As we enter a new year, many of us use this time as a way to begin again - to re-start expired challenges or revisit broken promises. ’January 1, ...’ has a magical way jumpstarting annual definitive goals (“THIS is the year I will get married!”) or to dust off your annual foolproof plan (“THIS is the year I will lose 20 pounds!”). It’s funny how both seem to start with such promise and excitement only to leave us on our sofas somewhere in mid-spring eating a half-gallon of [insert your favorite ice cream here] and watching ’American Idol Rewind’.

 

Well, for me, this year WILL be magical and exciting! In fact, for ALL of us in the HIV & AIDS universe it will be the year we have been waiting for! Ok, I know that sounds a little corny... And trust me, I read it out loud and I sounded like a rehearsing cheerleader (which is frowned upon while on a late night train to D.C.). Think about it... We will have a national HIV & AIDS strategy that will provides us a roadmap to end the epidemic in the United States for the first time ever. With the national healthcare system ’reforming’, we will begin ensure that EVERYONE has access to quality care and treatment regardless of their income, location, or (pre-existing) condition. The International Travel Ban has officially ended, and syringe exchange programs are beginning to find that much needed support.

 

Clearly all of this is work in progress, but progress nonetheless. And certainly there is much more that needs to be done - comprehensive sex & sexuality education, housing the homeless, protecting the abused, and ending stigma and discrimination due to HIV & AIDS quickly comes to mind. With Congressional midterm elections coming this fall, we -particularly people living with HIV & AIDS - have a wonderful opportunity to make sure any or all of these issues becoming campaign platform standards throughout the country.

 

By the way, the winners in this fall’s elections may be just as important as who ISN’T running. Surely as this year moves forward, the candidates for the next Presidential election should come into full focus and the favorites will emerge. (Side note: The more I think about the make up of the Republican party, the more I believe in the ’2012’ movie. Is there any serious contender that is under 55? Their internal plan certainly doesn’t seem to be long-term. In fact, the McCain campaign now seems to make much more sense!)

 

Seriously, many of us have died - and continue to die - working and fighting to lift the quality of life standards for people living with this virus and we must continue to make sure their deaths - and our lives - aren’t in vain. Let us not take for granted the work behind us and forget what lies ahead.