When I was in Washington, DC last November for C2EA, we were instructed by organizers not to make our legislative visits into a state vs. state issue, but instead to plead for adequate funding for all persons living with HIV/AIDS to receive services and meds. Then I read your article on Senator Hilary Clinton voting against the reauthorization of the Ryan White Act, and how many are viewing this as a vote against the AIDS community.
It seems to me that what is happening here is exactly what the organizers of C2EA did not want, fighting within the AIDS community. What we should be doing is voicing our outrage at how this Congress wants to redistribute the same pie, but in different portions.
That should not be our goal here. Does it make sense to agree to more funding to some states at the expense of others? Let’s be truthful, folks. Those states who stand to gain from the current proposed bill are the same states that have elected not to put one additional dollar into AIDS services or their ADAP programs beyond what the federal government has given them. New York, on the other hand, has added millions of dollars in additional funding to make sure all those living with HIV are served.
Let’s stop fighting amongst ourselves and back Senator Clinton for her courage to stand up for what is right: adequate funding for all states! And to those who accuse her of using this as a political ploy for her run at the presidency, I would say this: I’d rather have someone in the White House who is going to fight for us than the man that is running this country today.
Haven’t he and the red states that back him shown they care more about tax breaks for corporations and the rich, and have no compassion for the vulnerable and underserved?
Let’s also get on our phones and tell our state congressional representatives that it's time to pony up their fair share to get services and meds to everyone in their state that needs them.
