HIV/AIDS Awareness. A father’s choice.

Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

I’d like to take credit for asking that question, but Lorraine Teel, Executive Director of the Minnesota AIDS Project, asked it in an op-ed piece last week in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Here is the link to read her article:

http://www.startribune.com/yourvoices/99326969.html

Lorraine lays out some very valid points about the Obama National AIDS Strategy. No more tip toeing around “language that may be perceived as not politically palatable”. Anyone can be infected by HIV, but the truth is that not everyone is at equal risk. Resources and messages need to be targeted at the groups most affected.

She also points out that controlling HIV, like many other public health threats, has no easy “one size fits all” solution.  It is just not the same message to young heterosexuals as it may be to gay males.

But Lorraine nails it when she talks about how in the real world we live in, we take risks, and we make mistakes. We have to live with the consequences of those mistakes.

The difference here is that we look at HIV infection differently than other risk behaviors like smoking, driving too fast and binge drinking.  Lorraine notes with HIV, it is always someone else’s fault. People point fingers and assign blame and rarely does that include themselves.

We treat HIV differently that other risk behaviors like smoking, overeating, and binge drinking, yet each of these have dire consequences. Why is dying from clogged arteries that we contributed to so much more acceptable than HIV? Because we don’t approve of the behavior that lead to the problem?

Or is it that perhaps most of us haven’t experienced a known behavior that puts you at risk for HIV? This is what the readers of her piece had to say in the comments written on the Star Tribune web site. I hope you would all read what she wrote and take the time to comment responsibly. I know that I did. The comments that were on the site show why HIV is still such a challenge across this country.

We will be sharing more in my next few blog posts about doing what WE can to stop HIV. In the meantime, I hope you will join me on Twitter http://twitter.com/kellyhivads for our One Dad Against HIV campaign to join 10,000 Twitter voices together.

So, as Lorraine says it, the next time you point that finger – turn it around and ask yourself, “What have I done today to stop HIV?”

There has been much discussion in the news about ADAP recently. We are hearing for the first time about thousands across the country now on waiting lists to join the program. These are people standing in a line that we don’t see.

In case you don’t know about ADAP, here is a little history. ADAP (pronounced ay-dap) started by Congress in 1987 to provide HIV related prescription drugs to people living in the United States who don’t have health insurance or not enough health insurance. By not enough, I mean they don’t have coverage for prescription drugs. When Congress gives the money to the states, it says they have to spend it on HIV “theraputics”.

To qualify for ADAP, there are elibility requirements that vary by state and change every year. Basically there is a maximum income requirement, residency requirement, and a no Medicaid requirement. Some states require that you have no health insurance at all and some require that you first apply for Medicaid and be denied.

So most of the people on ADAP are working, paying taxes and contributing to our society. They are just caught in a Catch 22 situaion where they can’t afford the incredibly high cost of HIV medications.

So what is up with ADAP? Why all of the sudden the news of waiting lists?

As of July 22, there were at least 2,158 people waiting for enrollment in an ADAP program, up from 2,090 on July 1 (which was itself an all-time high). Two new states, Georgia and Ohio, have started waiting lists, with Ohio not yet reporting how many people are on its list.

Earlier this month, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a $25 million reallocation of federal funds for ADAP. According to the Secretary, the funds will be available in mid-August and “will meet ADAP’s projected need through the end of the fiscal year.”

Problem is that state’s are now uping the requirements for ADAP so more people are now losing eligibility for the program. This can force them to quit their jobs and become eligible for other government funded programs like Medicaid to get their life prolonging medications. Their only other choice is to stop taking medications until they become so sick they qualify for Social Security Disability.

What’s up with ADAP? It is another story about how we prioritize the use of the taxpayer’s money in times of budget shortfalls. This time it can mean the difference between life and death.

If you want to know more about ADAP, there is a great article in the January/February edition of Positively Aware.

Much more to follow!

The HIV/AIDS national strategy released by the White House today said that most Americans no longer view HIV as an urgent health problem. 

Those of us who deal with this every day know the costs and the pain of HIV.

Not being viewed as an urgent health problem concerns me because we have to be front and center when it comes time for the appropriation of federal funds. It is a lot harder to compete with dollars that could be spent on cancer or obesity – two health problems that Americans do view as pressing.

President Obama announced some new initiatives to cut new infections, increase the number of people who get tested and treated, and reduce the disparities in access to HIV care. These include goals to be reached by 2015:

•Reduce new HIV infections by 25% to 42,225 from about 56,300.

•Cut the rate of the virus’ spread by 30%, from 5 people a year infected by every 100 living with HIV to 3.5 per 100.

•Increase from 79% to 90% the percentage of HIV-positive people who know they’re infected with the virus.

• Increase the percentage of people newly diagnosed with HIV who get treatment within 90 day to 85% (35,078), from 65% today (26,824).

But the President didn’t announce any new funding to pay for these goals.

At a time when we are struggling with how to pay for the people on the ADAP waiting lists, it is hard to envision how we will pay for the federal government efforts to reach these goals. Let’s be honest here, there is a huge federal deficit and an economy that is not going to generate the kind of tax revenues that will support additional spending.

The only answer is that each one of us in the HIV community must redouble our efforts to get the word out and keep it out there. We’ve got to talk, walk, sing, and even dance to share how HIV is spread and how it can be treated.

We can make these goals, but we each need to make them our own.

National HIV Testing Day is June 27th

National HIV Testing Day

Every year since 1995, the folks the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) organize National HIV Testing Day on June 27^th. They bring together local organizations around the country to work with communities in promoting early diagnosis and testing for HIV.

When you get to the facts that a quarter of the people who are HIV positive in the United States don’t know it, you can’t shake the absolute urgency of being tested. In last winter’s overblown anxiety about H1N1 flu, people weren’t flying or getting on trains because they feared infection. There were daily news stories about the shortage of vaccines and the steps you needed to talk to ward off infection.

But how often do we talk about HIV infection in the mainstream media today? Are you taking precautions to prevent infection?

Early diagnosis and access to treatment mean the difference between life and death for those with HIV. They can also mean the same difference for those you have sex or share needles with in the coming years. Knowing your HIV status helps you make better decisions for yourself and those you share your life with.

On June 27^th, state and local health departments, community-based organizations, HIV testing sites, and AIDS service providers across the United States will participate in events for National HIV Testing Day. These activities will include health fairs, community education, special events, and extended testing hours.

Right here in Phoenix, Southwest Center for HIV/ AIDS (www.swhiv.org) is offering free HIV testing on June 26 to honor National HIV Testing Day. Want to know more about events in your town or state?  Please go to http://www.hivtest.org/press_files/events.cfm and click on your state to see the events.

Knowledge is power. Know your status.

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” ~Robert McCloskey

Contrary to what many might think (and do), the most important job of a parent is not to speak, preach, direct or yell.

The most important job of a parent is to listen.

If you were to listen, you would hear that your adult son or daughter becomes very much the child when talking about what their parents mean in their battle against HIV.

As I have spoken to HIV+ adults around the country it has never ceased to surprise  - and sometimes distress – me to see the reaction when I talk about being a dad. Somehow it has become okay to not be a dad if your son or daughter has a lifestyle that you don’t approve of. I have seen first hand the pain it causes when you lose your parents over being gay or having HIV.

We don’t get to pick who our children are anymore than they got to pick who their parents were.

I know that people are afraid of HIV and don’t like to think about the lifestyle choices of their kids if they are different than their own. But we parents can make the ultimate difference in our child’s life with HIV by providing what parents do: love and support.

I created “My Child is HIV+” – A Living Guide for Parents for Father’s Day. I wrote it for the parents of HIV positive adults who need their moms and dads to be on their team.

Inside the pages you will find basic information about HIV/AIDS and some of the things that a parent needs to know to fully support their HIV positive child. I want to thank both the parents and adult children affected by HIV for providing valuable insight for me in writing this guide. It was hard sometimes to find the right words.

The guide is the result of asking questions and seeking the answers to allow those with HIV to live a full life without unnecessary limitations. It is about cutting through the “nice to know” and providing the “need to know”.  I hope you share it with your clients, friends and family.

You can get your copy right here by putting your name and email address in the form on the right column of this page.

My final word to parents: If you want to be a person of great importance in your child’s life, if you want to teach your children, motivate them, inspire them and lead them, then learn to listen.

1. Talk less. Listen more.

2. Make fewer statements. Ask more questions.

3. Make it your mission to understand HIV.

“I never thought of losing, but now that it’ s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That’s my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.” ~Muhammad Ali

We all get knocked down once in a while. Its part of what makes life interesting and it keeps us on our toes.

No one on this planet is going to dispute that getting told you are HIV positive is going to knock you down. Does it have to knock you out?

The life cycle of HIV is a series of challenges not too far removed from a boxing match. (I am a big fight fan so bear with me on this one.)  Maybe you don’t want to think of your life as being in the ring, but help me to answer a few questions…

Why do some of us take that first big punch and go down in the ring never to get up?

Why do others take the killer jab and get up to shake it off? Its not like we don’t know another punch is coming.

We all experience failure, setbacks, disappointments and obstacles. There is no denying that a punch hurts and that is okay. We are human. Bad tests, side effects and stigma hurt us. It’s part of the deal of being positive and being in the ring.

The difference is how long you let it keep you down.

Here is something I learned and recommend for you. What used to knock me out for 2 weeks I eventually brought down to 2 days. Then I got it down to 2 hours and then 20 minutes. Now when I am knocked down, I give myself about 2 minutes to lie in the ring and then I shake out the cobwebs and get back to the fight.

That referee is going to be counting me to a knockout no matter what I do. The difference now is that I know what a knockout really is. I have seen first hand what can happen if HIV disease progression is not controlled. If I am not in the fight, the people I love can be hurt.

I look to replace the hit with something positive. I never allow myself to end the round or the day with a defeat. I will keep in the fight until I can gain some kind of victory – some kind hit back at what I am facing. It may be small, but it is my victory.

And yeah, I do my strut around the ring with arms held high…

Here are a few things you can do to deal with the knockdowns:

Focus Your Vision. Where you focus your energy determines where you will go. If you focus on the setback and the challenges it brought you, you can’t move forward. However, when you focus your vision on what you want your life with HIV to be, you’re using the setback for what it really is: a transition.

Make a Decision. Both success and failure are decisions. So once your vision for your life with HIV is in place, you need to decide you’re going to win despite the setback. The truth is people who successfully overcome obstacles choose to be successful. They understand that decision and choice are important parts of their plan to live with HIV. No matter what setback they encounter, they decide to overcome it and prevail.

Take Action. A decision without action is simply an illusion, and an action without a vision is just confusion. Your vision plus decisive action can change your world.

Keep the Desire. Desire is the degree of energy you’re willing to exert in order to reach your goal.  In other words,  how badly do you want your life with HIV to be positive and what are you willing to do in order to achieve it?

In my next few blog posts, we are going to talk about facing off against your opponent HIV. I look forward to hearing about your matches and how you face off against HIV.

It is not just another ribbon on a lapel or people marching to raise awareness of a particular issue or disease. HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is about volunteers and community support for vital vaccine trials. Save the date on Sunday, May 18th and learn about the vaccine.

Without volunteers in the clinical trials, an HIV vaccine will not happen.

Finding a safe and effective vaccine to prevent the spread of HIV is our best hope for stopping the AIDS epidemic.  In addition, there are complementary strategies to curb the spread of HIV including the use of microbicides, male circumcision, blood supply screening, and the use of clean syringes and condoms.

Multiple clinical trials are also taking place to determine whether giving antiretroviral therapy (ART) to HIV-negative people is an effective means of preventing infection. The question remains would you take the drugs to prevent infection?

Until we have a vaccine. these strategies are our only hope against HIV infection. But right now, we are not winning this war.

Results were released from an AIDS vaccine phase III trial in Thailand, which showed – for the first time – that the risk of HIV infection can be reduced by a vaccine.  This study was the largest AIDS vaccine trial to date, with over 16,000 participants. It indicated that the vaccine regimen reduced HIV risk by approximately 30 percent.

But much more research must be done.

There remains a great deal of misunderstanding about HIV vaccine research. The success of HIV vaccine studies depends on the understanding, trust, support, and participation of communities across the country. It depends on people volunteering to be part of several ongoing clinical trials.

How can you help? You can play a part in the search for an HIV vaccine by educating yourself and others about HIV vaccine research. There is a great deal of information about the HIV vaccine and clinic trials at http://bethegeneration.nih.gov/.

If you are interested, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has opened enrollment in HVTN 505, an exploratory HIV vaccine clinical study examining whether a two-part vaccine regimen can decrease viral load in study participants who later become infected with HIV. HVTN 505 is taking place in 12 U.S. cities and is enrolling 1,350 HIV-negative men ages 18 to 45 years who have sex with men.

You can find information about this new study at http://hopetakesaction.org.

I’ve put links to the fact sheets provided by the National Institutes of Health on our new Info Center at http://myhivaidsawareness.com. We will also have more information in the coming weeks in our weekly HIV Living Without Limitations e-newsletter. You can sign up for HLWL in the right column on this page.

…but let it be more about his life.

Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS at age 13 and gained international notoriety fighting for the simple right to attend school. In his short life, he opened hearts to the humanity of AIDS and opened minds to its reality.

As a father, I remember him most as a student and a son. He taught us about courage and forgiveness when by all accounts he should have shown none. His mother taught me how the strength of a parent can help shape the life of a child – even one facing the uncertain future of HIV/AIDS.

Photo courtesy of humanillnesses.com

It may have been inevitable that he would succumb to AIDS in a world without early diagnosis and anti-retroviral therapy. But his family’s fight for basic human rights drove awareness and focus in a time of fear and ignorance.

After moving to a new community, Ryan was able to thrive in his new world, attending school events, learning to drive, and making the honor roll. Maybe for a little while, he got to be a kid.

Two decades later, Ryan’s legacy lives on. His mark can be found in legislation that provides assistance to AIDS victims and in the commitment of his mother and friends around the world to fight the disease that killed Ryan.

His name is on our country’s most significant AIDS legislation: The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. First approved in 1990 and extended in 2009 by President Obama, the act created the nation’s largest HIV/AIDS federal grant program. It has been called America’s most important step in fighting the AIDS epidemic, helping thousands annually to receive support and care.

May we never need another Ryan White to lead a nation to better understanding. Bless Ryan and his family for their conviction and strength. This was something he didn’t need to go to school to learn.

“AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, mom taught us to keep going. Don’t give up, be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself.”

~Ryan White

To find out more about the life and legacy of Ryan White, please visit http://ryanwhite.com.

San Francisco public health doctors are urging patients to begin taking HIV medications soon after their diagnosis rather than waiting until their immune systems become compromised. Reports of this major policy change first surfaced last week in a New York Times article.

These new city guidelines – to be announced next week by the Department of Public Health – may be the most forceful in the world in their strong endorsement of early treatment against HIV. Doctors will offer patients combination therapy and advise them to pursue early treatment, but the patients will ultimately decide whether to begin therapy right after their diagnosis.

Antiretroviral therapy is traditionally used to stall or prevent the progression of HIV to AIDS, and it can also prevent other side effects of a degenerating immune system, like opportunistic infections and cancers. The downside is that ART can also cause liver and kidney damage among other complications.

The issue of when to begin treatment is an often discussed decision that we are asked to make with very little information on when to begin a lifetime regimen of costly and sometimes toxic medications. The answer to when remains in dispute, but San Francisco doctors are opting for treatment before permanent damage is done

Even our nation’s experts are solidly divided on the issue of when to begin treatment. In December of last year, only half of the HIV experts on the 38 member Department of Health and Human Services panel favored starting drugs in patients with healthy levels of more than 500 T-cells.

The issue for doctors and patients is whether the damage caused by HIV is more life threatening than the damage caused by some of the antiretroviral drugs. Doctors just don’t know the answer to that question right now. You can expect a great deal of discussion on that in the coming weeks and months.

We will be exploring treatment options in the next few days on our blog. Please check back for new insights on when to start treatment.

I was speaking to a group at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS (http://www.swhiv.org) and heard some objections to the word “control” when it was used by another speaker. I started to think about what influence we really have over any aspect of our lives after a positive test…

The old Miram Webster dictionary says that control means to exercise restraining or directing influence over something or to have power over it. Let’s examine some ways we still have some control over our lives:

First, we control whether we seek or begin treatment.  The decision to begin treatment is a personal one best made in consultation with your healthcare provider.

Second, we control who we share our status with and who will be on our support team. I recently wrote a blog post about the positive benefits to your immune system when you share your status with supportive family and friends. It is your choice whether to share your status and who you share it with.

Third, we control our lifestyle choices. Even after a positive diagnosis, we make impactful choices about living a healthier lifestyle. Studies have shown that infection with a second strain of HIV (superinfection) may have medical consequences.

Fourth, we control our nutrition and diet. There are some basics we all should be aware of including the need for additional protein and calories in our diet. Several of the antiretroviral medications also require increased water intake in order to prevent kidney complications.

Fifth, we control how much we know about HIV. Have you heard the phrase “Knowledge is Power”? Read, ask, and share are the only ways that we will have the knowledge to take back some control after a positive diagnosis.

There are many more ways to exert some control over a diagnosis that may have us feeling out of control.

I recommend starting with Positively Aware – a publication by the Test Positive Awareness Network.  Please visit: http://positivelyaware.com/ . This bi-monthly publication is loaded with useful information.

Check back here frequently for more information and sources to build your knowledge and power.

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Did you know for African-American women between 25-34, AIDS is currently the major cause of death? It’s true.  Just as it’s true the infection rate of HIV among all American women has tripled since 1985.  So much for the myth HIV is a “gay” disease. 

The statistics in Britain are also staggering.  In 2008, the number of people who were infected with HIV had almost tripled since 1998, and in that single year, this is the third highest number who became infected.  And more than half of these became HIV positive via heterosexual contact.

This spring, two major icons—Cyndi Lauper, who taught us Girls Just Wanna Have Fun back at the start of the American AIDS epidemic, and Lady Gaga, the current international DIVA, have joined forces to make a difference.  These remarkable women are the new spokespeople for VIVA GLAM.  They are heading an international drive to remind people how to keep themselves safe and HIV negative, with a special outreach to teach women how to protect themselves.

The AIDS Fund of MAC Cosmetics

As one of the twin spokespersons to bring both HIV information and “gaga-glamour” to women (and men), Lady Gaga tells us—“Be selective about those you love.”

The MAC AIDS fund of MAC Cosmetics began in 1994 as a major support for women, men, and children across planet Earth when it comes to HIV. The MAC AIDS Fund is the world’s biggest non-drug company funder for HIV organizations.  It’s contributed over $160 million dollars to organizations providing HIV related services through the sales of its VIVA GLAM Lipglass and Lipstick.  MAC donates every penny made from the VIVA GLAM line to make a difference.

This year, MAC has created two unique shades of color for two unique and talented women.  The Viva Glam Cyndi is a lipstick of light coral red—the VIVA GLAM Gaga is a light blue pink.  “My VIVA GLAM color is amazing.  It’s very me—a bluish pink, great for every day—a little bit 80’s,” reveals Lady Gaga.  “I hope women buy this lipstick and honor themselves and the cause.”

To find out more about the MAC AIDS Fund and its good works—and to find out more about Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper—visit http://www.macaidsfund.org

Today is 4^th annual National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a national effort designed to inform Native communities about the impact of HIV/AIDS in Native populations (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians). It was established to encourage education, testing and community involvement in HIV prevention.

Now that is an idea whose time has come.

I didn’t realize that Native Americans have the third highest rate of new HIV infections and I doubt most Americans do. Of persons who were diagnosed with AIDS, they have the shortest overall survival rate.

In real numbers this means 36 months after diagnosis, Native Americans survived at only 73%, compared to 79% for African Americans, 84% for Whites, 85% for Hispanics, and 89% for Asians.

This day challenges all of us work together to create a greater awareness of the risk of HIV/AIDS in our communities. It means better access to testing and increased treatment options. We flat out must decrease the occurrence of HIV/AIDS and increase survival rates.

The Centers for Disease Control is providing the funding and vital organizations such as CA7AE: HIV/AIDS Prevention Project, Colorado State University and Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) are mobilizing their resources.

Gwenda Gorman, Health Promotion Program Director at ITCA  shared the impact of HIV/AIDS in Native Communities. She noted,” The awareness day will also challenge Native people to work together, in harmony, to create a greater awareness of the behaviors that put our communities at risk for HIV/AIDS.”

For more information on what you can do to recognize National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, please follow this link:

http://www.itcaonline.com/nshapp/pdf/HIV%20AIDS%20Activity%20Sheet.pdf

Want to know more? Here is a link for more information on HIV/AIDS Awareness Days:

http://www.aids.gov/awareness-days/ .

I knew that my son sharing his HIV status made our family stronger. What I didn’t realize is that he could have been making his immune system stronger as well.

Recent research has shown that people who were open about having HIV had a stronger immune system than those who didn’t and less illness as well.

There are many reasons why you might want to tell people that you have HIV, not least is the loving support which your partner, family and friends might be able to provide.

Being open about having HIV can also mean that you have more hope about your future.

A 2006 study by AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region (ASMR) in New Hampshire found that higher hope scores were associated with a stronger commitment to manage their illness and lower perceived denial.

More importantly, those with higher hope scores reported greater overall health, greater satisfaction with their physical state, and a higher energy level. The study also reported the higher hope scores were correlated with higher CD4 values at the start of the study and subsequently eight months afterward.

Decisions regarding sharing your HIV status are not simple ones. There are many factors that must be taken into considerations. It’s important to think about who you are going to tell, and your reasons for telling them.

Unfortunately, it is true that some people have experienced discrimination or rejection when they’ve told others that they are HIV positive.  You will have to determine what is best for you. 

The most important thing is that you feel you have control over who you tell about your HIV status. Now you may have some control over your HIV as well.

After a little over a month after the major  Haiti earthquake, at least 200,000 people are known to be  dead.  Partners Luke Montgomery and Nate Gudias have been working to make a difference.  Cause Commandos is the name of their grassroots organization that has raised at least $10,000 in necessary supplies, including baby formula, medicines and drugs.  Luke is a former resident of Haiti and founded an orphanage for children with AIDS.

“We’re not disaster aid professionals but we just had to take action, so we simply got on a plane,” says Nate. “After landing in the Dominican Republic we went to local medical supply stores and pharmacies and loaded up on antibiotics, prescription painkillers and other essentials from bandages to baby formula, from IV fluids to injection syringes. We crammed every inch of our big rented SUV full of supplies and every bag we had was overflowing with urgently-needed drugs. We then drove all through the night to the Haitian border. There we hooked up with the Dominican navy. We loaded our all of our supplies onto a relief ship and set sail for Haiti and have been running back and forth ever since.”

They promise 100 percent of all donations to their organization will go to Haiti relief.

AIDS Donations

Where do you think a great deal of the money that supports HIV/AIDS services comes from?  The truth is, the American government did not provide appropriate funding for research and treatment until well into the pandemic.  For this reason, care providers had to first depend on AIDS donations from private citizens to care for people with AIDS.   Historically, since it was the Gay community that so strongly felt the first wave of the AIDS HIV epidemic in the United States, the original AIDS Service Organizations grew out of the GLBTQ population.  Although it may be hard to believe in 2010, in the early 1980s, there was a great prejudice and fear and directed towards Americans diagnosed with AIDS.  AIDS activists urged changes, and helped create organizations to provide information on safer sex as well as the promotion of compassion to those infected with the virus.

One of the first significant organizations to encourage individuals to make donations AIDS related was the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.  The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence began in San Francisco, but now have related chapters around the world.  Their instantly recognizable “nun drag” provided them easy publicity and access to bars, churches and synagogues where they conduct fund-raisers, and most Gay related events.

While some have criticized their unusual attire as disrespectful to Catholic nuns, the Seattle based Abbey of St. Joan has officially responded: We are often asked, “Why are you mocking nuns?” Well, we ARE nuns, silly! We recognize what “women of the cloth” have done over the centuries. They raise money for the needy, we raise money for the needy. They tend to the sick, we tend to the sick. They build their communities, we build our community. They have taken vows of celibacy, we… we have raised money for the needy. We are nuns for the 21st Century!

image courtesy of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and many other organizations, have raised millions of dollars in AIDS donations.

image courtesy of Broadway  Bares

Another famous group is Broadway Bares.  This organization sponsors an annual fund-raising event for donation AIDS, starring performers from New York City’s Broadway and the theater community.  These two groups demonstrate how, even under the awful tragedy of the early AIDS HIV epidemic, caring individuals were able to respond with compassion and creativity