The Election and the Epidemic: Aiming Higher for HIV Policies in the Next Administration and Congress

November 12, 2008

Click here to listen to the audio recording and view the presentations.

Regardless of the results when the dust settles late on Election Day 2008, we know for certain: the AIDS pandemic will still be a national and global crisis.

Will our new Administration and Congress call for bold measures to address a deepening domestic AIDS epidemic? Will Washington generate a National AIDS Strategy based on the evidence of what works, or will business-as-usual inside the Beltway hinder our efforts? What are the emerging politics around full funding for honest HIV prevention and groundbreaking research?

We know what's at stake. The question remains, what will we do - together - to achieve a justice-based HIV prevention strategy to end AIDS?

Please join us for in-depth analysis and discussion on prospects for:

• Developing, funding and implementing a National AIDS Strategy - on our terms
• Eliminating federal funding mandates for ineffective and harmful abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, and instead winning effective comprehensive sex ed
• Securing access to comprehensive treatment and care, including Medicaid, Medicare and passing ETHA, the Early Treatment for HIV Act
• Fully lifting the entry bar for HIV positive immigrants and visitors
• Ending the ban on federal financing for needle exchange
• Scaling-up the HIV prevention initiatives designed for the communities that carry the burden of the U.S. epidemic - gay men, especially gay men & MSM of color, young people and women of color
• Broadening the federal research portfolio for HIV prevention

• Vanessa Brocato: Executive Director - Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), New York, NY
• Christine Campbell: VP, National Advocacy and Organizing - Housing Works, Washington, DC
• Chris Collins: National AIDS Strategy, Maplewood, NJ
• Dennis deLeon: Executive Director - Latino Commission on AIDS, New York, NY
• Rebecca Fox: Director - National Coalition for LGBT Health, Washington, DC
• Kali Lindsey: Vice President, Federal Government Affairs - National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), Silver Spring, MD
• Mark McLaurin: Public Policy Director - Public Justice Center, Baltimore, MD

• Naina Khanna: National Advocacy Coordinator - WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases) & Positive Women's Network USA, Oakland, CA