click here to read about CHAMP's top issues at the IAC
Primary Contact: Julie Davids, CHAMP Executive Director: tx/mob: 646-431-7525, jdavids@champnetwork.org
On-site Contacts:
Walt Senterfitt, PhD, RN, MPH, CHAMP Board Co-Chair: tx/mob: 323-683-0490, wsenterfit@aol.com
Areas of expertise: US policy, HIV prevention, HIV incidence,
HIV treatment as prevention, combination prevention, policy
implications of data, social justice, history of AIDS movement,
perspectives of people living with HIV/AIDS
Kenyon Farrow, National Public Education Director for Queers for Economic Justice: tx/mob: 917-627-0853, kenyon@q4ej.org
Areas of expertise: imprisonment and criminalization issues, US policy, social justice, structural interventions, LGBT movements, gay men of color
Coco Jervis, CHAMP Director of Policy: tx/mob: 646-342-4191, coco@champnetwork.org
Areas of expertise: immigration issues, US policy, imprisonment and criminalization issues, election year issues
Press Releases:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6: Activists To March Through Int'l Aids Conference, Demanding U.S. Officials Develop, Implement Coordinated, Measurable National AIDS Strategy And Reform U.S. Global AIDS Plan
Coalition of AIDS activists to issue United States Government a FAILING grade at public forum on Wednesday at 17th Annual International AIDS Conference in Mexico City
Action begins 4:45 PM CST outside Media Center, with march to “US HIV Epidemic” Session
MEXICO CITY- On Wednesday, August 5 at the first public appearance by a CDC official after the August 2nd release of revised United States HIV incidence estimates that reveal 56,300 new HIV infections annually – a 40% increase over longstanding estimates of 40,000 annual infections – U.S. AIDS activists will issue a grade of "F" to U.S. policy makers and demand a National AIDS Strategy to deal with the complex and diverse epidemic. Additionally, activists will demand reform of the U.S. global AIDS plan to ensure the U.S. treats four million people worldwide and funds only evidence-based HIV prevention programs.
At 4:30pm, activists from ACT UP Philadelphia, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), Health GAP, New York City AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN) and other groups will march to the "US HIV Epidemic in 2008" session from the Media Center. Kevin Fenton from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be speaking about revised U.S. HIV incidence numbers. Activists will carry large F's and issue report cards demonstrating the failed policies of the U.S. government. These failed policies have led to higher rates of HIV in communities of color, in particular amongst gay men.
In the wake of disturbing news about higher HIV rates in the United States, people living with HIV and allies are calling for a national AIDS strategy that confronts the homophobia, violence and bias at the heart of the U.S. epidemic.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the new figures released on Saturday, August 2 reflect a “stable” epidemic, albeit one with a higher level of annual infections than previously estimated. However, the data reveal an ongoing and persistent increase in rates of infection among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), many of whom are Black and/or Latino.
“The new estimates confirm that a vast majority of new infections in the U.S. occur in gay and bisexual men, and that Blacks are significantly more heavily impacted than other racial/ethnic categories. However, the data fail to clearly link the two, perpetuating a longstanding, damaging polarization,” explained Walt Senterfitt, CHAMP board co-chair and an epidemiologist living with HIV who served as a Visiting Scientist at CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.
In nation lacking national AIDS strategy, data confirms 40% higher infection rate, persistent epidemic in Black Americans, and rising rates in gay men
This Sunday, August 3 at 11 am EST, CDC will announce a revised estimate of HIV incidence in the United States. CHAMP has learned that the new estimate of approximately 56,000 annual infections will be published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and presented publicly at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. The revision also includes a back-calculation revealing that, for the 15 years from 1991-2006, infection rates were approximately 25 – 50% higher than the long-held 40,000 annual estimate.
People living with HIV and other HIV prevention justice activists, expressing sadness and anger at this news, demand a response from Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, the presumptive nominees for our next President.
Press Teleconference:
As Bush stresses eagerness to sign global AIDS bill, people with HIV
and allies decry Bush-era domestic failures and pernicious role of “Dr.
No,” Sen. Tom Coburn (R, OK)
Advocates ask McCain, Obama to speak out for national AIDS strategy,
funding increases for U.S. AIDS fight, and an end ineffective, biased
policies like “abstinence-only” during next week’s AIDS conference and
at Saddleback Church forum on 8/16
Click on the arrow below to listen to a recording of the teleconference:
Click here for press release in HTML
Download press release as Word document
Download remarks of Julie Davids, CHAMP Executive Director, from the call
ADDITIONAL AIDS COMMUNITY PRESS RELEASES:
EMBARGOED UNTIL 8/1/08: International Rectal Microbicides Advocates: IRMA Releases New Publication Menos Silencio, Más Ciencia
Translated Document to Enhance Rectal Microbicide Advocacy in the Spanish-Speaking World
7/16/08: Population Action International: Senate Passage of Landmark HIV/AIDS Bill; Failure to Maximize Prevention Efforts
6/26/08: Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention: HIV-Prevention Experts Focus on Evidence
6/10/08: Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention: Comprised of more than 40 influential non-governmental organizations, the Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention was created for the specific purpose of promoting HIV prevention supported by sound science.
Kelly Castagnaro, International Women's Health Coalition: kcastagnaro@iwhc.org, 917-498-3346, hotel: 52-55-5061-3000
Areas of expertise: women's health and human rights
David Ernesto Munar, AIDS Foundation of Chicago & National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-U.S.): dmunar@aidschicago.org, 773-814-5606
Diana Scholl, Housing Works: d.scholl@housingworks.org, 917-402-2576
Areas of expertise: housing, structural interventions
CHAMP @ AIDS 2008
Primary Contact:
Julie Davids, CHAMP Executive Director: tx/mob: 646-431-7525, jdavids@champnetwork.org
Onsite Contacts:
Walt Senterfitt, PhD, RN, MPH, CHAMP Board Co-Chair: tx/mob: 323-683-0490, wsenterfit@aol.com
Areas of expertise: US policy, HIV prevention, HIV incidence, HIV treatment as prevention, combination prevention, policy implications of data, social justice, history of AIDS movement, perspectives of people living with HIV/AIDS
Kenyon Farrow, National Public Education Director for Queers for Economic Justice: tx/mob: 917-627-0853, kenyon@q4ej.org
Areas of expertise: imprisonment and criminalization issues, US policy, social justice, structural interventions, LGBT movements, gay men of color
Coco Jervis, CHAMP Director of Policy: tx/mob: 646-342-4191, coco@champnetwork.org
Areas of expertise: immigration issues, US policy, imprisonment and criminalization issues, election year issues
Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) is a U.S.-based organization building a movement for HIV prevention justice that bridges HIV/AIDS, human rights, and struggles for social, racial and economic justice. We also run the Prevention Research Advocacy Working Group (PRAWG), an unprecedented alliance of people living with HIV, advocates and researchers devoted to the development of effective, evidence-based HIV/AIDS prevention conducted in and/or funded by the United States.
We welcome press inquiries before, during or after AIDS 2008 on the following issues. In addition, we can connect you to reliable and efficient spokespeople on a broad range of HIV/AIDS issues through the CHAMP Network Press Service:
Fight AIDS Not Iraq / Fight AIDS not Iran!:
Look for graphic and engaging actions at the IAC from CHAMP and our allies about the need to redirect U.S. resources away from war and towards the domestic and global AIDS crises - emphasizing the need for a national AIDS strategy and an end to restrictions on prevention programming and limits on treatment in PEPFAR
The Election and the Epidemic: McCain and Obama on AIDS:
As the Bush era draws to a close, many will say he will be remembered for his global AIDS initiative. But the epidemic in his own nation is unabated, and is on the rise in some groups. How do his potential successors view their mandate as leader of the nation that is both the largest investor in HIV/AIDS global programs and home to one of the world's most pervasive AIDS epidemics in our gay, Black and Latino/a communities? And what congressional challenges will remain, particularly from maverick conservative Sen. Tom Coburn?
Among other AIDS promises, Obama has pledged to institute a National AIDS Strategy to mirror what is required from PEPFAR recipients, but has remained largely mute on domestic AIDS in the news, on the stump and the web, and refers to Sen. Coburn as an example of his cross-aisle collaborators. McCain has not released an HIV/AIDS platform and has publicly deferred to Sen. Coburn on AIDS.
New Numbers on HIV in the US Are Neither Pretty nor Petty: Understanding the Implications of the Incidence Estimate:
For years, there has been data showing the rise of HIV infection rates in key communities, most dramatically in Black gay men. On August 3 at the International AIDS Conference, CDC is releasing data verifying that the long-held estimate of 40,000 new infections a year is too low, according to a sophisticated sampling procedure with thousands of HIV test results from more than 20 states. How much can we glean from one year of the new estimate? What are the other data to be discussed in Mexico City that will shed light on HIV/AIDS incidence in the United States? And how could structural interventions confront incidence by tackling underlying causes of racial disparities and high rates in gay men, such as poverty, mass imprisonment, and overlapping epidemics of violence and marginalization in gay men's lives?
Unlock HIV Prevention: End Criminalization and Mass Imprisonment:
In the U.S., the HIV/AIDS epidemic is intertwined with the system of mass imprisoment. It is no coincidence that the communities most impacted by imprisonment also have the highest rates of HIV infection. At any given time, 25% of those living with HIV in the U.S. are under the control of the criminal justice system. This system is a 60 billion dollar industry that locks up over 2.3 million people annually- 35.4% of whom are black males. As of 2005, blacks and Hispanics represent 71% of all new AIDS cases, and the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Repressive political and economic structures in the U.S. have facilitated both the spread of the virus and the drastic increase in the size and scope of the systems of mass imprisonment. The interconnection between the two crises is caused by and, in turn, creates, a web of social, political and economic disparities, and shows how HIV/AIDS is far more than a matter of a virus or disease. Further, a maze of state-level laws criminalizing behavior that expose others to HIV, along with the discriminatory policies - such as the immigration and travel bans - perpetuate misinformation and fuel stigma towards those living with HIV/AIDS.
CHAMP will share analyses showing that the structural impediments of imprisonment, criminalization and institutionalized racism and homophobia must be addressed to confront HIV/AIDS in the U.S.
Treatment as Prevention: What Is the Evidence, and the Skepticism?
The development of effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is an amazing accomplishment by an activist collaboration of affected communities, scientists, clinicians and their allies. To extend treatment's benefit to all who need it worldwide is an ethical imperative and a central task for all of us. But is treatment also an effective prevention strategy?
There is growing observational evidence that successful ARV seems to reduce the transmission of HIV and there is compelling biological plausibility for this. Is the treatment effect significant at a population or public health level? Contact us for navigation through the data on all sides of this issue.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): A Call to Action, A Call for Answers
Around the world (including the United States), thousands are enrolled in clinical trials to explore if anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) could protect HIV-negative people from HIV -- these strategies are called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. In the next few years, we will begin to have answers from these clinical trials.
Regardless of the result of these trials, many questions will remain - and we should be discussing them in advance to prepare for a range of potential trial results. There are pressing questions about research, integration into existing prevention structures and services, community education and engagement, and financing and delivery systems that should be addressed now to prepare for a range of potential trial results.
At the IAC, CHAMP is releasing A Call for Action, A Call for Answers, which urges engagement in and beyond the HIV/AIDS community to ensure that the stakeholders and policy-makers that could shape healthy PrEP policies are helping us to find the answers.