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AIDS 2012: 13 HIV/AIDS protesters arrested in front of White House

Arrests took place after thousands march to Lafayette Square

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HIV/AIDS activists tie red ribbons with condoms, empty pill bottles and other items to the White House fence.Ā Ā (Photo by Boyuan Gao)

U.S. Park Police on Tuesday arrested 13 protesters who gathered in front of the White House.

Sergeant Paul Brooks, spokesperson for the U.S. Park Police, told the Blade that those taken into custody failed to obey officers who told them not to stand on the sidewalk in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Housing Works President Charles King, members of ACT UP Philadelphia, the Prevention Justice Alliance and Health Gap were among those arrested as they tried to tie red ribbons with condoms, syringes and other items to the White House fence.

U.S. Parks Police arrest Housing Works President Charles King outside the White House. (Photo by Lucile Scott)

The arrests took place after thousands took part in the ā€œWe Can End AIDSā€ march from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and other parts of downtown Washington to Lafayette Park. Participants urged President Obama, members of Congress and other lawmakers around the world to provide more resources to fight HIV/AIDS and protect human rights for those living with the virus.

ā€œThe march was really to remind those in power that AIDS has been around since the 80s and weā€™re still arguing about the same things,ā€ Housing Works spokesperson Sunny Bjerk told the Blade, specifically referring to the ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs and abstinence-only sexual education curricula. ā€œWe need to work together. Itā€™s going to take a collective effort.ā€

Amanda Lugg of ACT UP New York noted during the Lafayette Square rally that members of her organization threw the ashes of their loved ones who had passed away from AIDS onto the White House lawn to protest what they described as the federal governmentā€™s inadequate response to the epidemic.

ā€œActivists, including people who are here today, took on the right wing policies that labeled people of AIDS, LGBT people, people of color and people from the Global South as unworthy ā€” unworthy of action, unworthy of services, unworthy of life-saving prevention and treatment,ā€ she said. ā€œWe confronted that government inaction and today with allies across the U.S. and networks across the world; we the community, we the people bring a political tidal wave. Today we stand here looking at the results of our political action. The science of 25 years ago was nowhere ā€” now [it] has literally shown that the end of AIDS is possible. We can end AIDS.ā€

South African marcher Prudence Mabele has lived with HIV for 22 years. She told the Blade that she marched in support of sex workers who were not able to enter the country to attend the International AIDS Conference.

ā€œWe need them to be part of these conferences so that we can resolve the problems we have,ā€ said Mabele. ā€œWe want to end AIDS. And because we want to end AIDS, we have to do it the proper way. The women who are taking drugs must also be here. We need to put all our rights in the front and be what we are preaching because to end AIDS we need everybody ā€” men, women, gay men, sex workers, any marginalized.ā€

AIDS 2012 delegate Eric Hill from North Carolina said he decided to march to show his support for womenā€™s rights. ā€œWomen should be treated as equal to men as well as treatment when it comes to HIV/AIDS prevention,ā€ he stressed.

Leah Hasezi of the New York City-based Queerocracy told the Blade that roughly 100 members of her New York City-based organization traveled to the nationā€™s capital on three buses to participate in the march. She pointed to HIV decriminalization and the so-called Robin Hood Tax on banks and other Wall Street companies that supporters maintain would generate billions of dollars annually to support HIV/AIDS prevention programs and other social services as two of her organizationā€™s top priorities.

ā€œWe have the science, we have the money, we have a way to get the money if we tax the people who have been cheating the rest of the nation,ā€ said Hasezi, referring to a cure for HIV/AIDS. ā€œWe just need the political power to do it. The president and Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton both promised an AIDS-free generation so they need to make good on that promise.ā€

(Washington Blade photo gallery of the We Can End AIDS march and rally by Michael Key)

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Health

UNAIDS to commemorate Zero Discrimination Dayā€™s 10th anniversary

UN agency urges global action to protect human rights

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A UNAIDS anti-discrimination exhibit at Tocumen International Airport in Panama in 2018. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)

As the world marks the 10th anniversary of Zero Discrimination Day; UNAIDS is sounding the alarm on the increasing threats to human rights, calling for renewed efforts to protect the rights of all individuals as a fundamental step towards ensuring health for everyone.

Established by UNAIDS a decade ago, Zero Discrimination Day aims to promote equality and fairness regardless of gender, age, sexuality, ethnicity or HIV status. The progress achieved over the past years is now in jeopardy, however, due to rising attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized the critical link between protecting human rights and safeguarding public health. 

“The attacks on rights are a threat to freedom and democracy and are harmful to health,ā€ she said in a press release. ā€œStigma and discrimination obstruct HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care and hold back progress towards ending AIDS by 2030. It is only by protecting everyoneā€™s rights that we can protect everyoneā€™s health.”

Despite challenges, there has been notable progress. 

At the onset of the AIDS pandemic more than 40 years ago, two-thirds of countries criminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations. They are now decriminalized in two-thirds of countries. An additional 38 countries around the world have pledged to end HIV-related stigma and discrimination, contributing to positive changes that include 50 million more girls attending school compared to 2015.

To sustain and enhance these advancements; UNAIDS urges global support for womenā€™s rights movements, LGBTQ rights, racial justice, economic justice, climate justice and peace initiatives. By standing with communities advocating for their rights, the U.N. aims to reinforce the collective effort towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

Zero Discrimination Day is observed on March 1.

Events and activities that will take place around the world throughout the month will serve as reminders of the essential lesson and call to action: Protecting everyoneā€™s health is synonymous with protecting everyoneā€™s rights.

“Through upholding rights for all, we will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and secure a safer, fairer, kinder and happier world ā€” for everyone,” said Byanyima.

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Health

New CDC report finds transgender women at higher risk for HIV

More than 1,600 people in seven cities surveyed

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (Photo courtesy of the CDC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new study report this week that revealed that restricted by employment and housing discrimination and lack of access to needed gender-affirming healthcare for transgender women increasing the risk of contracting HIV. 

Researchers reviewed data from a 2019-2020 survey, theĀ National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Among Transgender Women, which found that the demographics of HIV/AIDS have been disproportionally high, especially among Black and Latina trans women, who had experienced employment and housing discrimination coupled with lack of access to gender-affirming healthcare.

The Jan. 25Ā Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was based on data studies of more than 1,600 trans women in seven major urban locales. Participants from Atlanta, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle were chosen by referrals from people and community-based organizations who knew or were part of the local population of trans women.

The studyā€™s researchers noted: ā€œEmployment discrimination occurs at the overlapping nexus of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, health insurance, disability, food insecurity and survival sex work. These issues are interconnected.ā€

The study stated that trans womenā€™s inability to access quality healthcare, including gender-affirming treatment or access to PrEP, and can expose them to potential incarceration as many turn to ā€œsurvival sex workā€ and violence, which increases the risk of contracting HIV. 

The studyā€™s authorā€™s pointed out: ā€œWhen economically marginalized transgender women are refused employment, this refusal cyclically contributes to economic hardships. This analysis ā€¦demonstrates the importance of transgender women working and living with dignity and without fear of unfair treatment.ā€

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Health

A Whole New Perspective on Well-Being

The Matherā€™s team recognizes that everyoneā€™s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

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The Mather is incorporating biophilic designā€”a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns.

Itā€™s easy to spot the distinctive, elegant silhouette of The Mather, a Life Plan Community for those 62+ opening this spring in Tysons, Virginia. What is not apparent to the naked eye is The Matherā€™s unique wellness philosophy, which is literally built into the community.Ā 

The Matherā€™s team recognizes that everyoneā€™s wellness journey is completely unique to their life experiences and influences.

Nature is one of the important factors that contribute to well-being. So The Mather is incorporating biophilic designā€”a design approach to facilitate access to nature or things that replicate natural patterns. This can include interior spaces with sightlines to a garden, choosing natural wood and stone as interior materials, or incorporating fragrant flowers and plants indoors to spark memories and provide tactile opportunities such as gardening.Ā 

Residents of The Mather will be able to select from plentiful amenities, programs, and other offerings to target their personal wellness goals and preferences.

ā€œProviding biophilic design within interior settings connects residents to the natural world,ā€ says Mary Leary, CEO and President of Mather, the organization behind The Mather. ā€œResearch shows that a connection to nature provides positive benefits to mental states and overall well-being. At The Mather, biophilic design is the intersection of buildings and programs with nature in an urban setting.ā€

ā€œThe Mather is attracting a diverse group of older adults,ā€ says Mary. ā€œAs a result, we aim to incorporate wellness practices from around the world, including Wyda movement theory of the Celtic Druids, which helps people achieve harmony with nature and contentment through mindfulness.ā€ This holistic regenerative approach is similar to Qi Gong and yoga, while born in a different part of the world. Mather Institute has a special focus on mindfulness to support older adultsā€™ practice of present moment awareness, which can lead to increased overall well-being, compassion, and joy.

A very different example of a wellness offering at The Mather is the Gharieni Welnamis spa wave bed, which uses computer-controlled vibrational therapy and audio frequencies to train the brain to relax. ā€œThe bed increases mindfulness, concentration, and creativityā€”all of which support our mission of creating Ways to Age Well,SMā€ says Mary.

These and other personalized ways to wellness will ensure that residents of The Mather can choose from seemingly countless ways to focus on their well-being. In other words, the skyā€™s the limit!

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