Out-FM

Tue, May 5, 2026 20:00 PM

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Hosts: OutFM Collective

Topics:

ICE THREATENS TO DEPORT AIDS ACTIVIST; CARIB EQUALITY -
ICE Threatens to Deport Longtime AIDS Activist -
Michelle Lopez -
Michelle Lopez is a beloved national and international pioneer in HIV advocacy, research. and community care. She is a proud Black Latina bisexual woman who is now facing the threat of deportation by ICE to Trinidad, a Caribbean island where she hasn' - called "alien" ID number, and having lived in the U.S. for 42 years. She has absolutely no criminal record.
Michelle Lopez was diagnosed with AIDS at age 25 in 1991, so she’s been a long - term survivor for 35 years, now age 59, using a combination of modern prescription drugs and nutritional treatments. She has two children, Raven, 35, also living with HIV and also an AIDS activist, and Rondell, age 39, as well as three grandchildren.
Women Demand Access to Treatments -
Since the 1990s Michelle has been a fierce advocate and counselor for people with HIV, especially women, people of color, and immigrants. In 1994, Michelle was one of several women with HIV who testified at a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing, he - based movement.
Among many other roles over three decades, Michelle has served as Board Chair of the Bronx Community Pride Center; Board member of Caribbean Women Health Association; Co - Chair of the Consumer Advisory Committee of the NYS Dept. of Health Quality of Care Community Advisory Board; Campaign Coordinator of NY HIV Treatments Work at the CDC; and professionally as a licensed clinician, credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse C
Michelle has been repeatedly honored, including being listed as one of the POZ 100 HIV/AIDS leaders – and POZ is the national magazine about living with HIV -
The GoFundMe appeal for Michelle’s legal expenses (now paused) is here. -
The 1996 cover feature story in POZ is here. -
A 2018 profile in HIV Positive Magazine is here. -
A 2022 interview with Michelle by Making Gay History is here. -
Any questions or letters attesting to Michelle’s character can be sent care of Out - FM at show@outfm.org.
ssssss -
Segment 2: -
Caribbean Equality Project -
As Trump clamps down on immigration to the U.S., there are resources in New York City to fight back. One such resource is the Caribbean Equality Project (CEP), founded in 2015 by Mohamed Q. Amin, an Indo - Caribbean queer Muslim immigrant and survivor of anti
CEP provides culturally grounded legal help (asylum, name/gender marker changes), emergency relief, housing and immigration assistance, peer support groups, mental health referrals, and gender - affirming care navigation. The organization centers Afro
CEP engages in policy and coalition advocacy: wins include contributions to the Trans Equity Fund (~$13.725M), Housing Access Voucher funding, Safe Haven protections for trans youth, and campaigning for right - to
CEP reports increased barriers to asylum and heightened deportation risks under current federal immigration policy, stressing lack of counsel, language/technology/literacy barriers, and detention concerns. CEP’s website is caribbeanequalityproject.o -
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Synopsis: ICE THREATENS TO DEPORT AIDS ACTIVIST; & Caribbean Equality Project

Guests:

Michelle Lopez, HIV/AIDS Community Activist -
Mohamed Q. Amin, an Indo - Caribbean queer Muslim immigrant and survivor of anti
Tiffany Jade Monroe, a multiracial trans woman from Guyana and undocumented asylum seeker. Tiffany is CEP’s Trans Justice Manager; she rose from volunteer to lead trans - centered programs.

Playlist:

Backlash Blues by Nina Simone -
No One Is Illegal - David Rovics
It Isn't Nice - Abolish ICE

Info / Links:

https://outfm.org/liberation/index.php/home/internship-application/713-caribbean-equality-project

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