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I'm a black senior male who has been living with HIV since 1984 when the 'Elisa Test,' the first test to detect HIV exposure became available. In 1990 I was hospitalized with my first AIDS infection. I'm still here after the hell years pre 1996 when HIV medications became available and have saved my life and all the other seniors living with HIV/AIDS like me. I was a Broadway performer for many years and AIDS decimated my generation and I do feel M.I.A. from these awards shows other than the Academy Awards and Elton John who makes it his business to be vocal and visible about HIV/AIDS in America. Awareness has changed in the past 26 years about HIV/AIDS, yet, men are being infected yearly even with all the knowledge and information about HIV. Activist that I am, I remind people that needle sharing and sex for drugs is a prime component for women contracting HIV and the men they are intimate with who usually do not even know of their HIV status. Fear of ones HIV status in the black community is still very much a big issue and an even bigger concern as to why this is in 2010? Silence=Death, was the bumper sticker of my youth. Applies now as much as it did 26 years or so ago. Share your knowledge about HIV.
John, that just is not true. While there are too many African-American femeales getting infected, the largest group by far of new infections are in gay men, particularly black and Latino young gay males. It is important to recognize infections in women, but do not imply that gay males are no longer the group with the highest infection rate. As for the Tony's, because of the lower death rate, we cannot expect this broadcast to be a forum for AIDS issues in 2010. However, we must redouble our efforts, as activists, to spread education, and promote condoms, to all vulnerable communities, but especially to gay men, who are by far the most at risk.
I think Bill T. Jones displayed a tremendous amount of bravery in bringing the life of iconic figure Fela Kuti to the stage. I don't fault Fela for his denial of the virus--after all it is only recently that those with the virus have the opportunity to live healthy, non-marginalized lives in the public eye (so-to-speak). I did not think much about the fact that Bill T. Jones is positive, nor did I notice that the HIV/AIDS ribbons were missing. What I have noticed is that awareness seems to be waning. I imagine that advances in medicine/science have caused some to be desensitized to the effects of the virus on the lives of those battling HIV and on the lives of supporters. It is disheartening to see that the majority of new cases of exposure are in teenagers (particularly African-American females) despite the efforts on the part of numerous public health organizations...
I wanted to add to my previous comment: HIV/AIDS should not have been outright ignored at the Tonys but the issues surrounding it have changed from what they used to be. Awareness about getting tested and about ADAP waiting lists in the US and access to health care and meds in general should be addressed. And continuing support toward research for an outright cure.
I'm of two minds about this. I like for HIV/AIDS to be "normalized." As for tearful remembrances of talent gone too soon, unless we lost someone from HIV/AIDS recently why would they be necessary? They should have mentioned Tom Viola's award for sure. One thing I don't get about Fela and how he is being lionized by Bill T. Jones: wasn't Fela an AIDS denialist? What up with that?
It seems the focus is now Breast Cancer which I have and agree that we need to push for greater awareness but Aids/Hiv needs to be their side by side. My beloved brother lives with HIV and the Arts seems to feel that because the drugs have reduced the death-rate that we are clear but we are not that deadly alien is always there waiting and lurking. we must never forget there are country's where treatment is nil if your poor such as in the third world countries and here in the states there are HIV patients who can not afford the medication for lack of insurance many times my brother gives unused mediation to his doctor to give out to those with less.
I too noticed it very quickly. I kept waiting for someone, anyone to come out with a red ribbon but no. Very dissapointing.
Terri
And anyone who hasn't seen Fela will be dissapointed to know that there was no mention that Fela died of AIDS. I couldn't believe that they last scene was a screen saying that Fela died and no mention of what he died from...so ignoring HIV in the theater runs from the top to the bottom.
June 18, 2010