AIDS United

The State of the Union – From the Inside

February 15, 2013 in Policy/Advocacy

By Melissa Donze, Zamora Fellow, AIDS United

The first time I went to the White House, I was 11 years old. I was on a family vacation in D.C., and the only thing I can remember is standing outside the North Portico after our tour and my dad taking pictures of my brother and me, which he has since framed and kept in his living room. The second time I went to the White House was just this past week, when I was invited to watch the State of the Union. Not everyone can say they’ve been to the White House, let alone twice. But being invited to the White House to watch the State of the Union? Now that’s something to write about.

Last week, I stumbled upon a tweet inviting individuals who actively engage with the White House through social media to apply for a spot at the 2013 State of the Union White House Social, an opportunity to watch an interactive, live-stream of the State of the Union and discuss the address afterwards with White House officials. I often use social media, namely Facebook and Twitter, to share news related to HIV and other issues that are important to me. While I didn’t think I would actually be selected, I applied thinking it was a great opportunity to engage with others who advocate through social media. To my great surprise, I received an email from the White House congratulating me on being selected to attend the State of the Union White House Social!

February 12, the night of the State of the Union address, finally rolled around, and I could barely contain my excitement! I arrived at the White House in time to see President Obama’s motorcade leave for the Capitol, and the 100 of us who were selected to attend made our way into the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Everyone in the room, including myself, was armed with computers, iPads and iPhones, ready to share the President’s address with friends and followers on our various social media venues. The live stream we were viewing was an interactive version of the State of the Union, one that included graphs, charts, pictures and other visuals that enhanced whatever it was that President Obama was speaking about at the time. These visuals helped underscore not only the legitimacy of his address, but also provided us with a well-rounded and comprehensive view of his proposals.

I was pleased that President Obama continued to push a progressive agenda in his State of the Union that supported much of the rhetoric of his inaugural address. His approach to the impending sequester and deficit reduction is a balanced one that must include both spending cuts as well as further revenue increases, which will hopefully ensure that non-defense discretionary programs do not carry the majority of the burden of deficit reduction. The most exciting moment of his address for me was his mention of “realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation, which is within our reach.” I was pleased to know that this is a priority for his Administration, and I believe that if we commit the resources required by the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the recent PEPFAR Blueprint, we can achieve an AIDS-free generation, both domestically and internationally.

Following the address was a Q&A session with White House officials. The panel took questions from those at the event as well as questions submitted online through Twitter, Google+ and Facebook, and it made for a really comprehensive and substantive end to the evening. The event was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to share valuable information with friends and followers on social media, and it really helped me realize the power that social media can and will play in the future of the HIV epidemic, especially when it comes to youth engagement.

While I can’t remember much from my first visit to the White House, I’m sure I’ll remember every moment of this incredible visit…and hopefully it won’t be my last!

You can watch the same interactive version of the State of the Union by clicking here.

Caressa Cameron-Jackson Speaks on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Panel Discussion at Hampton University

February 8, 2013 in Lady Bloggahs

By Natasha Abrams, Senior Sports Management Major at Hampton University
Journalist, Gamma Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

On Thursday February 7, 2013 the Gamma Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (DST) Inc. helped support the fight against HIV/AIDS during a panel discussion featuring Miss America 2010, Mrs. Caressa Cameron-Jackson. Mrs. Cameron-Jackson shared her story of how HIV/AIDS had such a large impact on her life at such a young age.

When she was just a little girl, her uncle was diagnosed with HIV. “He was an African American gay man,” Caressa said. “He eventually stopped taking his medicine and died”. Her uncle’s death encouraged her to want to educate the world about HIV/AIDS because her uncle’s death could have been prevented if others had taken the time to increase their knowledge of the infection. “He [Caressa’s uncle] chose to stop taking his medicine because of the stigma in my family. No one wanted to talk about the fact that my uncle was gay with AIDS nor did they want to do anything to help. He already felt defeated before he could start his fight”.

Mrs. Cameron-Jackson is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Organizer for AIDS United and loves what she does. The Hampton community welcomed her with open arms and was greatly impacted by her knowledge. The Gamma Iota Chapter of DST would like to thank Mrs. Cameron-Jackson and her team for helping to make National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day a success.

Since National Black AIDS Awareness Day fell during Delta Week at Hampton University, we wanted to provide information about HIV/AIDS to the student population and the broader Hampton community to educate them about the impact HIV is having on the African American community. We felt it was important to remind students that you must know your status and practice safer sex. We also wanted to provide an opportunity to get an HIV test onsite.

Professor Carrion (Pharmacy Department) spoke candidly HIV about HIV medications and the real life impact HIV medication has on his clients. He also shared the impact that HIV has had on his family. His aunt was HIV positive and experienced stigma in the family as well as in the community.

Sandra Baker decided to mark National Black AIDS Awareness Day by speaking publically for the first time about her HIV status. Positive for the past eight years, Ms. Baker wanted the Hampton community to know the importance of knowing their HIV status so that transmission can be prevented. She explained that you can still have relationships as an HIV positive person, but you must care for yourself and your partners. She explained she is married, has four children and all of them remain HIV negative.

Aware Enough

February 6, 2013 in HIV/AIDS Awareness Days

by Diedra J. Levi, CEO, Living Affected Corporation

As a Black person, I can tell you that an awareness day is rhetorical because we are aware. We simply haven’t had enough. We haven’t had enough of dying when we don’t have to. We haven’t had enough funerals. We haven’t had enough of seeing someone darken and waste away. We are aware. We are aware that Black gay men are more at risk. We are aware that Black gay men are more likely to be infected. We are aware that Black gay men are more likely to not get the proper treatment and die from this disease. We are aware that Black women are 20 times more likely to become infected with HIV than White women. We simply haven’t had enough.

I am aware that the right person hasn’t been infected and stood up to say that I have HIV. I am aware that the conspiracy theories are still rampant in my community and most think that Magic Johnson was able to afford a cure. I am aware that there is no cure. I am aware and can call names of people who eat a nutritious diet and ingest special herbal treatments to keep the effects of HIV at bay. I’m aware that that’s not enough. I’m aware that the treatment now can bring you back from the brink of death once you have had enough. But we haven’t had enough.

In Arkansas, we still have a death a month of some young gay male less than 30 years of age from a disease they didn’t have to die from so young. Are people aware that poverty and homelessness are more than likely a part of the journey for this young man? Are you aware that if you go up under the bridges of Little Rock that you would find that about 40% of these homeless people are gay? Are we aware that parents beg for a mental diagnosis from a psychiatrist instead of accepting that their child is simply gay? Are we aware that one of the most popular ministers here will dunk a child under the cold waters of baptism to try to wash
away that homosexual demon (that the child might not be aware of) out of them? Yes, I believe we are aware but I don’t believe we have had enough.

I’m aware that if the Atlanta housewife, NeNe, said to take your medication if you have HIV, then we might get some results. I believe if, while on American Idol, Nicki Minaj says to take your medication for your HIV, we might get some results. I even believe that if, from the pulpit, preachers preached love, we might have some results. But they don’t which translates to we haven’t had enough.
When it comes to Black people, I know that when we have had enough, we move and shake mountains. Rosa Parks had had enough. Harriet Tubman had had enough. Colin Powell had had enough. When Rodney King was beaten, we had had enough. But for Black folks and dying from or baring half the burden of HIV/AIDS we haven’t had enough. There is no fight, no riot, and no march. There is the perpetuation of shame, guilt and isolation.

I would like to see Legislators fighting for a chance to speak at a National Black HIV Awareness Day. Each representative will want to tell about how they fought for housing, education, food, treatment and employment that the lack thereof was a trajectory to HIV/AIDS. Senators will tell their stories of how they fought for HIV decriminalization, syringe exchanges, HIV prevention, vaccine and cure funding. National Black HIV Awareness Day should not be a continuation of a festival of free t-shirts and wristbands which is usually attended by those that are well aware. We need to be passionate enough because we have had enough and go door to door spreading the word that the end of AIDS is near. When we find that the masses of those most impacted are aware and they have had enough; maybe National Black HIV Awareness Day will be a celebration of change.

Living Affected Corporation is a grantee of AIDS United’s Southern REACH initiative

Witness to History (Again): Inauguration 2013

January 25, 2013 in Elections 2012, Policy/Advocacy, Uncategorized

By Melissa Donze, Zamora Fellow, AIDS United

Six hours of freezing cold temperatures; six hours of standing in the same place, watching the sun rise over the Capitol; six hours of waiting to hear a single person speak; and it was worth every single second.

Four years ago, I drove to Washington, D.C., with some of my college friends so I could be witness to the historic inauguration of the man who renewed my hope in the collective power of individuals. Being a part of President Obama’s first inauguration is one of my most treasured memories; for the first time in my life, I was part of something bigger than myself, something that we have only begun to understand within the context of history.

Four years later, I found myself in D.C. again, this time as a resident and an advocate for people living with HIV. When the opportunity to attend President Obama’s second inauguration presented itself, I couldn’t say no; I wanted to be a part of history again. This time, the crowd looked different. It was smaller, but hopeful; enthusiastic, but resilient. The past four years had changed all of us in one way or another. I was older, and maybe a little bit wiser. I went abroad and returned home with an altered perspective of the world every time. I graduated from college and got my first taste of the “real world.”

I wasn’t the only one who had changed. President Obama was noticeably greyer this time. Realistic expectations and principles had replaced the unbridled idealism of four years ago. The most noticeable changes, however, were found in his inaugural address. While his first inaugural address was good, it was full of lofty messages and metaphorical abstractions that could have been applied to any time period. This second address, however, was grounded in our time and the struggles we face today. It was guided by the principles of our founding documents and still managed to be forward-moving and progressive. Its premise of equality, the most evident of truths, allowed him to address fair wages for women, gay marriage, voter suppression, immigration, and second amendment controversies. Although he did not directly mention HIV, his address spoke to many of the issues people living with HIV face.

As I stood there and listened to President Obama say the words “Stonewall” and “Newtown,” among many others, my eyes filled with tears. I am so proud that the President will be leading us down the path to ensuring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans. It truly feels to me like we are now on the path to equality.

Remembering Our Friend Dave Purchase

January 23, 2013 in Syringe Services Advocacy

Dave Purchase and syringe services advocates on the day the ban using federal funds for syringe services programs was lifted.

By William McColl, Director of Political Affairs, AIDS United

Dave Purchase, the Executive Director of the North American Syringe Exchange Network passed away on Monday, January 21st. He will be remembered for inspiring, tireless advocacy on syringe. As he always said, “the point is the point!”

Dave Purchase was my friend and my mentor. I will always choose to remember him at a moment of triumph; his visit to the U.S. Capitol in May of 2010 to receive a “Champion of Public Health Awards” at the victory celebration for overturning the ban on the use of federal and local Washington DC funds for syringe exchange in 2009. In a place where Members of Congress address each other as “my friend” and “the honorable member,” Dave used his speech to directly bring in the view from the harm reduction street to Congress. He spoke simply and eloquently about the value and cost effectiveness of syringe exchange programs, but he reminded folks of the extreme cost in lives and money of the 20 years it took to change ignorant laws. I am pretty sure Dave is the only person I’ve heard use the f-word 3 times in a speech at the Capitol. I’m still smiling and I think he was pleased with that – I think he’d enjoy that I’m sharing that with you.

He was right to bring in that viewpoint and right to remind us about the costs because just two years later, the extreme conservative Congress elected in 2010 reinstated the federal ban. That they left the local Washington D.C. ban alone was a small but precious victory that we will work to maintain. Dave was always clear with me that our community will eventually end this horrible policy and we traded thoughts about how to do it relatively frequently. So Dave and I (and each of you too) have unfinished business. All of us will miss Dave’s wise counsel, his incredible wit and common sense; and our journey won’t be quite as fun without him, but it is our promise to Dave that we will eventually end the ban on the use of funds for syringe exchange.

Dave was also a dear friend and colleague of several other AIDS United staff members, who have also shared their memories below. He is irreplaceable. His contributions include saving thousands of people from HIV and in many ways creating the very concept of a harm reduction community and his legacy will live on in the courageous work of others. His loss will be felt throughout the community, as well as here at AIDS United, for many years to come. Dave, we miss you already!

Monique Tula, Director of Access
“Dave Purchase was a man of few, but mighty words. He defied conventional wisdom when he set up his card table and folding chair where he distributed-yes, damn it distributed! – clean sets to people who needed them. He did this quietly, without a lot of fanfare. He didn’t expect to be honored, or revered. He’d likely cringe at the thought being called a legend. And yet he was legendary. Many of us wouldn’t be able to do the work we do if it weren’t for Dave and the legacy he leaves in the form of Point Defiance. Rest now and let us continue what you started so many years ago. Oh, and save a dance for me.”

Shannon Wyss, Grants Manager
“When I started working with the Syringe Access Fund in 2009, I very quickly learned Dave’s name. But it wasn’t until the reception where we all celebrated the (short-lived) lifting of the federal ban that I met him in person. I remember being incredibly impressed with this super-friendly, affable individual and liking him immediately. And I was even more impressed later when such an important figure in the harm reduction community actually remembered my name and where I worked. I always looked forward to his calls, which would invariably start out with, “Shannon, this is Purchase!,” and would be characterized by a little bit of business and a whole lot of friendly back-and-forth, usually with more than a little joking thrown in. There is no one who can match his personality, friendliness, and humor.”

Vignetta Charles, Senior Vice President
“Purchase, to me, represented wisdom and joy. I turned to him for advice for new exchanges who wanted to get off the ground (or go underground, if necessary). I was inspired by how fervently he worked to lift the federal ban. I admired the strategy of the Buyers Club to ensure co-op buying power of low cost syringes. And I relied on the data from his team on the 203 programs operating exchange sites in 34 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Indian Nations.

Most importantly, Purchase was just a really good man who brought joy and light to my days. Every phone call we had involved more than a few laughs. And every time we were in the same room, he would find a way to dance with me. The field has lost a warrior, and many of us lost a friend. There is no replacement. But we will all carry on his legacy.”

Other information:

• Recent article about Dave Purchase and his work: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/01/22/2445412/founder-of-tacoma-needle-exchange.html
• Memorial donations that can help support the work Dave started can be made to the Tacoma Syringe Exchange Program  at http://www.tacomasp.org/

PEPFAR, Prostitution Policy, and the First Amendment

January 18, 2013 in Policy/Advocacy

By Sarah E. Fay, J.D,
Zamora Fellow 2009

This spring, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will decide whether the government can condition PEPFAR funds on the adoption of an explicit anti-prostitution policy.

On January 11 2013, SCOTUS granted a petition for writ of certiorari in the matter of United States Agency for International Development, et al. v. Alliance for Open Society International, Inc., et al. (1)

Specifically, the Court will determine whether a federal conditional spending statute predicated on adoption of a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking violates the First Amendment. The outcome of this case will have far reaching effects throughout the HIV/AIDS community, as two of the respondents collectively include most of the organizations receiving Leadership Act funding in the U.S.

The U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003 (” Leadership Act“) is at the heart of this debate, and it is the primary vehicle for distributing funds for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (“PEPFAR”). The Leadership Act requires organizations receiving funds to have policies affirmatively opposing prostitution and sex trafficking:

No funds made available to carry out this chapter, or any amendment made by this chapter, may be used to provide assistance to any group or organization
that does not have a policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking, except that this subsection shall not apply to the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or to any United Nations agency. 22 U.S.C. §
7631(f).

The Alliance for Open Society International (“AOSI”) claims that the Leadership Act’s Policy Requirement violates First Amendment guarantees by requiring grantee organizations to adopt as their own the government’s viewpoint on prostitution. Moreover, grantees’ First Amendment rights are further offended by the Policy Requirement’s application to grantees’ alternatively funded, private speech. With regard to the substance of anti-prostitution policies, AOSI states that the Policy Requirement impedes its ability to work to fight HIV/AIDS by prohibiting from discussing its work and research at “public health conferences, in publications, and on websites.”(2)

USAID asserts that congressional Spending Power permits Congress to use federal funding to further a government purpose. Here, Congress intended for the Leadership Act to include efforts to prevent the spread of HIV and alter high-risk behaviors associated with spreading the disease. Congressional findings linking prostitution and the spread of HIV serves as a strong foundation for the Policy Requirement’s focus on deterring behavior associated with prostitution. USAID claims that enlisting NGOs to spread a message aimed at preventative measures falls within the purview of SCOTUS precedent and is constitutional. Additionally, USAID notes that organizations are not required to accept the funding if they do not wish to adopt an explicit anti-prostitution policy. In the alternative, the Department of Health and Human Services and USAID, the two agencies tasked with disbursement of Leadership Act funds, have issued nearly identical guidelines allowing grantees to create or work with non-recipient organizations to engage in activities contrary to the Policy Requirement. In its petition, USAID states that this dual structure approach for affiliates “cabin[s] the effects of a restriction on speech,” thereby “cur[ing] any constitutional difficulty” relating to alternatively-funded, private speech.(3)

Aside of First Amendment implications, what is clear here is that organizations focused on HIV/AIDS issues need to be empowered to meet the needs of their communities. The sooner those organizations are able to carry out their work uninhibited, the better.

For a full discussion of the additional issues addressed in this case, please see SCOTUSblog.