In recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Saturday (February 7), Bishop John L. Selders Jr., a member of HRC's Religion Council, published a must-read editorial at TheRoot.com entitled, "More than an infection." Selders has been a tremendous partner with the Human Rights Campaign and has a lot of experience working to address the total needs of the LGBT community and HIV/AIDS patients. His article underscores the importance of each of us making the fight against HIV/AIDS a battle that we all must join in:
I face people with complex lives and identities, those who don’t have the luxury to “manage their care” because they are overwhelmed by the details of “managing” an unfair health care system. The people I see are overwhelmed with the details of care: “How will I get to the doctor?” “Who will take care of the children?” “How will I pay for medication?” “How much does my disability check cover?” The list goes on and on. For those on the margins, managing HIV/AIDS takes time, and it takes the help of a very large community. I tell my congregation that we are judged by our response when resources are scarce, not when they are plentiful. As we face this economic crisis, we find ourselves now in one of those judgment moments. The United States has an impressive health care system for those who can afford it, but it is a health “failing” system for many. President Barack Obama has endorsed the National AIDS Strategy. Designed to increase access to HIV/AIDS care and reduce racial disparities, this holistic plan will put us on the right track. As a community, it is our responsibility to let the Obama administration and our representatives know that we need them to remain firm in their support of this plan. At the same time, we must speak out against proposed cuts in state funding for HIV/AIDS. I know, for instance, that the 40 percent proposed cut to HIV/AIDS funding in Connecticut will not only be a death knoll for Jamal but will escalate the numbers of people reduced to similar circumstances. We must remember that the plight of victims of HIV/AIDS is part of a larger story of poverty and racism that extends to women and children. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that “we are woven together into the seamless garment of destiny.” In that spirit, it is time to make the HIV/AIDS epidemic your epidemic, no matter your current health status, income, sexual orientation, gender identity or race.
Read Joe Solmonese's statement on the 2009 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day here.
