CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Calling themselves Star Whore III, a raucous group of protesters stormed the media center at the International AIDS Conference site in Vienna on Tuesday afternoon, twirling red umbrellas and catching journalists by surprise with chants of "PEPFAR kills sex workers!" and "Face us, Goosby!"
The group, organized by the Global Network of Sex Work Projects, loudly criticized Eric Goosby, the U.S. global AIDS coordinator and chief implementer of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which requires that any organization that receives PEPFAR dollars must have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking.
After protesters circled a stunned media center, word quickly spread through the crowd that Goosby himself was in a nearby press briefing to discuss male circumcision and HIV. Activists pounded on the door to the briefing, overwhelmed security staff, and jumped a dais to surround Goosby. Security officials quickly whisked him through a rear exit as activists chanted, "Why do you flee from us?"
Sex worker activists are calling for a revision of PEPFAR that would decriminalize sex work, ensure universal access to HIV services, increase economic and social opportunities for sex workers, and allow for better HIV testing, treatment, and care.
"We're here to demand justice, health care, and safety," said Liz Copeland, a sex worker and activist who traveled to Vienna from the United States. "I'm ashamed to be part of a world where sex workers are killed by governments who refuse to provide free condoms."
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
31 Period Films of Lesbians and Bi Women in Love That Will Take You Back
December 09 2024 1:00 PM
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’
September 13 2024 2:28 PM
Melania Trump cashed six-figure check to speak to gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago
August 16 2024 5:57 PM
These 15 major companies caved to the far right and stopped DEI programs
January 24 2025 1:11 PM
True
Latest Stories
HRC, Lambda Legal sue to stop Trump's transgender military ban
February 06 2025 8:50 PM
DOGE staffer resigns over uncovered racist posts
February 06 2025 7:18 PM
​'Heightened Scrutiny' is a somber reminder of why we fight for trans rights
February 06 2025 6:31 PM
NCAA caves and says it will obey Trump order banning trans athletes
February 06 2025 4:54 PM
Vision for long-delayed memorial to Pulse victims finally comes into view
February 06 2025 4:34 PM
Publishers and library sue Idaho over book ban that defines 'homosexuality' as 'harmful to minors'
February 06 2025 12:35 PM
Anti-trans Republican Nancy Mace doubles down on dehumanizing transphobic slur during hearing
February 06 2025 10:27 AM