HRC: Marking World AIDS Day

clipped from www.hrcbackstory.org This post is from HRC Chief Legislative Counsel, Brian Moulton: Today, World AIDS Day, we take the opportunity to look back at the accomplishments made in the last year to fight the epidemic, remind ourselves that the global HIV/AIDS crisis is far from over and recommit to fighting for better prevention, treatment and research efforts, and combating stigma and discrimination based on HIV status, at home and abroad.

The Obama administration has made significant strides on HIV/AIDS domestically and internationally, but much more remains to be done. In October, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a regulation lifting the ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants. When that change becomes effective in January 2010, it will finally put an end to a shameful policy that did nothing to further public health, but served only to stigmatize people with HIV. This policy change has already yielded positive results – the White House announced late yesterday that the International AIDS Society (IAS) will hold the XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC in 2012, the first time the conference has been on American soil since 1990.

In addition, Congress and the President have worked to support prevention, access to care and research efforts. In October, Congress passed and the President signed a four-year extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, ensuring critical care and treatment for hundreds of thousands of low-income Americans. In November, the House passed its health reform legislation, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, including important provisions on HIV/AIDS, among them allowing states to extend Medicaid coverage for early treatment of HIV. The Administration has also invested in a multi-year, $10 million media campaign to refocus national attention on the HIV crisis. After years of complacency, it is time for HIV to be back on the national radar screen with reminders to the American people that HIV is preventable.

However, the work is far from over. More than 56,000 people in the United States are newly infected every year, and HIV/AIDS claims the lives of more than 14,000 Americans annually. The epidemic continues to disproportionately impact LGBT people, especially young men of color. For a powerful reminder of how HIV/AIDS touches the lives of people across the nation, read this powerful op-ed by Kristofer Eisenla in today’s Modesto Bee.

The federal government must continue to commit itself to the most robust response possible to the epidemic, both at home and abroad. HRC will continue its efforts to ensure that Congress and the Administration take every opportunity to support that fight and to eliminate discrimination against people with HIV.

The Department of Health and Human Services has launched a campaign on its website – aids.gov – called “Facing AIDS” and we encourage you to participate by telling your friends and family why you are facing the epidemic today, and every day.