There are many similarities between the HIV epidemic and the COVID-19 epidemic and the global response to them.
Read MoreThe answer, of course, is “Yes, both.” Some help and some hurt and some are neutral. The more important question is, “What is the balance?” In high-burden areas, are most of the local religious helpful or are most harmful? This is especially important with respect to stigma. Unless there are more helpful religious communities than harmful one, stigma is likely to continue to be a significant barrier to effectively fighting the epidemic.
Read MoreOne of the key differences between the winning and losing futures involves the religious presence at the 2020 AIDS Conference in San Francisco and Oakland. In the losing future, the religious presence is weak and divided, but in the winning future, the presence is strong and unified.
Read MoreIn last week’s blog, I asked whether religion could speak with a common voice about AIDS. My answer was “Yes” although a little tentative. But during the next decade of the global AIDS response, actions will be more important than words. So this week’s question is: “Can Religion Act with a Common Vision to End AIDS?”
Read MoreWhen speaking about the AIDS epidemic, religious voices often seem to spread mixed, or even contradictory, messages. Given the great diversity among religious perspectives about AIDS, Is it even possible to speak together? The experience of the Common Voice initiative suggests that it is.
Read MoreDecember 1 is World AIDS Day. This year, local religious communities can join with other communities from a variety of traditions around the world by including the Common Voice Pledge in their worship services.
Read MoreThe book is now officially available. I hope it makes a difference, pushing us all to choose to win the war against AIDS instead of losing it.
Read MoreThis year’s International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science was held in Mexico City, July 21-24. There was a particularly useful press conference on Monday discussing a report about the future of the AIDS response, based on good success in six locations around the world.
Read MoreThe window of opportunity is closing, but it is not too late to choose a future in which HIV and AIDS are no longer global health threats, in which the HIV epidemic in the United States is over, and in which faith leaders and communities are strong vital partners in ending AIDS
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