A ubiquitous nugget of pop culture advice (“Put a ring on it!”) is the tagline of a new public awareness campaign launched today by a coalition of health organizations that aims to increase the use of a new-and-improved female condom among both women and men.

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.

Today, 66 organizations and over 400 individuals called on Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to fairly fund HIV services in the FY 11 state budget, to be introduced March 10.

Via Chicago Free Press March 3, 2010

Job loss, program cuts, fears of more HIV infection. Call them the new economic realities for the agencies that serve the GLBT community.

Donations are down even at food pantries--like Vital Bridges (left) which serves Chicagoans living with HIV

Whether they’re helping Chicago GLBTs put food on the table, working to secure and defend their civil rights, offering HIV prevention services or serving the medical needs of the community; almost every GLBT non-profit in Chicago has been negatively impacted by the economy. Many experts fear this is only the beginning. “Every facet of life in the state for vulnerable people is going to be impacted,” predicts John Peller, Director of Governmental Affairs at AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

In this line of work, as in any, we use a lot of terminology.  Advocacy campaign, coalition, grassroots. Sometimes we take for granted that we all define terms like these in the same way.  Other times, not everyone may be familiar with them.  It may seem like an insignificant issue, but small misunderstandings can sometimes transform into big obstacles standing in the way of effective action.

What is an AIDS advocate to do?

One place to start is by reading the document attached to this post: the Abbreviated Glossary of Public Policy and Advocacy-Related Terms and Concepts as prepared by AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Enjoy!

Governor Quinn released a preliminary budget outline on February 24 that highlights the consequences of the state budget disaster: $2 billion more in cuts to programs, a massive budget deficit, and $11 billion in unpaid bills. Taken together, the budget problems predict massive harm for vulnerable people, and particularly people with and at risk of HIV. 

But for the first time, you have the chance to publicly tell Governor Quinn what to include in his state budget proposal before it’s released next Wednesday, March 10. Visit budget.illinois.gov right now and ask for the following two things:

1. Tell Governor Quinn that people with and at risk of HIV need a responsible and balanced budget solution:

Dose of Change is a new online resource that helps AIDS advocates take their efforts to the next level.  This interactive forum, developed by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, provides a space for anyone to find or share information on the craft of AIDS advocacy.

BEYOND THE DIAGNOSIS
March 25, 2010
Performance begins at 7:30
Refreshments available at 6:30

DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place, Chicago IL 60637
FREE ADMISSION
CAll 877 587 1711 for reservations

Real stories of Chicago residents who are living and thriving in the most serious epidemic of our time.

Any good advocacy campaign involves building long-lasting relationships with people in power.  Our role as advocates is often to educate lawmakers about the issues, connect them to affected constituents, and carefully craft our messages and strategies so they appeal to the particular interests and concerns of each individual official. 

PREVENT A HORROR-MOVIE ENDING: PASS HEALTH REFORM NOW!

Healthcare advocates expect excessively shaky camera work at Thursday’s high-stakes meetings, to be held at the Blair House in Washington. Will our leaders break the political impasse to bring about real health care reform? Or will they sentence lifesaving legislation to permanent banishment in the woods?

During Thursday’s nationally televised summit on health reform, President Obama and congressional leaders must chart a course out of the political thicket obstructing final passage for health reform legislation.  The hopes of tens of millions of uninsured Americans—and tens of millions more who will surely lose affordable coverage—rests in the outcome of this meeting. 

Contact Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid NOW and urge them to do whatever it takes to pass comprehensive health reform through budget reconciliation.  Call them—and your own members of Congress toll-free at: 1 (800) 828-0498. Go to www.congress.org to find out who represents you.