November 2009 Archives

World AIDS Day is always a reminder to the public at large that HIV/AIDS is still among us and must be addressed.

The Latino Commission on AIDS has taken that opportunity by issuing a sobering statement about Latinos.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Latinos progress to AIDS faster than any other racial or ethnic group. Within 12 months of testing HIV positive, 42 percent of Latinos are diagnosed with AIDS.

"Our challenge is to advocate and respond to the fact that more Latinos are likely to test late. The reasons include: limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and information, denial about HIV transmission risk, gender roles and safer sex practices," said Guillermo Chacon, president of the Latino Commission on AIDS.

"Being an immigrant in the current climate of discrimination is negatively affecting Hispanics/Latinos access to health care and services like HIV testing, these are barriers that we need to overcome," he said.

Getting tested for HIV is crucial. Stefania Fernandez is Miss Universe 2009. For World AIDS Day, she will get publicly tested for HIV on December 1st. The event will take place in Washington Heights at the Broadway Temple United Methodist Church in New York City.

Visit latinosaids.org for more information.


Oriol on:

November 20th is the 11th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors the memories of people murdered because they were transgender.

Results from a report by the nonprofit group Transgender Europe are shocking. In the last 12 months, there were 162 reported murders of trans people worldwide.

That translates into every three days a transgender person is murdered as a result of a hate crime somewhere in the world.

There is no formal data, so the group bases its numbers on Internet research. The reality is undoubtedly much worse.

What saddens me most on a personal level is that although these murders occurred everywhere on the planet, 124 were reported in 15 countries in Latin America.

In other words, 75 percent of the reported murders of trans people worldwide were in Latin America. That statistic alone demonstrates the depth of homophobia and transphobia in Latino culture.

Watch this video tribute:

Oriol on:

A judge in Argentina has ruled in favor of a gay couple granting them the right to get married, AFP reports.

The men, both of whom are HIV positive, selected December 1st, which is World AIDS Day, as their wedding date in Buenos Aires.

Having approved LGBT civil unions in 2002, Buenos Aires has proven to be one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in Latin America.

"We will become husband and husband," said Alejandro Freyre, 39, and Jose Maria Di Bello, 41.

Watch this video (in Spanish) of the couple discussing their LGBT advocacy:


Oriol on:

The New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) held its 13th annual Courage Awards on Monday, November 9.

AVP's mission is "eliminating hate violence, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities through counseling, advocacy, organizing, and public education."

Honorees included LGBT bloggers Bil Browning (The Bilerico Project), Joe Jervis (Joe.My.God), Pam Spaulding (Pam's House Blend) and Andy Towle (Towleroad). Also honored were playwright Tony Kushner and law firm Clifford Chance for their efforts.

Michelangelo Signorile presented the award to the LGBT bloggers. Pam Spaulding accepted the award on behalf of the group and read an acceptance speech written by the group. (Click here to watch video, see pics and read more from Pam's blog.)

Here's an excerpt from Signorile's speech about these bloggers:

It's just extraordinary the tremendous work they do at bringing to light, reflecting to our people, all across the country, millions, who they are, what they're about, and that they're not alone, that there are people with them. They not only reflect and inform and inspire, but they really push the media to get off their asses and cover so many of these stories, particularly the violence, that we see, and activate our people to get out there and protest and focus on it.

Here's an excerpt from the group's acceptance speech:

Because crimes against LGBT people are seldom reported on a national basis, and covered mostly in local papers, if at all, we have a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about how severe and widespread these crimes are, and the frequency at which they occur. As one of the few forums, and perhaps the most effective, that exist right now to communicate these crimes to other gay people and our heterosexual allies, we can inspire them to take action.

I congratulate all four bloggers for a well-deserved honor. We're fortunate to have them fulfilling their roles as citizen journalists. It's unfortunate, however, that such roles have become increasingly necessary.

Oriol on:

New York magazine recently published a great article titled "Another Kind of AIDS Crisis" by David France, which discusses the medical issues confronting HIV-positive people as they grow older.

Diseases and symptoms associated with the elderly are being seen increasingly in long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS, such as dementia and bone weakness.

I highly recommend the article and the accompanying video:



Oriol on: