"Happy" National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day!!!

I know, it's late in the day, and you've probably all ready participated, if you were planning to, but there was a great line-up of stuff going on in the state here, but I think it says something that Cincinnati only had two things, whereas Cleveland and Columbus had many, many events going on simultaneously.

I never thought I'd say this, thank god for Cheryl Hutchins. Hell yea for keeping it going, darling!!!!

Though most people know my feelings towards what I call the "numbers game" of AIDS, these are the statistics from the HHS website:

Blacks are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. While making up only 13 percent of the U.S. population, they account for more than 49 percent of AIDS cases. AIDS is now the leading cause of death for Black women ages 25 to 34, and the second leading cause of death for Black men ages 35 to 44.

It is work this to note, for my readers especially, men who have sex with men are still the largest group of newly infected persons in this country (please note, the stats above quote AIDS cases ... which is distinct from "new HIV infection").

But it's invaluable to remember that it is also hitting communities of color very hard.

Monday Morning Update on HIV/AIDS!

It's been a whole week since our last update -- I know, it seems like a long time. *rolls eyes* I'm sure you've all been dying to know what's going on in the world of HIV/AIDS.

But, I actually have some interesting gossip this week:

• For starters, Bushes extremely popular, effective, and well-respected chief of PEPFAR (Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), Dr. Mark Dybul left his post this week. There is some seeming miscommunication between the powers that be and the media about whether this was a firing or a voluntary exit, but it does leave us with the question: who will lead PEPFAR under Clinton? It is almost uniformly agreed upon that George W. Bush's greatest legacy will be the US's expanded involvement in global AIDS relief. Please note I said nothing about "domestic AIDS," "sensible sexual health policy," "fair and culturally sensitive family planning measures," or "balanced" anything. I just said "expanded involvement." A lot of this expansion has been credited to Dr. Dybul, so the question this week is now: why is he gone? And, more importantly, who's next? (And some, it seems are suggesting that perhaps the chief of this position should be vetted by the Senate before they get their job).
• The Democratic Stimulus Plan includes one of the most amazing pieces of "pork" (as I'm sure Boehner will call it) I've ever seen: nearly $400 million in funding for the CDC and for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Really. That's amazing and wonderful. So, even though they caved at the family planning bit in the bills, at least we still have this to rely on.
• Finally, it seems that Senegal decided to put a gay AIDS activist behind bars for 8 years for ... well, being gay. Great, put the homo in jail. I'm sure he'll never have homosex again. Jeez. Thanks Senegal, go back to the 18th century.

See? That wasn't so bad. It was actually... gasp... interesting.

OH! And don't forget about February 7th, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day!!! And we also have National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 7th!

Why no National Homosexual HIV/AIDS Day? Because every day is national homosexual HIV/AIDS Day. We still make up 65% of new infections (est.) ... and I think we would spend too much time whether we should call it "Homosexual" or "Gay Men" or "MSM" or "MSR" HIV/AIDS Day that we'd get nothing done.

I become bitchier and bitchier the longer I'm at work. So I apologize. I'm being a crusty old soul right now.