IN THIS ISSUE

July-September 2010

Deep South Summit held in Alabama

HIV Legislation

New HIV testing law signed

Infinity Photography

Kenny Ortega, Dayana Mendoza, Guillermo Chacón, Stefania Fernandez, Lilian Rodríguez and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

For a Good Cause

Cielo Latino Raises Funds for the Commission

Featured Program:

Mpowerment Project

On May 11th, 2010, Hollywood and Rosie Perez announced the Ilka Award for his support of HIV 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, Miss Universe 2009 Steanchor 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/TeleCommission 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 CompañeraAward for her Ambassador of the Latino Comleadership in building the LUCES mission on AIDS. The pharma-

Featured Event:

Latina Leadership Summit

Humberto Cruz, Director of the Coalition, and Kenny Ortega, film ceutical company Merck was the New York State AIDS Institute, director and producer, received the Corporate Chair of the event.

ANNIE MULGREW

U.S. AIDS STRATEGY

On Tuesday, July 12th, President Obama released a report outlining the

United States’ 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 promising tactics to confront HIV/AIDS in the United States. Unfortunately, it has taken nearly 30 years for a national comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan to be developed. The Commission believes that people living with HIV/AIDS need to play a central role in implementing this national strategy.

“Dímelo” is a quartely publication of the Latino Commission on AIDS, a non-

profitmembershiporganizationdedicat- ed to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Latino/Hispanic community.

www.latinoaids.org

of us accountable for addressing this epidemic. This new strategy represents an opportunity to better tackle HIV/AIDS in our com-

munities.

Help us to save lives

On July 30, the Honorable David Paterson, Governor of New York signed into law new HIV testing legislation, which will increase our ability to test more people in hopes of reducing new HIV infections and impacting the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS in New

York.

GUILLERMO CHACON

In Vienna, Austria, thousands of people gathered in July for the

18th International AIDS Confer-

ence, where those present agreed on the concept of linking preven-

tion and treatment as the best way

to combat the effects of HIV/ AIDS. Connecting people with HIV to treatment was another issue that was strongly recommended. The next International AIDS Conference takes place in the summer of 2012 in Washington,

DC, and the Latino Commission

will work with partners to make sure that people of color will be represented in meaningful ways.
Dear Friends of the Commission,

As our 2010 summer comes to

a close, we are excited to share with you important develop-

ments that have occurred in the

last few months. On July 13, the

White House unveiled the Na-

tional HIV/AIDS Strategy, the first-ever released document addressing the epidemic in the U.S.

and territories. I was honored to

be present at the White House

event and to share the memories of so many that have worked hard

over the years to accomplish this significant step in making our Federal Government and each

Dr. Paul A. Cotton and Douglas K. Griffing in an open conversation during the Summit in Birmingham, Alabama.

Deep South Summit held in Alabama

In the meantime, we will continue our journey towards October 15th for National Latino AIDS Aware-

ness Day (NLAAD) and many other events sure to impact our agendas, including the election of a new Governor in New York

State and the mid-term elections

at the Federal level.

On June 21-22, 2010, over 40 key to further explore how HIV health

leadersfromsevensouthernStates disparities within the Hispanic

gathered in Birmingham, Ala- community can be addressed

bama to discuss and promote HIV/ through a focus on research. AIDS research priorities within the region specific to the needs of “Comingfromacommunity-based the emerging Hispanic population organization (CBO) perspective at the Deep South Summit: Pro- it was comforting and reassuring

moting Community-Based Par- to know that there is a collabora-

ticipatory HIV/AIDS Research tive research effort on the part of within the Hispanic Community. individuals and organizations that are willing to come to our aid and
The summit brought together key to help us to understand the data leaders to identify, discuss and we collect. In turn, it will help us resolve research gaps in HIV-re- to better serve the Hispanic comlated health in the Deep South munity,” stated Mark Gray, HIV

region. This summit is the fol- Prevention Coordinator at Low-

low-up to the inaugural meeting, country AIDS Services.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Annie Mulgrew

I invite each of you to actively

participate in any event that will prevent the spread of HIV, prepare for the implementation of health care reform, and the new HIV/ AIDS prevention strategy. Help us to save lives and to support

healthy communities. Adelante!

EDITORIAL BOARD

Guillermo Chacon Annie Mulgrew Miriam Vega

DESIGN

Daniel Ravelo

Sincerely,

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hugo Ovejero

Infinity Photography Juand David Gastolomendo

Yanira Arias

where different stakeholders from

the Deep South region were invited. The inaugural meeting, which was held in November 2009 in

Charlotte, NC, revealed the need

CHRISTIAN CASTRO

Guillermo Chacón

President and CEO Latino Commission on AIDS

CONTRIBUTORS

Christian Castro

Annie Mulgrew Hugo Ovejero

HIV Legislation

New HIV TteessttiinngglLaawwsiSgingended

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DISCLAIMER: Photos used in this

newsletter imply nothing about the health status, sexual orientation, or life history of the subjects.

24 W 25th Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10010 P. (212) 675.3288 f. (212) 675.3466 [email protected]

www.latinoaids.org

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ANNIE MULGREW ANNIE MULGREW

Featured Program: Mpowerment Project

Edward Madrid no longer looks down when he speaks to someone. Instead, he greets people enthusiastically and with confidence. He

attributes his new found self-es-

teem to his participation in “Latinos Differentes,” the working group that organizes activities and outreach events for The Mpowerment 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 discusspersonalandsexualissuesthat affect them. Punto de Encuentro,

the weekly gathering conversation Mpowerment members during an informal open group discussion.

for the Mpowerment Project, ad-

Hugo Ovejero

So far in 2010, the program has in- York City and to meet our pro- feel at home; a house that gives me creased the number of participants gram goals,” states Hugo Ovejero, the confidence to love myself and by 26% in comparison to 2009. director of the program. continue to fight for those dreams I 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

participants in the program and munity that he desperately sought my life.” dresses coming out issues, disclosure of HIV status, drug and alcohol problems, social withdrawal, isolation and safer-sex practices.

Activities like movie night and Latino cultural events provide the program with a casual platform to promote discussion of issues affecting the gay Latino community.

weekly conversation sessions has after moving to New York City

allowed the Mpowerment Project from El Salvador 3 months ago. “to reach a larger section of the La- “Latinos D is part of my life and tino MSM/gay community in New like my family,” he says. “Now I

ANNIE MULGREW

Featured Event:

Latina Lead-

ON OCTUBER 15TH
GET TESTED
FOR HIV. FOR MORE

ership Summit

INFORMATION VISIT
NLAAD.ORG

In response to the success of the 1st Latina Leadership Training

Institute in March 2010, the Com-

mission organized a 2nd one-day

Institute on July 1st, 2010. With

the theme Latinas Unidas por un Futuro Mas Sano/ Latinas United for a Healthier Future, the goal of the Institute was to engage Latinas in leadership development opportunities to promote healthier fami-

lies and communities. The Institute

brought together 94 Latinas of all

Juan David Gastolomendo

Participants during a workshop on hepatitis and HIV.

ages who had participated in com- Participants formed workgroups munity development programs for which focused on hepatitis, sexuLatinas who are affected by and/or ally transmitted infections, navigatliving with HIV and AIDS, as well ing the healthcare system and breast as various health professionals who cancer. Later they reviewed case delivered health promotion and studies focused on these topics. HIV/AIDS prevention messages.

ANNIE MULGREW