Today is World AIDS Day...a day to speak up!

A Message from our President Sally Phillips

Today is World AIDS Day...a day to speak up!

 

                                            http://www.icontact-archive.com/wcaXjq2w0Sv38zuhfDc3iW6XvYsyvB10?w=3

Today, December 1, 2011, is a day that the world remembers those who are affected and inflicted by this horrible disease --- World AIDS Day! The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus joins in this day of remembrance, while we are also reminded of our members, our family and our friends that are bravely battling this disease every day. 

  

I remember clearly in 1981 hearing about a friend who was sick with something that seemed to be affecting gay men - 30 years ago! And that was the beginning of being a caretaker for sick friends, going to many funerals and memorial services and dealing with death much earlier than I ever thought I would. Sadly my story is not unique within the GLBT community. For 30 years it has been difficult for anyone who has been affected by HIV/AIDS and horrible for anyone who is infected with HIV/AIDS. It is for this reason that I am personally angered and saddened when I look at the statistics in this State. · Florida is among the states with the highest number new HIV-infections;





· Florida has the greatest number of people living with HIV/AIDS incarcerated in a state prison;

 

· Florida has the greatest number of people on a wait list to access HIV-medications through the state’s AIDS Drug  Assistance Program (ADAP)  (http://www.nastad.org/);

 

· Florida has a greater number of people living with HIV/AIDS who are victim to HIV-criminalization and being  arrested because Florida has laws that are outdated and not based on modern day science;

 

· Florida falls short in its in HIV/AIDS care, treatment and prevention programs;

 

· Florida bans evidence-based programs like syringe-exchange programs, despite the fact they are proven to decrease the  number of new HIV and Hepatitis C-infections;

 

· Florida ignores the realities of LGBT-youth who are most at risk of infection by failing to establish a minimum state standard for sex education, inclusive of LGBT-people;

 

· Florida fails to have a strategy to effectively reduce the number of HIV-infections, reduce health disparities or improve access to care and health outcomes for People Living with HIV.

 

With this appalling list of how Florida is dangerously failing rather than leading, I must take a moment to acknowledge Florida's Democratic Congressional Delegation, namely Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Congressman Alcee Hastings, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Senator Bill Nelson who have been leading the way for increased funding for AIDS treatment. With unwavering support on this issue, these great leaders understand the importance of making sure Florida doesn’t continue to fail it’s residents. On a national level, under President Obama’s leadership, we now, for the first time, have a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that aims at accomplishing the goals that Florida continues to fall short on. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap/nhas ) 

 

Today, as we take time to remember our loved ones we have lost to HIV/AIDS and honor and embrace those who are bravely battling this disease, we must take note of the long road ahead. We thank Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Congressman Hastings, Congresswoman Wasserman-Schultz, and Senator Bill Nelson for their dedicated efforts in this fight! We encourage all Floridians to take action today. Please contact your elected officials --- from a local level on up ---and encourage them to speak up and out on this issue!

 

With Pride and Peace,

 

Sally Phillips

President, Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus