The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) are today launching a $10 million partnership that will provide grants to organisations working to meet the HIV-related needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people, with an initial focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

The new partnership, which will see EJAF and PEPFAR each invest $5 million to improve access to HIV services for LGBT people and help to create non-stigmatizing environments by working with community leaders, civil society, and service providers. By providing funding to grassroots organisations and targeting projects that support LGBT people within countries with a high HIV burden, the move marks an important step toward ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation’s founder, Sir Elton John, said “Our goal is to build a quick, nimble and easily accessible fund which can get funds to the most effective public health organisations doing some of the most important work among the most at risk groups. Today’s announcement marks the culmination of tireless work from both sides to best support those helping the communities around the world which are often the hardest to support through societal stigma and discrimination.”

“We will only achieve an AIDS-free generation and ensure that no one is left behind if all people have non-discriminatory access to HIV/AIDS services,” added U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Deborah L. Birx. “We are proud to partner with Sir Elton John and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Together, we are putting words into action and calling on other partners to join us in meeting the urgent HIV-related needs of LGBT people and stopping stigma in its tracks.”

The announcement was delivered at a celebration at the London residence of Matthew Barzun, the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Ambassador Barzun said: “Step by step, day by day, people are doing the hard work on the ground to pave the way for an AIDS-free generation, and we’re proud to stand with them. We need the passion of people and the power of government to come together to finally eradicate HIV.”