| For Immediate Release
May 14, 2003
Contact: Lynn Schulman (212) 367-1210
Director of Communications
Statement of Ana Oliveira, Executive Director
of Gay Men's Health Crisis
Re: Governor Axes Funding for HIV/AIDS
Today the Governor vetoed substantive portions of the Legislature's
well-reasoned bipartisan budget package, which included funding
for HIV/AIDS services and programs. When the Governor first introduced
his Executive Budget in January, he failed to recognize the HIV/AIDS
crisis that continues to devastate New York. In vetoing a budget
that provided critical support to HIV and AIDS programs, Gay Men's
Health Crisis (GMHC) believes Governor Pataki has shown deliberate
disdain for a health issue that continues to devastate New York
on both a personal and economic level.
HIV and AIDS cases are on the increase in New York City. In the
last year alone, GMHC's caseload has increased from 11,000 to 14,000.
Governor Pataki appears to favor gambling as a way to fix New York
State's economic crisis. Unfortunately, the currency he is playing
with are people's lives. The impact of the Governor's veto will
result in fewer resources to fight AIDS and HIV infection in communities
of color and inadequate funding for front-line service delivery
providers. It will also result in reduced funding for children orphaned
by the AIDS epidemic and for programs that help people living with
AIDS to adhere to their complex drug treatment regimens. In these
tough fiscal times, our most vulnerable populations are the first
to feel the effects of economic hardship.
GMHC applauds the Legislature for restoring the Governor's original
cuts and urges members of both houses to swiftly override the Governor's
vetoes, and enact their budget which restores more than half of
the devastating cuts Pataki proposed for HIV/AIDS services. The
legislature must also reverse the devastating cuts to other programs
and services that serve men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported
and community-based organization committed to national leadership
in the fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of
HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health
and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of
HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling this mission,
we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming
the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians.
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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