In 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 MoreI was in Paris this week to attend a meeting of the International AIDS Society. I came home feeling like we are both winning and losing the war against AIDS.
The good news is that from a numeric perspective we are making good progress toward the 90-90-90 targets for 2020 set a few years ago by UNAIDS: that 90% of the people living with HIV will know their status; that 90% of them will be on treatment; and that 90% of them will have achieved viral suppression.
Read MoreThe battles in Washington over the future of American health care will have major consequences in the war against AIDS. Both the AHCA bill passed by the House and the bill proposed last week in the Senate include provisions that will have deadly consequences for people living with HIV.
Read MoreAustin proudly boasts the claim of having the longest running AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service in the State of Texas. Unfortunately, the weather this year prevented the event from happening. I had been invited to be one of the speakers, addressing national and international issues related to the AIDS epidemic. I had prepared a mildly theatrical presentation, hoping to both entertain the crowd and draw attention to the critical decisions that will be made in Washington this year. After Sunday’s cancellation, I recorded what I had planned to say.
Read MoreWhy make another AIDS movie? We’ve had several good ones: And the Band Played On, Philadelphia Story, Dallas Buyers Club, a South African one that I particularly like, Life, Above All, and many others. So why make another? The main reason is that the AIDS epidemic has faded from the public consciousness.
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