In response to a series of written questions posed by the Washington Blade, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama  discussed equal rights issues within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community and his proposed strategy to increase domestic HIV/AIDS relief efforts.

Obama acknowledged President George W. Bush’s work with international AIDS programs—such as his President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—but noted that more progress needs to be made here in the United States.

“If elected, during my first year in office, I will develop and implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies,” Obama said. “That strategy will reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities.”

He also emphasized that Congress should pass the JUSTICE Act to battle the infection rate of the country’s prison population and that if elected he would tackle the stigma of HIV/AIDS, which Obama feels is “too often tied to homophobia.”