IN THIS ISSUE

July-September 2010 Deep South Summit held in Alabama

HIV Legislation New HIV testing law signed

Infinity Photography Kenny Ortega, , Guillermo Chacón, Stefania Fernandez, Lilian Rodríguez and Lin-Manuel Miranda. For a Good Cause Featured Program: Cielo Latino Raises Funds for the Commission Mpowerment On May 11th, 2010, Hollywood and Rosie Perez announced the Ilka Award for his support of HIV Project and Broadway stars joined with creation of the Dennis deLeon prevention and care programs. news anchors, entertainers, health “Voz de Compromiso” Award advocates, business leaders, and named posthumously after the The event was attended by, among elected officials in supporting the man who was a warrior in the others, actress Lupe Ontiveros, ac- 20th anniversary of the Latino fights against HIV/AIDS. Other tress Rosie Perez, actor, writer and Commission at its annual gala, honorees of the evening included Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Cielo Latino. Hosted by CNN Viiv Healthcare, recipient of the Miranda, 2009 Ste- anchor and special correspondent Business Leadership Award for fania Fernández, Miss Universe Soledad O’Brien, Cielo Latino ac- the creation of a new company 2008 Dayana Mendoza, MTV3 knowledged the successes of the whose sole focus is HIV/AIDS. Host Carlos Santos, and NBC/Tele- Commission over the past 20 years Lillian Rodríguez, President of the mundo anchor Carmen Dominicci, and honored the legacy of its for- Hispanic Federation, was honored who was installed as International mer President, Dennis deLeon. with the Compañera Award for her Ambassador of the Latino Com- leadership in building the LUCES mission on AIDS. The pharma- Featured Event: Humberto Cruz, Director of the Coalition, and Kenny Ortega, film ceutical company Merck was the Latina Leadership New York State AIDS Institute, director and producer, received the Corporate Chair of the event. Summit ANNIE MULGREW U.S. AIDS STRATEGY On Tuesday, July 12th, President Obama released a report outlining the ’ first national HIV/AIDS strategy. While the strategy does not call for additional federal funds, it does highlight a plan to redistrib- ute money to areas most affected by HIV/AIDS. The strategy holds many “Dímelo” is a quartely publication of promising tactics to confront HIV/AIDS in the United States. Unfortunately, the Latino Commission on AIDS, a non- it has taken nearly 30 years for a national comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan to profit membership organization dedicat- be developed. The Commission believes that people living with HIV/AIDS ed to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS need to play a central role in implementing this national strategy. in the Latino/Hispanic community. www.latinoaids.org Yanira Arias of us accountable for addressing this epidemic. This new strategy Help us represents an opportunity to bet- ter tackle HIV/AIDS in our com- to save munities. On July 30, the Honorable David Paterson, Governor of New York signed into law new HIV testing lives legislation, which will increase our ability to test more people in hopes of reducing new HIV infec- tions and impacting the stigma as- sociated with HIV/AIDS in New York. GUILLERMO CHACON In Vienna, Austria, thousands of people gathered in July for the 18th International AIDS Confer- Dear Friends of the Commission, ence, where those present agreed on the concept of linking preven- Dr. Paul A. Cotton and Douglas K. Griffing in an open conversation during the As our 2010 summer comes to tion and treatment as the best way a close, we are excited to share Summit in Birmingham, Alabama. with you important develop- to combat the effects of HIV/ ments that have occurred in the AIDS. Connecting people with last few months. On July 13, the HIV to treatment was another is- White House unveiled the Na- sue that was strongly recommend- tional HIV/AIDS Strategy, the ed. The next International AIDS Deep South first-ever released document- ad Conference takes place in the dressing the epidemic in the U.S. summer of 2012 in Washington, and territories. I was honored to DC, and the Latino Commission Summit held in be present at the White House will work with partners to make event and to share the memories sure that people of color will be of so many that have worked hard represented in meaningful ways. Alabama over the years to accomplish this In the meantime, we will continue significant step in making our our journey towards October 15th Federal Government and each for National Latino AIDS Aware- On June 21-22, 2010, over 40 key to further explore how HIV health ness Day (NLAAD) and many leaders from seven southern States disparities within the Hispanic other events sure to impact our gathered in Birmingham, Ala- community can be addressed agendas, including the election bama to discuss and promote HIV/ through a focus on research. of a new Governor in New York AIDS research priorities within State and the mid-term elections the region specific to the needs of “Coming from a community-based at the Federal level. the emerging Hispanic population organization (CBO) perspective at the Deep South Summit: Pro- it was comforting and reassuring EDITOR IN CHIEF Annie Mulgrew I invite each of you to actively moting Community-Based Par- to know that there is a collabora- participate in any event that will ticipatory HIV/AIDS Research tive research effort on the part of EDITORIAL BOARD prevent the spread of HIV, prepare within the Hispanic Community. individuals and organizations that Guillermo Chacon for the implementation of health are willing to come to our aid and Annie Mulgrew care reform, and the new HIV/ The summit brought together key to help us to understand the data Miriam Vega AIDS prevention strategy. Help leaders to identify, discuss and we collect. In turn, it will help us us to save lives and to support resolve research gaps in HIV-re- to better serve the Hispanic com- DESIGN lated health in the Deep South munity,” stated Mark Gray, HIV Daniel Ravelo healthy communities. Adelante! region. This summit is the fol- Prevention Coordinator at Low- PHOTOGRAPHY Sincerely, low-up to the inaugural meeting, country AIDS Services. CHRISTIAN CASTRO Hugo Ovejero where different stakeholders from Infinity Photography the Deep South region were invit- Juand David Gastolomendo Guillermo Chacón ed. The inaugural meeting, which Yanira Arias President and CEO was held in November 2009 in Latino Commission on AIDS Charlotte, NC, revealed the need CONTRIBUTORS Christian Castro Annie Mulgrew HIV Legislation Hugo Ovejero New HIV Testingtesting lawLaw signed Signed

DISCLAIMER: Photos used in this newsletter imply nothing about the On July 30th, 2010, Governor Da- advancessignificant in makingadvances HIV in test making- Senatorsterson, all and Senators Assembly and Assembly members health status, sexual orientation, or vid Patterson signed into law the ingHIV routine, testing routine, such as such requiring as re- whomembers supported who supportedthis legislation this legand- life history of the subjects. Gottfried/Duane “Act to Amend thequiring offering the offering of an HIV of an test HIV in testall thanksislation Senator and thanks Duane Senator and Assem Duane- the Public Public Health Health Law Law in inRelation Rela- publicin all public and private and private health health care blymanand Assemblyman Gottfried for Gottfriedtheir dedica for- 24 W 25th Street, 9th Floor totion HIV to HIV Testing,” Testing,” which which will will ex- settings,care settings, thereby thereby establishing establish an- tiontheir todedication improving to theimproving health andthe New York, NY 10010 pandexpand HIV HIV testing testing for all for New all York New- HIVing antest HIV as the test standard as the standardof care. wellhealth being and ofwell-being all New Yorkers. of all New P. (212) 675.3288 ANNIE MULGREW f. (212) 675.3466 ers.Yorkers. The new The legislation new legislation (S08227/ Theof care. Latino The Commission Latino Commission on AIDS Yorkers. ANNIE MULGREW [email protected] A11487)(S08227/A11487) will institute will significant institute applaudson AIDS Governorapplauds Governor Paterson, Pa all- www.latinoaids.org Featured Program: Mpowerment Project Edward Madrid no longer looks down when he speaks to someone. Instead, he greets people enthusi- astically and with confidence. He attributes his new found self-es- teem to his participation in “La- tinos Differentes,” the working group that organizes activities and outreach events for The Mpower- ment Project, the peer and network based community-level interven- tion program at the Latino Com- mission. Using a combination of informal and formal outreach, discussion groups, creation of safe spaces, social opportunities, and social marketing to reach a broad range of HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay and bisexual men, the program is able to provide a safe and com- fortable environment for Latino MSM/gay men to come and dis- cuss personal and sexual issues that affect them. Punto de Encuentro, the weekly gathering conversation Mpowerment members during an informal open group discussion. Hugo Ovejero for the Mpowerment Project, ad- dresses coming out issues, disclo- So far in 2010, the program has in- York City and to meet our pro- feel at home; a house that gives me sure of HIV status, drug and alco- creased the number of participants gram goals,” states Hugo Ovejero, the confidence to love myself and hol problems, social withdrawal, by 26% in comparison to 2009. director of the program. continue to fight for those dreams I isolation and safer-sex practices. The growth in outreach events, had when I left my country, despite social events and number of new Madrid has found the safe com- the many obstacles that I have in Activities like movie night and participants in the program and munity that he desperately sought my life.” Latino cultural events provide the weekly conversation sessions has after moving to ANNIE MULGREW program with a casual platform to allowed the Mpowerment Project from 3 months ago. promote discussion of issues af- “to reach a larger section of the La- “Latinos D is part of my life and fecting the gay Latino community. tino MSM/gay community in New like my family,” he says. “Now I Featured Event: Latina Lead- ON OCTUBER 15TH GET TESTED ership FOR HIV. FOR MORE Summit INFORMATION VISIT In response to the success of the NLAAD.ORG 1st Latina Leadership Training Institute in March 2010, the Com- mission organized a 2nd one-day Juan David Gastolomendo Institute on July 1st, 2010. With Participants during a workshop on hepatitis and HIV. the theme Latinas Unidas por un Futuro Mas Sano/ Latinas United ages who had participated in com- Participants formed workgroups for a Healthier Future, the goal of munity development programs for which focused on hepatitis, sexu- the Institute was to engage Latinas Latinas who are affected by and/or ally transmitted infections, navigat- in leadership development oppor- living with HIV and AIDS, as well ing the healthcare system and breast tunities to promote healthier fami- as various health professionals who cancer. Later they reviewed case lies and communities. The Institute delivered health promotion and studies focused on these topics. brought together 94 Latinas of all HIV/AIDS prevention messages. ANNIE MULGREW