Celebrating HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day With The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation

Every year on February 28th, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) unites advocates, allies, people living with HIV, and justice leaders to observe HIV Is Not A Crime Day, a moment to confront outdated laws and ignite urgent policy change in the United States.

This year, ETAF marked HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day with the exciting announcement of two new 2026 Champions, Laverne Cox, award‑winning star of Orange Is The New Black and powerhouse LGBTQIA+ and trans activist, and Amber Riley, celebrated actress, singer, songwriter, and star of Glee, who is also recognized as a prominent racial justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, and mental health advocate and activist. These iconic voices now join ETAF’s national campaign to modernize decades‑old criminal statutes that still treat HIV status as a crime in more than 30 states.

Below, watch Laverne Cox walk through the evolution of HIV/AIDS and explain the harmful, discriminatory laws that the United States put in place in its wake. 

In the 1980s, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic raged, Elizabeth Taylor tapped into the power of compassion and used her unparalleled platform to advocate for those living with and affected by the virus. In doing so, she became the first globally recognized celebrity HIV and AIDS activist. In 1991, she established ETAF to provide support to direct-service initiatives for people living with HIV. Today, ETAF continues to work tirelessly in service of this mission, and Elizabeth’s outspoken call to destigmatize HIV and support affected communities continued to inspire new generations of activists and policymakers.

Learn more about The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and more about the HIV Is Not A Crime initiative.