It’s World AIDS Day —  that time of year when I preach to the choir.

I think we might just be on the verge of getting everyone on the same page about HIV/AIDS. In 1990 Ryan White’s death started the change, and over the years I think we’re all aware that the disease doesn’t discriminate. It’s like any disease — mindless attacking anyone in its path. Hopefully, we’ve also learned that there’s no such thing as killing all the right people.

In the industrial and post-industrial world, there are medications that help the victims of the pandemic lead full and rewarding lives. That’s not the case everywhere. Fortunately there are ways to help. (RED)  “…is a simple idea that transforms our collective power as shoppers into a financial force that helps those affected by AIDS in Africa. To date, over $135 million has been generated and 4 million people have been helped through Global Fund programs that (RED) supports. When you choose to buy products from (RED) partner companies up to 50% of the profit goes towards eliminating AIDS in Africa.” It ROCKS! Find the retailers. Buy their products. It’s simple.

Closer to home, the Louisville AIDS Walk can help you make a difference right in your own back yard. The walk was in September, but they’ll still gladly take your contribution. While you’re there, check out the information. Who knows, next year you might want to walk with us.

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and on October 15th it’s the seventh National Latino AIDS Awareness Day  — an occasion that brings both attention to the disproportionate effect of HIV on American Latinos and renewed hope in the fight against AIDS.

From the Until There’s A Cure Foundation here are: several facts about HIV/AIDS among young Hispanics and Latinos in the United States:

• In 2006, Hispanic and Latino teens aged 13 to 19 accounted for 19% of new teen HIV infections in the United States, up from 17% in 2005.
• 23% of children under 13 living with HIV/AIDS are Hispanic or Latino.
• The rate of decline for Latino youth HIV infection has declined slower than the rate of infection among non-Latino white youth in the United States
• A variety of cultural and familial norms contribute to these higher rates of infection among Hispanic and Latino Americans.

It may be called National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, but we all need to keep AIDS in the forefront of our consciousness.

AIDS Remembrance Ribbon on the Second Street Bridge

Today was one of those glorious days when you remember what keeps you living in the River City. The skies were blue, the temperatures mild, and a light breeze swept across the city. The 16^th Louisville AIDS Walk was today. I got to the Belvedere just before they closed off the Main Street, and I had plenty of time to play anthropologist (i.e., people watch). One of the things that I like about events like it, is that same sex couples can hold hands or have other PDAs that straight people take for granted. I watched the runners start the 5K, saw and talked with some people I knew. I tweeted about the event, and had a wolf’s good time. I even saw a couple of guys worth lusting after, but that’s another tale. It was also impressive that Mayor Abramson and Congressman Yarmuth came to the event. I noticed that  neither of the Commonwealth’s senators were in attendance.

Soon enough it was time to head down to Main Street and get ready to start this year’s walk. We got in place, the count down began, and we were off. The crowd included plenty of people from the LGBTQI community as well as straights and the undeclared. There were drag queens and leather lords, frat boys and women of a certain age, middle aged men and children. There were even a few pups (of both four and two legged varieties) walking the walk. Blacks, Whites, Asians, Jews, Christians, UUs, and people of no particular persuasion all had on their walking shoes. The route led across the Second Street Bridge to Southern Indiana, circled around and came back. I think it’s about a three mile trek. Placed along the route were bins filled with ice and bottles of water, and there were wading pools filled with water for the dogs.

Thanks to some very nice sponsors, I was able to bring $315 to the total. I’m not certain of the total for the Walk itself, but I’m hoping it was huge. I’m already looking forward to next year’s walk, and I’m thinking of doing some volunteer work as well.

Louisville AIDS Walk, Sunday, September 13th, at the Belvedere!

Proving, once again, that I’m more than boys, booze, and barbells.

 There are very few causes that will get me to ask for money. This is one of them. To put it simply, it’s a good cause. I’m walking. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. If you have friends (or enemies for that matter) who would be interested in donating, please let me know, and I’ll be very happy to solicit them. To contribute please, Click Here.

 If you’ve known me for very long, you know that my cause is finding a cure for AIDS. My friend Anthony is riding in the AIDS LifeCycle event this May and June. Please be as generous as possible.

Hi Guys & Gals,
I am no longer an AIDS LifeCycle virgin. After one trip down the coast of California on my bicycle EFI, in AIDS LifeCycle 7, I’m signed up to do it again!!
I’m Riding to End AIDS!!
From May 31 June 6, 2009, I’m bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It’s a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.

I hope you all are surviving the winter weather! I am so ready for spring time! So I can get out on my bike and ride!! I have been at the gym almost daily to help me get in shape for this great feat I’m about to embark on.

Please join me if you can with your generous support, both financially and emotionally. Even if it is good luck Anthony! Little things help boost my spirits. Just so you know
NO amount is TOO small. $5, $50, $500 and everything in between can help make someone’s life a little easier.

Making a donation is easy…just visit http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/ANTH5677 and click the “Donate to Support ANTHONY” link under my picture. You can make a one time donation or, even better, you can spread payment of your donation out for up to a year. So, for example, if you want to donate $100 but can’t make a lump sum donation, you can have the LA Gay and Lesbian Center deduct $10 a month for 10 months out of your account! WOW! High tech!

I appreciate everyone’s support!

Many hugs & kisses
Anthony

World AIDS Day

Monday, December 1st. 

1985: Regan was in the Oval Office. The Cold War was still pretty hot, and AIDS was killing all the right people – black men, intravenous drug users, gay men. Or at least that’s what one felt coming from certain blocks of the American electorate. New to the City, I was living on the fringe of the Gay Ghetto and ready to come bursting out of the closet, but AIDS kept me on the threshold between the light of the world and the familiar, if smothering, darkness of the closet. I went into a sexual limbo – at least semantically.

Celibacy doesn’t suit me well. I learned to open my wallet and give to AIDS related charities. Have I dated a man with HIV? Not that I know of. Would I? Yes. In fact I almost did back in the spring – other factors kept it from happening. Educating myself about HIV has allowed me to live my queer little existence with confidence and date any man regardless of his status.

We’re twenty odd years burning down the road from my first gay adventures. I am out of the closet, but the AIDS Pandemic rages on. The Cold War looks ready for another out break. In industrialized, post-industrialized, and developing nations AIDS continues to take its toll indiscriminately. Yes, treatments are better than before, and people in Western Europe, the United States and Canada can significantly longer lives and ones that are certainly more productive. And I still give to those AIDS related charities. I may have taken off the battered Until There’s a Cure bracelet, for now, but the desire to remember and honor is still deep.

This fall I had a permanent blazon put on my hip – a red ribbon tattoo. It’s not visible to most of the world, but I see it daily, and I remember.

If you haven’t made your donation to The Louisville AIDS Walk you can click here to donate with a debit or credit card. Checks may be sent to:

Louisville AIDS Walk
Attention: Donations Coordinator
810 Barret Avenue, Suite 305
Louisville, KY 40204

The deadline for donations is December 31, 2008. They’ve raised about $185,000 of their $200,000 goal. Please give as generously as you can.

The Folsom Street Fair is next Sunday in San Francisco. There are, of course, other events happening in conjunction with the celebration of Kink. In Louisville the AIDS Walk will take stage down Main Street and across the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge. I won’t be walking this year (I have opera tickets), but I will certainly make a donation to this very worthy cause. As I’ve said before, AIDS sent me into a sexual Purgatory from which I’ve escaped, and I’m always happy to donate to finding a cure for the pandemic and helping those living daily with HIV.

Yes, I’ll be writing more on Folsom later, and I’ll also probably get a little (or a lot) preachy about HIV/AIDS.

The flag is the Victory Over AIDS flag. It has been suggested that when a cure is found for the pandemic, the black stripes should be removed and ceremoniously burned. The black stripe remains, and I’m still wearing my Until There’s a Cure bracelet, buying (Red) (http://www.joinred.com/) when I can. I have a friend riding in the AIDS/LifeCycle7 event in June. The following is from his blog.

I am going to be participating in the AIDS/Life Cycle 7 in celebration of the end of HIV and AIDS. Unfortunately, HIV and AIDS is not only not over, it’s worse than ever. Recent reports indicate an increase in infections in here in the U.S. This is the reason I am riding in AIDS/Life Cycle 7.

This 7-day, 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles will make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. I can not do this alone and need your help to raise the minimum $2500.00 donation threshold to qualify for the ride. Since this is my first year, I have set a personal goal of raising $3500.00.

The money you donate will go directly to help improve and even lengthen the life of someone living with HIV/AIDS. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of every dollar donated will go directly to the HIV/AIDS services at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the New York LGBT Center.

This may be the hardest and single most important thing I have undertaken in my life, thus far.  I will be sending you updates on my training and how I do during the actual event in June.  I hope you will join me with your generous support, both financially and emotionally.

I am asking for your donations and support. Please donate what you can so that I may keep riding until there is a cure for HIV and AIDS. To donate, please visit my ride web-page at www.aidslifecycle.org/2164