From: Heather Wright Subject: PFLAG Salutes Efforts to Engage African-American Churches Against Date: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 12:59:48 -0400 * * * PFLAG News Release * * * For Immediate Release: October 21, 1999 Contact: Eric Ferrero, 202-638-4200 x212 PFLAG Salutes Families and Allies Crusading to Engage African-American Faith Communities in Fight Against AIDS When national and local leaders gather in Washington, DC, Saturday night for the Gospel Concert Against AIDS, they will be joined in spirit by tens of thousands of fair-minded families nationwide, according to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). The free concert is a joint venture among several HIV/AIDS organizations, local churches, corporations, community groups and government agencies. Among the sponsoring organizations is the Dwayne S. Brown Foundation, which Washington, DC, area PFLAG Dad William Beale formed in honor of his gay son, who died of AIDS-related complications. In recent months, Beale and other local families have worked with PFLAG Washington, DC/Metro Area, to launch "For Those We Love," a support group for African-American families and friends of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. Saturday's concert will bring together clergy, as well as national figures such as Sandy Thurman, White House Director of AIDS Policy, and Donna Christensen, leader of the Congressional Black Caucus' Task Force on Health. Al Roker, of NBC's Today Show, and prominent AIDS activist Mary Fisher will also participate. Renowned gospel groups and Broadway stars will sing at the concert, along with Mass Choir of Hope, a group representing members of several Washington, DC, church choirs. The goal of the event, according to the DC Comprehensive AIDS Resources and Education Consortium (DCCC) is to increase the number of African-American churches that are active in combating HIV/AIDS. "This will be a remarkable event, and PFLAG is proud to support it 100 percent," said Kirsten Kingdon, National Executive Director of PFLAG. "AIDS is ravaging African-American communities nationwide, but when families and communities and faith institutions pull together, we can rise to the complex and pressing challenges of education, prevention and care." AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African-American men and women between the ages of 25 and 44. Although African Americans make up approximately 13 percent of nation's population, they accounted for 57 percent of all new HIV infections in 1998. Washington, DC, has among the highest infection rates of HIV/AIDS in the nation. While African Americans are disproportionately represented among HIV/AIDS cases, they are also underserved - a situation Kingdon called a "cruel paradox, which requires concern and action from all of us." For more information on Saturday's event, please contact Valerie Papaya Mann (202-347-8888, x24) or Bruce Weiss (202-347-8888, x13). # # # Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families & friends through support, education, and advocacy. Serving nearly 77,000 members & supporters, PFLAG affiliates are located in 425+ communities in the U.S. 1101 14th St. NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20005 . phone: 202-638-4200 fax: 202-638-0243 Email info@pflag.org Web http://www.pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe from PFLAG's Email Alert, send an email, subject line "unsubscribe" to info@pflag.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~