LEADING NATIONAL MINORITY ORGANIZATIONS COMMIT TO SPEAK WITH A UNIFIED VOICE ON HIV/AIDS

As HIV Devastates Communities of Color, New Policy Partnership Will Promote Unified Action on Capitol Hill, and in Communities Around the U.S.

WHO: Leaders of the following national organizations:

• National Minority AIDS Council
• ACLU LGBT & AIDS Project
• Asian American Justice Center
• Asian/Pac. Islander Health Forum
• League of United Latin American Citizens
• NAACP
• National Congress of American Indians
• National Council of La Raza
• National Urban League
• Rainbow/PUSH
• United Church of Christ

WHAT: Announcement of the National Minority Policy Partnership on HIV/AIDS, a new advocacy coalition will unite some of the country’s largest and most powerful minority organizations to focus new attention on the epidemic in America’s communities of color. Today’s announcement coincides with the commemoration of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, February 7.

WHERE: National Press Club; 529 14th St. NW, 13th floor; Washington, DC

WHEN: Monday, February 5, 2007, 12:00 p.m.

WHY: Racial and ethnic minorities represent 72% of new U.S. AIDS cases. By uniting some of the most powerful organizations and most respected voices in the country, the National Minority HIV/AIDS Policy Partnership will significantly increase the impact of community of color voices in the national debate on HIV in our communities.

The Partnership will lobby at the local, state and federal levels to reduce the impact HIV/AIDS in minority communities; ensure full funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care; eliminate stigma and discrimination against black men who have sex with men; reduce the impact of incarceration as a driver of new infections; reduce the role of injecting drug use in sustaining the epidemic; and stabilize communities at risk. The Partnership will be an important, powerful, and united voice against AIDS in communities of color.