UNITED AND FIGHTING STIGMA

AS A COMMUNITY :

All of us need a family

By: Michael Emanuel Rajner, National Secretary - Campaign to END AIDS secretary@c2ea.org

Wilton Manors, Florida - Several heterosexual African American members of C2EA-FLORIDA drove up from Miami to celebrate one of the few days of the year when the gay community tosses aside their armor that protect themselves from a world where fear, hate and oppression are among the driving forces further marginalizing a population of individuals. Just the other week, activists throughout the State of Florida joined in solidarity to condemn the words of hate expressed by Florida State Representative Dr. D. Alan Hays (R-Lake County) to representatives of Positive Healthcare, when he stated that his gay cousin deserved to die from AIDS (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-bk-hays-61507,0,4624276.story). As a gay man living with AIDS, I was honored to celebrate this day with Miami based fighting family members that know HIV/AIDS is a health issue and not one of morality. While in the parade line up I spoke with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Broward County) and encouraged her as a Member of Congress to make certain the Early Treatment for HIV Act (ETHA) is enacted. I urge her that as a Member of the House Appropriations Committee that that HIV/AIDS community needs her leadership to ensure AIDS care, treatment and support services are fully funded - she vowed to be that leader and voice. Several local city and county commissioners participated in the parade to show their support of the community, I took the opportunity to speak with several on issues that are adversely impacting the care and treatment of many locals’ residents including myself. Their interest to better understand the issues impacting of a population suffocating in apathy was the sign of a new era.

Locally, the over pouring and genuine interest of other city and county commissioners that I spoke with inspired me. The commissioners wanted to understand the issues and learn how to increase their leadership for the HIV/AIDS community. The Dodge Ram Truck made its way past the crowds, symbolizing the ram tuff activist and passion within us. Tim drove us up Wilton Drive, as they cheered and chanted "END AIDS NOW!" Their voices yearning for hope was humbling for us they experienced Campaign to End AIDS traveling past them. The HIV/AIDS community wants a change! It is yearning for new leadership to inspire and empowers them to overcome the quicksand apathy and complacency. Last week I spoke with a long term AIDS survivor, he shared with me that in the early day’s people we were a community and eagerly volunteered time. A time when people where moved to action to truly care for every life ravaged by AIDS. They aimed to ease the horror of an undignified death that guaranteed to rip whatever dignity and soul a person contained. He noted that as public funding increased there was an inverse relationship between volunteerism and apathy. We need to reignite the movement and end the genocide of marginalized and vulnerable populations. We must always strive to educate to bring about greater hope and change. Everyday medical science advances in ways to suppress the HIV-virus and slow the disease progression. Yet, people are still dying and battling the disease while fighting the realities and impact of poorly funded programs. The battle is undignified and the process in which to access care, treatment and services is becoming increasingly inhumane. While riding on top of the Dodge Ram truck it became clear that the fight must strengthen to develop a plan to end AIDS and teach people to empower themselves and engage in advocacy. I am fueled with strength to fight for the underserved individual that calls me and share their horror in trying to access medical care and treatment, mental health and substance abuse services, housing, food, transportation, legal services and more. Are we addressing the individual's crisis with a client-focus approach? Are we treating the entire individual or just applying a band aid to hold them over? As a nation, are we making an effort to end not only the pain and suffering from HIV/AIDS, but ending AIDS it? Over the past few months I have been involved with the Transgender Equality Rights Initiatives (T.E.R.I.) group that is focusing on educating the community on human rights issues effecting transgender individuals. At one meeting, one member stood and shared her story of being targeted with a letter bomb that now leaves her with only one hand and partial vision. The hate, oppression and marginalization they are forced to languish have inspired leaders in the community to vow that the transgender community will not be left behind in the fight for equality. As part of the T.E.R.I. social justice movement, we planned Wigapalooza to serve as our educational track to help educate the community at-large on issues of housing, employment and public accommodations they suffer. Our Grand Illusionist Noel of Beauty by Noel (http://www.beautybynoel.com/) and her fellow artists captivated the hearts of the hundreds of that gathered and watched in amazement. The artists moved the audience to tears when they shared true accounts of hate and discrimination. The GLBT community responded with resounding support for their fellow rainbow family members. It was an honor to stand along side two amazing ladies identifying as transgender and have been invited by them to join in the fight for equal rights only two months ago. Their faces lit up like that of a child on Christmas morning during and after the performance. This was also their day to celebrate PRIDE! The audience provided them with the hope and reassurance they needed to know that the leadership of the GLBT community is along side them in the fight for equal rights. With you in the Fight! Compassion without Action = DEATH