THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

[To] the ONE campaign, thank you for bringing us together. Because of your work, all across Africa there are children who are no longer starving, mothers who are no longer dying of treatable diseases, fathers who are again providing for their families. And because of all of you, so many people are now blessed with hope.

We've got members of Congress who have done so much for this cause who are here today, and we want to thank them. Let me also thank President Bush for joining us from Tanzania and for his bold leadership on this issue. I believe that history will record the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief as one of his greatest legacies. And that program—more ambitious than even the leading advocates thought was possible at the time—has saved thousands and thousands and thousands of lives, and spurred international action, and laid the foundation for a comprehensive global plan that will impact the lives of millions. And we are proud that we have the opportunity to carry that work forward.

Today is a remarkable day. Today, we come together as a global community, across continents, across faiths and cultures, to renew our commitment to ending the AIDS pandemic once and for all.

Now, if you go back and you look at the themes of past World AIDS Days, if you read them one after another, you'll see the story of how the human race has confronted one of the most devastating pandemics in our history. You'll see that in those early years—when we started losing good men and women to a disease that no one truly understood—it was about ringing the alarm, calling for global action, proving that this deadly disease was not isolated to one area or one group of people.

And that's part of what makes today so remarkable, because back in those early years, few could have imagined this day—that we would be looking ahead to "The Beginning of the End," marking a World AIDS Day that has gone from that early beginning when people were still uncertain to now a theme, "Getting to Zero." Few could have imagined that we'd be talking about the real possibility of an AIDS-free generation. But that's what we're talking about. That's why we're here. And we arrived here because of all of you and your unwavering belief that we can—and we will—beat this disease.

Because we invested in anti-retroviral treatment, people who would have died, some of whom are here today, are living full and vibrant lives. Because we developed new tools, more and more mothers are giving birth to children free from this disease. And because of a persistent focus on awareness, the global rate of new infections and deaths is declining.

So make no mistake, we are going to win this fight. But the fight is not over—not by a long shot. The rate of new infections may be going down elsewhere, but it's not going down here in America. The infection rate here has been holding steady for over a decade. There are communities in this country being devastated, still, by this disease.

When new infections among young black gay men increase by nearly 50 percent in 3 years, we need to do more to show them that their lives matter. When Latinos are dying sooner than other groups, and when black women feel forgotten, even though they account for most of the new cases among women, then we've got to do more.

So this fight is not over. Not for the 1.2 million Americans who are living with HIV right now. Not for the Americans who are infected every day. This fight is not over for them, it's not over for their families, and as a consequence, it can't be over for anybody in this room—and it certainly isn't over for your President.

Since I took office, we've had a robust national dialogue on HIV/AIDS. Members of my administration have fanned out across the country to meet people living with HIV; to meet researchers, faith leaders, medical providers and private sector partners. We've spoken to over 4,000 people. And out of all those conversations, we drafted a new plan to combat this disease. Last year, we released that plan—a first-ever national HIV/AIDS strategy.

We went back to basics: prevention, treatment and focusing our efforts where the need is greatest. And we laid out a vision where every American, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socioeconomic status, can get access to life-extending care.

And I want to be clear about something else: Since taking office, we've increased overall funding to combat HIV/AIDS to record levels. With bipartisan support, we reauthorized the Ryan White Care Act. And as I signed that bill, I was so proud to also announce that my administration was ending the ban that prohibited people with HIV from entering America. (Applause.) Because of that step, next year, for the first time in two decades, we will host the international AIDS conference. (Applause.)

So we've done a lot over the past three years, but we can do so much more. Today, I'm announcing some new commitments. We're committing an additional $15 million for the Ryan White Program that supports care provided by HIV medical clinics across the country. We want to keep those doors open so they can keep saving lives. We're committing an additional $35 million for state AIDS-drug assistance programs.

The federal government can't do this alone, so I'm also calling on state governments, and pharmaceutical companies, and private foundations to do their part to help Americans get access to all the life-saving treatments.

This is a global fight, and it's one that America must continue to lead. Looking back at the history of HIV/AIDS, you'll see that no other country has done more than this country, and that's testament to our leadership as a country. But we can't be complacent.

I think this is an area where we can also look back and take pride that both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have consistently come together to fund this fight—not just here, but around the world. And that's a testament to the values that we share as Americans; a commitment that extends across party lines, that's demonstrated by the fact that President Bush, President Clinton and I are joining you all today.

Since I took office, we've increased support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. We've launched a Global Health Initiative that has improved access to health care, helping bring down the cost of vaccines, and over the next five years, will help save the lives of 4 million more children. And all along, we kept focusing on expanding our impact.

Today, I'm proud to announce that as of September, the United States now supports anti-retroviral treatment for nearly 4 million people worldwide. (Applause.) Four million people. And in just the past year, we've provided 600,000 HIV-positive mothers with access to drugs so that 200,000 babies could be born HIV-free. (Applause.) And nearly 13 million people have received care and treatment, including more than 4 million children. So we've got some stuff to be proud of.

But we've got to do more. We're achieving these results not by acting alone, but by partnering with developing countries like Tanzania, and with leaders like President Kikwete.

Now, as we go forward, we've got to keep refining our strategy so that we're saving as many lives as possible. We need to listen when the scientific community focuses on prevention. That's why, as a matter of policy, we're now investing in what works—from medical procedures to promoting healthy behavior.

And that's why we're setting a goal of providing anti-retroviral drugs to more than 1.5 million HIV-positive pregnant women over the next two years so that they have the chance to give birth to HIV-free babies.

We're not going to stop there. We know that treatment is also prevention. And today, we're setting a new target of helping 6 million people get treatment by the end of 2013. (Applause.) That's 2 million more people than our original goal.

And on this World AIDS Day, here's my message to everybody who is out there:

To the global community—we ask you to join us. Countries that have committed to the Global Fund need to give the money that they promised. (Applause.) Countries that haven't made a pledge, they need to do so. (Applause.) That includes countries that in the past might have been recipients, but now are in a position to step up as major donors. China and other major economies are in a position now to transition in a way that can help more people.

To Congress—keep working together and keep the commitments you've made intact. At a time when so much in Washington divides us, the fight against this disease has united us across parties and across presidents. And it shows that we can do big things when Republicans and Democrats put their common humanity before politics. So we need to carry that spirit forward.

And to all Americans—we've got to keep fighting. Fight for every person who needs our help today, but also fight for every person who didn't live to see this moment; for the Rock Hudsons and the Arthur Ashes, and every person who woke us up to the reality of HIV/AIDS. We've got to fight for Ryan White and his mother Jeanne, and the Ray brothers, and every person who forced us to confront our destructive prejudices and our misguided fears. Fight for Magic Johnson and Mary Fisher, and every man, woman and child, who, when told they were going to die from this disease, they said, "No, we're not. We're going to live."

Keep fighting for all of them because we can end this pandemic. We can beat this disease. We can win this fight. We just have to keep at it, steady, persistent—today, tomorrow, every day until we get to zero. And as long as I have the honor of being your President, that's what this administration is going to keep doing. That's my pledge. That's my commitment to all of you. And that's got to be our promise to each other—because we've come so far and we've saved so many lives, we might as well finish the fight.

Other official statements

Many other officials issued World AIDS Day proclamations and statements. Following are a few excerpts:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:

"Today we pay tribute to the millions of lives lost and families affected by HIV/AIDS. We also recognize the brave individuals living with HIV who carry the burden of this disease every day. It is in their honor that we remain steadfast in our pursuit of an AIDS-free generation.

"President Obama's announcement today of the goal to provide lifesaving antiretroviral treatment to 6 million people living with HIV worldwide represents a critical step towards this goal. Since AIDS was identified 30 years ago, we have made significant progress, saving and improving the lives of millions of people around the world. Remarkable scientific breakthroughs in preventing and managing this disease have given us the tools for even greater action. Through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a cornerstone of the Obama Administration's Global Health Initiative, we are working to translate these advances into lifesaving programs.

"This vision of an AIDS-free generation can only be realized by working together. Partner governments, civil society, the private sector and multilateral organizations like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria must collaborate and share best practices. We must engage the world's brightest scientists, advocates, and public health experts to find more effective ways to fight HIV. High-impact interventions like antiretroviral treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and voluntary medical male circumcision have the potential to move us toward the end of this epidemic.

"We have come a long way in the fight against AIDS, but there is still a long road ahead to realize our ambitious goals. If we continue to work together and coordinate a global effort guided by science, we may one day live in a AIDS-free generation."

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius:

"Today, as we remember those we have lost, we also celebrate the progress we have made and look expectantly to the future. Together, we are taking this year's World AIDS Day theme, 'Leading with Science, Uniting for Action,' encouraging HIV testing, and helping those living with HIV to get the life-saving care and treatment they need.

"Reaching the goal of a world without HIV/AIDS will require us to take full advantage of recent scientific discoveries; implement policies that support HIV prevention, testing, and treatment efforts; and work together to meet the needs of those at risk for, and living with, HIV/AIDS. We are moving ahead quickly on the science. In the last year, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrated that people who were being treated for their HIV disease reduced the risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners by 96 percent. That finding offers great hope for our 'treatment as prevention' efforts and for a future without HIV.

"We are implementing policies to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS have access to the care and treatment they need. HHS is committing an additional $35 million to support grants to states for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs and an additional $15 million to provide services and treatment to an increased number of patients at HIV medical clinics.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a new national campaign 'Testing Makes Us Stronger' that will promote HIV testing among Black gay and bisexual men, who are experiencing a sharp increase in rates of HIV infection. Testing is crucial to ending the epidemic because people who know their HIV status can take steps to protect themselves and their partners and live longer and healthier lives.

"All these efforts build on a foundation laid by the health care law, the Affordable Care Act, which dramatically expands access to coverage for people with HIV/AIDS. The law also bans the worst insurance abuses so that insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to people with HIV and other conditions or cancel coverage when someone gets sick or makes an error on a form. Under the health care law, we're also expanding Medicaid so that it will be available to many more Americans with HIV/AIDS, including single adults."

Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis:

"This year, on World AIDS Day, a new report from the United Nations shows we've achieved an encouraging 21 percent reduction in deaths of people living with HIV/AIDS across the globe. With so many people living longer, healthier lives, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that workplaces are free of discrimination on the basis of HIV status. This is both a human and a civil right.

"At the U.S. Department of Labor, we are committed to working on multiple fronts to reduce the stigma surrounding this condition and ensure that HIV-positive workers know their workplace rights.

"On the global front, my department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs is working to promote global awareness of compassionate approaches to HIV/AIDS by helping other countries develop policies and programs to combat job discrimination. Our educational workshops and training programs have reached 3.3 million workers in 30 countries. These programs educate employers about the importance of treating workers who have HIV/AIDS with dignity and respect.

"Here in the United States, my department's Wage and Hour Division is vigorously enforcing the Family and Medical Leave Act so workers with HIV/AIDS have the workplace flexibility and medical privacy guaranteed by law. Taking time off to care for yourself or a family member who has HIV/AIDS should not put your livelihood in jeopardy. The FMLA gives workers the peace of mind of knowing that their jobs are protected when they take time off because of illness. We will continue to educate employers about their responsibility to provide eligible workers with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to recover from HIV-related illness or to care for a covered family member living with HIV/AIDS.

"Other organizations within the U.S. Department of Labor are playing important roles as well.

"Our Occupational Safety and Health Administration is enforcing safety standards to prevent inadvertent HIV/AIDS transmission in the workplace. Enforcement of OSHA rules on bloodborne pathogens has led to significant reductions of needle-stick injuries and the transmission of bloodborne diseases in medical settings. Our work has helped spur new technological advances in the development of safer needle devices, so America's health care workers can provide safe, high-quality and compassionate care.

"Our Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is prioritizing investigations of employment discrimination based on HIV/AIDS status. Workers cannot be denied employment, harassed, demoted, fired, paid less or treated poorly because of their HIV status. Through our aggressive public education campaign, we are informing workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities under federal law.

"And our Office of Disability Employment Policy is conducting national outreach to increase access to workplace training, career counseling and employment-related services for people living with HIV/AIDS. ODEP is also working with employers and employees across the country to promote the availability of reasonable accommodations for workers living with HIV/AIDS."

VA Recognizes World AIDS Day

The Department of Veterans Affairs observed World AIDS Day, Some of the first cases of HIV/AIDS were seen by VA clinicians.

"The Department of Veterans Affairs is a leader in this important area of health care and continuing to provide world-class care to Veterans with HIV/AIDS," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "Significant progress in HIV diagnosis, treatment, and research has been made at VA. The Department will continue to strive to provide excellent care to all Veterans infected with the virus."

VA is the largest provider of care in the country to those living with HIV, serving more than 24,000 Veterans with the infection. The VA is one of the lead federal agencies implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to strengthen and coordinate a national response to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic.

VA is a leader in research on HIV and aging through the large-scale Veterans Aging Cohort Study, run by Dr. Amy Justice at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. More than 50 percent of Veterans with HIV are over the age of 50. The average age of the HIV-positive patients in the VA is about 15 years older than the HIV-positive patients in the rest of the U.S. By better understanding how HIV affects other non-HIV related illnesses, the Veterans Aging Cohort Study will help to prepare the rest of the nation to care for the aging of its HIV-positive patients.

More World AIDS Day comments

"While it is understandable that in the face of economic restrictions the immediate reaction is to contain, we need to keep our eye on the prize," said Philippe Douste-Blazy, Chair of UNITAID. "Ten years of efforts have brought us to an historic turning point in treating AIDS in the developing world. We need to keep that momentum—traditional aid is vital, but we can also implement innovative ways of raising additional funds. For instance, UNITAID has raised $ 1.3 billion in five years, but there are other possible mechanisms such as a financial transaction tax, which could be used to fund HIV/AIDS and other public health priorities."

UNITAID is calling on companies holding patents for important second- and third-line medicines to consider joining the Medicines Patent Pool, created to address this challenge and make better patient-adapted, state-of-the-art medicines available to the poor through a voluntary patent sharing mechanism.

Lambda Legal HIV Project Director Scott Schoettes released a statement to commemorate World AIDS Day.

"Imposing unfair criminal penalties on people with HIV has led to a society where people are—among other forms of oppression—imprisoned, classified as felons and forced to register as sex offenders, based on outdated and inaccurate information regarding HIV," said Schoettes. "Since the discovery of the virus 30 years ago, and the first World AIDS Day in 1988, we've thankfully seen many medical advances that have helped us understand transmission of the virus and how to treat it effectively. Unfortunately, the legal landscape for people living with HIV has not progressed as fast, and we subject people with absolutely no intent to harm anyone to criminal sanctions usually reserved for truly egregious offenses. Lambda Legal remains committed to securing equal protection and equal rights for this community—because living with HIV is not a crime."

Thirty-nine states have HIV-specific criminal statutes or have brought HIV-related criminal charges resulting in more than 80 prosecutions in the U.S. in the past two years alone. Lambda Legal has aligned itself with the Positive Justice Project (PJP), a working consortium devoted to ending the abusive application of criminal statutes against people living with HIV. Along with PJP, Lambda Legal is working toward passing the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act, federal legislation that would require a review of all federal and state laws, policies, and regulations regarding the criminal prosecution of individuals for HIV-related offenses.

The NAACP marked World AIDS Day with a series of events around the country to raise awareness, teach prevention, and highlight the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on communities of color.

"We cannot afford to ignore the HIV/AIDS epidemic, because it is a crisis that is only further fueled by a lack of information," stated NAACP Chairman Roslyn M. Brock. "One in 32 Black women and one in 16 Black men will be infected with HIV in their lifetime, yet too few of us are educated about the disease and its causes. We need these events across the nation to help us talk honestly about the epidemic, devise strategies to combat it, and detect the disease in individuals who are infected before it spreads."

"We must not forget the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on communities around the world, particularly in communities of color where disparities are most pronounced," stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "The NAACP is in a unique position to promote AIDS awareness through national policy and also on a local level. We are committed to putting a stop to what many have termed the 'forgotten epidemic.'"

"World AIDS Day has been held each year since 1988, yet the epidemic is still far from over," stated NAACP Health Director Shavon Arline. "If we want to bring the total number of new HIV/AIDS cases down to zero, we need to combat the disease in the African American community, where more than half of new cases are diagnosed. This Dec. 1, we will help reach that goal by offering prevention education and screening in affected communities."

Even though African Americans make up just 14 percent of the U.S. population, they account for almost half (44 percent) of all new HIV infections in the nation every year. African Americans represent 51 percent of the 42,655 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses and 48 percent of the 551,932 persons, including children, living with HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Black women ages 25-34 and the second leading cause of death among Black men ages 35-44 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cite the reasons for the racial disparity as not genetically related to race, but rather to social and cultural barriers faced by many African Americans. These barriers include poverty, access to healthcare and the social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.