FOF #1370 – 30 Years of AIDS

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first AIDS diagnosis in the U.S.

It’s difficult to measure the devastating impact AIDS has had on humanity, not just the horrors of the disease itself but the inadequate response of governments and health care institutions to this incredible loss of life.

And yet through it all, people have risen to the challenges brought on by AIDS and created organizations to fight the disease and bring about change.

Today, we take a look at three decades of AIDS with David Ernesto Munar, the newly appointed President and CEO of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. David got involved in the fight against AIDS at a very young age, and has seen our struggles and triumphs through the years as he’s risen through the ranks.

Most recently, young people have taken to digital media by storm as a way to inspire each other and find all kinds of information on how to create gay straight alliances or at schools.

The benefits of this are profound as studies show that LGBT people who’ve undergone severe trauma as a result of bullying are more likely to become HIV positive.

Listen as we talk about—

What it’s like for a gay man to discover he’s HIV positive today.

The Religious Right’s efforts to stop anti-bullying programs in schools.

You Will Rise- an online art therapy program for victims of bullying.

And Freddie Mercury- if he were alive today would he have done an amazing collaboration with Lady Gaga?

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Spring Luncheon is on Monday, May 2, 2011, with keynote speaker Dan Savage, who along with his husband, founded It Gets Better. Mr. Savage will talk about how bullying impacts depression, suicide, and other HIV-related risk-taking behaviors among LGBT youth.

Visit our sponsors:

LifeLube Your Field Guide to Gay Men’s Health
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Featured Music:
Broni – Every Thought I’ve Had Since I Was 10: iTunes

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This entry was posted on Friday, April 29th, 2011 at 5:02 am and is filed under Interviews, Podcast, Politicians/Activists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.