$1 Million City AIDS Funding Goal Pushed - 3826 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

The fight for an additional $900,000 in HIV/AIDS funding from the city of Chicago continues this week, with a public hearing Wed., Nov. 5, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the City Council.

At least 10 aldermen have agreed to lobby for the change in Mayor Richard Daley's proposed 2004 budget. Daley did ask for $100,000 more, but the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is spearheading efforts to get a $1 million increase over 2003 funding levels.

Protests continued outside City Hall last Wednesday, as AIDS activists counter the city's claims that the funding simply is not there. The AIDS increase was the only increase in the entire health budget, and Chicago Health Commissioner John Wilhelm said any funds above the proposed $3.7 million are unlikely.

The city's first openly gay alderman, the 44th Ward's Tom Tunney, along with co-sponsors will introduce a budget amendment this week calling for a $1 million increase for HIV prevention programs. The full City Council may vote on the amendment as early as this week.

The mayor's proposed $3.7 million is less than the city spent on HIV prevention in 1997, reports the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

'Despite demographic changes in the HIV/AIDS epidemic over the past decade, AIDS continues to be a disease that disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men,' said AFC's David Munar, who also provided the following facts:

— Sexual contact between men continues to be the leading mode of HIV transmission in Chicago, accounting for 53% of new HIV cases.

— Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) account for the largest group of people living with AIDS (63%) in Chicago.

— In Chicago, there are more than 11,000 MSMs living with HIV/AIDS.

— Chicago lacks sufficient HIV prevention services—including outreach, HIV testing, and condom availability—at MSM venues, according to a recent research project commissioned by the city and the CDC.

— Syphilis cases among MSMs more than tripled from 2000 to 2001. Like HIV, syphilis is spread by unprotected sex.

— In a national sample, the number of MSMs with HIV rose for the third year in 2002, increasing 7.1% from 2001 to 2002.

— 642 MSMs died of AIDS-related causes in Chicago between 1997 and 2000.

— AIDS deaths overall in Chicago rose 13% from 2000 to 2001.

— 1 in 3 young, African-American MSMs is believed to be HIV-positive.

AFC urges Chicago residents to call their alderpersons. To find out which alderman represents the area of the city where you live or work, call (312) 744-8590, or see www.aidschicago.org/pdf/alderman_contacts.pdf, or see the ward map at www.ci.chi.il.us/CityCouncil/ .

The amendment's current supporters are capitalized below.

Thomas Allen - 773-545-3838

CARRIE AUSTIN - 773-928-6961

James Balcer -773-254-6677

William Banks - 773-622-3232

Anthony Beale - 773-785-1100

William Beavers - 773-731-1515

Howard Brookins Jr. - 773-874-3502

Ed Burke - 773-471-1414

WALTER BURNETT, JR. - 312-432-1995

George Cardenas - 773-843-9955

Isaac Carothers - 773-261-4646