Michaela Jaé Rodriguez to Receive Inaugural APLA Voice of Visibility Award

Actor Joel Kim Booster will present the award to Rodriguez during the event’s kickoff ceremony, which also features a live performance by singer-songwriter David Archuleta. The walk, themed “Defend Care, Demand Action,” seeks to bridge the persistent gap between available medical advancements and equitable access for marginalized populations, particularly Black and Brown trans women.

APLA Health CEO Craig E. Thompson noted that Rodriguez’s public advocacy keeps the conversation around HIV equity alive at a critical moment. Rodriguez, who made history as the first openly transgender actress to win a Golden Globe for her role in Pose, emphasized that the fight for healthcare access remains a matter of survival. She argued that the community should not be treated as disposable or subject to the shifting political climate. Registration for the fundraiser is currently open at aidswalkla.org, with support from a broad coalition of sponsors including Gilead, Paramount, and ABC 7.