The presidential nomination cycle is now in earnest and black HIV/AIDS activists have a message to the candidates. "If you want to show that you care about Black Americans, you’d better be talking about AIDS and HIV," says Phill Wilson, founder and executive director of the Los Angeles-based Black AIDS Institute.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, blacks account for only 12 percent of the United States population but about 50 percent of all new HIV cases. Wilson, who is openly gay and an HIV positive, criticizes the presidential candidates' commitment to fighting the epidemic. "We're not serious about fighting aids in America...How high AIDS is on the priority scale determines how high Black people are on the scale."
The interview by BlackPressUSA claims Sen. Barack Obama is the "only" Democratic or Republican presidential candidate who "mentions the subject of AIDS and HIV on his or her official website." That is not accurate. Sen. Hillary Clinton describes her fight for HIV/AIDS funding on her website, Gov. Bill Richardson speaks in English and Spanish on the issue, and, Sen. John Edwards has video addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS and says it is among the reasons why we need universal health care. BPUSA has an odd habit of not dating articles, so, the interview may be dated. In any event, Phill Wilson is correct: The candidates must articulate strong positions on HIV/AIDS.
Obama Only Candidate Who Mentions AIDS [BPUSA]
Some Background ...
Ending Black Homophobia Will Reduce HIV [R20]
Jonathan Perry in "The Advocate" [R20]
Primetime Reports Black HIV Epidemic [After Elton]
"Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" [R20]
Should Homophobic Churches Receive HIV Funding? [R20]
Black Baptist Convention FINALLY Mentions AIDS [R20]
Rev. Willie Wilson Outed [Keith Boykin]
Is HIV A Gay Disease? [Keith Boykin]
Bishop: "No Faggots or Sissies" (Rod 2.0)
"Urban Rally Against AIDS" [R20]
The HIV Morning After Pill? [R20]
Black Gay Men and "The Pill" [R20]
Hill Harper on HIV/AIDS [R20]
Ending Black Homophobia Will Reduce HIV [R20]
Do You Disclose Your HIV Status? [R20]
The ABCs of Black HIV [R20]
New CDC Guidelines [R20]
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