25 faces: Leaders fighting HIV/AIDS in Colorado

6 Jeff Basinger

After being diagnosed with HIV in 1985, Jeff Basinger began volunteering his time with the Grand Junction Colorado AIDS Project. Through his own personal development living with the disease, Basinger became involved in Coloradans Working Together Preventing HIV/AIDS before being hired as the part-time Resource Coordinator for the Western Colorado AIDS Project.

Basinger’s resume in advocacy work is impressive. He was implemental in creating Colorado ManREACH which helped to build heart-centered connections and community for gay and bi men in rural Colorado.

“Unfortunately the issues of stigma, discrimination and marginalization still persist,” Basinger said. “The stigma is still driven by a conservative ideology that takes a public health issue and attempts to make it a moral debate around sexual identities and behaviors, addictions, poverty, racism, sexism and other disparities.”

Basinger calls for increased efforts in politics, economics, advocacy, media, churches and human rights to bring new HIV infection rates down – and find a cure.

“I’ve gained renewed hope that we can have an AIDS-free generation and stop new HIV infections,” he said. “However with only 30 percent of people with HIV/AIDS having undetectable viral loads in the U.S., there is a long way to go about creating better access to care and reducing disparities across cultural divides.”

Basinger is currently the Northern Regional Director for CAP.