| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
April 7, 2009
|
Media Contacts:
Krishna Stone, GMHC, 212-367-1016
GMHC applauds Congressman Rangel for introducing legislation to address HIV in African American communities
April 7, New York, NY — This week, New York City Congressman Charles Rangel introduced historic legislation to combat the HIV epidemic in the United States. Rangel's legislation addresses the extreme racial disparities experienced by African Americans in the domestic HIV epidemic.
The legislation notes that nearly half of the over 1 million Americans living with HIV are black, and that blacks overall are 8 times more likely to acquire HIV than their white counterparts, and that black women are 23 times more likely than white women to acquire HIV. Additionally, the bill priorities two specific black populations that are in most need of targeted HIV prevention research — men who have sex with men (MSM), and women.
"Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) congratulates Congressman Rangel on his leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS," said Marjorie J. Hill, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at GMHC. "This landmark legislation will make significant strides in combating the epidemic by involving the faith-based community, addressing homophobia, and targeting critical federal resources to populations at disproportionate risk," added Hill.
In October 2007, Dr. Hill attended a two-day conclave of clergy and HIV experts which launched this legislative initiative. "I am grateful to Congressman Rangel for his ongoing leadership in the fight against AIDS, and proud of GMHC's partnership with the other participants in this meeting," concluded Hill.
The legislation, H.R. 1964, is titled the "National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act."
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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. We provide prevention and care services to more than 15,000 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City, and advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.
Our Mission: GMHC fights to end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected.
© 2009 Gay Men's Health Crisis |
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