AIDS groups criticize planned Illinois budget cuts
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago responded to news that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed Medicaid service cuts designed to reduce the budget by $1.3 billion. One of these proposals would make it far more difficult for people with HIV to access once-a-day combination pills that have simplified and vastly improved HIV treatment.
AFC strongly opposes this recommendation, which likely will create a barrier to continuous adherence to lifesaving HIV medications that can also prevent HIV transmission.
"The $3 million in projected savings from this policy change, in a $2.7 billion Medicaid budget deficit, will be far eclipsed by the cost of additional hospitalizations, worse health outcomes, and more people living with HIV in the community," said David Ernesto Munar, AFC's President/CEO. "The cost will far outweigh the initial savings."
Howard Brown Health Center also opposes the cuts.
AIDS2012 reunion in D.C.
AIDS2012 Reunion, the source for community events before, during and after the XIX International AIDS Conference July 22-27 in Washington, D.C., has announced its launch with the unveiling of its Website, www.AIDS2012Reunion.org . This is the first time in 22 years that the U.S. has hosted the program.
An estimated 30,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries and more than 3,000 members of the media are expected to attend.
'Rent' returns to Chicago
American Theater Company ( ATC ) , together with About Face Theatre, presents a co-production of Jonathan Larson's Rent, directed by David Cromer. Rent will run April 27, 2012June 17, 2012 at ATC, 1909 W. Byron.
At the end of the 1980s, a group of Bohemian artists struggle to find life, love and art in a brutal economy and the height of the AIDS crisis.
Call 773-409-4125; www.atcweb.org .
Rectal Microbicides priority in Africa AIDS battle
A strategic initiative to promote the research and advocacy of rectal microbicides as a method of preventing HIV/AIDS in Africa has taken an important step forward. International Rectal Microbicide Advocates ( IRMA ) a global advocacy network headquartered at the AIDS Foundation of Chicagoreleased On the Map: Ensuring Africa's Place in Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy at the international Microbicides 2012 conference in Sydney, Australia.
The document will be critical to the efforts of IRMA's Project ARM ( Africa for Rectal Microbicides ) and outlines priority actions to ensure Africa fully engages in rectal microbicide research and advocacy activities, including the integration of safe anal-sex messaging into HIV prevention programs.
HRC brief on HIV/AIDS and the LGBT community
The Human Rights Campaign has released an issue brief as prepared for a White House briefing on HIV/AIDS.
"HIV/AIDS affects all Americans, but continues to disproportionately impact the LGBT community, particularly people of color," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. See www.hrc.org/resources/entry/hrc-issue-brief-hiv-aids-and-the-lgbt-community for details.
AIDS doc 'We Were Here' on PBS this June
Both inspiring and devastating, David Weissman's We Were Here revisits the arrival in San Francisco of what was called the "Gay Plague" in the early 1980s. It illuminates the profound personal and community issues raised by the AIDS epidemic as well as the broad political and social upheavals it unleashed.
A powerful story of bravery, compassion and love in the worst of times, We Were Here will premiere on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens, hosted by Mary Louise Parker, on Thursday, June 7, 2012.
Dining Out for Life April 26
The annual nationwide Dining Out for Life is April 26, including at Chicago-area restaurants. A varying portion of proceeds from participating businesses goes to AIDS charities.
See diningoutforlife.com for a list of Dining Out for Life partners.