More than one year after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, HIV clinics across the city are still shuttered and public transportation is unreliable, leaving shoddy access to whatever HIV care remains. Enter legendary actress and AIDS diva Elizabeth Taylor. In typical kick-ass form, the 74-year-old Taylor teamed with New Orleans’ NO/AIDS Task Force to steer a 37-foot van stocked with exam rooms and docs onto city streets. “I bought a van for New Orleans because all of the AIDS patients were left without a paddle, literally,” explained Taylor during a spring appearance on Larry King Live. More than 300 patients are expected to park inside by year’s end.
