Ministers mobilize to fight for legislation addressing AIDS’ impact on African Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 17, 2010) – More than 50 prominent ministers from around the country gathered at the Capitol building Wednesday to urge support for the National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act of 2009.

In a day-long event organized by the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA), the ministers tied the fate of the National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act to healthcare reform.

“It doesn’t make sense to cover healthcare without worrying about HIV and AIDS,” said Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, chairman of NBLCA. “We are concerned about people who are dying, people infected by AIDS and making sure that we have the resources to move forward.”

Rev. Butts was joined by influential clergy members from Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Missouri and other states. Ministers emphasized the role of the black church in encouraging their communities to be more assertive in protecting themselves against HIV and AIDS, and holding their state legislators responsible. Wednesday’s event was also attended by several members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act (H.R. 1964/S. 3011) addresses the disproportionate toll of HIV and AIDS on African Americans and lays out a comprehensive plan for the federal government to lead the way in marshaling resources and targeting them where they are most needed.

Rev. Butts, who is also pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York as well as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, noted that the disparity between AIDS’ impact on Black Americans is large and growing. Even though Blacks represent only about 12 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for almost half of new AIDS diagnoses in 2007, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control . Black Americans accounted for 57 percent of deaths due to HIV in 2006, and their survival time after an AIDS diagnosis is lower on average than it is for most other racial and ethnic groups. Black women accounted for about two-thirds of new AIDS cases among women in 2007, and their incidence rate is about 15 times that of White women.

The National Black Clergy for the Elimination of AIDS Act emerged out of a conclave in 2007 organized by NBLCA that brought together clergy, medical experts, community leaders and elected officials to develop an agenda to fight AIDS. It was introduced in the House last April by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and into the Senate by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in February.

Among other measures, the legislation:

• Calls upon the president to declare HIV/AIDS an epidemic in the black community;

• Directs the federal department of Health and Human Services to make grants to public health agencies and faith-based organizations to conduct outreach programs for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention;

• Directs the U.S. Health and Human Services Department to expand and intensify educational activities targeting black women, youth and men having sex with men;

• Mandates a national media outreach program to urge testing for HIV and AIDS; and

• Requires a study of biological and behavioral factors that lead to higher rates of HIV and AIDS among Black Americans.

“What we want to address is bringing in more people to reduce the disparities among our ethnic groups and get them in the loop,” said Pelosi. The wealthiest person’s life in America will be better if the poorest person in America has access to healthcare”

Rep. Lee is optimistic, but feels there is still much work to be done.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle because of the politics that takes place,” she said. “We

have a great president who said he supports a national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. At least we have a commitment to stamp out HIV/AIDS.”

Rep. Waters predicted the day’s events would propel the legislation.

“Your initiative is going to help push this initiative much further than we have brought it at this point in time,” she said. “Your being here speaks to the leadership in a very profound way. Not only do we appreciate your leadership, but you are working to get that support within your communities. We are very grateful, we are very optimistic.”

Despite the disturbing statistics, NBLCA President C. Virginia Fields commended President Obama on his efforts to bring HIV and AIDS to the national stage and making it a priority while dealing with so many other national problems. She referenced increased funding for needle exchange programs and for the Ryan White AIDS Program and the lifting on travel restrictions into the United States for people with HIV and AIDS.

“This president has really given a lot more attention to HIV and AIDS than we have seen over the last eight years,” Fields said. “We have seen movement on the creation of comprehensive national AIDS strategy, but we find that our advocacy efforts are still impacted because of the economic climate we are in today.”