Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 14:22:09 -0500 From: David Elliot Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Commemorating World AIDS Day NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: David Elliot, Communications Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3303 800-757-6476 pager delliot@ngltf.org http://www.ngltf.org 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC ********************************************* NGLTF COMMEMORATES WORLD AIDS DAY Two decades into epidemic, the face of AIDS continues to evolve around the world Dec. 1, 1999 - As the world recognizes another World AIDS day, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Wednesday renewed its call for greater recognition of the devastating toll AIDS is taking on the global community and for more thorough sexuality education to protect young people. NGLTF Executive Director Kerry Lobel noted that the population living with HIV/AIDS increasingly is shifting to touch the lives of more children, people of color and women than ever before. In some sub-Saharan countries, for instance, as many women are now suffering from AIDS as men. Yet with AIDS evolving into a chronic, long-term disease in the United States, public attention on the international epidemic is waning. "Both in the United States and across the world, people of color are baring the brunt of this epidemic," said Lobel. "AIDS and HIV know no borders. In some African nations, the statistics are simply staggering. Of the 14 million people who have died of AIDS, 11 million deaths have occurred in Africa alone. Twenty percent of the South African workforce will be infected by the end of this year. And by the year 2010, tens of millions of African children will be orphaned by the disease." Lobel called for better access to services - such as affordable housing and affordable medication - for the 33 million people with AIDS or HIV. "The first step toward mustering the will to act is acknowledging the extent of the problem," she said. "World AIDS Day offers a good opportunity to learn more about the epidemic and how it will affect the future of our global community. There are 33 million good reasons for us to take responsibility for this issue." Noting that one theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "Children & Young People: Listen, Learn, Live," Lobel called upon local education officials in the United States to implement comprehensive sexuality education in the classroom. "In this case, silence really does equal death," Lobel said. "We respect life and demonstrate our love for our children by protecting them through education." _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Communications Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. To reach the NGLTF Communications Department at NGLTF, please call David Elliot, Communications Director, at 202-332-6483 x3303 or pager 800-757-6476. If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.