HIV/AIDS Activists & Advocates Demonstrate Ability to Overcome Apathy, Complacency and Stigma

HIV/AIDS Activists & Advocates Demonstrate Ability to Overcome Apathy, Complacency and Stigma Michael Emanuel Rajner National Secretary - Campaign to End AIDS Founding Member - Campaign to End AIDS-FLORIDA Tel: (954) 272-8131 ▪ (305) 677-3506 Today, members of Campaign to End AIDS-Florida attended Fort Lauderdale's New Mount Olive Baptist Church's prayer vigil for the healing of AIDS as part of The Balm in Gilead's "The Black Church Week of Prayer." The service was moving as approximately 80 people crowded into a chapel to share in prayer for the healing of persons living with HIV/AIDS and for society to demand an end to systematic disenfranchisement of marginalized and vulnerable populations. As evidenced often in the past, the New Mount Olive Baptist Church serves as a leader among Black Churches in the fight against AIDS and the stigma that often follows. Ministers from New Mount Olive Baptist Church have also offer to assist one of our members in organizing a faith-based event for April - we will report more on the event as it develops. C2EA-FLORIDA also salutes Adriane Reesey of the Broward County Sheriff's Office for her continued leadership in the community and her attendance at the service. Andriane has often responded to community concerns and made a point to have the Broward County Sheriff's Office represented on the training conference calls of C2EA's national partners. The nature of these calls varied in topic from prison rape to HIV prevention and education in the jail system. It is an honor for C2EA and it's state affiliates to partner with other organizations that advocate for social justice and play a role in connecting the community with resources that serve as teaching tools. The past few months have been very hopeful for the HIV/AIDS community. Last month, we learned of a reported 7% decrease in HIV-infections among the African American/Black community and witness an increase in outspoken leadership of members of the community. The Florida Department of Health released of it's "Silence is Death" report and is reminiscent of ACT-UP's "Silence Equals Death" and the success activists have historically with raising the level of HIV/AIDS awareness. And as a bureaucratic institution, they need to be commended for their call to action, demand and participation in an amazing community mobilization effort in Miami/Dade County as part of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Nationally, members of Campaign to End AIDS are encouraged with the fast growing number of people that are continually coming forward to learn how to increase their skills in advocacy and activism and yet not have to negotiate with a funding source to obtain this knowledge. Personally, I thank Housing Works in Brooklyn, NY for underwriting the expense of our conference call system that makes our efforts to reach out to others throughout the nation possible. As people that are dependent upon government programs to ensure better or the hope for stable health conditions, we are growing more frustrated with an administration that continually challenges the 110th Congress to reduce funding for entitlement programs that designed to help the less fortunate. This past weekend was an amazing moment for advocacy skills building as C2EA and some of our national partners (Housing Works and National Association of People With AIDS -NAPWA) organized a training "Advocacy and Action" at the Positive Living 10 Conference sponsored by AIDS Oasis in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Over 100 people were standing proud during our session as people who will not allow the stigma of HIV/AIDS to stop them from making a difference to effect positive change. These individuals have begun the process to believe they have the potential to facilitate positive change and remove the barriers that prevent progress. These advocates/activists formed seven working groups and identified issues such as: Employment Discrimination, Housing, "46% is not acceptable" among Gay Black Men, Healthcare, Access to Medications, Access to Transportation and Prevention & Education and continue to formulate actions to respond to these issues. This Tuesday, the Housing Working Group met again; this time by conference call, and on Thursday members will of the "46% Is Not Acceptable Among Gay Black Men Working Group will meet. The Campaign to End AIDS and national partners are excited to have helped these people find their voice and assist in the advancement of these individuals and their needs. C2EA-FLORIDA is once again very appreciative to Bio-Scrip and CommCare Pharmacies for their support to helping us rent a 12-passenger van and transport several people living with HIV/AIDS from South Florida to the conference. Yours in the fight!