This year on World AIDS Day we are in challenging times.
The U.S. economy is in recession. We’ve lost $400 million in AIDS prevention funds. Corporate giving has collapsed.
But we shall survive; just as we did in 1983 when a group of Gay men stormed the stage of the Gay and Lesbian Health Summit in Denver, Colorado declaring:
“We condemn attempts to label us as “victims”, a term which implies defeat, and we are only occasionally “patients”, a term which implies passivity, helplessness, and dependence on others. We are people with AIDS.”
This was the basis for the founding principles of the National Association of People With AIDS and it remains our guide today. But today’s battles demand a new AIDS activism.
It must be inclusive and strategic. It must bring together a new alliance of people living with HIV/AIDS; government agencies and health departments; private sector corporations; the pharmaceutical industry and academia. We won’t always agree with one another but together we can face the new challenges of HIV/AIDS today:
Limited resources, meaningful health care reform, and providing quality care and treatment to the 200,000 uninsured people living with HIV/AIDS.
This is NAPWA’s battle. Today our board of trustees represents all the stakeholders in this battle, but as always the majority of trustees are people living with HIV/AIDS. This will never change.
NAPWA is the nation’s oldest AIDS organization. Our proud history dates from 1983, through the days of ACT-UP to the now more enlightened age of President Obama. We demonstrate our advocacy each year by helping empower positive people across the nation, by sponsoring National HIV Testing Day, National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and AIDS WATCH, which thanks to supporters like you this past year brought a record number of activists to lobby a record number of members of Congress.
We are strong because of you.
It is our stories as people living with HIV and AIDS which make the difference!
This fall NAPWA held a PLWHA Town Hall Meeting in Ohio. We heard several critical issues reminding us of the work which lies ahead:
From Greg we were reminded that when we’re “afraid” of stating that we’re HIV positive, we encourage AIDS Stigma. “We are the Face which can change AIDS.”
From Denise we learned that peer support from PLWHAs for PLWHAs is a critical quality of life issue.
From Munch we learned that PLWHA still “fear” losing employment if they disclose their HIV Status.
From Nathaniel we were strongly reminded that we must mentor “New Leaders” for the AIDS Movement. We need young people who can be our future leaders.
From Larry we learned that in this new electronic age, PLWHAs need internet access to be connected to important HIV care and treatment information and to each other.
From one case manager we learned that PLWHAs need real power and not just tokens on consumer advisory boards.
NAPWA’s town halls have taught us that if we listen, we the people living with HIV and AIDS do have a lot to contribute. Together we can create “change we can believe in”.
We need your help. Join us in the battle. Join NAPWA now!
–Frank Oldham, Jr. NAPWA President and CEO
