HIV/AIDS

via the Huffington Post

Dear Friends of the LGBT community,

As a gay man living with HIV, I am feeling really conflicted during this month of LGBT Pride. I know I am supposed to be awash in warm, fuzzy feelings of pride and joy, and that I should have lots of parties and the big parade on my agenda.

But you know what? Not so much.

While curmudgeon is becoming more and more an apt description of yours truly, and while I applaud the community's herculean efforts around important issues such as marriage equality and repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," I have noticed over the last several years that one issue in particular gets a collective "ho, hum, been there, done that." And that issue is HIV.

Facing a grim state financial situation, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn Wednesday proposed a fiscal year 2011 state budget that underfunds HIV prevention and care services by nearly $22 million.  The budget plan relies on a mix of cuts to programs, borrowing, and federal funding.  Gov.

The Illinois House Appropriations-Human Services Committee held a hearing on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) funding on Friday, January 22, 2010 at James R. Thompson Center. Check out videos of advocate testimonials detailing the impact of cuts in funding for HIV care, prevention, and housing services as well as the rising need for HIV/AIDS medications provided through ADAP.

Watch all of the videos here.

We need your voice!

American Indian Health Service of Chicago (AIHSC) is looking for individuals to serve on a committee that will advise and guide the AIHSC HIV/AIDS Program.
AIHSC provides primary healthcare, behavioral health and community health services to the American Indian population of Chicago. We are the only urban Indian Health Program in Illinois.

In early January 2010, Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes announced that the state has over $5.1 billion in unpaid bills but no cash to pay them.  As a result, service providers can't meet payroll, agencies are at risk of shutting down, and clients may lose services.  

The clock is ticking on health care reform.  Leaders in the U.S.

Each year, World AIDS Day is commemorated around the globe on December 1. Together we celebrate the medical and social progress and bring into focus remaining challenges ahead.

Each year, World AIDS Day is commemorated around the globe on December 1. Together we celebrate the medical and social progress and bring into focus remaining challenges ahead.

Chicagoland's World AIDS Day events are presented with hopes to prevent new infections and promote care for all impacted.

Unless Congress acts now, the District of Columbia-where one in 20 residents is living with HIV-will be hamstrung in its efforts to fight one of worst HIV/AIDS epidemics in the nation.

Health care reform will fundamentally transform and enhance our ability to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS. Simply put, health care reform will fight AIDS, and NOW is a critical moment when we need the voices of the HIV/AIDS community to be heard.