WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today announced its involvement in a variety of activities around the 19th International AIDS Conference (known as AIDS 2012), which will be the first to be held in the U.S. in 22 years. The event is possible thanks to the end of the ban on HIV positive visitors to the U.S. that HRC, along with many others, worked to finally repeal in 2009.

“HIV/AIDS remains a crisis that must be fought with everything we have,” said Joe Solmonese, HRC president. “We are so proud to welcome this important conference to Washington, DC made possible through the lifting of the draconian HIV travel ban.”

HRC will be hosting panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt open for public viewing in its downtown DC headquarters.  The Quilt is one of the world’s most powerful symbols of the public’s response to the AIDS epidemic with more than 47,000 panels representing the lives of 94,000 individuals taken by AIDS, sewn by more than 100,000 friends and family members.  Additionally, HRC will host a panel discussion and reception, an event for Members of Congress and their staff, a religion and faith forum and staff will be participating in a range of other events.

HRC sponsored events include:

• AIDS Memorial Quilt at HRC Headquarters – HRC will be one of approximately fifty sites around the city to display panel sections from the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.  The display will be open to the public.

• Panel Discussion at HRC Headquarters – “Addressing Stigma in Transgender and other HIV-Vulnerable Communities,” in partnership with International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

• Congressional Reception– event for Members of Congress and staff on Capitol Hill in partnership with AIDS United; LGBT Equality Caucus

• Pre-Conference Faith Forum– HRC’s Religion and Faith Project will be participating in LGBT-focused activities with people of faith convening prior to the main conference.

HRC will release further details of events in the coming weeks.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.