Shades of AIDS
What follows is a media statement from Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day ( Feb. 7 ) is a day to focus attention on the staggering toll HIV continues to take on the Black community. It is also a day of hope—a day on which we recognize the progress we continue to make towards ending this epidemic in our communities.
Today, African-Americans continue to face the most severe rates of HIV infection in the nation. The latest estimates indicate that while Blacks make up just 12 percent of the U.S. population, they account for nearly half of new HIV infections and almost half of the more than one million Americans estimated to be living with HIV. The harsh reality is that 1 in 16 Black men will be diagnosed with HIV at some point in their lifetime, as will 1 in 30 Black women.
Black gay and bisexual men and Black women are particularly hard hit by HIV. Sixty-three percent of new infections among Black men occur among men who have sex with men ( MSM ) . Further, there are troubling signs of a worsening epidemic among young Black MSM, as HIV diagnoses in this population have increased dramatically in recent years. Black women are also disproportionately affected by HIV, with infection rates 15 times as high as those of white women.
To turn the tide, we all must continue to confront the realities of this disease in African-American communities. While race itself does not increase risk, high prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases in Black communities means African-Americans face a greater risk of HIV infection with each sexual encounter than other groups. Stark realities of some African-Americans' lives—including poverty and limited access to health care—increase the likelihood of HIV infection. Stigma and homophobia also contribute to keeping HIV alive in Black communities.
While these statistics paint a dire picture, they do not predict the future. In fact, now there are more opportunities than ever to stop the devastation of HIV in African-American communities. For example:
The Black community is mobilizing. National leaders—including heads of major civic organizations and African-American celebrities, as well as Congressional, faith, business and community leaders—are speaking out about the need for action.
Recent evidence shows we are making progress towards ending this epidemic. In a promising sign that prevention efforts are working, a major CDC study recently found that new infections among Blacks have remained roughly stable for more than a decade—despite the growing number of people living with HIV who can potentially transmit the disease. New infections have also declined among several transmission groups in which African-Americans are disproportionately represented—babies born to HIV-infected mothers, intravenous drug users, and heterosexuals.
But nearly 25,000 Blacks still become infected with HIV every year. We cannot allow this crisis to continue. We must all play a role in fighting this disease. Everyone and every action counts.
At CDC, as well as other agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, addressing the HIV crisis in African-American communities is among the highest HIV prevention priorities. In 2007, CDC spent $300 million—more than half of its domestic HIV prevention budget—on fighting HIV in African-American communities. And through the Heightened National Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis among African-Americans, CDC is working with Black leaders and public health partners to expand the reach of existing prevention programs, develop new interventions and research, increase testing and mobilize Black communities.
As a nation, we must recognize the HIV epidemic for the crisis that it is. In our communities, we must work to confront the stigma that prevents too many of those at risk from seeking testing, treatment and support. Individuals have a critical role to play as well, by getting the facts about HIV, getting tested, and taking action. Call CDC's hotline, 1-800-CDC-INFO, or visit www.hivtest.org or www.aids.gov to find a testing location near you.
Reducing the toll of HIV among African-Americans will require hard work and courage from all of us. Today, however, we have more opportunities than ever to stop HIV. There is reason for hope and continued work amidst this crisis.
Mell to pay
Dear Editor:
As a constituent of freshman Illinois State Rep. Deborah Mell, I am deeply disappointed in her second vote after electing the Speaker, in which she voted in the roll call on the impeachment of ex-governor Rod Blagojevich. She failed to recognize the conflict of interest in the fact that the ex-governor is her brother-in-law. She failed to recognize the need to recuse herself. I do not care whether she would have voted yes or no—she should not have voted at all or voted "present." She had no business taking part in this roll call, as she did with her obvious conflict of interest.
The media indicated she stated that she had "thought long and hard" about her decision. I doubt it because it lacked integrity. When she stated that she thought him "innocent until proven guilty," that said to me that she had no understanding of the impeachment process. Impeachment by definition is an accusation and is performed by the lower body of the General Assembly, of which she is a member. The trial for conviction is performed by the Senate. But this should not come as a surprise to me because when I met her during the campaign season, she demonstrated a lack of knowledge of legislative issues and processes.
When Rep. Mell does finally study up on the legislative issues and processes, she can also learn about recusal; conflict of interest; the ability to vote "present;" and integrity in public officials.
Scott G. Burgh
Chicago
A new start?
The removal of Rod Blagojevich from the governor's office marks a milestone in Illinois politics. But pronouncements that Blagojevich's impeachment "closes the book" on this sordid period in our state's history are more than a bit premature.
After all, Blagojevich didn't act alone when he put state government up for sale. When he ran for re-election in 2006, it was obvious how he and his cronies were conducting business. If you wanted to play, you endorsed his re-election and contributed to his campaign. In return, you got contracts, grants and other favors.
None of that was secret. Edwin Eisendrath, running against Blagojevich in the 2006 Democratic primary, raised those issues. Judy Baar Topinka, Blagojevich's main opponent in the general election, talked about them as well. And newspaper articles and columns throughout the state, including some in Chicago's LGBT community, detailed and denounced the "pay-to-play" politics practiced by the governor and his pals.
Even more than most, leaders of HIV/AIDS and LGBT community organizations, as well as politicians tied to our community, knew what was going on. They had a chance then to use their leadership positions to speak out against such corruption. But they didn't. They just went along. They lined up with Blagojevich and his cronies, smiled and acted as if nothing was wrong.
They knew better. They had a candidate in Topinka who had every bit as good a record as Blagojevich on AIDS issues, who gave far more support over the years to protecting LGBTs from discrimination, who bucked her own party to back civil unions and who helped secure funding to build our LGBT community center. Instead, they went with Blagojevich and his money.
Now they have another chance. Our new governor, Pat Quinn, is pushing for fundamental reforms of our state's political system. He's right to advocate moving our primaries to the fall to shorten campaigns, lessen the demands for political contributions and increase voter participation. He's also right to demand major campaign finance reform and recall power for voters. And we should end the corrupt system that lets political hacks, rather than voters, choose replacements when officeholders resign before their terms are up. Public offices belong to the voters, not ward chiefs and family dynasties.
We need our leaders to stand up and help Quinn pass these reforms. Leadership should be about safeguarding the interests of the public, not protecting and enabling the prevailing political machine. Let's do the right thing this time around.
Close the book? No, Blagojevich's impeachment should just be chapter one. If our leaders want to quit reading there, so be it. But as voters and citizens of this state, we should be eager to take this story to a more fitting conclusion.
Gary Barlow
Chicago
Roland along
Dear Editor,
I truly appreciate your coverage of the appointment of U.S Sen. Roland Burris, and including the thoughts of African-American gay individuals. However, in the context of the discussion one of the major issues of the day that has been on the agenda of civil-rights and social-justice advocates for some time is same-sex marriage.
As you know, the Coalition for Justice and Respect ( CJR ) has early on supported efforts of House Bill 1826, the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act sponsored by State Rep. Greg Harris. CJR has supported this bill as an element of public-health education and harm reduction.
With that in mind, I have to take exception to a commit in your article in the Jan. 7 issue ( "Gays tackle Burris pick" ) attributed to the Equality Illinois that states that "same-sex marriage is an issue to be fought for on the state and not at the federal level." This is an unfortunate and misguided approach to achieve our goals of respect for our families and denial of the justice that we seek. All issues involving human and civil rights have to be fought on every level: state, federal, local and even international. I have often believed we, as lesbians and gays, will reach our full potential when our movement does more than mirror the civil-rights struggles, and become a part of the movement whose success we strive to achieve.
Here in Illinois, our state constitution is not silent but speaks clearly that all citizens of this state are entitled to civil rights and to have their rights to be acknowledged. I was educated on this notion by a candidate for governor who explained his position on gay and lesbian issues in the context being aligned with the constitution of this state. That candidate was Roland Burris.
I look forward to sitting at a table with him, his Senate colleagues and members of the Illinois legislature to discuss gay marriage and to awaken the core compassion and patriotism that sustain our state and strengthens our nation.
—Marc Loveless, Chicago
