President-Elect Obama's campaign platform (the HIV/AIDS agenda is available
in PDF) included a strong stance on HIV and AIDS issues, rooted in the call
for a National AIDS Strategy (NAS).
We are badly in need of new and sustained resources in the fight against
HIV/AIDS in this country. We also need a comprehensive, measurable strategy
against the epidemic that dares to re-envision and recraft our HIV/AIDS
response to meet and overcome a new generation of challenges. And we need to
ensure the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV and AIDS and
those most at risk, an approach we expect from a President who acknowledged
gay people and people with disabilities in the first minute of his
acceptance speech.
But the Obama Administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress will
face significant challenges in implementing a progressive, practical and
visionary HIV/AIDS platform, with the nation in the midst of the worst
economic turmoil in a century and divided by social and cultural fissions
amplified by mean-spirited campaigning.
So now our real work begins.
CHAMP's supporters know that community organizing works, and our organizing
and grassroots policy efforts are more important than ever. There are many
things we must do to roll back the harm of the past eight years and to move
further than we ever have in our battle against the epidemic. We know that
there are issues on which we will unite, and issues on which we may disagree
as diverse communities affected by HIV/AIDS.
Even as we push forward in overturning wrong-headed policies and securing
resources for effective HIV/AIDS programs, we must also stand together in
our demand for the creation of a truly visionary National AIDS Strategy
based in human rights and the realities of the domestic crisis.
The Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) looks forward to
continuing to work together with you and with this new Administration to
ensure that we finally have a true strategic plan for fighting HIV/AIDS in
the United States and to bolster communities ready to carry out the
difficult work of fighting the homophobia, racism, sexism and economic
inequalities that drive this epidemic.
We will delve deeper into the meaning of this election for people living
with HIV and AIDS and those most at risk at two events on Wednesday,
November 12, an international teleconference and a town meeting in New York
City. The audio and video of each event will be posted on
www.champnetwork.org afterwards:
Wednesday, November 12:
The Elections and the HIV Epidemic: Aiming Higher for HIV Policies on the
Local and National Levels
Strategy Lab/Community Teleconference 4:00 - 5:30 PM EST
NYC Community Forum 6:30 - 8:30 PM
To receive more information, including the roster of speakers, please
sign-up on-line at www.champnetwork.org
in PDF) included a strong stance on HIV and AIDS issues, rooted in the call
for a National AIDS Strategy (NAS).
We are badly in need of new and sustained resources in the fight against
HIV/AIDS in this country. We also need a comprehensive, measurable strategy
against the epidemic that dares to re-envision and recraft our HIV/AIDS
response to meet and overcome a new generation of challenges. And we need to
ensure the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV and AIDS and
those most at risk, an approach we expect from a President who acknowledged
gay people and people with disabilities in the first minute of his
acceptance speech.
But the Obama Administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress will
face significant challenges in implementing a progressive, practical and
visionary HIV/AIDS platform, with the nation in the midst of the worst
economic turmoil in a century and divided by social and cultural fissions
amplified by mean-spirited campaigning.
So now our real work begins.
CHAMP's supporters know that community organizing works, and our organizing
and grassroots policy efforts are more important than ever. There are many
things we must do to roll back the harm of the past eight years and to move
further than we ever have in our battle against the epidemic. We know that
there are issues on which we will unite, and issues on which we may disagree
as diverse communities affected by HIV/AIDS.
Even as we push forward in overturning wrong-headed policies and securing
resources for effective HIV/AIDS programs, we must also stand together in
our demand for the creation of a truly visionary National AIDS Strategy
based in human rights and the realities of the domestic crisis.
The Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) looks forward to
continuing to work together with you and with this new Administration to
ensure that we finally have a true strategic plan for fighting HIV/AIDS in
the United States and to bolster communities ready to carry out the
difficult work of fighting the homophobia, racism, sexism and economic
inequalities that drive this epidemic.
We will delve deeper into the meaning of this election for people living
with HIV and AIDS and those most at risk at two events on Wednesday,
November 12, an international teleconference and a town meeting in New York
City. The audio and video of each event will be posted on
www.champnetwork.org afterwards:
Wednesday, November 12:
The Elections and the HIV Epidemic: Aiming Higher for HIV Policies on the
Local and National Levels
Strategy Lab/Community Teleconference 4:00 - 5:30 PM EST
NYC Community Forum 6:30 - 8:30 PM
To receive more information, including the roster of speakers, please
sign-up on-line at www.champnetwork.org
