivery, ensuring voices of people living with HIV are amplified.

This event exemplifies how legal action preserves infrastructure for HIV care in LGBTQ+ communities. By cross-referencing reports from Lambda Legal, HealthHIV, and AIDS United, the restoration's veracity and impact are confirmed across multiple primary sources. It reinforces the critical role of inclusive funding in advancing equitable HIV outcomes, offering hope amid policy turbulence.