HIV/AIDS Awareness. A father’s choice.

Posts Tagged ‘AIDS donations’

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

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