Quinn and Bloomberg justify their budget as Council looks on

Last Sunday—LGBT Pride Day in New York City—Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn shook hands and kissed on a 2009 city budget that included $6 million in heinous cuts to HIV/AIDS programs. Even though there was a budget surplus, the mayor wanted to save for a rainy day—and protect an unnecessary "tourist tax." Bloomberg demanded harsh cuts, pitting poor against poor, while the council spun his demands as a "victory" because in the end education funding was spared at the expense of social services. For a full budget breakdown of the HIV/AIDS reductions click here.

Budget meetings were highly secretive and many councilmembers were cut out of the budget process—so much for Quinn’s vaunted transparency. In the end, funding for services for people with living HIV/AIDS and harm reduction programs were decimated. Money for HIV/AIDS counseling programs and a pilot program set up last year to get HIV-positive people out of shelters and into stable housing was completely eliminated, an inauspicious move in Bloomberg's five-year plan to end homelessness. ...

Obama impersonator stands against AIDS

On Sunday, rainbows brought rainstorms.

Despite a torrential downpour, more than 100 raucous HIV/AIDS activists from Housing Works and CitiWide Harm Reduction participated in a New York City Gay Pride float dedicated to the upcoming Stand Against AIDS, a multi-arm cross-country road trip to the first presidential debate between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama in Oxford, MS, on September 26.

The goal of the Stand Against AIDS is to get commitments from both McCain and Obama to create a national AIDS strategy within 100 days of taking office, and the vocal marchers let the crowd know, cheering, “You've got 100 days to Stand Against AIDS!" They wore T-shirts and masks with caricatured images of Obama and McCain, carried banners and handed out Obama/McCain condom packs. ...

Javier Acevedo Baez and Rheingold smile between YAI sessions photo by: Maralis Mercado

Last week, during advocacy training at the fourth-annual Youth AIDS Institute (YAI), session leader Johnny Guaylupo showed slides of himself getting arrested during civil disobedience actions. Still, not everyone was signing up to lay down in the middle of traffic.

"I'm big on following rules," said Jeremy Turner, of Evansville, Indiana, one of YAI's 15 participants, "We have to follow the rules we set for ourselves. Shouldn't we also be following the government's rules?"

Turner's question provoked exactly the kind of discussion that YAI, held this year on the campus of University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, was designed to elicit. The purpose of YAI is for young AIDS activists, many living with HIV, to benefit from the skills and knowledge of those who have come before them, then take that information back to their home towns and engage in a real-life AIDS advocacy project...

On Thursday, June 26 the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a historic hearing on discrimination against transgender people in the workplace. "An Examination of Discrimination Against Transgender Americans in the Workplace" was the first-ever Congressional hearing to focus on transgender discrimination, and was part of an effort to lay the groundwork for a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

"The purpose of today's hearing is to educate Congress and the public about the discrimination transgender Americans face particularly in the workplace, absent a comprehensive federal law to protect them," Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), chairman of the HELP subcommittee said during his opening statement. "Workplace discrimination against a particular group of people is morally unacceptable and conflicts with the principles we hold sacred in our society. Furthermore, workplace discrimination, unchecked, harms our economy both domestically and globally." ...

Mayersohn (center) and her bad testing bill stirred up the Health Committee

Albany's two-year session ended with a whimper this week, and, after much drama in the New York State Assembly over dueling Article 27-f bills, nothing's going to happen after all. (This legislative HIV-testing squabble ended just in time for today's National HIV Testing Day).

Although both efforts to reform state law concerning HIV testing consent rules passed the Health Committee after some raucous debate, Mayersohn's bill A.4813-C died in the Codes Committee on Monday. Only eight of eighteen Assemblymembers voted to move the bill forward. Dick Gottfried's bill A.11461, written by the New York State Department of Health made it to a third reading in the Assembly, but didn't make it to a vote before session ended Tuesday.

Albany's inability to move forward on the two 27-f bills—which contrary to Mayersohn's claim were, in fact, incompatible and irreconcilable—might, in the end, be a good thing: It gives AIDS advocates time to push for a better reframing of the law, which is essential to protecting the confidentiality and privacy of anyone who has been tested for or exposed to HIV...

Protester gives PEPFAR props to Reid

As the Update went to press Thursday, the battle over reauthorizing the $50 billion President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was still very much in flux. The latest news from AP/Google.com was that a "tentative agreement" between Democrat and Republican leaders had beeen reached. Word of that compromise came just hours before hundreds of AIDS activists were hitting Capitol Hill in a demo thanking some Senate leaders for taking action on the bill and chiding others for standing in its way.

According to AP/Google.com, the latest PEPFAR agreement would stipulate that over 50 percent of the legislation's funding goes toward treatment—the biggest bee in the bonnet of the seven Senate Republicans, led by Tom Coburn, blocking reauthorization. Hill insiders also say that the compromise language regarding HIV prevention may create significant roadblocks to using PEPFAR money to distribute condoms. The bill's previous language included a reporting requirement if PEPFAR-funded groups spent less than 50 percent of their prevention funds on abstinence, faithfulness or other behavior programs." The compromise bill may strike the phrase "or other behavior programs" to close what conservatives consider a loophole allowing funds to be used for condom distribution...

Domestic AIDS funding: Always a roller coaster flickr.com/photos/kelpatolog/59719356/

Global funding was the number one item on the AIDS advocacy agenda this week, with advocates fighting the clock before the G8 summit. But several smaller-potato domestic AIDS issues were in play as well. The outcome? Good and bad.

The good:

Thanks in part to all your phone calls (and the lobbying of almost every U.S. governor), six of the seven proposed changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations are expected to be held off until March 31, 2009. -- The Dems snuck in a measure to curtail the misguided regulations changes into the war funding bill, which passed both houses last week. Targeted case management programs, including COBRA, are safe, at least for the next few months. The only regulation that will stay in effect is limiting federal funding for certain hospital outpatient services, such as dental care and preventive care. The legions of advocates against the new regulations are hoping that when the CMS changes are up for review again in March, the next administration is friendlier towards the health of poor and sick people...

Award-winning Housing Works attorney Carmody

Housing Works Staff Attorney Matthew Carmody was honored last week with the Sylvia Rivera Law Project Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service "in recognition of his tireless work on behalf of the rights of the transgender community." Others honored at the June 19 ceremony were Anya Mukarji-Connolly of the Peter Cicchino Youth Project and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, which received a firm award. The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to fight discrimination against gender non-conforming people, focusing on people of color and poor people.

"Not only has Matthew been an incredible fighter for the transgender community and for people with AIDS, he is an incredible resource to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project and a mentor to all of the attorneys here," said SRLP staff attorney Pooja Gehi, who presented Carmody with the award. "We can't say enough wonderful things about Matthew."

Carmody has worked as public interest attorney since graduating from CUNY Law School in 1998. In addition to his work fighting for the rights of people with HIV/AIDS, first at the South Brooklyn legal clinic, and now at Housing Works, Carmody has long made fighting discrimination against transgender people his mission...

It's fourth and goal for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). For $50 billion to fight AIDS in the developing world. For millions upon millions of people living with HIV.

Earlier this year the House of Representatives passed the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, an unprecedented historic $50 billion aid package that aims to get 3 million people in poor countries on AIDS meds and prevent some 12 million new infections in the next five years. The Lantos/Hyde Act is an essential scaffolding upon which to build a sustainable structure for fighting global AIDS.

There are enough votes in the Senate to pass the legislation, but not the political will. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are letting the objections of seven conservative senators stand in the way of PEPFAR passage (see "You Better Work" below). And presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain aren't putting enough pressure on Reid and McConnell to get the job done. And time is running out—if PEPFAR is not reauthorized by June 7, the start of the next Group of Eight nations meeting in Japan, President Bush won't have the leverage to insist that other nations also contribute billions to fighting AIDS...

Sen. Coburn, MD. A doctor should know better.

It appears as if the all-hands-on-deck mobilization of AIDS activists around the reauthorization of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is having an effect on the lethargic Senate.

On Wednesday, in response to activist pressure, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) posted a statement of support for the PEPFAR bill,in which he urged Senate leadership to bring the bill to a vote and signed on as a cosponsor. And, according to the ONE campaign, Sen. John McCain (D-AZ) also verbally pledged on Thursday to cosponsor. As Katie Smith of ACT UP Philadelphia put it, “Now that the de facto leaders of both parties are cosponsors, it gives us all the more leverage to get this bill passed.”

Over the last couple of weeks, global AIDS activists from groups such as Health GAP, Global AIDS Alliance, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and many others have been using backchannels and Senate office visits to brandish the threat of a major multicity protest on June 26 (See “Now or Never!” above) if Senate leadership fails to schedule a vote on the PEPFAR legislation--known as the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008--before July 7. That date is the beginning of the next Group of Eight nations meeting in Japan. Passing PEPFAR would give President Bush the credibility to insist that Japan and Europe also make multibillion dollar contributions to fighting AIDS globally...

Prisoners deserve prevention

The State Senate passed legislation (S.8508/A.8849) yesterday that requires New York correctional facilities to provide people in prison with information about the prevention of HIV, and how to obtain HIV-testing and counseling services upon release.

Sponsored by Senator Velmanette Montgomery (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples (D-Buffalo), the legislation has already passed the State Assembly, so its fate now rests with Governor David Paterson. One Albany insider said the Governor is likely to sign the bill. "The Governor has long supported effective HIV prevention and education efforts, including the need for special efforts in those communities most affected by the epidemic.  This bill makes sense," the source said...

Judith Verdino, a dedicated and respected veteran of New York City's AIDS community, died last Friday from complications from breast cancer.

Verdino worked at Public Health Solutions (formerly the Medical and Health Research Association of New York City) for 14 years. As the organization's vice president for special initiatives and H.I.V. programs, Verdino played an integral role in determining how millions in Ryan White, New York City and Centers for Disease Control funds were distributed.

"Judi always cared about making sure that the process worked for people," said Community Resource Exchange's Barbara Turk, who performed a commitment ceremony between Verdino and her partner, Imani Romney-Rosa in 2007. "She had worked at [the LGBT nonprofit] Hetrick-Martin and that informed her understanding of challenges that both people living with HIV and nonprofits face."

Public Health Solution's President and CEO Ellen Rautenberg said, "Judy was passionate about developing networks of care. She could thread the needle between government, nonprofits and people living with HIV. She used her sense of humor and astuteness to do that, and people respected her passion and energy. And it was never about Judy. You can't always say that. She put the epidemic and people living with HIV first."

Verdino is survived by her daughter, Genna Verdino-Ellis, her brother and sister, Christopher and Joanne Verdino, her nieces Codi and Kasey Ng, and her wife, Imani Romney-Rosa.

Rivera (far left) fires up the crowd as Palma (far right) looks on.

"We're committed to this issue…we're not going to give up the fight!"

Those were welcome words from Bronx City Council Member Annabel Palma to dozens of AIDS and harm reduction advocates that gathered on the steps of City Hall on Monday afternoon. Members and supporters of the Injection Drug Users Health Alliance rallied for half an hour to remind City Council Members of the lifesaving HIV prevention and harm reduction services that they provide and thank the Council for its past support.

IDUHA is a $3.3 million discretionary initiative, and the recent scandal over Council Member items has thrown discretionary funding into uncertainty. There is no guarantee that discretionary programs will get renewed and none are expected to see enhancements...

Planning Council cochairs Jan Carl Park and Soraya Elcock

At the Ryan White Planning Council of New York's Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, Council members rejected proposed changes to Planning Council bylaws that would have increased the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DOHMH) voting power. The changes would also have had a potentially disruptive effect on the Council's Congressionally mandated power to make binding decisions about Ryan White funds.

The Executive Committee rejected changes proposed by the Council's rules and membership committee, which had voted 3-2 to amend the existing Council bylaws to add two DOHMH members to the 40 person council and add the phrase "in concert with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene" to key parts of the bylaws. To see the proposed changes to the bylaws, click here...

Gottfried and Mayersohn: Informed consent is in trouble in Albany

After a one week delay, on June 17 the New York State Assembly Health Committee is scheduled to vote on two competing bills to overhaul Article 27-f, the HIV testing and consent law that protects the confidentiality and privacy of anyone who has been tested for or exposed to HIV. Bill A.4813 is proposed by Nettie Mayersohn, and bill A.11461 was created by the New York State Department of Health and introduced by Dick Gottfried.

Now is the time to tell your Assembly member that you oppose Mayersohn's short-sighted bill. Call the Assembly switchboard toll-free 866-802-0640 and contact members of the Assembly Health Committee: Jim Bacalles, (R-Corning), Jonathan Bing (D-Manhattan), Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston), James Conte (R-Huntington), Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx), Patricia Eddington (D-Medford), Sandy Galef, (D-Ossining), Aileen Gunther (D-Monticello), Stephen Hawley (R-Albion), Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), Rhoda Jacobs (D-Brooklyn),William Magnarelli (R- Syracuse), Nettie Mayersohn (D-Flushing), David McDonough (R-Bellmore), Joel Miller (R-Poughkeepsie), Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale), Crystal Peoples (D-Buffalo), Jack Quinn (R-Blasdell), Andrew Raia (R-Northport), Naomi Rivera (D-Bronx), Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), Robin Schimminger (D-Kenmore), Darryl C. Towns (D-Brooklyn).

It's unclear how the Assembly members will vote, with some—like Hevesi and Magnarelli—likely to vote for both bills. These double dippers don't want to back down on their word to Mayersohn—who approached them about cosponsoring months ago—even though they now prefer the Gottfried bill...