BY: DM
Published 2 weeks ago
For over three decades, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has provided resources for people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization, founded by Sir Elton John, has amplified its efforts to support health programs worldwide – amid significant reductions in U.S. foreign aid under the Trump administration.
The Trump administration’s decision to slash over 80% of USAID programs has left many HIV/AIDS initiatives without critical funding. In response, EJAF launched the Rocket Response Fund, designed to provide immediate relief to affected partners. This fund aims to sustain HIV prevention and treatment services in areas where U.S. support has been withdrawn.
However, EJAF is not new to the advocacy game. The organization has been providing services for decades. Here is a look at the background of the EJAF, and the work John and his team have done.
The EJAF has been around for decades.
In 1992, John, devastated by the loss of friends like Ryan White and Freddie Mercury to AIDS, founded the EJAF. The foundation tackles stigma and discrimination, especially within LGBTQIA+ communities, and ensures access to healthcare for all. Notably, EJAF is a top funder of HIV programs for BIPOC communities in the U.S.
The EJAF launched initiatives like the Rocket Response Fund to support partners affected by changes in U.S. foreign aid policies. Despite setbacks, including being labeled an “undesirable” organization by Russian authorities in 2025, EJAF remains steadfast in its commitment to ending AIDS.
The organization also throws its iconic annual Academy Awards Viewing Party — an all-out, star-studded affair. In 2023, the event pulled in over $9 million, with celebs, philanthropists, and changemakers turning up and showing out. The 2024 soirée featured an “unabashedly gay” performance by Chappell Roan, with appearances by Megan Thee Stallion and Mick Jagger.
“I’m deeply passionate about supporting the queer community in every way I can, and I’m so proud to be part of an organization that fights for equality and provides lifesaving access to care for queer communities,” Roan told Them.
The EJAF is fighting back against Trump.
Donald Trump has launched a series of attacks against the LGBTQIA+ community. However, the EJAF and other organizations are firing back. To boost fundraising efforts, EJAF teamed up with singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile and her Looking Out Foundation. They launched a $1 million campaign, with Carlile’s foundation pledging to match donations up to $100,000.
“Without prompt action, decades of progress in the global fight against HIV could be reversed, creating a global health crisis that we have both the power and the tools to prevent,” John said in a statement to Euro News. “Our mission is more important than ever – we refuse to leave anyone behind – and I’m so fortunate that Brandi is not only a wonderful collaborator and artist, but a dear friend who shares my vision of a world where HIV care is prioritised and protected.”
EJAF continues to fight HIV/AIDS globally, undeterred by the U.S. aid withdrawal. The foundation mobilizes resources, builds strategic partnerships, and pushes for lasting support to protect the progress made in the battle against the epidemic.
What’s one thing you think the U.S. government should be doing to support HIV/AIDS prevention right now? Comment below!
