GMHC Welcomes Governor Cuomo's Budget Flat Funding AIDS Institute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Krishna Stone | 212.367.1016

New York, NY — GMHC welcomes the flat funding of New York State's AIDS Institute as this will ensure the current level of service provision will be maintained.  GMHC also applauds efforts to cut wasteful spending such as the Governor's proposal to eliminate excess prison capacity.

"We appreciate that Governor Cuomo arrested the hemorrhaging of funding for critical HIV/AIDS services by flat funding the AIDS Institute," said Janet Weinberg, Chief Operating Officer at GMHC. "Still, three decades into the epidemic, everyday more New Yorkers find out they are HIV positive, and the number of people living with HIV who need critical services continues to grow."

This year marks the 30th year of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and despite some progress, the number of people living with HIV, particularly in New York, continues to increase.  African Americans, Latinos and young gay and bisexual men continue to be disproportionately affected.  In New York State, almost 90% of new HIV diagnoses among women occur among black and Latina women.  African American men comprise 45% of all new diagnoses among men, and African American women comprise 67% of all new diagnoses among women in New York City.  In addition from 2003 to 2008, the proportion of men who have sex with men (MSM) among all newly diagnosed males grew from 47% to 56%.  Most troubling is the 27% increase in new HIV diagnoses among MSM aged 13-29 in New York City between 2003 and 2009.

"We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo as we continue to confront this devastating disease," added Weinberg. 

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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 men, women and families that are living with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS in New York City.  We advocate for scientific, evidence-based public health solutions for hundreds of thousands worldwide.